Best Northwest Lake Getaways: Find Rustic Comfort Less Than 3 Hours From Seattle
Deep in Olympic National Park, Lake Quinault has been drawing visitors for decades.
By Roddy Scheer August 15, 2017
This article originally appeared in the July 2017 issue of Seattle magazine.
The Lochaerie Resort is one of our 26 Best Lakeside Getaways in the Northwest.
This classic resort, along the quiet north shore of jewel-like Lake Quinault, has been hosting guests since it was built in the 1920s as a “hostelry” for rusticators from Seattle looking to get away from it all. Not much has changed since then. Each lake-facing cabin is a private and self-contained unit with a fireplace, private bathroom with shower, and a kitchen stocked with utensils and cookware (bring in your own food or dine out at one of the eateries on the south side of Lake Quinault). Two of the cabins are for couples only, while the remaining four can accommodate families or small groups.
With no Wi-Fi or hot tub, your best form of entertainment might be to paddle one of the resort’s canoes or kayaks on the lake in search of otters and sleep off the excitement in a hammock on the shore. Or follow one of the hiking trails right from Lochaerie around Lake Quinault on the hunt for big trees. After all, you’re in the middle of the so-called “Valley of the Giants,” where some of the biggest Sitka spruce, western red cedar and Douglas fir trees known to humankind are still thriving to this day.
GETTING THERE: Less than a three-hour drive from Seattle, on the southern part of the Olympic Peninsula and accessible via Aberdeen and U.S. Highway 101.
The Coordinates
Lochaerie Resort, Amanda Park, 638 North Shore Road; 360.288.2215. $165–$215/night depending on cabin and season.
Follow Us
Victoria, B.C.: A European-Inspired Getaway in Seattle’s Backyard
With gas prices soaring and flights canceled, a little Old World charm is just a boat ride away.
Skip the airport chaos and discover Victoria, B.C., a European-inspired getaway right in Seattle’s backyard. Explore castles, historic pubs, and high tea.
Every Day Is the Weekend in Carlsbad, California
Seven miles of shoreline and a come-as-you-are pace make this coastal city north of San Diego an easy escape.
It was the first night, first dinner, and our server arrived with the calm authority of a man who loves his job. He set down the ceviche and surveyed the room, with locals at every table and the ocean just blocks away, and said it like he was reporting the weather: “Every day is the…
Whitefish Has Range
James Beard-caliber dining, a thriving literary journal, and a bike ride along Glacier’s famous Going-to-the-Sun Road make this old Western Montana railroad town feel bigger than expected.
The first thing we notice at Herb & Omni is the room itself. Dark-beamed ceilings. Gilded mirrors clustered salon-style across the walls. Pendant lights that belong in a Milanese townhouse. The space feels warm, ornate, and transportive. Even the cocktail menu suggests expectations are about to be rearranged. Then the food arrives. A potato chip…
Summer Getaway: The Quiet Side of Jamaica
Perched above the sands of the island’s South Coast, Bluefields Bay is an idyllic destination that feels refreshingly off the beaten path.
Escape to Bluefields Bay Villas on Jamaica’s quiet South Coast. Discover an off-the-beaten-path luxury resort with private pools and personal chefs.