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Oh, baby! What a trip
There’s so much to do before a baby arrives: birthing classes to attend, work schedules to plan, so many things to buy. Is there even time to think about getting away? Yes, there is. A few quiet days to focus and mentally prepare for the marathon of infant care ahead may be just what the doctor ordered.
So, seek some relaxation before your family changes forever. Here are four creative ideas for a “babymoon” (plus one idea for life after baby!).
For the romantics: Snoqualmie Falls
There’s plenty of good reasons why Snoqualmie Falls is a classic choice for a babymoon. It feels a world away from the city, but is only a short drive from Seattle, and even less outdoorsy pregnant mamas will be fine taking the short hike to the bottom of the falls. (Of course, there’s no shame in driving between the lower lot and the observation deck up top — especially on wet days when the trail can be slippery.)
For couples, the beautiful falls are famous as a romantic getaway, but they’re deeply spiritual, too. The falls are sacred to the Snoqualmie people, who believe mist from the falls carries prayers to the creator. Could there be a better place to connect and release your wishes for the miracle you’re living?
Stay: The staff of the Salish Lodge is as attentive to new parents as it is to new lovers. The lodge’s one-night “Babymoon at Salish” package includes a room with rose petals sprinkled on the bed and sparkling cider, a special pregnancy pillow and a baby gift. Parents also receive two spa treatments and a $50 dining credit (consider ordering breakfast in bed).
Relax: In addition to its other offerings, the on-site Salish Spa has an entire maternity services menu, while visiting couples can spring for an in-room couples’ massage. If spas aren’t your style but you still want to do something special, contact the lodge’s “Romance Concierge,” Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D., at least a week before you go, and she’ll help you come up with the perfect plan.
Eat: The Salish Lodge specializes in Northwest cuisine, keeping bees for honey and growing its own herbs for the two on-site restaurants. Enjoy a romantic dinner in The Dining Room or a more casual meal in The Attic. Naturally, you’ll want to ask for one of the tables with a view of the falls — unless you decide to stay in and order room service.
Getting there: 6501 Railroad Ave. S.E., Snoqualmie. Located 30 minutes east of Seattle and Bellevue on Interstate 90 to the Snoqualmie Parkway.
For the introverts: the Olympic Peninsula
It’s easy to forget the Olympic Peninsula has more to offer than vampire tourism. In fact, people travel from all over the world to visit the peninsula. While a pregnant mama might pass on the more strenuous hikes or kayaking, there are still plenty of beaches, tide pools and walking trails to explore at her leisure. Find a collection of romantic spots along the Waterfall Trailor contact Experience Olympic to arrange a pregnancy-safe adventure in the national park.
Stay: Two classic choices: the babymoon packages at Lost Mountain Lodge in Sequim (room rate includes a one-hour massage and a special memento for baby) andAlderbrook Resort and Spa on Hood Canal (its spa features a “Maternity Menu”). For something a little bit off the beaten track, visit A Hidden Haven Bed and Breakfast near Port Angeles. Enjoy gentle walks with plenty of deer and bird sightings on the 20-acre property; the private cottages offer comfort in the form of deep, heart-shaped tubs and individualized décor.
Relax: Unlike Lost Mountain Lodge and Alderbrook Resort, Hidden Haven doesn’t have an on-site spa, but you can drive to Port Angeles and book an appointment at the local Renaissance Massage and Wellness.
Eat: Guests at Lost Mountain Lodge can order breakfast on site; the babymoon package includes a gift certificate for dinner at one of two restaurants in Sequim. Meanwhile, the restaurant at Alderbrook specializes in “shore to plate” local seafood. Stop for brunch on your way home at the eclectic Chestnut Cottage.
Getting there: Whether you take the ferry and drive U.S. Hwy. 101 (preferred) or drive all the way around on Interstate 5 and Hwy. 101, Port Angeles is just about three hours from Seattle.
For the artists: downtown Seattle
Few cities have an art scene as family friendly as Seattle’s, but let’s face it — you’re going to miss a lot of gallery openings and concerts in the next couple of years. So, get your fill ahead of time with an arts-focused weekend in downtown Seattle.
