A Taste of Olympic Proportions

Premier Visit
We were married in 1987 at the Rustler Lodge which is a part of the Alta ski resort in Utah.  After an incredible ceremony, we took the first of 2 honeymoon vacations. Our first honeymoon was to Aspen, Colorado.  As we stated in our first blog, we were bitten by the travel bug early so one honeymoon wasn't enough.  A few months later, we decided to drive from Salt Lake City to the northwest coast.  We had a wonderful planned stay in Cannon Beach, Oregon. We continued north up the coast along Highway 101.  This was such a beautiful drive and was so very romantic for 2, crazy about each other, newlyweds.  After we made our way into Washington, we came upon Lake Quinault.  Doug said that he'd love to drive over to the lodge as he had always wanted to stay there because he had heard so much about it.  As we pulled up in front of the lodge, we didn't just want to stay there - we NEEDED to stay there.  The old world charm was captivating.  We went in to see if they had a room available. As the receptionist was telling us that they were completely booked, another receptionist finished a phone conversation and stated that there was ONE vacancy!  Such Serendipitous Luck!

Photo from olympicnationalparks.com

                                                                                 

Repeat Visitors
This became a 27 year love affair for us.  We have stayed at the Lake Quinault Lodge many times throughout our marriage. We have stayed as newlyweds, a couple with small children, a couple with teenagers, and once again as a couple without children.  What is it that makes us come back time and time again?  The lodge is situated on the shore of Lake Quinault.  There is a breathtaking view from nearly every window in the main building.  Regardless of the season, the lake offers serenity and relaxation.  There are many wonderful seating areas to use for meditation as you gaze at the reflection of the Douglas Fir in the water.  The gazebo offers an alluring locale to have lunch.  It is ideal for an outdoor wedding.  The patio allows you to eat outdoor and to feel closer to the lake.  Regardless of where you sit, you will thrill to the grandeur of the setting.

Lovely Lobby
The lobby is perfect for unwinding.  The majestic fireside is mesmerizing.  It is large enough to fit a full log, there is no need to split logs for this fireplace.  It is common to see a puzzle set up for anyone to complete.  There is a full bar in the lobby with a barista ready to concoct a latte or to pour a glass of wine.  Imagine sipping on an Irish Coffee while delving into Game of Thrones!

Hiking
Outdoor activities abound, after all, this is still the Olympic National Park.  Hiking is very popular here. You can take a very short, casual stroll on a paved trail to intense hikes.  Our plan is to hike from the Elwha River Valley near Port Angeles to  Lake Quinault.  This is a 50 mile hike that will take several days of back packing.  The thought of arriving at the Lodge and recuperating in luxury is tantalizing.  Lake Quinault Lodge is the only accomodations located directly within the rainforest.  The temperate rainforest offers an exquisite and lush environment.  This is perfect habitat for the Roosevelt Elk, coyote, and the Black-Tail Deer.  It is common to hear the coyotes howling and loons calling out over the lake.  It is a symphony of nature.

A very dear friend of ours, who is a composer, has been known to take time away from the rat race and to compose her music out at Lake Quinault Lodge.  It was there when we first met her.  Could there be a better place to contemplate and focus?





Swimming
The main building offers an indoor swimming pool.  This was perfect for our family with small children as well as our family with teenagers.  The boys also enjoyed the game room which is adjacent to the pool area.  They had a great time playing pool and darts.  Swimming is permitted in the lake.  Just remember that temperatures are never high nor intense.  That is what also makes this area so delightful to visit.  When temperatures are soaring all over the United States, you can rest assured that you will find the weather pleasant and comfortable at Lake Quinault.

Biking
There are many off-road trails which are ideal for biking.  There is a 30 mile loop which begins and ends at the lodge.  There couldn't be a more picturesque setting for a leisurely paced bike ride or for a more intense ride.  Either way, you will feel that you are one with nature.

Dining
Prior to your outdoor activities, make dinner reservations in the Roosevelt Dining Room.  In 1937, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt made a trip to Quinault and ate in this dining hall.  Shortly thereafter, he signed a bill which created the Olympic National Park  The restaurant offers panoramic vistas of the lake and mountains.  The cuisine is quite spectacular and offers local fare.  It is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  After a day of hiking, this is quite possibly the best meal you will ever eat.

