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It’s easy to feel spoiled when you live in the Pacific Northwest. Nestled between the hiking and skiing of the North Cascades to the east, the grandeur of Mount Rainier to the south, the rainforests and dramatic ocean beaches of Olympic National Park to the west, and the pull of cosmopolitan Vancouver to the north, where wouldn’t family travelers want to go on vacation?
And yet … as parents all know, sometimes too many choices result in no choice at all. For that reason, we’ve narrowed the options to a handful of tried-and-true family favorites for Washington State vacation destinations practically guaranteed to induce giggles and special memories.
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Suncadia Resort
Cle Elum, Washington
Set in more than 6,000 acres of forested mountain landscape, between vast meadows and rippling rivers, Suncadia Resort offers a village-like atmosphere where the entire family can find their own kind of fun. From 36 holes of golf to outdoor live music concerts and movies, this premier Washington State resort ticks all the boxes for great family getaways (trust us, you’ll want more than one visit).
How to Keep Your Kids Happy
Between the year-round heated outdoor pool, two kid-approved water slides, abundant hiking trails (great for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter), river-rafting trips, biking trails, and lawn games, your kids will be so tuckered out by day’s end, they’ll practically be begging to go to bed. Happy kids make for happy parents, so reward yourself with the spa-like amenities of the resort, including a cedarwood wet sauna and a hot tub.
Be sure to check out all of Suncadia’s “villages,” including Tumble Creek, where you can go mountain biking before roasting marshmallows under the stars; Nelson Creek, for relishing the slow, charmingly rustic appeal of historic Nelson Farm and excellent kid activities like scavenger hunts and crafts sessions; and Dawson Park, beloved for its sense of community, pickleball and tennis courts, disc golf, sledding hill, ice skating, kite-flying festivals and holiday tree lighting.
Where You’ll Sleep
Suncadia is all about the choices, offering private residence rentals with full kitchens and hotel options. Within the all-season mountain resort’s 6,000 acres, you might opt for a home on the plateau alongside the Cle Elum River or a townhouse right on the trailhead, allowing your family to be well connected to the resort’s myriad amenities.
Prefer a hotel setting? The hotel and condo resort also offers the intimate Inn at Suncadia, with golf course views and a sublime Northwest-style architectural design, and The Lodge at Suncadia, a grand mountain setting with all the perks of a full-service luxury hotel, plus river and mountain vistas.
Roll, roll, roll along … life is better on wheels. Image by wal_172619 from Pixabay
Semiahmoo Resort
Blaine, Washington
Surrounded by the Salish Sea, Semiahmoo Resort is quintessentially PNW-ish. Whether family travelers are seeking the vibrant, activity-packed days of summer or the peaceful calm of winter, this family favorite has it. Within 300 acres of gorgeous scenery just 45 minutes south of Vancouver, British Columbia, and 2 hours north of Seattle, it’s the perfect place for a staycation and certainly worth the flight if you live farther away. From the award-winning Semiahmoo Golf & Country Club (with kid lessons) and the full-service Wellness Center to the paddleboarding, beachcombing and heated pool, fun family vacations (and fantastic family reunions!) start here.
How to Keep Your Kids Happy
Movies in the Discovery Theater, s’mores over a bonfire, splashing in the year-round heated indoor/outdoor pool, riding a bike down the spit … Semiahmoo offers the ingredients for beautiful memories and new traditions. Try your hand at one of Washington State’s favorite sports – pickleball – or get into a little friendly competition over corn hole, horseshoes or board games in the library.
The resort – open year-round – can also arrange local day trips and experiences, including a delicious Farm to Table trail day, where you’ll nosh on fresh cheeses, fruit, veggies, meat, and fish of Whatcom County farms (and win prizes along your journey!); guided tide-pooling revealing the marine wonders of the beach at Semiahoo; whale-watching tours between March and November; and live music on the lawn throughout the summer.
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Where You’ll Sleep
Choose from a variety of comfortable guest rooms and suites. Request a Patio Guest Room so you won’t miss the view of the water when you wake up each day. These ground-floor rooms are just a short walk to the spit walkway and marina beaches. For a more encompassing panorama, ask for a Water View Guest Room, where you can see all the way to White Rock, British Columbia, across Semiahmoo Bay. Newly updated bathrooms and contemporary room amenities ensure a comfortable stay for the whole family.
