SALISH Lodge & Spa - Snoqualmie, WA

Overlooking Salish Lodge and Snoqualmie Falls

I've been wanting to visit this place for the past couple years!  Set in the PNW mountains? Sign me up!

Now I just want to say I'm not truly a nature girl but I do care about the environment and the beauty of the trees and landscapes, not to mention the cool, fresh air!  So when I heard about this place, I told my husband we've got to do a weekend trip one day and I"m glad to say that the time has come!

We were coming up on our 17-year wedding anniversary and thought "WHY NOT?!"  So, I booked us a stay and am so glad we did.  Beautiful surroundings, stylish room, fun things for the both of us to do (i.e. poker for him, spa for me)  and the best part?  The place is only about 20 minutes away from our house.

Unfortunately (or, fortunately, depending on how you look at it), our kids didn't join us because we wanted some time to ourselves. My brother-in-law and his family live about a few minutes east of us so they came by to check up on the kids - ya know, to make sure they don't throw any wild parties while we're away.  HAHA!  If you do have kids, though, you can actually bring them along to stay.  We saw a bunch of families there so they definitely cater to all ages!

The SUITE Life

Hubs loving that fireplace

Upon walking into our suite, we noticed all the updated rustic touches right away.  My husband was loving it - "manly" but not so much that I wouldn't appreciate it (he knows my style well by now).  

Very "northwest contemporary" interior design - so classy!  Simple lines with a little bit of oomph in the details (metal casings, raw edge accessories and accent furniture, lighting fixtures to name a few...).  A nice neutral color palette with a touch of warmth in the pillow colors, wood tones, and dark bronze bathroom fixtures.  I was getting inspired by some of the elements that I immediately soaked everything in. 

The only thing I was disappointed about was that I didn't really like the view that we had.  I requested a room alongside the falls but we had trees obstructing our view...we could hear the rushing water as well as the mist but that was it  Still, it wasn't a deal-breaker for us.  It was so cold outside anyway that we didn't mind the obstruction so much. 

GOOD EATS

One of our favorite things to do when we go someplace new, is trying out the dining establishments at the facility or around the area.  We mainly dined at the Salish and were happy with both of their restaurants. 

Restaurant #1: The Attic

This is their casual restaurant, located on the 4th floor of their facility.  We hadn't eaten since lunch and left immediately after my husband got home from work.  By the time we had settled at our suite, we realized we were famished.  Since we were more dressed down, we decided to eat here on our 1st night. 

Choices of food weren't immense but, still, the selection was great.  I had a mushroom truffle mac & cheese and hubs had ribs.  Though considered "Large Plates", portions didn't seem overwhelmingly HUGE but I wasn't able to finish mine (maybe because it's a pasta dish).

Of course, we tried a few of their cocktails. My husband liked my choices better but they seemed too feminine for him to order.

​There were a few families and the ambiance was casual yet intimate. Children were present and noise volume was what you'd expect at a casual restaurant - a bit loud but not so much you can't hear your table mate(s) talk.

Restaurant #2: The DINING ROOM

Yes, this is the actual name of their second restaurant.  Serving breakfast with a casual vibe by day and fancier dining establishment by night...reservations are encouraged. You don't necessarily have to dress up but just don't dine in your schleppiest (is this even a word?) outfit.

We had a chance to eat breakfast here and were able to get ourselves a table by the window (since it was still pretty cold, the misty fog overtook most of the views).  Our waitress said that the fog usually lifts by early afternoon so we were a little bummed.

Food was tasty and we definitely felt satiated - enough so that we were good until dinner.

BONUS: They have a Salish tradition where they drizzle honey they harvested in their own backyard (so to speak) on your biscuits from high above. Our waitress was able to demonstrate it for us (there's something satisfying about it that I can't quite explain).

Traditions

We also had dinner here on the actual date of our anniversary (January 26th) and saw that multiple people were celebrating for the same reason.  Our set-up was actually pretty cute - the staff had rose petals strewn at our table and we were seated in the dim-lit section of their restaurant, complete with a wood-burning fireplace.  The crackling fire added to the romantic ambience. 

Overall, the ambiance was pleasant and the food was flavorful.  Good wine (Pinot Noir for me, Merlot for him), good food, and good company always kick the whole experience up a notch!

The FALLS

I actually got a clear shot!

Snoqualmie Falls is one of the most majestic sites here in the PNW.  I sometimes take this state for granted but the nature we have here is incredibly beautiful and it always keeps me grounded.  Learning to appreciate what we have at home is definitely a work-in-progress for us.

The last time I was at the falls was way back in high school and I feel like it's only gotten even more beautiful.   

LOTS of mist

Semi-clear view

 It was a bit hard to take a clear picture because of all the mist surrounding us.  We were able to sneak in a few pics but, mostly, many were filled with a fog-like haze and droplet particles in front of our face. 

A good-ish view of the majestic Snoqualmie Falls

The observation decks were somewhat crowded but people were respectful of others' need to take photos. Also, you're able to take your pets (I believe there’s a fee to pay when letting them stay with you in the hotel but definitely check with them before you book a room).

By the way...for those of you who end up bringing your pets along, PLEASE pick up after them. There were a couple of kids behind us who screamed that they accidentally picked up poop. GROSS.

MIST MIST MIST

And more MIST!

The SPA

So I didn't really take photos here because it's a place of tranquility and we're supposed to relax..  However, for the purpose of this blog, I was able to take a couple photos but then completely disconnected.  Besides I was the first and only client there that morning.  Shortly after, however, a bunch of people started to check in (and I was NOT going to be THAT girl).  

Compared to other spas I've been to, this spa is on the smaller side but was nice and cozy nonetheless.  Oh I should mention that most of these areas are co-ed (at least from my observation).  There's a relaxation room, a couple small showers, (1) sauna, (1) steam room, and (2) small heated pools.  I believe I heard the attendant mention a locker room but I ended up carrying my small bag with me.

Prices are comparable to some higher-end spas so I didn't find the costs too surprising.  There's a small room tucked away next to their check-in desk that houses their spa shop.  I was able to pick up a couple of cool new items. 

We made it 17 years baby!

Overall, we had a very relaxing experience.  It was nice to fully connect with each other for the weekend.  We talked about our future plans, our home life, our jobs (although, a bulk of our conversation was about our children).  It's nice to feel like it's just the two of us sometimes.

If you're interested in booking a stay, check out www.salishlodge.com/

~ XOXO, Mari