Start early with an afternoon at Seattle Art Museum, followed by a gallery walk around Pioneer Square (pro tip: Time your staycation for the First Thursday Art Walk for free fun) or a visit to Chihuly Garden and Glass at Seattle Center. Hear live music at one of dozens of downtown music venues catering to every taste, from the symphony at Benaroya Hall to rock at The Crocodile. Or check theSeattle Theatre calendar for just about any other kind of performance that you can think of, including plays, dance and opera.
Stay: Spend a stylish couple of nights at theKimpton Palladian in Belltown. Count on clawfoot tubs and pillow-top mattresses along with comfortably chic details such as throw pillows featuring pop culture icons. When you book, add fresh flowers from Pike Place Market or contact the hotel concierge for a more elaborate special arrangement.
Relax: Book a “Mother-to-Be Harmony Massage” from the hotel’s in-room spa services; only organic oils are used for this massage. If you really want to splurge, try the half-day “Mother’s Creative Journey” or the “Pacific Rim Journey” at nearby Ummelina International Day Spa.
Eat: Mothers-to-be don’t have to pass up happy hour at Chan. This Korean gastropub in Pike Place Market has a nonalcoholic, house-made drinks menu. Brunch on high-end comfort food in Kimpton Palladian’s on-site restaurant Shaker + Spear or keep things simple with an inexpensive sammie from Biscuit Bitch, which offers vegetarian and gluten-free biscuits in addition to the old-fashioned, gut-busting kind.
Getting there: If you live near downtown Seattle, leave the car at home and take the bus, call a car or try a taxi. Downtown Seattle is so much more fun when you don’t have to worry about parking.
For the studiers: Orcas Island
For those awaiting baby with a partner, you might want to reconnect before the new arrival pulls your attention away from one other. While many couples are satisfied with a nice dinner and a massage, some might want to give their relationship a seismic retrofit with a relationship retreat. Meet John and Julie Gottman. This pair of clinical psychologists specializing in family relationships offer science-based lessons for parents-to-be in several weekly sessions around the Puget Sound area. For those who also want a more scenic crash course, join a small group for a two-day, individualized couples’ retreat on Orcas Island ($8,200 per couple).
Stay: You may be working hard on your relationship, but you don’t have to abandon romance. Workshops are held at the Gottmans’ home while you stay nearby at one of Orca’s many romantic B&Bs. Turtleback Farm Inn gets rave reviews. The Gottmans’ event planner can help you arrange lodging and other logistics when you register.
Relax: In almost every direction you look on Orcas Island, there is a view that will melt your stress away, but if you want pampering, too, try Rosario Resort and Spa (itself a popular babymoon spot). Book a prenatal massage or try the adults-only therapeutic pool.
Eat: The Doe Bay Caféfeeds the soul as well as the body with slow-grown food, most of it on site. There’s often live music on weekends, while clothing-optional soaking tubs with a view of the bay provide relaxation in lieu of an after-dinner drink. Island Skillet, in Eastsound, cooks up a hearty home-style breakfast that’s big enough to share. Don’t forget to grab a treat for the ferry ride home at the nearby Brown Bear Bakery.
Getting there: Taking the ferry from Anacortes is a lot less stressful since it started taking reservations.
And for after baby arrives…
If bed rest or an early delivery means no prenatal babymoon, or if leaving an older child behind just doesn’t feel right, book a quiet weekend as a family.
Children younger than 4 stay and eat for free while kids 5–12 can be added to your reservation for just $27 per night at Sleeping Lady Resort in Leavenworth. The resort’s “play barn” has a grown-up billiards table as well as kid-friendly table tennis, board games and puzzles; a family hospitality room features a stage where kids can work out their wiggles; not to mention swimming pools, hiking trails (for every ability), tubing and snowshoe rentals that keep families active.
If your baby is still tiny and you want a quieter stay, bundle up for sleigh rides (substituted with hay rides in summer), tour the 2-acre organic garden that supplies the on-site restaurant, or simply relax in the resort library or hotel spa.
Oh, and a tip for after you’ve munched on the resort’s locally sourced cuisine: Stop at Leavenworth’s Taffy Shop to reward everyone for being so sweet.
Editor’s note: This article, first published in 2017, has been updated for 2019.
