Great Escapes

Legendary lodges and rustic retreats for unforgettable family getaways in any season

By Lauren Braden

From off-grid to utterly deluxe, the Pacific Northwest is dotted with amazing historic lodges and other unique accommodations that will transform your family vacation into a memorable adventure. Whatever your budget, these settings make for a perfect starting point to explore some of our region’s most beautiful landscapes, from hiking mountain trails to strolling stunning beaches.

Legendary lodges

By Nikki McCoy

Lake Crescent Lodge

416 Lake Crescent Rd., Port Angeles, Olympic Peninsula; 888-896-3818 • olympicnationalparks.com

Lake Quinault Lodge

345 S. Shore Rd., Quinault, Olympic Peninsula; 888-896-3818 • olympicnationalparks.com

The gorgeous Craftsman-style Lake Quinault Lodge, built in 1926, is steeped in history. Main lodge rooms, some with fantastic lake views, feature period charm in the form of antique furnishings and claw-foot tubs. You’ll find some spacious suites suitable for families in the more modern detached buildings. There’s nothing particularly posh about the place, but kids won’t care; they’ll be too busy hiking in the surrounding rain forest or paddling a canoe on the lake. After dinner in the lodge restaurant, warm up with hot chocolate and a game of Scrabble by the crackling fire in the front lobby’s enormous fireplace. There’s also a swimming pool! Kalaloch Lodge

157151 U.S. Hwy. 101, Forks, Olympic Peninsula; 866-662-9928 • thekalalochlodge.com

Location, location, location! Perched on a bluff along the wild, pristine coastline in Olympic National Park, Kalaloch Lodge comprises a main inn and collection of rustic cabins, most with woodstoves and kitchenettes. Comb the rocky beach below for treasures, or watch the horizon for passing whales. The lodge restaurant serves Northwest fare at premium prices, or you can save money by cooking meals in your cabin.

Families come to glacier-carved Lake Crescent to see its famed crystal-clear waters ringed with fragrant conifers. They stay for an enchanting waterfall hike and a night at the historic lakeside lodge. Built in 1916 as a fishing resort, Lake Crescent Lodge retains a relaxed, campy vibe. All of the main lodge’s cozy rooms and cute detached Roosevelt Cabins boast stunning lake views. Hike in the surrounding temperate rain forest of giant fir and hemlock trees (the trail to the 90-foot Marymere Falls departs right from the lodge), and then relax over dinner in the waterfront dining room. End your evening in a lakeside deck chair and watch the sun set behind Olympic peaks. Rainy days are perfect for family board games beside the lobby’s stone fireplace. Lake Crescent Lodge is typically open from May through the end of each year. Alderbrook Resort & Spa

7101 E. S.R. 106, Union, Hood Canal; 360-898-2200 • alderbrookresort.com

Alderbrook Resort & Spa sits on the south shore of Hood Canal, a long, glacier-carved fjord that runs parallel to Puget Sound and has dramatic Olympic peaks as its backdrop. For generations, families have come to these shores to shuck oysters, paddle the brackish water, roast marshmallows and relax away sunny summer days. That hasn’t changed, but the once-weathered gray inn they stayed in has been completely transformed into a grand lodge with swanky amenities, such as an on-site spa and a high-end restaurant that specializes in seasonal Northwest cuisine. Kids will love fishing from the dock, cruising around in a kayak or pedal boat, or just kicking a soccer ball on the expansive green lawn. Sun Mountain Lodge

604 Patterson Lake Rd., Winthrop, Methow Valley; 800-572-0493 • sunmountainlodge.com

Sun Mountain Lodge, a deluxe getaway with rustic touches, is the Methow Valley’s premier resort, set on a ridge with panoramic views and recreation trails that depart right from the lodge (world-class cross-country skiing in winter, hiking in other seasons). Rooms range from very nice to marvelous and so do the rates; the lodge also rents cabins on Patterson Lake. Amenities are a big draw here, from heated pools in the winter and hot tubs to a game room and horseback riding. The lodge’s dining room serves Northwest cuisine with a view to match; the Wolf Creek Grill offers pub food and welcomes kids.

Skamania Lodge

1131 S.W. Skamania Lodge Way, Stevenson; 509-314-4177 • skamania.com

Scenery and nature are always on tap at Skamania Lodge, set on 175 forested acres that overlook the flood-scoured Columbia River Gorge in southern Washington. With 250

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rooms (including some suites and several amazing tree-house options), this lodge should be high on your list for last-minute travel: You’ll often find a vacancy, even in the high season. Built in the tradition of classic park lodges, Skamania features a grand communal lobby that centers on a massive stone fireplace, great for relaxing with books or board games. Kids will love splashing in the pool and trying the zip line tours that depart from the top of a Douglas fir. The lodge also features a golf course. Paved paths through the woods are perfect for strollers. For a more strenuous hike, head up nearby Dog Mountain.

