Photo:
Credit: Suncadia
If you are feeling tired and worn out and need an escape, a trip to a relaxing spa with your girlfriends might just do the trick. In the spirit of sharing and self-care, we’ve gathered some of our favorite day (and overnight) spas in Seattle, and around the greater Puget Sound area, to help you recharge. As a friend recently pointed out "any place is good for a girls' getaway, because, guess what: No children.” These local havens have everything you need to add a little more oxygen to your oxygen mask.
Olympus Spa, Lynnwood and Tacoma
With the sole purpose of honoring women, the first branch of the Korean-inspired Olympus Spa opened about 17 years ago in the unlikely spot of South Tacoma Way. It became known around the region for its heavenly combination of services, pools and healing rooms in a spotless, women-only setting (hint: a great spot for a girls' getaway day). A bigger, glossier Lynnwood location opened about a decade ago. Both spaces were created for women to receive healing, relax and let go of everyday worries and stress.
Olympus is known for its many infrared-energy rooms that heat the body’s core. Each room combines different earth elements, including charcoal, salt or sand, to provide benefits such as decreasing joint stiffness, relieving muscle spasms and improving circulation.
Find distinct services at each location. Lynnwood offers organic facials and nail treatments while only Tacoma offers cupping massage therapy and the nokudu facial.
A signature service is the invigorating yet relaxing Korean body scrub (like getting a massage and new skin in one treatment), which clients often combine with Korean Body Moisturizing services that include warm olive oil, milk and honey. The on-site Korean cafés serve delicious, healthy food; there is also a tearoom.
Cost: A day pass is $53 (Lynnwood) or $48 (Tacoma); services are an additional fee. Reservations are required for spa services.
Book a deal: On the day of your birthday (verified with a valid I.D.), receive half off the day pass. Also, look for the membership/day-pass special: access to the spa every day (for the number of months purchased) and 5 percent off services. Join the Facebook page to receive updates.
Quoteworthy: “Everyone is issued the same poofy striped hat like a cloth shower cap and a short robe. So there is a weird sense of anonymity. In the pool area, everyone abandons their robe but not their cap and you see real naked women who have curves and bumps and hair and scars. ... I always leave there feeling stripped down of all the bad body image, along with all the dirt they rub right out of your pores!” — Gretchen Swanson
Suncadia, Cle Elum
Cross over to the sunny side of the mountains for a stay at Suncadia, and you’ve hit the jackpot when it comes to both places to stay and outing varieties both on- and off-site. Rent a fully furnished vacation home that easily accommodates five to 20 people; book a lodge guest room with river and mountain views; or select a room at the more intimate inn or a trailhead condominium.
Pick what works for relaxation for your girls' getaway group. Glade Spring Spa is an outdoor and indoor sanctuary featuring creeks, hot mineral baths and firepit areas, along with a private women’s garden that includes a hot mineral bath, sauna, treatment deck and lounges. On-site, play golf at one of two courses, swim, hike, bike, run fish or ride horses. (During winter, enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skiing and tubing.) Pick from a variety of dining options, including home-cooked comfort foods at The Stovehouse or have an artisan meal crafted with local inspiration brought straight to your room from Portals.
Close by, Cle Elum and Roslyn are fun to bop around; there are fun art galleries and junk shops and they also boast a few good microbrew pubs and BBQ places. Head for breakfast at the Roslyn Cafe or listen to music and dance at the fun historic bar The Brick.
Cost: Prices vary by season and weekday/weekend stays. Spa services include massages, facials, body treatments and more.
Book a deal: Book directly through the website for access to all the amenities, discounts, parking and more. Check out the special offers and packages as well.
Quoteworthy: “I’m a mountain girl, so I use Suncadia as a base camp for outdoor activity nearby. I love booking a day horseback ride through Three Peak Outfitters in Cle Elm; the Roslyn Museum; Roslyn’s Summer Market; and The Caboose Bar and Grill. If you just want to relax, Suncadia offers so much that it would be hard to leave and go anywhere else. The outside pool is really nice, especially early in the morning when nobody else is around.” — Suezy Proctor
Willows Lodge, Woodinville
You’ll need more than a one weekend getaway to visit more than 100 wineries and tasting rooms in Woodinville wine country, many within walking or biking distance of Willows Lodge. With 84 guestrooms, it has a cozy Northwest lodge feeling. Gorgeous outdoor gardens and indoor public spaces featuring artwork by Northwest Coast Native American artists, including NW Haida art, round out the unique feel.
Willows is seemingly designed to spark long conversations with friends, either by the fireplace inside or outside in one of the many sustainably tended gardens that line the garden walk. Book services at the intimate, full-service spa, which includes an outdoor hot spa and a steam sauna. On the grounds, Barking Frog is a top-notch restaurant specializing in regional cuisine. Next door, find The Herbfarm (book months ahead).
Beyond tasting wine, beer and other spirits, go for a hot-air balloon ride, bike, hike, or walk the paths in and around the lodge; the Sammamish River Trail is a stone’s throw away.
Cost: Accommodation rates fluctuate with the season and day of the week. They hover around $400 or more, with the lowest rates offered midweek during the off-season. Find spa prices online.
