A Weekend at the Salish Lodge – Snoqualmie, WA

October 2023

We were supposed to go truck bed tent camping this weekend. But then the weather forecast called for freezing temperatures and snow. We also got our updated COVID vaccines at Costco on Friday, which rendered my left arm sore and unusable for the weekend. It seemed like a much better idea to cancel the campground reservation, and instead hole up at the Salish Lodge in Snoqualmie for 2 nights of memory foam mattress and plush feather bedding, gas fireplaces and spa showers, center cut sirloin dinner and Black Manhattans.

We weren’t expecting much. The clientele is what you would expect: harried Seattleites trying to relax 45 minutes away from town in “the country.” The spa, including the hot tub, is reservations only and was completely booked up. And it did take almost 2 hours for room service to deliver said Black Manhattan, which was made with sweet vermouth, thus making it just a regular Manhattan. Yet I had a wonderful time.

The Salish Lodge is a surprise favorite among all the resorts that are within 2-3 hours of home. The rooms have a more comfortable layout, and are quieter, than at Sun Mountain in Winthrop. The food is much better too. It’s easier to book than The Post Hotel in Leavenworth, so ideal for a last minute get-away or girls weekend. And it’s an easy 1 mile walk on a protected paved trail to the town of Snoqualmie, which is cute and has a variety of additional dining options. I can recommend Gianfranco Ristorante Italiano for its home-y atmosphere, excellent beef short rib and Spaghetti di Mare, and pillow-y tiramisu.

The property is perched at the top of Snoqualmie Falls, and while “river view” rooms may not actually see the waterfall, it’s a pleasant walk to the rim viewpoint, as well as down to the bottom of the Falls. There is a well-maintained park, and the trail is well-marked with educational signs about the Native peoples, the hydroelectric power harnessed from the water, and the flora and fauna of the area. It can get uncomfortably crowded in the early afternoon, especially on weekends. If you stay at the Lodge though, it’s lovely to visit the park early in the morning or late in the evening, when you can have the Snoqualmie Falls to yourself. The best time to visit the park and trail, in my opinion, is at sunset when the sun is behind you while you view the Falls.

Possibly the best part of visiting the west side in an electric vehicle: Popeyes at North Bend and tailgating with my fried chicken and biscuits by the fast-charging station. But alas! Popeyes is closed. Unspeakable tragedy! After much weeping and gnashing of teeth, we had burgers and a vanilla malt shake at Twin Pines Drive In in Cle Elum, WA instead. It was delightful. But not Popeyes.

October 29, 2023