My family loves to vacation in Vancouver, BC. Each time we drive up, we pass the exit for Semiahmoo Resort and each time I tell my husband, “Hey, we should check out Semiahmoo sometime.” So, we I had the opportunity to bring my family to Semiahmoo Resort & Spa for the weekend, I jumped on it! Semiahmoo Resort was just voted the Northwest’s Best Resort in the December 2016 issue of Seattle Magazine and now I know why.
The resort is located a bit off the freeway with lots of turns. Thankfully, there is plenty of signage along the roads making it really easy to find the resort. It was dark by the time we got there, but we could tell that the view would be really spectacular had we arrived during the daylight. We drove past a golf course before arriving at the resort. Again, there was plenty of signage to tell us how to get to the lobby.
As soon as I entered the lobby, I noticed that the air smelled like cinnamon tea! It was so yummy and comforting! The front desk staff were so incredibly friendly! We’d had a long day, so it was such a relief to be greeted so warmly. They got us set up very quickly and we were off to check out the digs.
We arrived at 8pm so it was dark outside, but we found the room very clean and spacious!
We LOVED our room at Semiahmoo! We had the Waterview Deluxe Double Queen room, which was great since we had both kids traveling with us. They also provided us with a pack and play for our baby. We ended up using our DockATot instead because our baby was in the midst of his 4-month sleep regression (yes our vacation timing was impeccable.) I found the beds to be quite comfortable. They featured Simmons® Beautyrest Black™ Georgetown™ Plush Pillow Top bedding and we got as much rest as we could with the sleep regression going on.
The bathroom had one sink, complimentary toiletries, and a shower with a bath tub.
The room also included ESA (Environmentally Sensitive Amenities) bath amenities, terry-lined bathrobes; hairdryer; Keurig K-Cup® brewing system; ironing board and iron; 42″ HDTV, functional desk/work area; room safes, micro fridge, USB power charging station; Digital Radio phone with charging extensions and WiFi. We were able to borrow an iPad charger from the front desk, which was immensely helpful! The clock was a bit bright and lit up the room at night.
The door on the right was for adjoining rooms (which we did not use, but would have been nice for a larger family.)
The only thing that was missing was bottled water. I don’t remember staying in a hotel in the past couple of years that didn’t provide a couple of complimentary bottles of water. With the air being so dry, my husband and I were insatiably thirsty and so we relied heavily on the tap water.
This sitting area was great for looking out at the gorgeous view and for drinking coffee in the morning.
Overall, I found our room to be very quiet at night. However, during the day when it was nap time, all we could hear was the sounds of little kid footsteps above us running from one side of their room to the next. It was a good reminder for us to opt for ground floors when we travel with our kids. Also the doors are quite loud and woke our baby anytime someone entered to left.
Semiahmoo provided this playmat for us to use during our stay, which was great for family bonding!
My son was ecstatic when he saw that the staff had brought matchbox cars and a playmat for him to use during our stay! I was thrilled because I hastily filled a Ziploc bag with some random trucks and trains and threw them in our suitcase, crossing my fingers that it would occupy him. They were the perfect addition to the playmat. Now that my oldest is 3 years old, I’m realizing how important it is to have things in the room to occupy him while we are tending to his brother or getting ready. I really hate using our iPad in hotel rooms for long periods, so this was a much better option for us!
This theatre is intimate, which makes it ideal for families with small children.
The first night we arrived, we decided to check out their movie theater. Discovery Theater offers a 156” HD projector and 50 comfortable leather chairs. Our oldest had fallen asleep on the drive to Semiahmoo and was wide awake by the time we settled into the room. We got there about 15 minutes after the movie was supposed to have started. The seats are really comfortable and there was plenty of leg room. It turns out that the movie that was supposed to be shown that night was missing, so they brought some alternatives. Our son was starting to yawn, so we took this as our cue to head back to the room and settle in for the night.
My lemon pancakes from Pierside Kitchen were really tasty!
Our first morning, we decided to try the Pierside Kitchen. I loved that we didn’t have to walk outside at all. Semiahmoo is a bit of a maze inside, but they have tons of signage so it was really easy to find the restaurant. They had an extensive breakfast buffet that included fruit, pastries, meats, potatoes, pancakes, eggs, yogurt, cereal and more. Our server recommended that we do the buffet for our son because kids under 5 eat free. My son got some berry yogurt, Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, a blueberry muffin and some eggs and he was a happy camper. My husband also did the breakfast buffet and raved about the cantaloupe and prosciutto as well as the bagels and lox. I wasn’t super hungry, so I had the lemon pancakes which were tasty!
