If you’re looking to get away but don’t want to venture too far from the city, look no further than Salish Lodge & Spa. Located just 40 minutes east of Seattle, this is the perfect spot for an overnight or weekend trip. Overlooking Snoqualmie Falls, Salish Lodge is quaint and beautiful, and you are guaranteed to have a memorable stay. They have every little detail down to a tee, from the welcome cocktail upon arrival, to the cozy robes and fireplace in your room. They even have dog-friendly rooms that come with a private patio leading out to a walking trail, which made it easy to bring our pup with us on our trip!

The beloved Salish Lodge is part of Snoqualmie history. It began as an eight-room inn built in 1916 as a rest stop for travelers, and quickly became famous for its Country Breakfast, which nourished visitors before they journeyed over the mountain pass. Today, the lodge is proudly owned by the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, and continues to offer some of the best food and service that you will ever experience. 

With food being my greatest passion in life, my number one priority was checking out The Dining Room, Salish’s absolutely stunning restaurant that overlooks the falls and the Snoqualmie River. We were seated in a private room for just the two of us, and were immediately greeted with a glass of champagne. The rest of the meal was just as luxurious, with dishes like smoked salmon, mozzarella burrata, lobster pappardelle, and Alaskan halibut. Salish’s Pacific Northwest cuisine with locally sourced ingredients makes for an unforgettable meal. 

Salish also produces their own honey on site! Their apiary currently yields 2,400 pounds of honey per year, and you can be sure to find it featured in many of their menu items. If you love cocktails as much as I do, try the Dale Cooper—made with gin, lemon clove & cardamom infused Salish honey, and Salish dry honey cider. Yum. 

After dinner, we headed back to our room to relax for the evening. Having our own private fire pit on our patio provided the perfect setting to sit back with a glass of wine from Terra Blanca, a vineyard located in Washington’s Columbia Valley. We were even given our own s’mores kit, featuring Theo Chocolate, to roast some marshmallows over the fire. 

On our second day at Salish, we made sure to take advantage of the walking trails around the lodge. The views of Snoqualmie Falls were gorgeous, and it was a fun adventure for our dog as well. Twin Falls State Park is also right nearby and if you’re looking for a more challenging hike, Snow Lake (make sure to check avalanche reports before you go), Mount Si, and Melakwa Lake trails are all within several miles of the lodge. 

We ended our stay by enjoying the Dungeness Crab Benedict and fresh baked biscuits from Salish’s room service on our patio in the sunshine, soaking in the views one last time. We left the lodge feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, and ready to take on the week. 

While we didn’t get to visit the renowned spa this time around, we will certainly be back. Between the friendliness of the Salish staff, the cozy Pacific Northwest vibes, and all of the wonderful amenities the lodge has to offer, I have nothing but good things to say!
It’s also worth noting that throughout the pandemic, safety has remained top of mind at this iconic property. Not only does Salish Lodge adhere to all or Columbia Hospitality’s clean standards, they have recently installed a state-of-the-art air filtration system. Masks are required in all common areas, and all guests are asked to have their temperatures checked upon arrival. We felt very safe during our stay at Salish.