Nearby Seattle Romantic Getaways for Parents

February, of course, is that month — the month when, for reasons both historic and Hallmark-driven, it is decreed that we be romantic. Or that we at least organize a real, babysitter-and-reservation night out for dinner. But one night out is a paltry deposit in the bank of romance and reconnection. So this year we challenged ourselves to be your accomplice in planning not just a night out, but a weekend out.

We’ve pulled together a guide for four kinds of getaways, most of which you can do within an hour and a half of Seattle/Tacoma — close enough to rush home if you need to, but far enough to truly get away.

Treehugger getaway

It’s harder to get closer to a tree than Treehouse Point, a one-of-a-kind inn only two miles from I-90 in Issaquah/Fall City. In the forest on their property, owners Pete and Judy Nelson have handcrafted five unique tree houses, which include touches such as two-story windows, skylights, and queen- and king-size beds. Though the tree house getaway is not for everyone — certain amenities, like true bathrooms, are at ground level — if you like your rejuvenation and romance on the rustic side, it’s hard to beat. (“We call them little love shacks,” says Judy.)

Romantic spots for urbanites

Are the two of you city lovers who long for a true night out on the town? Book a weekend at one of Seattle’s boutique hotels and use it as home base for a whirlwind downtown itinerary.

Picks for lodging are the charming Fairmont Olympic Hotel; ParentMap reader favorite Inn at the Market; the warm and ultramodern Hotel Ändra, where you can order from a Tom Douglas restaurant for room service; or — for the more budget conscious — Pensione Nichols, a European-style bed-and-breakfast that’s a croissant’s throw from Pike Place Market.

After checking in, poke around the Market or the art museum, and then walk along the water to Olympic Sculpture Park. Treat yourselves to a pre-dinner drink at one of the newer, hipper bars, such as Bathtub Gin, a tiny, speakeasy-style loung. Book a joint spa experience at Banya 5, a Russian spa near Seattle Center. Multitask by drinking wine while watching a movie at the very grown-up Big Picture Movie Theater in Belltown.

Foodie retreats

Remember that New Year’s resolution about taking a cooking class together, the one after the one about more getaways? Here to help are local hotels that offer high-quality cooking classes. Auberge Edge of Seattle Inn is a French-country-inn-style bed-and-breakfast tucked away in Woodinville wine country. It offers a weekend getaway combined with a French regional dinner cooking class given by notable local chefs.

Just a short drive from the Winslow ferry on Bainbridge Island is Farm Kitchen, a lovely 8-acre organic farm with a professional kitchen and a guest house that sleeps 10. Wake up on Sunday and spend the afternoon learning important relationship skills such as how to bake rustic bread before heading home. Check for discounts on combining a cooking class with a stay.

Snow bunny getaways

Is your ideal getaway a week exploring the Methow Valley’s renowned cross-country-ski trail system? Get some of that magic closer to home at Suncadia, the all-season resort just 90 minutes from Seattle, which has seven miles of snowshoe/ski trails onsite, a skating rink and a full-service spa. Or head to Ashford, Wash., near the entrance to Mount Rainier National Park, where you can explore 50 miles of ski trails maintained by the Mount Tahoma Trails Association.

Two favorites for lodging around Ashford are Deep Forest Cabins, handcrafted, private cabins built on 20 acres of forest, each with its own hot tub; and Wellspring Spa and Retreat, with a lovely forested setting. It boasts lodging options including log cabins and a tree house, two outdoor hot tubs, massage rooms and homey touches such as breakfast baskets.

Additional fab getaways for lovebirds

Woodinville’s Willows Lodge gets high marks for proximity, services and cuisine — it’s home to both the Barking Frog restaurant and the renowned Herbfarm.

For off-season beachcombing pleasures, head to Alderbrook Resort on Hood Canal, which has a well-appointed spa and many nearby activities; or make the short drive to often-overlooked Camano Island to stay at the Camano Inn, a waterfront B&B with a private deck off each room.

Finally, farther afield are two gems that are worth the extra drive: Sleeping Lady Resort outside of Leavenworth, which won ParentMap’s 2011 Golden Teddy Award for best parent getaway; and The Willows Inn, a Lummi Island “farm resort” with a restaurant mentioned in a New York Times list of 10 restaurants that are “worth a plane ride.”

Elisa Murray, ParentMap’s Out & About editor, is long overdue for a getaway of any kind.