Children’s menu at Pierside Kitchen at Semiahmoo Resort.
There was a huge map on the wall at Pierside Kitchen, which was fascinating to look at!
Superdad is hoisting both kids so that our oldest can check out Canada through the telescope.
After breakfast, we decided to explore the resort a bit more. They had a nice veranda where we could let our son run around. The coolest thing is that we could see the Peace Arch border crossing into Canada! I’ve only seen while driving through the border, so it was pretty spectacular to see the line of cars slowly passing from one country to the other.
Semiahmoo offers an array of board games for people of all ages.
We got chilly pretty quickly (as we had not dressed for outside weather) so we hustled inside to explore. The lobby is quite spacious with lots of seating. We found a room that had a chest of board games and we decided to check it out. The family-friendly games included Apples to Apples Junior, Monopoly, Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Jenga, Life, Pictionary Junior, Uno, Yahtzee and more!
Candyland was a hit!
My son tried out about 5 different games, including Candyland. We’ve only really done puzzles with him, so it was fun to hear him make up rules and use the board games to play in a different way. The room itself was quite relaxing as there were large windows overlooking Canada and the water in between.
This is the indoor/outdoor heated pool. Photo credit: Semiahmoo Resort & Spa.
I had the opportunity to get a tour of Semiahmoo, which was immensely helpful. We started in the Spa, which is the portal to the indoor/outdoor pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room, fitness center and more. I learned that they have an indoor golf simulator that should be up and running by the time this is posted. They also have a fitness center upstairs that features an indoor track. They also have a fitness room that offers classes (like Zumba and Pilates) throughout the day. The indoor tennis/basketball court is quite large and I was told it’s the next area to be renovated.
We went in January, when the weather was a bit cold. However, we were told that in the Summer, they offer beach volleyball,croquet, corn hole, and soccer. Plus, the golf courses are open!
My husband and son went in the indoor/outdoor heated pool and I couldn’t believe they lasted an hour. They grabbed a pool noodle and my son learned how to kick and propel himself around the pool. There were some other flotation devices available, as well.
My husband had the lamb burger and french fries for lunch.
I wasn’t feeling very well, so my husband took both boys out for lunch at Packer’s. We are big fans of oysters and he was thrilled to discover they offered kumamotos and kushi oysters. He says they were delicious! He also enjoyed the lamb burger. My son had the peanut butter and jelly sandwich and french fries. They were a hit with him!
I didn’t bring my phone into the Spa, so I’m using this photo from Semiahmoo Resort & Spa instead.
Nap time came along and my husband stayed in the room with our sleeping kiddos while I headed to the Spa for a Hydrating Sea Flora Facial. I was warmly greeted by staff and given slippers and a key to the women’s locker room. Once I had changed into the Spa robe, I headed to their relaxation area. There was a cozy fireplace, lots of comfy seating, plus they offered lemon water and trail mix. It reminded me a lot of the Spa at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, B.C. I was fully relaxed by the time my esthetician came to collect me. She was very gentle and explained that SEAFLORA is a luxurious Organic Seaweed Skin and Body care line that is hand-harvested from the cold, clean Pacific Northwest coastline. I had never tried it before, but we’ve had a very cold, dry Northwest winter and my skin was not coping well.
The facial itself was immensely relaxing. I’ve had facials in the past at other spas and they always tell me exactly what they are putting on my face and why each time they put anything on me. I was surprised that after chatting for a bit, not explanation was given for what was happening. However, I was enjoying my child-free hour of spa heaven too much to really be bothered.
Afterward, I was told that I was welcome to use the steam room or sauna and take as long as I’d like in their relaxation area. I sipped on some lemon water and took some meditative breaths before opting to get dressed and check on my family.
The fire pit was located just steps from our room and making s’mores was a hit!
The second night, we decided to check out the bon fire instead of the movie. I mean, how often can we go to a beach fire, especially in January? I wasn’t feeling very well, so my husband popped our baby in our Tula carrier and took our 3-year-old out our back door to find the bon fire while I rested in the room. They told us they start the bon fires “at dusk” which really meant 8 p.m. Thankfully, there was enough interest that they started the fire around 7:30 p.m. When they got back, my son told me all about roasting marshmallows and how some folks put their marshmallows directly in the fire but he didn’t want to do that. My husband chatted with the other guests at the bon fire and he had a great time! I heard a lot about s’mores the entire next day!
Our son was excited to eat in our hotel room!