Book a deal: Monitor the website and Facebook for occasional promotions. Good deals can be had during midweek and off-season dates, so plan ahead.
Quoteworthy: “This place is in a league of its own. I don’t know if I’ve ever had such wonderful service at any hotel anywhere. From the moment you walk in, you feel well taken care of — an extra treat for us women, I think, as so many of us spend all our time taking care of others — but it is also unpretentious and unfussy.” — Kerry Coburn
Semiahmoo Resort, Golf, and Spa, Blaine
Semiahmoo takes its name from the Salish tribal term meaning “half-moon,” and the tribe that once inhabited the spit that separates Semiahmoo Bay and Drayton Harbor. While the golf resort first opened in Blaine’s Drayton Harbor in 1994, this 212-room resort underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation in 2013. This place draws people looking to explore the gorgeous landscape with its tide pools, estuaries and waterways that made the Audubon Society’s list as one of Washington state’s top birding destinations. Look for bald eagles, blue herons, owls, many species of ducks and more.
This resort contains Semiahmoo County Park, which encompasses more than 300 acres of tideland and space for walking, biking, rollerblading, kayaking, clamming, sculpting sand, flying kites and picnicking. There are sand volleyball courts, and golfers will love the award-winning Semiahmoo Golf & Country Club. Exercise or relax at the health club that includes an outdoor heated pool and an indoor hot tub. The full-service spa includes a botanical radiance facial, heated Himalayan salt stone massage (available October–June) and more relaxing treatments. Enjoy a bite to eat at Packers Kitchen + Bar or the Great Blue Heron Grill.
Take advantage of the Plover, a historic seasonal ferry that travels to downtown Blaine. Or venture abroad, since Canada is very close; Vancouver is a mere 35 miles away.
Cost: Accommodation costs can be found on the website. Spa services range between $125 and $150 per 60 minutes of service.
Book a deal: Seasonal promotions can be found online.
Quoteworthy: “Semiahmoo Resort is the perfect relaxing escape for a girls’ weekend away. Mornings can be spent wandering along the quiet beach, searching for seals or bald eagles. Evenings can be spent watching the awe-inspiring sunset over Semiahmoo Bay while relaxing in one of the Adirondack chairs with a glass of wine in hand ... And don’t forget to try out the Drayton Harbor oysters, which are harvested right from the waters you are overlooking.” — Amanda R.
Yuan Spa, Bellevue and Kirkland
Owner Z Zhang left her career as an electrical engineer in China many years ago to come to the United States, to offer the art of Chinese healing to Americans, whom she admired for their spirit of healthy living. Her spa combines traditional Asian healing therapies with Pacific Northwest sensibilities.
This 8,000-square-foot oasis is a green spa experience. Guests start their treatment with the tradition of Chinese bathing in a hydrotherapy space with both hot and cool sea-salt pools and therapeutic sauna and steam rooms (guests wear swimsuits). Eastern and Western therapies commingle as clients enjoy massage therapy, advanced skin care and herbal body treatments. Clients love the signature Chinese body scrub where the therapist uses traditional Asian scrub mitts; and the signature massage, which is a blend of Chinese Tuina acupressure, Thai stretching and Lomi Lomi massage.
Cost: Hydrotherapy starts at $59 for one hour, and reservations are required. Other spa treatments include facials, body wraps and treatments, massage, and hand and foot treatments. Prices for services vary, (massages start at $155) see the website for details.
Book a deal: Think you will be heading here on a regular basis? Check out the membership options for a deal.
Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort, Leavenworth
Located minutes from Leavenworth, Sleeping Lady offers beautiful accommodations and a luxurious spa that, along with Saturday morning yoga and a recently renovated year-round outdoor pool and hot tub, will melt your stress away. Guest rooms are arranged in clusters, and have special touches like a heated towel rack, premium toiletries, plush robes and hand-hewn log beds. There are eleven cabins available for larger groups: The Eyrie can accommodate two and has a whirlpool bath and private deck; and the Library suite is a one-bedroom cabin with a pull out queen sized sofa sleeper, perfect for a best-friends weekend retreat.
Bonus: A portion of every dollar you spend at Sleeping Lady helps benefit the Icicle Fund, a non-profit organization founded by Sleeping Lady’s founder, Harriet Bullitt. The Icicle Fund supports other local North Central Washington organizations whose work aligns with Fund’s mission of engaging people with arts, history and the natural environment.
Start your day with fresh coffee and a hearty breakfast at O’Grady’s Pantry. Next, head to the Aspen Leaf Day Spa for ultimate relaxing time. You’ll find a variety of wonderful services, including their signature jade treatments. They also offer treatment packages that combine services for hours of relaxation. End your perfect day with a seasonal cocktail at the Grotto Bar, where you can sit around the outdoor fire pit and relax with friends.
Cost: Room and cabin prices vary depending on room size and the season. Spa treatment prices vary, a 60-minute massage starts at $160 and a 60-minute facial starts at $175. The spa packages range from $335–$460.
