The parks of the Pacific Northwest contain cloud-scraping peaks, long stretches of untamed coast, and quiet islands where you can easily escape from the crowds. My suggestions here may vary in setting from rocky coastlines to vast forests, but all are secluded and scenic enough to be the setting for a perfect romantic weekend.
The Best Romantic Getaways: Cape Disappointment State Park, Washington
This 1,800-acre preserve is a patchwork of bluffs, beach, lakes, and old growth forest, complete with two historic lighthouses. It occupies a narrow peninsula on Washington’s southwestern tip, where the Columbia River joins the Pacific. And while may be the state’s most popular park, it’s virtually empty in the evenings when the crowds go home. Stay in one of the park’s yurts, which are roomier and more luxurious than a cabin or a tent. Rates start at $62 a night.
The Best Romantic Getaways: Olympic National Park, Washington
No national park in the country has a better collection of lodges within its boundaries than the vast Olympic National Park in Washington. Lake Quinault Lodge looks and feels like an old Adirondack Great Camp, Kalaloch Lodge is a cozy, weather-worn Northwestern legend, and the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort cabins draw people from across the West for their soaking pools and spa treatments. But the most appealing of all are the Roosevelt Cottages on the grounds of the nearly century-old . The four cottages, which sit on the shores of the glacially fed lake, are built with fireplaces in the main living areas and front doors that open onto lake and mountain views. Rates start at $199 per night.
The Best Romantic Getaways: Silver Falls State Park, Oregon
Niagara Falls has nothing on the dramatic (though smaller) cascades in . There are 10 falls in all within the 9,000-acre park, half of those more than 10 stories high. The eight-mile Trail of Ten Falls/Canyon Trail hiking loop descends into a thick temperate rainforest filled with Douglas fir and hemlock, and affords excellent views of each cascade. One-room cabins are available for $50 a night, and though there’s no running water in them, the rustic feel fits nicely with the park’s majestic beauty.