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Great getaways close to home
This (very long) pandemic has prompted local families to explore nearby getaway destinations. Lucky for us, there are lots of places to see without ever leaving the Pacific Northwest.
We’ve rounded up seven more family-friendly getaway spots that Seattle-area families can easily drive to. It’s a tandem piece to go with our first edition of nearby family getaway spots. Visit them all!
One note: COVID-19 rules vary by city and county, and are frequently changing. Read up before you go. It’s also worth keeping in mind that some areas of Washington have different levels of vaccination and mask compliance. As always, you’ll need to assess your own family’s risk tolerance.
Use the arrows above the image to check out these nearby family getaway destinations, and snag a reservation for fall or winter.
Campbell’s Resort, Lake Chelan
Generations of Seattleites have idled away sunny weeks at Campbell’s Resort, built in 1901. It is perfect for families. There are two pools, a private sandy beach and a lake that’s actually warm enough for swimming in summer and early fall. Campbell’s is located in the town of Chelan, within easy walking distance of all the restaurants.
Both pools at the resort are open. The restaurant is open for in-person dining; reservations are strongly recommended. Family meal kits and takeout are also available.
A week before check-in, Campbell’s is asking every guest to answer four COVID-19-related questions. If the answer to any of them is yes, your reservation will be canceled without penalty. Staff members get a daily temperature check and use hospital-grade disinfectant to clean the resort.
Alderbrook Resort & Spa, Union
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Alderbrook is a gem of a Pacific Northwest resort.
My kids don’t care much for spas, but they love the indoor pool here (and the big jacuzzi tub we’ve had in our room). One side of the resort faces the water, and the other side faces a forest. Sit and watch the mist rising off Hood Canal. Relax. If it’s nice out, you can rent pedal boats, kayaks, floating tubes — even motor boats. Or go hiking on 5 miles of trails right on the resort property. Families can book an adventure package, which comes with s’mores for the whole family and a rock-painting kit for the kids.
In response to the pandemic, Alderbrook has increased cleaning protocols. Plexiglass barriers and hand-sanitizing stations have been installed. The restaurant is open for in-room dining. Guests can also order to-go meals to enjoy in their rooms or on the grounds.
Long Beach, Washington
The Long Beach Peninsula, about 3 hours from Seattle, is a beautiful 28-mile stretch of the Washington coast. This is a pretty place to relax and explore, in any season.
The main attraction here is digging your toes in the sand and going for long walks to breathe in the salty air. The 8.5-mile Lewis and Clark Discovery Trail is paved, perfect for bikes and strollers. Do as much or as little of the trail as you like: The path follows the dunes from The Breakers Resort over the Cape Disappointment headlands to Ilwaco Harbor. The Coastal Forest Loop Trail is a manageable distance for kids, just a half-mile or a one-and-a-half-mile loop through a forest. (Bring bug spray!)
Restaurants are open if you plan on eating out. Call ahead for reservations and indoor, outdoor and takeout availability.
The outdoor Columbia-Pacific Farmers’ Market in Long Beach is open on Fridays, and the Saturday Market at the Port of Ilwaco will continue through September. Museums, including the World Kite Museum and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, are once again open!
McMenamins’ Kalama Harbor Lodge and Anderson School
McMenamins’ Kalama Harbor Lodge is located about 30 miles north of Portland, but you’d swear you landed in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The Maui-themed lodge features tropical touches throughout and views of the Columbia River. Just opened in 2018, it’s one of the newer additions to the McMenamins’ chain of a dozen historic and unique hotels.
Kalama Harbor Lodge doesn’t have a pool, but McMenamins also operates the Anderson School in Bothell, which does. You can stay overnight, or just go for a swim. Its full-size saltwater pool is a toasty 88 to 90 degrees and it’s open to the public. Make a reservation for swimming.
Throughout the McMenamins properties, employees are required to wear masks and sanitize high-touch surfaces hourly. The hotels’ restaurants and bars are open with COVID-19 procedures in place.
Sun Mountain Lodge, Winthrop
Sky-high Sun Mountain Lodge is located near the Old West town of Winthrop, over the breathtaking North Cascades. Visitors can stroll kid-friendly trails directly from the resort, and families will enjoy all there is to do outdoors: hiking, mountain biking, boating and horseback riding in spring, summer and fall. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and fat biking are winter pursuits.
Additional amenities include an outdoor pool and hot tub.
Reach Winthrop over the North Cascades Highway (Highway 20) during summer and fall. It’s a four-hour drive from Seattle. Once Highway 20 closes due to snow, the trip takes a bit longer, requiring traveling Highway 2 or Interstate 90 toward Wenatchee.
Great Wolf Lodge, Grand Mound
Parents hate it, but kids LOVE it. Great Wolf Lodge is a 56,000-square-foot indoor water park with an arcade, a putt-putt course, an ice cream shop and more. Its themed lodge rooms especially appeal to kids and families.
Our local Great Wolf branch is located in Grand Mound, about 20 minutes south of Olympia. It’s open with safety procedures in place. Guest rooms include water park passes and a few other kids’ activities, but note that there are add-ons for which you may hear some begging. Good luck, parents.
Salish Lodge & Spa, Snoqualmie
Salish Lodge & Spa is a picturesque mountain retreat overlooking Snoqualmie Falls, just 30 minutes outside Seattle. It’s an easy drive with no ferries or mountain passes to wrangle. Lots of couples get married at this elegant lodge, and lots more come for a romantic kid-free getaway (you might need this after your Great Wolf trip.)
No chance of escaping without the kids? Splurge on a patio room, which includes a private patio with your own gas-burning firepit, and a few rooms feature an oversized soaking tub. S’mores and “swimming” sound like an epic vacation for my kids.
The fancy dining room is open, as is the more kid-friendly restaurant called The Attic. Takeout options are also available. The spa is open, but note that kids are not allowed in the spa.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in summer 2020, just as these destinations were reopening, and was just updated for 2021.