The Society Hotel, Bingen
Located on the Columbia Gorge (with another location in Portland) this hotel and spa is a bit of a drive from the Seattle area. But if you are looking for a beautiful retreat, it’s worth the trip!
The spa and bathhouse feature an indoor saltwater soaking pool, an outdoor hot pool, a cold plunge pool and a cedar sauna. The warm pool is a lovely 95 degrees and the cold plunge pool is a brisk 54 degrees.
Spa treatments are limited to facials at this time, but they hope to offer massage in the future. Enjoy a 50 or 80-minute facial with all organic products with the option to add an eye, lip or wax treatment and feel all your stress melt away.
If you find yourself needing a snack, they have you covered. There is a small café in the spa that serves a selection of cold brew coffee, kombucha on tap, CBD sodas, hot tea and La Croix. For a wider selection of food and beverages, head to the Lobby Café.
All ages are welcome, though it is recommended that children under 6 years old do not use the hot tub. But don’t worry, there are adult only hours in the evening.
Appointments are required for hotel guests and those not staying at the hotel. You can book an appointment online.
Cost: Facials range from $135–$185, and the add on treatments start at $20. A walk-in spa reservation is $30 for one hour.
Doe Bay Resort & Retreat, Orcas Island
Located in a stunning setting on Orcas Island, Doe Bay wows its guests with the best kind of enchantment: gorgeous surroundings from the top of nearby Mt. Constitution to the tip of Meditation Point. This waterfront resort resides on 38 acres that people often describe as magical, and this uniqueness extends beyond the range of lodging options, which includes camping, yurts, domes, cabins and the Retreat House.
“The magic is in the Doe Bay culture, our employees and the special demographic from which we draw. Families and people of all ages love Doe Bay, but as anyone who has been here will note, Doe Bay is a place for artists and the young — or, more appropriately, the young at heart,” said General Manager River Augenstein.
Don’t miss the inspiring view of Otters Cove from the creekside spa that features clothing-optional hot soaking tubs and a cedar sauna. People rave about the waterfront Doe Bay Café, where much of the food is sourced from the on-site farm and other island purveyors. Or opt for a massage in an on-site treatment room.
Cost: Rates depend on the season and day of the week. You can camp, stay in a yurt or an unheated dome with no bed and rent a cabin or lodge in the Retreat House ($1,023 nightly for a summer weekend). There’s a wide array of prices; book early and consider an off-season stay.
Book a deal: To find a deal, follow Doe Bay on Facebook or Twitter, or just call the front desk and ask for current promotions.
Quoteworthy: “The hot pools are set on a lovely forested deck. The clothing-free option is very chill; go nude if you want, but many people don’t. My massage was super-relaxing and special — my masseuse chanted to me! The café is not to be missed, for as many meals as you can manage. In the summer, there is often live music in the café during evenings and lodging ranges from modest shared housing to newer private cabins. Some of the lodging is even pet-friendly. And the view will completely cleanse you.” — Natalie Singer-Velush
Photo credit: Doe Bay
The Inn at Langley, Whidbey Island
Longtime Whidbey islanders Paul and Pam Schell build this inn in 1989. They loved the tranquility of the site and that it is a transition point, where the forest meets the sea. “We always say that we are a retreat, not a resort. We blend styles of the American Arts and Crafts movement with the inns of northern Japan, and believe in design not decoration. Every room has a water-facing view with a private deck,” said General Manager Matt Costello, who is also the chef of the inn’s highly acclaimed restaurant.
Off site, partake in whale watching and kayak tours; visit beaches; fish, crab; ride horses; visit wineries, cheesemakers and farmers markets; and take in local art created by exceptional artists in many mediums.
Cost: Accommodation prices can be found on the website. The range for spa services is wide, with massages starting at $160.
Book a deal: The best rates are Sunday through Thursday in spring. Watch the website for special offerings.
Quoteworthy: “The spa there was so lovely. You take a walk along this outdoor boardwalk to get there and it’s right next to the water. You can do a nice steam with a friend before the massage. My massage was possibly my best ever.” — Jess Thomson
Photo credit: The Inn at Langley
The Ladies Room, Seattle
Located in the space previously occupied by Ladywells spa in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood, The Ladies Room offers hydrotherapy through a variety of soaking pools, saunas and a steam room. The pools range from a 103 degree hot soaking pool to a 56 degree cold plunge pool and waterfall. In order to allow guests maximum relaxation, The Ladies Room is a silent spa.
You can book a massage, facial or body scrub for maximum relaxation and rejuvenation. Reservations are always required for the spa treatments. Walk-ins for a spa-pass only (which includes use of soaking tubs, sauna, steam and relaxation room for two hours) can often be accommodated Tuesday–Thursday.
The Ladies Room welcomes all individuals who identify as female, and all genders are welcome every Wednesday. The spa is tops optional and swimwear bottoms are required at all times.
Cost: A two-hour spa-pass is $60 and includes use of soaking tubs, sauna, steam and relaxation room. Other spa treatments can be purchased individually on the website.
Book a deal: Save $10 on your spa-pass on All Genders Wednesday. You can also save $10 when you add a treatment onto your spa-pass.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published a few years ago, and updated in 2024.
