This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here. 
The stay was sponsored by the hotel, which did not review or approve the story.

Historic background 

The Lodge at St. Edward State Park first opened its doors in 1931 as Saint Edward Seminary for boys. Designed by John Graham Sr. the structure had to be approved by the Vatican. The original plan was quite Gothic in nature and was redrafted into what it is today by the request of the Vatican.

The school closed in 1976 but the grounds were preserved as a state park. The building stood empty for many years and was eventually purchased by Daniels Real Estate in 2017. Just about 2 years ago The Lodge opened its doors as a hotel, now owned by Kevin and Mary Daniels. The hotel design and engineering teams did a phenomenal job preserving as many original elements as possible, from light fixtures to moulding details, windows, and so on. The former dorm rooms were combined into 84 guest rooms of mixed size. The modest base Queen suite, for example, takes up 2 dorm rooms. Needless to say, it was A LOT of work and it shows. In its brief few years of existence, The Lodge at St. Edward State Park has become one of the best Washington State hotels, if not one of the best in America. 

Over the years the region has suffered a few earthquakes and one of those has caused some irreversible damage to the aquatic building which now serves as a storage facility for the hotel staff. But one day, sometime in the future, it might become something else. 

This view of the building is from the park side of the property. I would love to have a set of these velvet chairs at home!

The Vibe & Shared Spaces 

The main guest entrance into the building is from the parking lot, but its most impressive entrance is on the opposite side. As you exit through this ‘back’ door, you find yourself out in the field, greeted by trees and sounds of nature. The decorative entrances are detailed and eye-catching. 

The main shared space is a long hall that stretches to the left and right of the entrance. This main hall is exquisitely lit by the sun, making it a perfect space for an art gallery. Between friends of the Daniels’ and a mix of artists in residence, the hotel contains an impressive collection of pieces, many of which were done specifically for the space. The walls around the hotel are dotted with information plaques. Each of these contains a small paragraph and a QR code that enables the guests for a self-guided tour of the property. 

To the other side of the hall are Cedar + Elm restaurant (former dining hall) and Father Mulligan’s Heritage Bar. A wide spiral staircase will take you up to the guest room floors. A different set of stairs will take you to The Tonsorium Bar. This dimly lit space used to be the school’s barbershop but now operates as a cocktail bar. 

The surrounding area is a Washington State Park. There is a wide range of hikes in the neighbourhood, some of which will take you down to the lake. 

On the left is the doorway into the Cedar + Elm restaurant. On the right is the Art Gallery hall.

Inside the Suite 

We had the pleasure of staying in the corner Lodge King room. It’s a spacious room with clean design lines and nice decorative touches. 

All suites have the original rendering blueprint as wallpaper – it’s really something! The rest of the decor does a gentle nod to its religious origin. The mirror frames, for example, are curved, and the nightstands have a confession window-style pattern. The colour palette is beige and black with a bright touch of orange which works well with retro-style elements like the rotary phone.

These suites offer great sleep quality with blackout blinds and comfortable beds. The bathroom is spacious with a minimal shower, and there is a closet for all your things. There are no in-room fridges but the hotel staff can help you with your storage needs. 

The most impressive suite is the Daniels Suite (owner’s room). Formerly a chapel, this room has great arched windows, plenty of space, and a soaker tub. There are even eucalyptus shower steamers in this suite. 

Dining & Entertainment 

Cedar + Elm is the main restaurant. The original windows allow for an impressive amount of light to enter the dining room. At the top of the room is the exit to a sunny patio, which I can only imagine is a great place to spend a summer afternoon on. 

The kitchen at the Lodge focuses on seasonal sustainable ingredients with a holistic approach. There is a mini-farm and a small beehive on the premises. The rest of the ingredients are sourced locally from neighbouring farming communities. 

Every Thursday and Friday Cedar + Elm invites guests and Seattle locals for an Afternoon Tea service. Seated in the dining room the patrons get to indulge in a plethora of high-tea snacks while listening to live music. The tea selection is complimented with a non-alcoholic cocktail and sparkling wine service for those interested. It is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. 

Father Mulligan’s Heritage Bar is where you would find guests enjoying a 2 pm – 5 pm happy hour and charcuterie while The Tonsorium Bar turns up in the evening for live music and intimate conversations. There is a dinner menu in all three spots. The former school library is still there, slightly opened up to accommodate game tables. The bars and restaurants are not open very late so the two of us grabbed a bottle of local Whiskey and had a nightcap playing games in the Library. 

During the warmer season, the grounds host a wide range of family-friendly events open to the community. The calendar of upcoming events can be found on the hotel’s events page. 

Cocktails at the Father Mulligan’s Heritage Bar. The deer in the background is lovingly named ‘Bruce’.
The image on the right is of the entrance to the bar, you can see some of the original art on the opposite wall.

Wellness & Fitness 

No escape from the city is complete without a spa so naturally, there is one at St. Edward. Vita Nova Spa’s menu has a range of seasonal and classic spa services. There is also a lovely outdoor relaxation space with a fire pit that the spa guests can enjoy. 

On the property is also a 24/7 fitness centre and a Pickleball court that both guests and locals can rent by the hour. On Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings, the lodge hosts weekly yoga classes. These are complimentary for the guests and $20-$25 for visitors. 

