Cozy up in the Pacific Northwest

Autumn and early winter are ideal times to cozy up in the Pacific Northwest. Whether poking around the shops and galleries of the small, artsy seaside town of Langley or watching the waves roll in on the wild side of Vancouver Island, snag a long weekend and chill.

Here are six inns and lodges that all evoke the spirit of the Pacific Northwest. Curl up with a good book, pour a glass of local wine and toast one of our glorious seasons.
Run of the River, Leavenworth, Washington

RUN OF THE RIVER INN AND REFUGE, LEAVENWORTH, WASHINGTON
No matter what the season, Run of the River always feels right. Its log cabin chic architecture and furnishings are a refreshing contrast to the Bavarian style buildings in downtown Leavenworth. Located on the Icicle River, with the snow-capped craggy peaks of the Enchantments hovering high above, the six-suite inn is the perfect refuge for a bit of rustic romance. The adjoining Ravenwood Lodge opened last year, and the private log retreat features a carved spiral staircase, river rock fireplace and whirlpool tub, full kitchen/living room and a luxurious loft bedroom and bath. Step outside onto your deck in the morning, wrapped up in one of the inn’s cozy robes – breathe in the fresh, mountain air with a cup of fresh brewed coffee. Or maybe type a note or poem on the old-fashioned typewriter in each room. Innkeepers Monty and Karen Turner know and love the area, and will provide you with maps and suggestions of where to roam. And they’ll start your day right with a yummy breakfast in the main room of the inn.
Knob Hill Inn, Sun Valley, Idaho

KNOB HILL INN, KETCHUM, IDAHO
Knob Hill Inn is located in Sun Valley, America’s first destination ski resort. Situated in a bucolic setting within walking distance to downtown Ketchum, the Relais & Chateaux Euro-style inn has stunning views of Bald Mountain, along with the Sawtooth and Boulder Mountain ranges. The 26 rooms, some with wood burning fireplaces, all have balconies with mountain views and feature Austrian stained glass windows and painted armoires. Spacious bathrooms are marble tiled with oversized tubs and separate showers. Knob Hill Inn Restaurant specializes in Alpine cuisine and French country specialties. The formal dining room is awash in pastel colors and features Frette linens, bone china and crystal stemware. Ketchum’s public bus stops in front of the inn and provides service to the ski lifts of Sun Valley or to Ketchum and Elkhorn for shopping and dining. Two golf courses, including the 18-hole championship course at Sun Valley Resort, are located nearby. A full breakfast is included.
Water Street Inn, Silverton, Oregon
WATER STREET INN BED & BREAKFAST, SILVERTON, OREGON Silverton is touted as Oregon’s Garden City, and is also the home of the ten-year old Oregon Garden. The 80-acre botanical garden features the only house in the state designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. This historical community on the banks of Silver Creek is home to art galleries, antique shops and restaurants. One of the more plush and historical places to stay is the Water Street Inn. Originally opened as the Hotel Wolfard, the 1890s hostelry was once a bordello. Today, the inn features five elegant rooms, all with private baths. A tasty breakfast is served in the main floor dining room every morning at 9 AM. The inn is located just blocks away from the downtown area. Pick up a walking map and tour the town’s murals. The project started in 1992 and today there are nearly a dozen murals telling the history of Silverton. A good choice for dinner is The Silver Grille, specializing in Willamette Valley cuisine and seasonal ingredients.

The Inn at Langley, Whidbey IslandTHE INN AT LANGLEY, WHIDBEY ISLAND, WASHINGTON I’ve stayed at The Inn at Langley on two occasions. That may seem decadent, since it’s just down the hill from where my husband and I have lived since 1975. But who says you can’t get away in your own hometown? Built in 1989, the inn’s 26 Asian-Northwest inspired guest rooms all have water views of Saratoga Passage, outdoor porches, jetted bathtubs and fireplaces. Also on site is Spa Essencia, where the Retreat & Transform package lives up to its name with a steam, facial with aroma wrap and a 45-minute full body massage. Chef Matt Costello offers a continental breakfast every morning in the open kitchen/dining room, featuring a double-sided river rock fireplace. On Friday-Sunday evenings he prepares a six-course savory dinner featuring locally and regionally grown products. Best of all, the town of Langley is right outside your door, featuring art galleries, cafes, classy shops and a charming one-screen movie house called The Clyde Theatre, celebrating its 70th anniversary.
Fairholme Manor, Victoria, BC

FAIRHOLME MANOR INN, VICTORIA ON VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC
The plush, six-room Fairholme Manor Inn is a century-old Italianate mansion nestled in Victoria’s Rockland area, home to stately mansions and well-groomed lawns and gardens. The Olympic Grand and Fairholme Grand suites both feature wood-burning fireplaces and king-size beds. In the Olympic Grand, you’ll also enjoy a private sunroom and deck while Fairholme Grand’s spacious spa room includes a double-jetted tub and palm trees. Nearby is the 1890s Craigdarroch Castle, a towering Victorian mansion open to the public. The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is also an easy walk, with its impressive Asian collection and garden (home to the only authentic Japanese Shinto shrine in North America). Victoria’s restaurant scene is impressive, whether you’re dining on West Coast cuisine and BC wines in Café Brio’s deep-hued candlelit room or having steak frites at the small French bistro Brasserie l’ecole. And then there are those memorable breakfasts by gracious innkeeper Sylvia Main.
Tofino, Vancouver Island
LONG BEACH LODGE RESORT, TOFINO, VANCOUVER ISLAND Tofino is a funky little town on Clayoquot Sound, located on the west side or “wild side�? of Vancouver Island. The perfect place to hunker on down for winter storm watching is Long Beach Lodge Resort. The board and batten and shingled inn features 40 rooms in the main lodge and 20-two bedroom cottages nestled in the woods. The Great Room is just that — great. Its massive stone fireplace, high ceilings and cozy furniture make it a welcome spot for a late afternoon glass of Okanogan Valley’s Quail’s Gate wine or a casual dinner by the fire. Sign up for a lesson with Pacific Surf School or maybe book a hot stone massage at Sacred Stone Wellness Studio. Bring your wet weather gear and pack an umbrella – then hit the beach for a walk along Cox Bay. The lodge’s restaurant serves an array of fresh, regional cuisine and features an eclectic wine list. After all those indulgences, plan to hit the hay early, leaving your balcony door open to sleep to the sound of the ocean. That’s nightlife in Tofino.

All photos, except for Knob Hill Inn, by Sue Frause.

2 Responses to Cozy up in the Pacific Northwest

  1. Jake says:

    West Coast Wilderness Lodge (on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia) definitely deserves consideration. Luxury accommodations, unforgettable food and the best wilderness adventures in the entire province. Imagine traveling forty miles by zodiac up to Princess Louisa Inlet — an inlet 500 feet wide, surrounded by mountains 6000 feet high. Glaciers all around and more waterfalls than you can count. http://www.wcwl.com

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