On our final morning, we opted to try out the in-room dining. The breakfast page was missing from our Hotel Directory but I was able to find it on their website really easily. I ordered the Eggs Benedict, my husband had the Sweet Potato and Sausage Hash and we ordered the Fresh Fruit, Yogurt and Granola kids breakfast for our son. The menu had mentioned that it could take up to 45 minutes for room service, however our food arrived about 15 minutes later. All of our food tasted great and it was really nice to take a leisurely morning. Our son likes to move around when he eats, so this was a great alternative to having him sit in the restaurant. The only thing missing was a spoon, but we managed just fine with a fork.
It was a chilly morning, but the beach fully engaged us!
After breakfast, I took the kids out for a beach walk while my husband packed everything up. My oldest loved walking on the beach and throwing rocks into the water. He asked if it was okay for him to walk into the water since he was wearing his rain boots. He was elated when I told him it was okay and he cautiously got his boots wet. Then he threw a bunch of rocks one at a time into the water.
By the time we headed to our car, the rain started. It was a nice way to signal our trip was coming to a close. My husband and I were very thankful that we didn’t need to deal with any ferries to get home. Plus, we had the option of hitting the Seattle Premium Outlets in Tulalip (had our kids been awake.)
Top 10 Things for Families to Know about Semiahmoo Resort & Spa
Kids under 5 eat free at the restaurants and with room service.
They have a heated indoor/outdoor pool (kids must be 6 or older to use the hot tub).
Guests receive one hour free of either a bike, kayak, or paddleboard rental (which is great for testing out a family activity.)
The indoor tennis/basketball court is a great place for kids to burn off some energy, especially during the chillier seasons.
The staff will start the bon fire earlier than 8 p.m. if there is enough interest.
There is a microwave available next to the ice machine.
They have a family bathroom located near Pierside Kitchen that has a changing table and is very clean. The sink does not have a step stool, so be prepared to lift smaller kids.
They offer a family movie night on Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. Discovery Theater is available for guest use depending on availability and they have more than 100 family-friendly films.
It takes about 90 minutes to get to from Seattle (but I’d allow an extra hour if you are heading up on Friday night.)
Visit in late May/early June for all the summer festivities without the summer crowds!
I received complimentary room, spa service and select meals from Semiahmoo Resort & Spa for review purposes.
Marcie writes the family travel blog Marcie in Mommyland. When she's not traveling the world, she's home in Seattle with her husband and two little boys.
Your lemon pancakes look delicious! I’ve heard of this place but have never had the chance. The indoor/outdoor pool looks awesome! Definitely have to try to check it out next time I’m in Canada!
Oh My Goodness! Those pancakes just made me so hungry. I just want to jump in a plane and get there and relax and have fun with my family. Thanks for sharing
I love resorts that are not too big, but have their own restaurants and entertainment (especially when you arrive by plane and don’t have a car). This resort sounds lovely.
It looks like y’all had a wonderful vacation. What a beautiful place you stayed in, and I love the car mat! My daughter would have gone crazy over that!
That part of Canada is so beautiful! I lived on whidbey island for a bit which isnt far and its pretty amazing!
The indoor outdoor pool is worth the visit to the resort! Looks like a blast
This place looks like so much fun! I have never been to any kind of resort like this one and now I’m tempted to find the perfect one close to where I live. Loved all the pictures!
Thanks for such a thorough review, Marcie! I know it makes a lot of effort to put it together and after reading this I get a feeling I want to see it myself 🙂 I guess, next time I’m in Seattle 🙂
It sounds like y’all had a great trip! I admit, I laughed a bit when I read that the clock in the room was too bright because I complain about that all of the time too. I prefer total darkness when I’m sleeping and bright numbers from the clock next to the bed always frustrate me.
That resort spa looks amazing 🙂 Good that you could bring the kid as well 😀 The food sounds amazing as well. Must be a great getaway for the whole family. I have never been to a spa resort, but going to one in Cancun this April. Cant wait must be amazing to be pampered like this 😀 Thank you for sharing. 🙂
What a darling place to get away! Vancouver is my home so I go back often to visit! Never have stopped in Semiahmoo although I know it ‘s gorgeous!
Thanks for sharing the fun pics!
Valerie
Fashion and travel
i LOOOOOVE PNW. We’re on the east coast, but our family is on the west coast and the army brings us out there often. I’d love to stay at this resort and YAY for hotels that keep kids in mind! <3
I’ve been to Suncadia, but we stayed in a house rather than the resort so I can’t comment on the rooms. The restaurants at Semiahmoo are both located right at the resort (you don’t have to leave the building) as opposed to Suncadia where you need to take a shuttle or drive. But, the spa at Suncadia is hard to compete with and worth a trip alone!