New Year's Eve
Twice, we have enjoyed spending New Year's Eve at the lodge.  We have danced to live music as well as to a DJ in their ballroom.  Dinner in the dining room and then champagne toasts in the ballroom - you can't ask for a greater way to usher in the new year.  Call ahead of time to ensure that they will have a New Year's celebration.

Accommodations
There are a multitude of accommodations at the lodge.  Our first stay was in the main building.  It is very european in style.  We enjoyed a lovely lakeside view.  Last New Year's Eve we stayed in the fireplace rooms.  We brought Mom and Justin with us so we had two rooms which were adjoining.  We loved having two fireplaces for that cozy ambience.  There is also the boathouse which offers accommodations for several families.

Thanksgiving Day Activities and Dinner
Lake Quinault Lodge will be hosting Thanksgiving Day Activities and Dinner on November 28, 2013.  They will have a Rainforest Tour at 9:30 am and will go until 1:30 pm.  There will be a Thanksgiving Buffet from 12:00 to 7:00 pm.  They will have football on their projection screen in the Quileute Ballroom.  Then you can play some Pumpkin Bocce Ball.  You will find more information at http://www.olympicpeninsula.org/event/user-submitted-event/lake-quinault-lodge-thanksgiving-day-activities-dinner

Tribal Nations
As you travel the Olympic Peninsula out to Lake Quinault, you are privileged to drive through the lands of many tribal nations.  The tribes include: Jamestown S'Klallam, Lower Elwha , Quilluete, Hoh, and Quinalt. If you were to continue the drive down to Neah Bay, you would also share the drive with the Makah Nation.  These cultures are rich in heritage.  There is a beautiful museum in Neah Bay as well as the Squamish museum near Poulsbo.  Take the time to visit these museums, they will help you to understand and enjoy the history and culture of the tribal nations in Washington.

Our musical pairing for today includes this beautiful Native American music entitled "Earth Drum."  May we suggest playing this music while you re-read this blog post.

Next Blog Post:  Port Angeles - Our hometown!

Taste the Peninsula - Lake Crescent Lodge

Taste the Peninsula - Lake Crescent Lodge

As we travel the world, we are drawn time and time again to our own back yard.  That might sound a little mundane, but please remember that our back yard is the Olympic National Park!  There truly isn’t a more picturesque setting for leading an artful voyage through life.  

We moved to the Olympic Peninsula on Labor Day Weekend in 1991. We moved with an 11 day old baby (Justin) and a 2 1/2 year old toddler (Josh). As we took the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, we were overwhelmed by the pristine beauty that was to be our new home. That was 22 years ago and we continue to feel like we are living in the most beautiful place on earth. So, whether you live on the Peninsula and are interested in a Staycation or you live somewhere else, this blog and subsequent ones will open the doors to you to the Olympic Peninsula.

Olympic National Park

First off, let’s not forget that the Olympic National Park is the premier tourist destination on the Peninsula. The National Park is over 922,651 acres of natural beauty and preserved wilderness. The backpacking opportunities are spectacular. We will dedicate several blogs to great outdoor adventures. For now, we will take a look at the places that are quite a bit less rugged.

Lake Crescent Lodge

The historic Lake Crescent Lodge was built in 1916. It hugs the shore of the exquisite Lake Crescent. There are several room options at the lodge. They have beautiful fireplace cabins called the Roosevelt Cabins. All of these Cabins are situated on the lake and come available as one bedroom or two bedroom. Our favorite happens to be the Singer Tavern Cabins. There are 10 single room cabins which are set overlooking the lake or with mountain views.. Each of the cabins has a lovely porch complete with adirondack chairs for comfy relaxation. They also have 3 two bedroom cabins as well that can accomodate families.

While staying at the Lodge, you have so many activities available to you.  These range in physical activity levels from sedate to vigorous.  One of the loveliest views of the lake can be seen from the screened in porch of the lodge.  This is accessible year round.  It is a delight to relax on the porch enjoying an enticing cocktail or glass of wine.  You can feel your pulse rate and blood pressure lower as you yield to the grandeur of the lake.

