Looking for an incredible weekend getaway in the Pacific Northwest? Alderbrook Resort & Spa is one of the most amazing resorts in Washington State. Scroll to learn more!
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Life with kids can be all-consuming sometimes. Between birthday parties, play dates, and after-school activities (on top of work and school pick up and drop offs) it can make for a busy schedule.
Earlier this year, I took a look at our calendar and realized my husband and I hadn’t had a date night in about 9 months. Like actually leaving the house without kids to go on a date. That’s a long time!
So, when my mom decided to fly up to visit, I immediately asked if she’d be willing to watch the kids for a couple of nights so that we could take a romantic getaway.
In the past, we’ve done New York City and Los Angeles for some exciting kid-free getaways. However this time, I really wanted to maximize our time and stay local to the Pacific Northwest.
We’ve been hearing good things about Alderbrook Resort & Spa from friends and family throughout the years and decided to give it a go.
We paid for this trip ourselves (my husband found a great deal!) and I wasn’t originally planning on working during our vacation. So, some of the photos below are one’s we took for fun, and the rest are from their media gallery.
I have to say, it’s our new favorite PNW weekend getaway spot and we can’t wait to go back with the kids!
What Makes Alderbrook Resort & Spa the Ultimate PNW Romantic Getaway?
LOCATION
When planning a romantic weekend getaway, the last thing you want to do is eat up your kid-free time traveling to the destination. That’s especially true if you are just going for one night.
Alderbrook Resort & Spa is about 90 minutes from Seattle in Hood Canal, Washington.
RESORT LOBBY
Normally, I don’t mention much about hotel lobbies because they are all sort of similar and I’m more focused on getting to our room or getting out to explore.
However, the lobby at Alderbrook Resort & Spa is spectacular!
The ceilings are huge and you’ll instantly feel like you are in an upscale lodge. There are lots of sitting areas where you can play games, drink your morning coffee, or just sit and gaze out at the water.
LUXURIOUS ROOMS
When we first walked into our room, we had a “wow” moment. We were up on the 3rd floor and our ceilings were incredibly tall and we had a great view of the water.
This is a much prettier photo of the room (with better lighting) that shows how cute the color scheme is.
The bed was quite comfortable and we were able to sleep pretty soundly.
When my husband booked our room, he saw that they had a “Pie Package.” We love pie and he thought that would be a fun twist for our romantic getaway.
What it meant was that we got two hand pies (they were delicious) as well as an apron and a cookbook called Art of the Pie.
I was a little obsessed with the bench seat that overlooked the water. It was super wide and had some fluffy pillows. I instantly grabbed our Art of the Pie book and asked my husband to take a “Instagram” photo for me.
As a side note, my husband has been baking a ton of pies using this book since we’ve been home and his crust is spot on!
The bathroom was also quite large and had a huge soaking tub that would be big enough for two people. And there was plenty of counter space for all kinds of toiletries and makeup bags.
RESTAURANT AT ALDERBROOK
The food at Alderbrook Resort & Spa is outstanding. We ate in the restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We also ordered room service on our first night.
Usually, when we order room service on vacation, the food ends up a little soggy and not as good as the restaurant. That’s not the case at Alderbrook.
Our food came to us piping hot and full of flavor. We got appetizers, veggies, entrees, and dessert and they were all stellar. That’s a big reason why we decided to dine at their restaurant the entire next day.
Before we really dive in though, I have to show you what the view is from the restaurant. This is almost exactly where we sat and we couldn’t get over the amazing waterfront view!
My breakfast was so good that I actually got the rest in a takeaway box (which I never do for breakfast). I had pancakes that had some steel cut oats inside (or some other grain, I can’t remember) and it made them extra tasty!
For lunch, I had some awesome PNW clam chowder and my husband went for the Reuben. Both were excellent.
And our dinner was completely decadent. We started with the largest platter of Brussels spouts that’s I’ve ever seen. It had bacon on it and we almost filled up on them before our entrees came. We also had some tasty fresh oysters.
This is a quick photo I took with my phone:
Then, I had a crab pasta that was rich and yummy and basically the Pacific Northwest on a plate. So good! And my husband had the steak, which was one of the best he’s had outside of a steak house.
And we finished it off by sharing their dessert special of the day, which was a berry cobbler with ice cream. We finished the entire thing.
The Restaurant at Alderbrook was so good that we’d be tempted to stop in if we were driving through the area.
ALDERBROOK SPA
When my husband and I do romantic getaways near Seattle, they always include some sort of spa experience. It’s something that we both like to do and it always takes our kid-free getaways up to the next level.
We have two little ones at home who take up a lot of our energy, so my husband booked us 90 minute massages. Mine was for pure relaxation and his was a deep-tissue massage.
When you check in, you’ll get a locker key where you can change into your spa robe. Then, you’ll be able to hang out in a little lounge and sip spa water while you clear your head.
My massage was one of the most relaxing spa massages I’ve ever had. The bed was super comfy and cozy, and my massage therapist checked in enough to make sure the pressure was right, but didn’t chat the whole time.
After our massages, we spent a few more minutes just relaxing in the lounge. Our therapists showed us how to get to the steam room, but we were starting to get hungry for lunch, so we figured we’d hit it later that evening.
