Alderbrook Resort & Spa – A Hidden Lakeside Gem

Nestled between the Olympic National Forest and the Hood Canal is the Alderbrook Resort & Spa, a picture-perfect lakeside retreat where tranquility overcomes stress.

When I landed in Seattle for the very first time I couldn’t believe my eyes. The vegetation, the views, the people—they were all so different than anywhere else I’d ever visited in the United States. It was almost as if I had landed in Europe, or Canada for the sake of proximity.

After a short floatplane ride from Seattle’s downtown harbor, I landed right smack in front of my overnight accommodations at the Alderbrook Resort & Spa in Union, Washington. Never before had I flown in a plane that landed on water, much less one that dropped me off within feet from my guestroom. While the town of Union is about a two-hour scenic drive from Seattle, the pricey charter flight courtesy of American Honda Motor Company was the perfect way to celebrate my first visit to the Pacific Northwest.

Back on terra firma, I looked up at the magnificent cabin-like structure of the resort while feeling like some sort of jet-setting millionaire who had just taken his private plane to his own lakeside retreat. In reality, one doesn’t need to be a millionaire to enjoy one of the Alderbrook’s 77 guestrooms or 16 cottages. As of mid-October, immediate rates for guestrooms range from $174 to $304. Of course, don’t expect the same rates during peak seasons.

I walked through gardens and fountains until I arrived at my guestroom. I opened the door and stepped into what would be my own little piece of the Pacific Northwest for the next two days. A king bed adorned with plush bedding fit for a, well, king, sat in front of a rustic entertainment center which doubled as closet space and bar. The atmosphere inside was bright and airy, and so was the color palette.

I could share with you about the oversized tub, toilet, and sink, but they’re exactly that and nothing more. Instead, the pièce de résistance was the oversized bay window with a cozy daybed lined with pillows and a lovely handmade throw blanket (which you can take home for $150). Step out to the balcony and enjoy the breeze, or do like I did and simply open the windows and let the sunshine and breeze flow into the room.

Unfortunately, the reason for my visit to the Alderbrook Resort wasn’t to actually enjoy the resort itself, but to have a different kind of fun. I was to drive Honda’s new all-star hatchback, the Civic Type R around the stunning scenic roads nearby. Nonetheless, I was still able to get a decent feel for the property and be charmed just enough to really crave a second visit. 

The closing stages of my stay at the resort included two lovely dinners. One of them took place on the front lawn (lakeside) of the property, where massive firepits added to the splendor of the sun setting behind the Olympic mountains. The second dinner took place aboard Lady Alderbrook, a 53-foot double deck yacht—which was the perfect place to admire the Hood Canal’s jaw-dropping coastline.

There are several amenities which I would’ve loved to check out, such as the spa, water-activities (kayaking, boating, fishing, etc.), nature trails, and salt-water pool. Oh, and I must admit it was hard to resist the kids gaming room filled with Xboxes and stuff.

One thing is for sure, one way or another I will come back!

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