Getting here

The Lodge at St. Edward State Park is in a prime location for day and weekend trips from Seattle (under a 40-minute drive). If you are driving from Vancouver it will be a fairly smooth 3 hours or less. 

* * *

The Lodge at St. Edward State Park
Room starting at $215 USD per night for Classic Queen; prices change seasonally  
14477 Juanita Dr NE, Kenmore, WA 98028, United States
Book directly on thelodgeatstedward.com | Expedia | Booking.com | Hotels.com

The post Everything you need to know about The Lodge at St. Edward State Park appeared first on Paths to Travel.

This part of the Pacific Northwest is serene. A short walk from the lodge will give you plenty of views of the falls. A longer walk, passing through a Railway Museum, will take you into Snoqualmie. Here you will find a few casual restaurants, small shops, and a local brewery. The guests of the lodge can also easily access multiple trails and hikes and during the colder days, winter sports at the Summit at Snoqualmie.

Getting here: the drive from Seattle is a bit under an hour. The drive from Vancouver is roughly 3.5 hours. 

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here. 
The stay was sponsored by the hotel, which did not review or approve the story.

The photos were taken from the lower observation deck. I like this perspective a lot because you can see the grandness of the fall and the lodge humbly perched up next to it.

The Vibe & Shared Spaces 

Named one of the best resorts in the Western United States by Travel + Leisure Salish Lodge is a destination for many more reasons than its appearance in one of America’s favourite TV shows. The biggest reason is that Salish is an excellent spot to recharge.

The property is a unique boutique hotel with plenty of spaces to sit back and find peace. In a classic lodge-style manner the fire pits are prominent on the grounds. You will find them outside, in the lobby, and even in your room. The restaurant and Attic bar both have scenic picture windows overlooking the river and the falls while the Spa is strategically positioned to soak in the energy of the morning sun. The common areas are spacious but well separated from the guest rooms creating a great division of privacy.

Travel tip: Avoid mobile charges by pre-paying for an Airalo eSIM. The SIM gets downloaded directly to your phone and can be toggled on and off with ease in settings. This service provides internet access, no phone service.

Inside the Room 

Salish Lodge & Spa has a nice range of sweets from the Classic King room to those with balconies and a selection of accessible suites. For this visit, we’ve had the pleasure of staying in the Riverside King room. This particular room has a spacious spa-like shower (with two shower heads!), a private balcony, a sitting area, a work desk, and plenty of storage space. All rooms have a gas fireplace which honestly is a fantastic thing to have in the room. Some of the rooms even have a soaker tub to amplify your wellness experience. 

The mini bar is stocked with Lodge-branded coffee options, a pour-over coffee station, tea, and a mixed selection of for-purchase drinks in the fridge. Our visit was rather short so we did not try in-room dining but let’s get into the menu options next. 

On-site Dining 

The Dining Room at the Lodge features a local, sustainable menu, that focuses on seasonal ingredients. For breakfast, you can enjoy their four-course Country Breakfast, where local honey is the star. For dinner, you will have a selection of items from Pacific Northwest cuisine accented by the Chef’s own innovations like edible candles. On the dinner menu, you will find options like local oysters, fresh burrata, seasonal soups and salads, and a wealth of local proteins. But if you are in the Pacific Northwest salmon is a must at least for one of the meals. The restaurant also has multiple vegan menus so no one is excluded.

Salish Lodge is well known for their honey. Harvested on the property Salish beehives are managed by a local bee-keeper, Daniel Sullivan. This “Honey from Heaven” is present and clearly marked on the restaurant menu and is one of its many draws. 

The Attic lounge is nestled just above the restaurant. This is the highest-angle view of the river and the forested valley behind it. Here you will find a selection of cocktails, wines, and beers, including some private-label options. The menu in the Attic is more casual built around pizzas and shareables.

In addition, the halls leading to guest rooms across all floors have energy stations where you can find healthy snacks, coffee, and tea when you need it. 

Afternoon sparkling at the Attic lounge.

On the left is Chef’s own innovation, an edible candle. It is made with olive and coconut oils and melts into the bread dip at the table. Next is a fresh pacific salmon dish followed by steak and potatoes.

The lodge has its own private-label brut wine which you can get at the restaurant or as room service.

Wellness & Fitness 

The lodge is located on a hill with most of the property looking over the river. Somehow even in the 4th-floor Spa, you are close to the ground.  A shower of sun rays enters the room through the a-frame window. This space is divided into the upper and lower pools. The lower pool (only by a couple of steps) is by reservation only while the upper pool is shared with other guests. To the side of these mini-pools is a small sauna and steam room. 

Many people come to Salish for its plethora of treatments (by appointment only). Over the years the Salish spa has won multiple awards and has been named Condé Nast Traveler‘s “Top 50 Hotel Spas in the United States”. The spa services include popular and speciality massage treatments, body exfoliation and polishes, facials, fillers, and even some cannabis-based treatments. 

* * *

Salish Lodge and Spa
Rooms start at $279 USD for Classic; prices change seasonally 
6501 Railroad Ave, Snoqualmie, WA 98065, United States
Book directly on salishlodge.com or with your favourite booking site: Expedia | TripAdvisor | Hotels.com

The post Salish Lodge & Spa is a scenic destination appeared first on Paths to Travel.