OTHER RESORT AMENITIES
If you’re looking to do a few activities while staying at Alderbrook Resort & Spa, they have a few fun things to do on property.
Walking Trails
Right across the street from Alderbrook Resort & Spa are some walking trails. There are several loops of varying lengths.
We chatted with the front desk and they told us about a couple that were short but had some nice views of the resort. They also gave us a map and circled the areas.
We didn’t bring special walking shoes and we did fine in loafers and booties. The loops were perfect for getting a bit of fresh air and it was nice to see the resort and water from a different angle.
The trails are clearly marked so you’ll know which trail you are doing, however there was one spot that is a little loop and I admit we had to consult the map to avoid going in circles!
Swimming Pool
They also have an indoor swimming pool that is housed in a glass building, so you have great views of the water. And there’s access to their dry sauna and their steam room.
Alderbrook Golf Club
We knew there was a golf course at Alderbrook, but didn’t bring our clubs this trip because our whole objective was to just veg out and relax a bit.
But, we did end up driving up there on our way home just to check it out for future trips.
It’s in a residential community and it seems like a fun course to play with great views of the water and Olympic Mountains from certain holes.
Can I Bring My Family to Alderbrook Resort & Spa?
Absolutely! In fact, as we were walking around the grounds, we realized it’s kind of the ultimate all-American summer vacation spot for families.
It’s kind of like a blast from the past. They have badminton nets set up, croquet sets, lawn games, outdoor grills, fire pits, lake swimming, a beach, an indoor pool and so much more! There’s even a playground for little kids and a video game room for older kids.
Plus, they rent out cabins, so you can save money by cooking in your unit. And it’s set up perfectly for large groups.
Top Questions about Alderbrook Resort & Spa
HOW DO I GET THERE?
Alderbrook Resort & Spa is pretty easy to get to from Seattle. Just drive on I-5 South and then US-101 North to E Brockdale Road and then E McReavy Road to get to the resort.
You can also hop on the Southworth Ferry from West Seattle to Port Orchard, if you want. Then, it’s about an hour drive from Port Orchard to Alderbrook Resort & Spa.
HOW MANY ROOMS DOES ALDERBROOK RESORT HAVE?
There are 93 rooms at Alderbrook Resort & Spa. They have deep soaking tubs, flat-screen TVs, and free WiFi.
IS THERE ANY ON-SITE RESTAURANTS?
Yes, the Restaurant at Alderbrook is a fantastic restaurant for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. During the busier months, you will want to make sure to have a reservation.
There are also several restaurants within about 10 minutes of the resort. Many offer fresh seafood like oysters, clams, and mussels.
WHERE CAN I FIND COFFEE?
There is great coffee right at the resort! I only drink “fancy” coffee, so I was thrilled to discover they have an espresso machine in the gift shop and they know how to use it!
IS ALDERBROOK RESORT PET-FRIENDLY?
Absolutely! During our stay, we got to meet the resident housecats Alder and Brook who love to lounge in sunny spots in the lobby.
You can bring up to 3 pets of any size for an additional $30 per pet per night and stay in one of the pet-friendly rooms. Pets are welcome to stay in unattended rooms while you enjoy the resort.
Alderbrook has partnered with Olympia-based pet supply company Mud Bay to offer guests locally-sourced pet amenities.
WHAT CAN I DO AT ALDERBROOK RESORT & SPA?
Alderbrook Resort & Spa has tons of things to do. As I mentioned before, they have an on-site spa, great restaurant, a golf course, and nature trails.
Get out on the water by heading to their Waterfront Center and renting a hydro-bike, stand up paddleboard, kayak, or other watercraft for a memorable boating journey.
They also operate Lady Alderbrook, which is a small yacht that can be rented privately or you can book one of their public cruises. In the summer, they have a scenic cruise and during the holidays, they have a coco cruise.
And if you’re heading to Alderbrook Resort with teens, make sure they know about the game room. They have 10 TVs and some are hooked up to Xbox One consoles and classic Nintendos. Plus, they have a table top classic arcade game and a stand up arcade game.
They also have a fabulous resort shop. I couldn’t believe how many unique items they offered in this small gift shop. They have logo items, clothing, toys, games, and lots of PNW souvenirs. Plus, they have a great grab-and-go selection of food items and you can order a specialty coffee.
They also offer daily activities like geocaching, yoga, kayaking, and more.
WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO DO IN HOOD CANAL?
The biggest draw of Hood Canal is the water. Whether you rent through the resort or bring your own, a popular thing to do in Hood Canal is go kayaking on the water.
Hood Canal is also located near the Olympic National Park, which is a fabulous place to go hiking in the Pacific Northwest. You can explore the Hoh Rainforest or choose from an array of cool trails.
And if you are a foodie, you’ll definitely want to check out Union City Market, about 2 miles from the rsort. Hook & Fork is located there and they offer a special ticketed Canal Cookout experience in addition to their usual weekend dining options featuring local, seasonal ingredients.
Whatever you choose, you won’t regret booking a romantic getaway at Alderbrook Resort & Spa in Hood Canal, WA!