When I lived in Seattle, it seemed everyone had a story about , located atop Snoqualmie Falls some 30 miles east of the city. For some, it was an over-the-top wedding venue. For others, it was an upscale home base for a weekend of hiking, fly fishing, and escaping the city. The only common thread was that the guests always wanted to go back.
I have a few stories of my own, and to say I vouch for the place is an understatement. I sometimes dream about it—which could be attributed to the fact that it appeared in David Lynch’s hallucinatory TV series Twin Peaks, but likely has more to do with that dramatic setting. You could throw a Holiday Inn Express on those falls and people would flock to it.
Lucky for you, Salish is a special-occasion lodge done in a typically understated Northwest style. The 84 guest rooms have a warm, contemporary aesthetic, with jetted tubs, featherbeds, and a fireplace. Crack open your windows at night, and the falls become a giant white-noise machine to lull you to sleep.
The spa at Salish is a major draw for world-weary Seattleites (read: overworked Microsoft execs), who come for the therapeutic soaking pools and stay for the chemical-free skin treatments and heated river rock massages. As a bonus, aromatherapy is built into the spa experience thanks to cedar walls and a subtle eucalyptus scent that permeates the monastic setting.
When you’re good and unwound, head to The Dining Room for perfectly executed Northwest cuisine like the pan-seared wild king salmon with celery root, sweet corn velouté, gnocchi and peaches roasted with honey harvested from Salish’s in-house apiary.
So start planning (and, if I’m being honest, saving for) your own Salish story. It’s sure to be a memorable one.
The Details: Rooms start at $189, though check .