Great Getaways for All Seasons

By JiaYing Grygiel

National Plan for Vacation Day happens on the last Tuesday of January. It is a day to encourage Americans to reclaim their vacation days by planning their travel for the whole year. Well, we are on board with that! As many families know, “plan” is the operative word here. To get lodging at favorite Pacific Northwest destinations, you’ve got to book now! Or soon, at least.

In the interest of assisting with this planning process, we gathered up some family-favorite getaway destinations around Washington. Check them out and see which sounds like it would suit your crew!

Suncadia Resort ● destinationhotels.com/suncadia-resort

If you have kids who tend to get carsick or if you don’t like long drives, Suncadia Resort is the perfect outdoor getaway. In just 90 minutes, you can zip from downtown Seattle to this rather posh mountain experience. Why rough it when you can have all the creature comforts of a luxurious hotel room — and panoramic views? continued on page 18 continued from page 15

Suncadia’s grounds cover some 6,000 acres and include miles of paved trails. You can use all paths, open spaces and the disc golf course. Bike rentals are available, or just bring your own. On-site restaurants and swimming pools serve most of your kids’ needs. The spa and golf course are open for grown-up time.

You can reserve rooms at the inn, the lodge or at a number of vacation homes that will fit the size of your group.

Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort ● olympicnationalparks.com

Head to the depths of Olympic National Park to find remote Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, open late March through October. Book a rustic cabin and spend your day lounging in the hot pools of various temperatures, occasionally steeling yourself for a plunge into the invigorating cold pool.

Round out your getaway by exploring more of the North Olympic Peninsula, from Sequim to Hurricane Ridge to Lake Crescent (parentmap.com/peninsula).

Seabrook ● seabrookwa.com

Seabrook is a planned beach town on the Washington coast, full of cute cottages and all within an easy walk of the Pacific Ocean. We’ve stayed several times and can attest to its manicured charm — it is perfect for families with young children. Enjoy bike rides, playing in the sand and long walks on the beach. The pool, fitness center and playground, plus restaurants and shops, will fill the time when you’re not on the beach.

Seabrook suits in any season. Plan your Seabrook adventure with our guide, parentmap.com/seabrookwa.

Semiahmoo Resort ● semiahmoo.com

Semiahmoo Resort is about as close as you can get to Canada without crossing the border. It’s super relaxing, family-friendly and right on the water.

There’s just the right number of things to do here, all of them the ideal complement to enjoying nature, which is exactly the point. Take a walk and look for bald eagles, or check out hermit crabs in the tide pools. Admire the view of Mount Baker. Kids will have a blast beachcombing or riding bikes. There’s a movie theater, a game room with toys and tons of lawn games. Resort amenities include restaurants, a pool and a spa. Plan your Semiahmoo stay with our all-season planning guide, parentmap.com/semiahmoo

Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort ● sleepinglady.com

Head into the Cascades to Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort for fresh air in a quiet setting. Unlike most hotels, the guest rooms here do not have TVs, refrigerators or minibars — and that’s by design. The idea is for you to get in touch with nature and eat chef-prepared food. (Sign us up!)

Go for a hike along the river and through the woods. Kids can earn patches for completing a bird walk, garden tour or scavenger hunt. Eagle Creek Ranch (eaglecreek.ws), about

The Pacific Northwest is a geothermic wonderland, home to dozens of natural hot springs. While summer draws the largest crowds to these mineral-rich pools, cool-weather months are a great time to stop in for a hot, restorative soak or swim. Even with a serious chill in the air, these mineral pools stay nice and steamy (parentmap.com/hot-springs).

From woodsy and rustic to utterly deluxe, the Pacific Northwest’s historic lodges, such as Kalaloch Lodge, will transform your family vacation into an unforgettable adventure. These lodges and ranches make a perfect starting point for exploring some of the region’s most amazing landscapes, from hiking mountain trails to strolling the beaches. See ParentMap’s guide to lodge getaways at parentmap.com/17-lodges.

25 minutes away, offers horseback riding, and area rafting companies will take you on a wild ride. From the resort, it’s a 10-minute drive into the Bavarian-themed town of Leavenworth (parentmap.com/leavenworth), which is a delightful destination all year around.

The lovely pool and hot tub at Sleeping Lady are open seasonally from about mid-April through mid-October.

Kalaloch Lodge ● thekalalochlodge.com

Rustic, remote, peaceful. Fall asleep to the sound of ocean waves. The rooms aren’t fancy (nor are they cheap), but you can’t beat the location. Kalaloch Lodge perches at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.