This resort looks awesome. I love the fact that you gave you an ipad charger. The movie theater is a cool amenities too. Thanks for including a top 10 list, very smart.
I’m nowhere near BC but if I was I would absolutley be planning a weekend at Semiahmoo! With two little ones the most important thing to me is that the resort is family friendly and with the spacious rooms, the movie theater, board games and matchbox cars, it seems like the resort really has gone out of its way to make it a great place for families to stay.
Wow, such a lovely place it seems. Love the pictures. I can feel the fun you’ve had. Love tea in any form, especially cinnamon tea – sounds like just the place for my family too!
Superdad is hoisting both kids so that our oldest can check out Canada through the telescope.
91 Comments
Looks like you had a wonderful time!
We had a blast! So many things for our family to do!
I’m ready for a trip like that, sounds like just the ticket.
It was relaxing, which is usually not the case with little kids!
This looks like a wonderful resort! We have been wanting to visit that area so this is a great option!
You should check it out! It’s simply gorgeous!
This is a great post ! I love Vancouver, i will surely check this resort. Lovely pics
We love Vancouver, too! It’s definitely worth combining with a trip here!
Your lemon pancakes look delicious! I’ve heard of this place but have never had the chance. The indoor/outdoor pool looks awesome! Definitely have to try to check it out next time I’m in Canada!
The pancakes were devine! My husband and son loved the pool!
Oh My Goodness! Those pancakes just made me so hungry. I just want to jump in a plane and get there and relax and have fun with my family. Thanks for sharing
It was definitely relaxing! Such a great spot to get away from it all!
I love resorts that are not too big, but have their own restaurants and entertainment (especially when you arrive by plane and don’t have a car). This resort sounds lovely.
Yes, it was awesome! Great food and I loved that we didn’t need to drive anywhere!
It looks like y’all had a wonderful vacation. What a beautiful place you stayed in, and I love the car mat! My daughter would have gone crazy over that!
Yes my son went nuts over the car mat!
Wow! Sounds like such a great trip for the whole family to experience! Food looked delicious!
The food was awesome! I’m jealous my hubby had oysters without me!
Looks like so much fun. I love the chest with all the games. That is really an awesome idea and looks like a blast to stay with kids!
Yes, the game chest was a great option for chilly days!
That part of Canada is so beautiful! I lived on whidbey island for a bit which isnt far and its pretty amazing!
The indoor outdoor pool is worth the visit to the resort! Looks like a blast
I love Whidbey Island! I’m hoping to get over there this summer for a blog post!
This place looks like so much fun! I have never been to any kind of resort like this one and now I’m tempted to find the perfect one close to where I live. Loved all the pictures!
Do it! We had so much fun!
What a fun place, it looks like a great place to take the kiddos too! A kid resort sounds like the best kind of vacation.
Kid resorts are the best! I’m on the hunt for more to check out!
Thanks for such a thorough review, Marcie! I know it makes a lot of effort to put it together and after reading this I get a feeling I want to see it myself 🙂 I guess, next time I’m in Seattle 🙂
The review practically wrote itself (and I had to stop myself from posting even more photos!) Such a fun place for families!
This looks like such a fun place to visit! I’m always looking for new places to take my little boy!
Semiahmoo is great for little kids because they can really run around!
Your son is so cute! This is a great review of the resort. It looks like a great place for the family. How awesome that they provide the activity mat!
The activity mat was definitely a highlight for us when we were laying low in the room!
Looks like you’ve had such a lovely time away! The place looks gorgeous – and so do the pancakes haha! x
We LOVE pancakes! Such a fun time at Semiahmoo!
This looks like such a nice little place to visit. It seems like you and your family had so much fun!
We had some great bonding time!
This spa looks like an amazing time! I would love to visit a place like this and relax a little.
The spa was so relaxing! I could have stayed there all day!
This resort looks super cute! I want to take my boys on a family vacation this year. We have not been in awhile. I want to find a place like this!
I love taking my boys on trips because we get a lot of togetherness and bonding! So many fun memories!
It sounds like y’all had a great trip! I admit, I laughed a bit when I read that the clock in the room was too bright because I complain about that all of the time too. I prefer total darkness when I’m sleeping and bright numbers from the clock next to the bed always frustrate me.
YES! I don’t know why places do that! I keep my cell on the nightstand and I have to flip it over so my alerts won’t wake me up!
