More Hiking :)
Here is the second place we have visited this year so far. This was a very relaxing weekend trip. :)
About the area:
- It's approximately an hour and a half away from Redmond. The Alderbrook Resort is next to the Hood Canal.
- Hiking around the canal you can find oysters, clams, and some mussels. The oyster season was open (no pun intended because it would be a horrible joke!) There were tons of them around.
- The BBQ/oven shelters and water fountains were extremely old and beautiful. It looked like something out of a Zelda game. I am tempted to take the Triforce MUCK people there whenever they come and have some pictures taken. ;) It kind of felt like I was at the Wolfos. :)
- On the way there we found an amazing taco truck that actually sold very tasty tamales. I can't remember the town, but it was about 20 miles from Alderbrook.
- On the way back, we stopped at The Candy Shoppe (http://thecandyshoppellc.com/) in Port Orchard. It's worth stopping by (lots of toffee flavors and different types of chocolate) and easy to find. The signs will guide you there from the highway. You can't run away... ;)
About the Alderbrook Resort:
- The lodge is almost a century old, but the rooms are very updated and fancy. The bathroom had pretty much everything you could need, including a haird dryer, so no need to go ask for one like in similar places.
- The room also also included a radio with an Ipod dock, so that was very nice. There is also a minibar (you need to ask for the key, though) and it had lots of chocolate. :) As usual, pretty expensive. Surprisingly, the water bottles had very reasonable prices.
- They even give you a skipping stone to use on the lake! Really cool. :)
- There was Wi-Fi in the lodge, but we could only get it to work for a few minutes. I am not sure if the signal didn't reach our room, but we were very close to the lobby and it didn't work very well.
- The room had a very beautiful view of the canal.
- We got a couple's package. It included $50 discount for room service/restaurant, so we ordered room service. The food was not bad at all -- Msondo got some oysters and said they were the best he has ever had, and I had some creme brulee which great as well. The restaurant is way overpriced, though. Get room service. :)
- There is a DVD player in the room and you could borrow DVDs from the lobby, but the selection is pretty bad. I guess they want you to buy the on-demand movies instead. :)
- There was a huge, fluffy, and very lazy cat in the lobby who would let you pet him for hours and look at you with a sad face if you try to leave. Don't pet him, it's a trap.
- Outside, there is also a sign that says, "Unattended children will be given a double expresso and a puppy". I love this place. ;)
- Checkout time is pretty early (11am) but they have packages so that you can pay a little more and leave at around 3pm.
- Outside, there is a bonfire and some chairs next to the water. It's great to sit down, have a drink, and watch the canal. Just heaven. :)
- They also have a covered pool, so bring your suimsuit. In case you forget it, they also sell some at a pretty reasonable price.
- The parking was pretty full during the weekend, but not too bad. It looks like there was some sports car owners meeting, since there were lots of them parked outside.
The Spa!
- The couple's package incluyed a discount for a massage with stones and aromatherapy at the Spa. The massage lasted for an hour and was very relaxing. When we came out, they were waiting for us with some water and chocolates. :)
- The spa had everything you could need, from tea and hot towels in the waiting room to shower caps and mouth wash in the shower area.
- It's a bit expensive (but reasonable if you get it as part of a package) and worth visiting at least once.
- For reservations: http://www.alderbrookresort.com/
- Date visited: Mid March 2010
About the area:
- It's approximately an hour and a half away from Redmond. The Alderbrook Resort is next to the Hood Canal.
- Hiking around the canal you can find oysters, clams, and some mussels. The oyster season was open (no pun intended because it would be a horrible joke!) There were tons of them around.
- The BBQ/oven shelters and water fountains were extremely old and beautiful. It looked like something out of a Zelda game. I am tempted to take the Triforce MUCK people there whenever they come and have some pictures taken. ;) It kind of felt like I was at the Wolfos. :)
- On the way there we found an amazing taco truck that actually sold very tasty tamales. I can't remember the town, but it was about 20 miles from Alderbrook.
- On the way back, we stopped at The Candy Shoppe (http://thecandyshoppellc.com/) in Port Orchard. It's worth stopping by (lots of toffee flavors and different types of chocolate) and easy to find. The signs will guide you there from the highway. You can't run away... ;)
About the Alderbrook Resort:
- The lodge is almost a century old, but the rooms are very updated and fancy. The bathroom had pretty much everything you could need, including a haird dryer, so no need to go ask for one like in similar places.
- The room also also included a radio with an Ipod dock, so that was very nice. There is also a minibar (you need to ask for the key, though) and it had lots of chocolate. :) As usual, pretty expensive. Surprisingly, the water bottles had very reasonable prices.
- They even give you a skipping stone to use on the lake! Really cool. :)
- There was Wi-Fi in the lodge, but we could only get it to work for a few minutes. I am not sure if the signal didn't reach our room, but we were very close to the lobby and it didn't work very well.
- The room had a very beautiful view of the canal.
- We got a couple's package. It included $50 discount for room service/restaurant, so we ordered room service. The food was not bad at all -- Msondo got some oysters and said they were the best he has ever had, and I had some creme brulee which great as well. The restaurant is way overpriced, though. Get room service. :)
- There is a DVD player in the room and you could borrow DVDs from the lobby, but the selection is pretty bad. I guess they want you to buy the on-demand movies instead. :)
- There was a huge, fluffy, and very lazy cat in the lobby who would let you pet him for hours and look at you with a sad face if you try to leave. Don't pet him, it's a trap.
- Outside, there is also a sign that says, "Unattended children will be given a double expresso and a puppy". I love this place. ;)
- Checkout time is pretty early (11am) but they have packages so that you can pay a little more and leave at around 3pm.
- Outside, there is a bonfire and some chairs next to the water. It's great to sit down, have a drink, and watch the canal. Just heaven. :)
- They also have a covered pool, so bring your suimsuit. In case you forget it, they also sell some at a pretty reasonable price.
- The parking was pretty full during the weekend, but not too bad. It looks like there was some sports car owners meeting, since there were lots of them parked outside.
The Spa!
- The couple's package incluyed a discount for a massage with stones and aromatherapy at the Spa. The massage lasted for an hour and was very relaxing. When we came out, they were waiting for us with some water and chocolates. :)
- The spa had everything you could need, from tea and hot towels in the waiting room to shower caps and mouth wash in the shower area.
- It's a bit expensive (but reasonable if you get it as part of a package) and worth visiting at least once.
- For reservations: http://www.alderbrookresort.com/
- Date visited: Mid March 2010