Spa-ing in Seattle

Salish Lodge and Spa Lobby

The country portion of my two day spa adventure exploring notable resort spas in the Seattle area was spent at the Salish Lodge and Spa, 45 minutes west of Seattle. With a locovore influence and an exciting spa menu, I was looking forward to experiencing what Salish Lodge had to offer. First up was dinner, which took place in the breathtaking Lodge dining room and got the trip off to a most wonderful start.

Upon leaving after a three hour gourmet extravaganza, my sister and dining companion remarked, “I just want to live here now”. Couldn’t have said it better.

Dining by the falls at Salish Lodge and Spa

Dining in a breathtaking room overlooking the majestic Snoqualmie Falls, we’d enjoyed appetizers of asparagus and morel soup with poached quail eggs, house smoked chicken and leek ravioli and the main course special: freshly caught Snoqualmie trout infused with a vanilla foam. Though I usually shy away from the currently en vogue “gastronomy” influenced cooking technique, my taste buds couldn’t resist the exquisite combination of flavors that occurred when trout met vanilla.

Dessert brought our meal to entirely new heights, as we shared a frozen pistachio parfait with candied pineapple sorbet and vanilla coconut tapioca as well as sugar spiced banana beignets with rum toffee, candied pecans and lemon balm crème anglaise. Even the beignets in New Orleans at the famed Café du Monde couldn’t compare to the deliciousness of Salish Lodge’s fried donut concoctions. I asked the waiter if the beignets were available at breakfast and finding that they were not, recommended they add them to the menu so I could eat them again the next morning.

Snoqualamie Falls

It was difficult to imagine that the Salish spa could compete with our five star experience in the Salish dining room. But upon entering this soothing oasis on the Lodge’s fourth floor, we both knew we were in for yet another treat. The majestic Snoqualmie waterfalls outside find a reflection in an interior water fall in the multi-level hot baths inside the spa. Wet and dry saunas and a cozy spa lounge add to the overall spa experience. I particularly appreciated the bowl of reading glasses provided next to the excellent magazine selection in the spa lounge. Perfect for reading in front of the roaring fire before or after treatments.

Honey bees at Salish Lodge and Resort

Salish Lodge is known for their amazing honey, produced across the street from the Lodge and tended by staff and volunteers from the local high school. With an in house hive that produced 750 pints last year, the Lodge is permeated with honey themed goodness. My sister was especially captivated by their honey truffles, left on the pillow as part of the special “Spa Club” turn down service. Made in the Salish restaurant, the truffles are a truly decadent blend of dark chocolate and fresh, rich honey.

I couldn’t wait to experience my scheduled treatment, “Honey from Heaven for the Hands and Feet”. Asian inspired wood paneled rooms with rice paper doors and soothing earth tones set the tone, as my feet soaked in warm water in a beautiful wooden bowl. One by one, each foot was then drizzled with heated honey and massaged. The perfect amount of deep pressure, combined with the sensual feel of warm honey made this an unforgettable start to a thoroughly unique treatment. The experience continued on a comfortable massage table, where a warm lavender eye bag and a heated stomach wrap deepened my heavenly experience. Neroli scented hot towels, a honey oatmeal scrub and paraffin wrap were the icing on the cake and I exited the treatment room in a cloud of bliss.

Salish Lodge in-room Jacuzzi baths

The “Spa Club” gift bag containing the Lodge’s home-made honey oatmeal scrub, honey milk bath salts and cream gave me a great opportunity to take home the Salish Spa experience, bringing back memories of honey heaven every time I take a shower.

Enjoying Salish Lodge and Spa

SALISH LODGE & SPA: 6501 Railroad Avenue SE Snoqualmie, WA 98065 RESERVATIONS: 800.2.SALISH (800.272.5474)<a