Remember David Lynch’s quirky, cult classic Twin Peaks? The setting was the Salish Lodge & Spa. Shrouded by the mists of Snoqualmie Falls, this is the kind of hotel you don’t ever want to leave. It’s a world unto itself, one rendered readily accessible to Seattle (though not too readily).
There’s a mystique about Salish, something otherworldly and (we hate to use the word, but it applies here) magical. Dine in a place where the water rushes off to tumble in mad oblivion to the gorge below. Listen to the muted roar of the falls as it masks the muddled world you left behind. The Salish Lodge & Spa defines the term resort.
There are but 84 rooms here. Each reflects the calm, contemplative Pacific Northwest that envelops the lodge. To set the mood, each room is replete with a wood-burning fireplace, two-person whirlpool tubs, and real featherbeds. Many of these cozy enclaves overlook the Snoqualmie River.
Wake up in the next morning and break fast with a four-course country breakfast. Honey for the biscuits comes from the Lodge’s own hives.
If you just have to leave Salish for a while and explore the valley, there are subtle pleasures to be had. Visit the Northwest Railway Museum and ride the train one-way ‘twixt Snoqualmie and North Bend. Hike one of the many trails that meander through this magnificent slice of the Pac Northwest.
At the end of the day designate a driver (the roads up here aren’t to be trifled with) and head to Finaghty’s Irish Pub & Restaurant. The Guinness is perfectly poured, and the pub grub gorgeous.
Feeling gully about leaving your dog back home at the vet’s while you relax? Bring him along. You wouldn’t expect a hotel like the Salish to accommodate canines, but it does – and in your own room. They don’t do a bad job with people either.
Story by Jerry Chandler
(Images: Salish Lodge & Spa)