Book a room in the main lodge, the Seacrest House or one of the (dog-friendly!) cabins with kitchenettes. Note that there’s spotty reception and no Wi-Fi, so don’t bother trying to make it a working vacation.

Kalaloch Lodge is a home base for exploring the big outdoor playground that is Olympic National Park (parentmap.com/ olympic-national-park). Hike through the mossy rainforest, watch for whales, explore tide pools, walk along the beach. Don’t miss the large sea stacks at nearby Ruby Beach and the “Tree of Life” at Kalaloch Beach.

Pro planning tip: Kalaloch often books out months in advance.

Skamania Lodge ● skamania.com

Skamania Lodge, overlooking the Columbia River Gorge, offers loads of outdoor fun on 175 acres of incredible natural beauty. You can stay in the main lodge, or for an extraspecial splurge, reserve one of the Alder Tree Houses, which sleep four and are set among towering Douglas firs.

Skamania Lodge offers an array of adventures, including zip-line tours, an aerial course and axe throwing (!?). The continued on page 22 continued from page 19 three on-site hiking trails ⁠— Lake Loop Trail, Creek Loop Trail and Gorge Loop Fitness Trail ⁠— are suitable for all ages. The hotel offers free bike rentals, and you can check out outdoor equipment such as soccer balls, Frisbees or a cornhole game.

Long Beach, Wash.

Fall in Washington is the best time to wander through brilliantly colored forests, frolic on mist-shrouded beaches and toast marshmallows for s’mores around the fire. Winter brings snow-play opportunities galore. The perfect base from which to explore all that cooler days have to offer while staying warm and comfy? Nearby cabin destinations, many with fireplaces, hot tubs and more, to keep those toes toasty!

Enjoy easy access to some of the state’s most scenic treasures — or simply find a change of scenery — with ParentMap’s guide to 10 Puget Sound–area cabin and cottage getaways, parentmap.com/cabins.

The spa and fitness center, swimming pool, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, and saunas will serve everyone’s recreational desires. Families can also play golf or disc golf.

Long Beach, Washington ● visitlongbeachpeninsula.com

The Long Beach Peninsula, about a three-hour drive from Seattle, is a beautiful 28-mile stretch of the Washington coast. This is a pretty place to relax and explore, in any season.

The main attraction here is digging your toes into the sand and going for long walks to breathe in the salty air. The 8.5-mile Lewis and Clark Discovery Trail is paved, perfect for bikes and strollers. Do as much or as little of the trail as you like: The path follows the dunes from The Breakers over the Cape Disappointment headlands to Ilwaco Harbor. The Coastal Forest Loop trail is a manageable distance for kids, just a 0.5- or a 1.5-mile loop through a forest. (Bring bug spray!)

The outdoor Columbia-Pacific Farmers’ Market in Long Beach is open on Fridays in the summer, and the Ilwaco Saturday Market operates from May through September. For indoor time, check out the World Kite Museum (kitefestival.com) and the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center (capedisappointment.org)

Alderbrook Resort ● alderbrookresort.com

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Alderbrook is a gem of a Pacific Northwest resort.

My kids don’t care much for spas, but they love the indoor pool here (and the big Jacuzzi tub we’ve had in our room). One side of the resort faces the water, and the other side faces a forest. Sit and watch the mist rising off Hood Canal. Relax. If it’s nice out, you can rent pedal boats, kayaks, floating tubes, even motorboats.

Or go hiking on 5 miles of trails right on the resort property. Families with a pooch can book the Fido on the Fjord special package and bring their furry family member along — there’s even a doggie menu!

Campbell’s Resort, Lake Chelan ● campbellsresort.com

Generations of Seattleites have idled away sunny weeks at Campbell’s Resort, built in 1901. It is perfect for families. There are two pools, a private sandy beach and a lake that’s actually warm enough for swimming in summer and into early fall. Campbell’s is located in the town of Chelan, within easy walking distance of all of the restaurants and shops. ParentMap’s guide to summer fun in Chelan has lots of activity ideas (parentmap.com/chelan). ■ seattlegirlschoir.org

JiaYing Grygiel is a mama of two boys, and a freelance photographer and writer. She blogs at photoj.net.

Cabin, hot springs and legendary lodge getaways courtesy of Pacific Northwest insiders Kate Missine and Lauren Braden.

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