The lodge rents canoes, single and tandem kayaks, rowboats, as well as fishing rods.  You can relax in a canoe or you can get that heart rate up with  a kayak.  Lake Crescent is known for it’s unique Beardsley trout.  The lake is ideal for fly fishing as no license is required, just keep in mind that the fishing regulations are catch and release only.  Listen carefully as you will hear the screeching of Bald Eagles who soar over the lake in search of dinner.

The hiking opportunities also vary according to how strenuous of a hike you would like to take.  Marymeer Falls is a mere 3/4 of a mile from the Ranger Station which is close at hand.  Falls Creek boasts a 90 foot drop to a misty pool which then runs into Barnes Creek.  The hike is a mostly flat walk until you near the falls, then it becomes fairly steep at the end.  It is truly worth the little bit of huffing and puffing you will do to view the falls.  You will be amazed by the old growth canopy of trees, the fern and the hanging moss.  Keep your eyes peeled for the blacktailed deer as they frequent this trail.

The Storm King trailhead takes off from the Marymere Falls trail.  This is a much more vigorous hike.  After a 1.5 mile hike which gains 2000 feet in elevation, you will be thrilled by a ledge that drops off precipitously!  You won’t believe the stunning vista you will have of Lake Crescent and Pyramid Mountain.  There is a second viewpoint in another half mile and another 400 feet of elevation gain.  You won’t see the lake, but you will view the Barnes Creek valley. 

If you do this hike, let us suggest that you pack a lunch, plenty of water and be certain to get a 2 litre satchel of Camaraderie Cellars Storm King Red Wine.  We will be taking you to the Camaraderie Cellars Tasting Room in an upcoming blog.  Just be certain to bring this amazing wine for your hike - you will be thanking us over and over again.

Another delightful hike which is very near to Lake Crescent Lodge is the Spruce Railroad Trail. This trail allows for walking, running, as well as mountain biking.  The trail runs along side the lake and again offers beautiful moss-draped trees which include maple, fir, hemlocks and our favorite, the madrona.  This was once a 36 mile rail line which was built in World War I to haul Sitka Spruce to be milled in Port Angeles and then used in airplane manufacturing.  The National Park Service converted 4 miles of this rail line into a pleasant, mostly level trail.

After all of this activity, you will have a hearty appetite.  The restaurant at Lake Crescent Lodge is waiting to sate your taste buds.  The restaurant offers Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner in the Dining room as well as an all day Lounge menu.  The dining room is open from early May to January 1 and boasts local fare including cedar planked wild salmon.  You will be treated to a lovely wine list which touts local wineries such as Camaraderie, Harbinger, and Olympic Cellars in addition to other Washington wines.  You will want to try the Lake Crescent White by Camaraderie Cellars.  

The dining room has an incredible view of the lake as well as Pyramid Peak.  You can watch people playing on the lake as they ski, boat, canoe, and swim.  If you are there in the evening, you will be delighted by the rich hues as the sun sets.  The atmosphere changes with each season.  There are intense fall colors in Autumn, fog and mist over the lake in the Winter, delicate buds on the deciduous trees in the Spring and the deep abundant evergreen color year round.

Special Events The lodge will be open until January 1, 2014.  They will be closed until May of 2014.  The Lodge is offering a Thanksgiving Brunch from 10 am to 4 pm.  They will host a Frankling & Theodore's Teddy Bear Tea each Saturday from November 30 to December 28.  In Addition, they will have Sundays with Santa  from December 1-29.  Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will bring a Charles Dickens Themed Christmas  Buffet. You can also enjoy a New Year's Eve Gala complete with dinner, appetizers, drinks, and dancing to a live Band.  They will end 2013 with a New Year's Day brunch!  You can find more information at: http://www.olympicnationalparks.com/75anniversary.aspx.  Contact the lodge to make reservations!

For our musical pairing this week, please enjoy Chip Davis and the Manheim Steamroller.  This is from Fresh Aire I and is entitled:  Interlude I.  Close your eyes and listen to the rain on the lake!

Next blog:  Lake Quinault Lodge