Treat yourself to a quintessential Northwest getaway at Salish Lodge & Spa

I’m capricious when it comes to choosing city versus country life, as I like aspects of each. The urban vibe stimulates me, while the peace and serenity I get from a small town or rural locale does wonders for my soul. Fortunately, I don’t have to choose, as traveling offers opportunities to reap the rewards of both. 

On a recent trip to Seattle, I hungrily devoured the many cultural attractions and thrived amid the hustle and bustle of this vibrant city. After a few days, however, I yearned for an escape, which led me to Salish Lodge & Spa to relax and recharge. Located just thirty minutes from Seattle, this award-winning property makes a great bookend to your city visit.

Perched on a cliff above famed Snoqualmie Falls and surrounded by a lush green forest at the edge of the Cascade Mountains, the Lodge is as Pacific Northwest as it gets. This picturesque backdrop has an immediate calming influence, which continues once you step inside the restored landmark building with its stunning historical architecture. 

Salish Lodge was originally Snoqualmie Falls Lodge, and was built as an eight-room inn back in 1916. It served as a rest stop for travelers journeying over the mountain passes to the east. In 1988, the building was completely remodeled and modernized, reopening under the name it’s known as today. And as of 2019, it is now owned by the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe.

The Lodge is well-known for its refined accommodations, delicious food, restorative spa treatments and stellar service from the moment of check-in until departure. Its rustic-luxe style features natural stone floors, warm wood columns and soft natural hues with accents of native art pieces, nature photos and historical images. And of course, there are fireplaces and even firepits to cozy up to when the weather is cool. You’ll definitely feel that grand lodge ambiance throughout the property.

Guestrooms (86 in total) are inviting and reflect the soothing environment of the Lodge’s surroundings. They are designed to serve as personal retreats and you may never want to leave. Luxury is thankfully understated here, with a lack of pretension, as it is with the rest of the Lodge. Everything is high quality, though, from the premium mattresses, feather bedding and extra thick plush top quilting to the variety of pillows to choose from – yes, you will sleep well!

Pacific NW inspired furniture, cozy throws, large spa-like showers with dual shower heads or oversized soaking tubs plus upscale Salish bath products, gas fireplaces and a balcony or patio complete the scene. And oh, did I mention a mini fridge, copper kettle and pour-over coffee service, too? If you want to splurge, opt for a room with a river view, where you can hear the roar of the waterfall.

Thoughtful touches are everywhere at Salish. I especially appreciated the energy stations located in the halls leading to the guestrooms. They are stocked with healthy snacks and coffee or tea for when you need that extra boost. The lobby with its large double-sided fireplace and comfy armchairs provide a nice sitting area, which is shared with The Lounge. You can unwind, while you sip a libation, enjoy your morning coffee, or have a bite to eat. Choose from a menu of elevated plates, including soups, salads, flatbreads and select entrees.

The Restaurant, formerly known as The Attic, is currently serving as the main dining location, as The Salish Dining Room is under construction this year. It’s a handsome space with river views and a bar, and the food and service are top notch. The menu features Pacific Northwest cuisine, with an emphasis on seasonal and local ingredients. 

Dinner is an unforgettable experience. The meal that my husband and I shared began with a bread service accompanied by an edible candle made of coconut and olive oils. As the lit candle melted into a delicious pool of roasted garlic, herbs and balsamic vinegar, we dipped pieces of sourdough and olive bread into it. Then came an amuse bouche of apricot, goat cheese and Salish honey on crostini. 

We each had salad starters, the Salish Baby Greens and Pickled Fiddlehead Fern. For my main course, I savored the melt-in-your-mouth pan seared halibut with a hasselback potato, while my husband had the Northwest free-range chicken with ricotta gnocchi. If you and your companion are consummate meat lovers with a hearty appetite, there’s the Chateaubriand for two, a 17-ounce roasted center-cut filet mignon. In addition to other fish and meat entrees, there’s a vegetarian offering plus a special vegan menu is also available upon request. 

If you still have room for dessert, the options will make you swoon, from a chocolate mousse cake and a vanilla Japanese sponge cake to a “rhuberry galette.” But if you want to pay homage to David Lynch’s 1990 TV series, “Twin Peaks,” which featured the Lodge as an exterior location, order the “Damn Fine Cherry Pie!”

