Romantic Northwest lodges

Oh, winter. Don’t you wish you could pack everything up and head to a secluded lodge in the woods and cozy up by the fire with your love to stay warm? If a Pacific Northwest winter mountain lodge retreat is beckoning you and your significant other, you are in luck, because I’ve got the lowdown. Here are three Northwest luxury lodge retreats just hours from Seattle for a romantic winter weekend away. Together, they represent some of the best hotels in the northwestern part of the United States.

01

Suncadia Resort

Suncadia Resort is the ultimate luxury mountain lodge getaway for couples and families. I’ve written about how Suncadia is a great mountain retreat for families in any season, but my husband and I would not hesitate to hit the road and spend the weekend just the two of us for a romantic weekend at this resort. Suncadia has it all, the full service Glade Spring Spa, Swiftwater Cellars Winery, and really good food. Suncadia is a no-brainer for fanning the flame of romance in the cold of winter.

How to spend a romantic weekend in Suncadia: Arrive at Suncadia on a Friday, check into a one-bedroom suite. Unpack and open up the windows to breathtaking views of the mountains and the Cle Elum River below. Dine at Swiftwater Cellars, and for dessert, have s’mores by the fire. Wake and spend the morning at Glade Spring Spa, followed by an afternoon ice-skating and snowshoeing through Suncadia’s snowy trails. After one more dinner out at the lodge, head back to snuggle in your room before departing in the morning to greet the kids after some much needed “mom and dad time.”

02

Sun Mountain Lodge

Sun Mountain Lodge has been calling me for years, but we’ve yet to make the trip. Why? Winthrop feels so far away, and during winter I worry about pass closures. In truth, the place isn’t that far; the lodge is just on the northeast side of Lake Chelan, in the central part of Washington State. Friends who have made the four-hour trek say the place is totally worth the effort to get there.

Here’s how to spend a romantic weekend at Sun Mountain Lodge: This destination resort has the prestigious recognition as a Four Diamond Resort. Leaving late morning from Seattle, arrive at Sun Mountain Lodge in the afternoon, check into your room, grab something to eat at the Wolf Creek Bar & Grill before turning in for a good night’s sleep. In the morning, after some hot coffee and a hearty breakfast in bed, take off for a day at the Sun Mountain Lodge, or the North Cascades Basecamp snowshoe tour. That afternoon, cozy up by the fire in a thick terrycloth bathrobe before heading to the spa for a massage. A great dinner that evening would make for a very relaxing weekend away.

03

Skamania Lodge

Growing up in Oregon, I often take for granted the natural beauty that the Columbia River Gorge affords. The historic Skamania Lodge sits on the Washington side of the river and offers spectacular views of the the Gorge. It also is very private, thanks to a thrush of surrounding evergreens. It’s been years since our last visit to Skamania, but this beautiful lodge is steeped in romance and makes a perfect getaway for a romantic weekend together.

Here’s how to spend a romantic weekend at Skamania Lodge: Jump in the car and head south on I-5. At Portland, go east 45 minutes on 1-84 along the Columbia River Gorge to Skamania Lodge. The final leg of the drive is so beautiful, you might get lost in conversation along the windy river highway. The next morning, after a leisurely breakfast and coffee, bundle up for an afternoon hike and then hit the Water Leaf Spa for a “Four Hands and Two Hearts,” 80-minute relaxation couples massage. After a late-afternoon nap, enjoy a good dinner and quiet conversation over pan seared diver scallops and braised lamb shanks, savoring the quiet getaway together.

How would you spend a romantic Northwest lodge escape this winter?