Early morning walks and a day of activities lead to happily tired kiddos. Image by Hoàng Đông Trịnh Lê from Pixabay
Alderbrook Resort & Spa
Union, Washington
Every year, a friend, her three daughters, and her mom take a multigenerational mini-break at Alderbrook Resort & Spa on the Hood Canal. From Seattle, it’s just far enough to feel like a vacation, yet close enough where no airport is required. That being said, this high-end resort that’s been around since 1913 is worth any effort to get there. With remodeled guest rooms, cottages, a main lodge, and a cherished community ambiance, it’s truly the best version of itself these days.
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How to Keep Your Kids Happy
From scavenger hunts to bonfires by the beach, Alderbrook has curated a menu of activities that ensure everyone is entertained. If you have little marine biologists, they’ll quickly fall in love with the sea life awaiting discovery along the Hood Canal, from tiny tidepool creatures to silly seals. Kayak along glassy waters, hike along lush forest trails, go fishing, try a hydro-bike, go yachting, or even try the private geocaching course or Shinrin Yoku-a Forest Meditation.
For something super cool for your wildlife enthusiasts, visit the nearby ROAM wolfdog sanctuary, home to 10 of these serene creatures. Take a private education tour to learn more about the wolfdogs, wolves, and ourselves.
Back to my friend, her mom, and her daughters, I won’t lie. She definitely carves out time for the incredible spa, where she can indulge in a moor mud wrap, mineral-infused massage, or volcanic pumice body scrub, returning rejuvenated for an evening with her favorite girls.
Where You’ll Sleep
Stunning Hood Canal views and luxurious amenities await guests at Alderbrook’s charming cottages and rooms (all categories allow furry friends, if you’d like to bring them along). Every accommodation includes oversized bathrobes with slippers for cozying up, Keurig single-cup coffee and tea selections and complimentary WiFi. The Waterfront category places you within view of the Canal and the mountains of Olympic National Park – from an adorable window seat, no less – while the Courtyard rooms face the expansive lawn.
Paddleboarding with a cute kid at golden hour. Is there anything better? Image by Pexels from Pixabay
The dreamy two-bedoom (and a single one-bedroom) cottages are like having your own private beach house and are the perfect place to slip away for a vacation that both welcomes in the great outdoors and feels delightfully pampering. Kids can head outside to play and explore, never too far away, while Mom and Dad can take a deep breath and contemplate the tranquil surroundings while sipping a glass of wine or enjoying the living room’s gas fireplace. Each 600- to 650-square-foot two-bedroom cottage has a queen and a king bed with a sleeper sofa.
[ctt template=”3″ link=”X0OR1″ via=”no” ]From mountains to meadows, discover Washington State’s best vacation resorts for active families. [/ctt]
Campbell’s Resort
There are plenty of reasons Campbell’s Resort on Lake Chelan has long been one of Washington State’s favorite getaway resortsfor the whole family. Consistently ranked a local favorite, this 1901 resort sits within eight acres on Chelan’s historic downtown waterfront. With 1,800 feet of private beach and 170 guest rooms right on the lake, it’s a great place for an annual summer vacation. Think it’s all about water sports and the lake? Not necessarily. The kid-friendly resort is within walking distance of downtown shops, parks, and trails, and a short drive to Lake Chelan’s renowned wineries and championship golf courses.
How to Keep Your Kids Happy
That’s easy in Lake Chelan. Swimming, swimming and more swimming headlines the summer months, in addition to great boating and fishing. Take a walk to Lakeshore Park or Chelan River Park. Go hiking or mountain biking in the nearby Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, or take an exhilarating rafting trip down the Methow River. Come winter, head to Echo Valley for skiing.
The resort has a great line-up of kids’ activities in the summer, concerts on the beach, live music, kayaking and stand-up paddleboard rentals, BBQ areas on the sand, two heated swimming pools, two hot tubs and – it bears repeating – 1,800 feet of private beach.
Don’t miss Lake Chelan’s famous Slidewaters – better than any indoor water park. This long-time favorite offers a no-stress day in the sun with easy floats on the Lazy River, numerous body and tube slides, competitive fun on the Downhill Racer. It’ll be a toss-up as to who had more fun: you or the kids!
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Where You’ll Sleep
The clean, sleek guest rooms at Campbell’s Resort all come with an uplake view of Lake Chelan from a balcony or deck, and are available in a variety of configurations. Choose from family-friendly suites, two-bedroom units and more traditional rooms. Some accommodations have a fireplace and a kitchenette or full kitchen, while all rooms have complimentary WiFi, a mini or full-size fridge, a flat-screen television and an in-room Keurig.
Glassy water will mesmerize even the crankiest toddler. Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay
Ready to get vacationing? We’d love to hear what you think of these fab Washington State family favorites.
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