Breakfast is also a treat in The Restaurant with house-made biscuits to start and the iconic Honey from Heaven service, where honey from the property’s own hives is poured from high above your plate onto those buttery delights. If you’re super hungry, the Country Breakfast, a Salish Lodge tradition, features four courses. Otherwise, there are egg dishes, chicken and waffles, pancakes and more. On the lighter side, there’s avo toast, fruit and granola, and my personal favorite, the overnight oats with dates, chia seeds, Salish honey, berries and banana brûlée. Yum!

For the ultimate in pampering, head to The Spa at Salish Lodge. Choose from a variety of healing treatments, including massages, facials and body therapies, using Pacific Northwest ingredients. My Skin Detox Facial was heavenly. The lotions and potions my therapist used were packed with tea extracts and microbiome-friendly elements. And she incorporated lymphatic drainage and light pressure facial massage to improve circulation, detoxify, tone and firm my skin. The lymphatic drainage was done with a hydrafacial machine, which works to stimulate the lymphatic system and improve circulation. It certainly did the trick for my skin, as I’ve never had such a glowing and radiant complexion! 

For the full package, add onto your spa service and get access to the soaking pools, steam room and sauna. And before or after your treatment, take time to enjoy the cozy relaxation room. 

The Lodge offers plenty of places to sit back and relax, but if/when you desire to commune with nature, you’ll find a variety of activities to explore the outdoors, from hiking and horseback riding to fishing, golf and more. The Lodge’s team can assist with suggestions and make arrangements for all of the above. 

Whatever you do, make sure you take in the views of Snoqualmie Falls. A short walk from the Lodge leads to an observation deck with several overlooks of this 270-foot cascade, as it plunges into the river below. In comparison, it’s more than twice as high as Niagara Falls. 

This Northwest jewel is the second most visited natural landmark in Washington after Mt. Rainier. Although it’s a spectacular sight no matter what the weather is, the scene is often the most dramatic when it’s that typical Pacific Northwest shade of gray outside.

Snoqualmie Falls is the Snoqualmie people’s most sacred site, as it is central to the Tribe’s creation story and religious practice. The Tribe, also called The People of the Moon, believe that Moon the Transformer created the waterfall and the first man and woman. And the mist is credited with uniting the worlds of heaven and earth. Because of its importance to these people and its beauty, the Falls is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a Traditional Cultural Property. 

You can learn more about the Snoqualmie Tribe at the new Snoqualmie Falls Gift Shop & Visitor Center. The center is decorated with artwork and photos that celebrate the Tribe’s ancestral land, culture and people. And a timeline wall and mini theater share the story of the Tribe’s history and origin. 

Within the center is also a gift shop with works and goods by local artists. Visitors can purchase freshly baked pastries and coffee, as well as ice cream by the scoop, to enjoy at the renovated outdoor space steps away from the Falls viewing area. 

If seeing the Falls from the observation deck isn’t enough, take the well-maintained 1.4-mile out and back path down to the lower viewing area, where you’ll be able to get another perspective of this dramatic marvel. There are interpretive signs along the way that point out the native wildlife and vegetation. 

Located just below the Falls you’ll notice a hydroelectric power plant, which consists of two power houses, Plant 1 and Plant 2. Plant 1 was completed in 1899 and is located underground. It is the first completely underground hydroelectric power plant ever built in the world.  

Further afoot is historic downtown Snoqualmie, which has a variety of shops and restaurants and is homebase for the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad. The Puget Sound Railway Historical Association owns and operates the railroad and offers seasonal scenic train rides through Snoqualmie Valley. 

Check out the railroad depot, as it’s part of the National Register of Historic Places and a city and county landmark. It is notable for being the longest continuously operating train depot in WA State. Inside, you can view railroad history exhibits in the former gentlemen’s waiting room and freight room. And in the former ladies’ waiting room is The Depot Bookstore, a railroad history-themed book and gift shop. 

Nearby, in Railroad Park, is the Centennial Log Pavilion, which houses an old-growth Douglas fir log beneath a preserved Weyerhaeuser Mill building. It’s a tribute to the area’s forest and logging heritage. And it’s definitely a popular roadside attraction!

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