Photo courtesy Skamania Lodge

Paradise Inn

98368 Paradise-Longmire Rd., Mount Rainier National Park; 855-755-2275 • mtrainierguestservices.com

You’ll know you’ve reached Paradise when you get out of your car and say, “This really does look like paradise!” Built in 1916 of silver fir and renovated a few years ago, Paradise Inn hosts guests in summer months only and offers an unrivaled experience on “The Mountain.” Set in the shadow of an active volcano clad in snow and ice, the picturesque lodge is surrounded by vibrant meadows of blooming wildflowers. Several trails (some paved and flat enough for a stroller) depart from the lodge parking area and lead you through flower fields crossed by babbling streams and dotted with foraging marmots. Lodge room sizes vary and can accommodate from two to six people. Enjoy evenings in the lodge restaurant or the huge communal lobby, where your kids can show off those music lessons on the antique piano.

Find a dozen more of Lauren’s legendary lodge picks at parentmap.com/lodges.

Read on for fabulous and affordable rustic retreats

Rustic retreats that rock

Veer off the beaten path when you book one of these affordable and amazing rustic retreats, perfect for families. Cabins at Wallace Falls State Park, Gold Bar

How do you like the idea of taking a morning walk to a 265-foot plunging waterfall? After a night in one of the cozy private cabins at Wallace Falls State Park, you can do just that. The cabins are nestled within the park’s 4,735 lush acres of forest along the shores of the Wallace River. Each cabin has electric heat and light, and locking doors. Inside are bunk beds that sleep three and a full-size futon bed for two.

Outside is a 6-foot-long covered front porch, picnic table, firepit and barbecue stand. The park has trails for every hiker — flat interpretive nature trails through woodland, short trails to three waterfalls, and a longer, more challenging trail to Wallace Lake that was built by teenagers through the Washington Trails Association. Details: Reserve the cabins year-round online at washington.goingtocamp.com. As many as five people per cabin; pets are allowed in two of the cabins for a $15 fee per night. Platform tents at Dosewallips State Park, Brinnon

Imagine you are a family of early pioneers camped near the shores of Hood Canal while staying in one of the white canvas wooden platform tents at Dosewallips State Park. Dosewallips is a favorite park for families with small children because of its variety of both forested trails and saltwater beaches. The modern platform tents set in a maple forest are 14 by 16 feet inside and comfortably sleep five people. Each tent has a bunk that sleeps three, a futon for two, electric lights, a table and a heater. Outside, you’ll enjoy a deck, picnic table, fire grill and utility

Cabins at Wallace Falls State Park; photo courtesy Washington State Parks hookup. Walk to shared bathrooms and showers nearby. You’ll need to bring your own bed linens for the platform tents, as well as extra blankets and clothes in autumn for the cool evenings.

Details: Reserve the platform tents year-round online. The tents accommodates many as five people. Dosewallips State Park also rents three cabins and one rustic bunkhouse. Pets are allowed in one of the platform tent for a $15 fee per night. washington.goingtocamp.com

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Cabins at Kitsap Memorial State Park, Hood Canal near Poulsbo

This small park is just 58 acres in size, but it has big views of Hood Canal and about 1,800 feet of shoreline to explore. One of these cute cabins at Kitsap Memorial State Park would make a nice base for visiting the “Little Norway” town of Poulsbo, just a few miles to the south. Small kids will love the park’s grassy playfields and playground equipment. Parents will love a romantic stroll on the beach while the kids look for starfish in tide pools. The cabins at Kitsap Memorial are a little less rustic than other state park rentals because they include kitchenettes with mini refrigerators and microwaves. The cabins are cozy (13 by 13 feet) and are simply furnished with a bunk bed that sleeps three and a futon that sleeps two. Enjoy electric heat and lights. Each cabin is accessible to people with disabilities. Bathrooms and showers are a short walk away. A firepit and picnic table are just outside your door. Bring extra blankets to stay warm while lounging outside.

Photo courtesy Washington State Parks

Details: Reserve a cabin online. Cabins accommodate as many as five people. washington.goingtocamp.com

Photo credit: Stephanie Lenox

Yurts at Pacific Beach State Park, Washington coast

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Shipping container rental at Tolt MacDonald Park

remote stretch of beach north of Ocean Shores that’s popular for razor clamming, beachcombing, flying kites and storm watching. No one wants to watch a storm from their tent, but the yurts at Pacific Beach provide a perfect refuge on blustery days. Located within walking distance of the beach, the yurts are 16 feet in diameter and simply furnished with bunk beds that sleep three, a full-size futon and a small end table. Each yurt is equipped with one overhead light, a heater and an electrical outlet so you could bring your own small lamp for softer lighting in the evening. Outside you’ll find a picnic table and small covered porch. Both the yurts and nearby bathrooms are accessible to those with disabilities.

Details: The yurts can be reserved online at washington.goingtocamp.com.

Shipping container camping at Tolt MacDonald Park and Campground, Carnation

Kids will love sleeping in a shipping container turned camping vessel set on the shores of the Tolt and Snoqualmie rivers in Carnation. This unique camping option features a full-size bunk bed, table and multipurpose cabinet made from reclaimed materials. Other signs of sustainability include used soccer goals that were converted into a green wall, and an old door that is now the kitchen table.

Suspension bridge at Tolt MacDonald Park

Details: For more information visit Tolt MacDonald Park at kingcounty.gov.

Lauren Braden is a Pacific Northwest writer who focuses on recreation and local travel. She blogs at nwtripfinder.com.

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