What a great stop between Vancouver and Seattle and that pool looks amazing too!
The pool was fun in January and I can’t even imagine how awesome it’d be in warmer weather!
That resort spa looks amazing 🙂 Good that you could bring the kid as well 😀 The food sounds amazing as well. Must be a great getaway for the whole family. I have never been to a spa resort, but going to one in Cancun this April. Cant wait must be amazing to be pampered like this 😀 Thank you for sharing. 🙂
I hope you have a blast in Cancun! How fun!
Looks like fun! I love BC and your resort sounds outstanding!
It really is outstanding! The staff are truly exceptional!
What a fun trip! I’d love to visit.
You should! Semiahmoo is fabulous!
This resort looks wonderful! And those pancakes, yum! Definitely need to check this out next time we’re considering visiting Vancouver. 🙂
Yes! Semiahmoo is a great stop on a Vancouver trip!
Oh wow, that looks like such a relaxing and fun place to stay. Those rooms! I am ready for a vacation now.
The rooms are fantastic! And the beds are sooooo comfy!
What a darling place to get away! Vancouver is my home so I go back often to visit! Never have stopped in Semiahmoo although I know it ‘s gorgeous!
Thanks for sharing the fun pics!
Valerie
Fashion and travel
You should stop by on one of your trips home! It’s so pretty!
I’d really love to travel more. Of course my baby doesn’t sleep well so that would make it hard. Having the money to travel would probably help too!
Yes, it definitely helps when baby is sleeping better! Hang in there!
That indoor/outdoor pool looks awesome! And so does all that food! I would love to visit someday!
It definitely is a special place!
I love how kid friendly this resort is, they thought of everything! And the rain boots pic is priceless!
My son was so excited to wade into the water with his boots!
You’re giving your son such wonderful life experiences. Seems this resort was perfect for a family! Thank you for sharing!
It was super perfect for our family!
This resort looks so nice! I love the decor and what a pretty spot! such a fun family vacay 🙂
Yes and it was so clean!
This place looks really great! That pool…those lemon pancakes…and what they have a movie theater! This looks like a great place for a family vacation!
Yes, the movie theater was such a cool feature!
i LOOOOOVE PNW. We’re on the east coast, but our family is on the west coast and the army brings us out there often. I’d love to stay at this resort and YAY for hotels that keep kids in mind! <3
Yes, yay for hotels that keep kids in mind! Hope you’re able to head back to PNW soon!
Those pancakes look so yummy! And that pool looks so relaxing too. I am so excited to try this place. Thanks for sharing.
The pool was such a great feature! Perfect anytime!
Ooo haven’t heard of this, need to check it out! Have you been to Suncadia? Is it like that?
I’ve been to Suncadia, but we stayed in a house rather than the resort so I can’t comment on the rooms. The restaurants at Semiahmoo are both located right at the resort (you don’t have to leave the building) as opposed to Suncadia where you need to take a shuttle or drive. But, the spa at Suncadia is hard to compete with and worth a trip alone!
I want to have time for this. To unwind and go adventure with my family. You have such an amazing experience.
Our family has a hard time unplugging, so getaways like this are our favorite way to bond and relax together!
This resort looks awesome. I love the fact that you gave you an ipad charger. The movie theater is a cool amenities too. Thanks for including a top 10 list, very smart.
I’m a big fan of top 10 lists because sometimes you don’t have time to read the whole post and just want the takeaways!
What a beautiful room! I love the sightseeing that you did too. Such a beautiful place. We have friends that live there. We’ll need to plan a visit!
Thanks! You should definitely visit!
I love a spacious hotel room. You and your family looked like you really enjoyed it and relaxed. Good recap!
Thanks! We love resorts that cater to families!
This sounds like the perfect resort for rest and relaxation! The food looks pretty amazing, too.
The food was really tasty and pretty!
I’m nowhere near BC but if I was I would absolutley be planning a weekend at Semiahmoo! With two little ones the most important thing to me is that the resort is family friendly and with the spacious rooms, the movie theater, board games and matchbox cars, it seems like the resort really has gone out of its way to make it a great place for families to stay.
Yes they did! We’re big fans of resorts that cater to families! It really makes travel with kids easy!
Looks like a fun and relaxing weekend!
It was amazing! I wish I could go every weekend.
Wow, this place looks incredible! Looks like you all had a great time!
It is such a fun place!
Wow, such a lovely place it seems. Love the pictures. I can feel the fun you’ve had. Love tea in any form, especially cinnamon tea – sounds like just the place for my family too!