The Alderbrook Resort is about a two hour drive from Seattle on the Hood Canal and it’s been a place we’ve wanted to visit for years. So naturally it’s a place we’ve been thinking about visiting recently too because it’s very close to Seattle but still feels like it could be worlds away. Now that we have a pup it is harder to find a spot because Scout can only stay in the dog friendly cabins they have or in a few other room types (I had no idea before that even when you pay the pet fee many hotels only have a certain number of rooms pups can actually stay in.) I’ve been frantically checking to see when any of the dog friendly cabins were available on days we could visit and we were so lucky when everything lined up for a quick last minute trip.
Costco is the best stop for families between the Alderbrook Resort and Seattle and perhaps anywhere
In this era of masks and limiting interactions the one place we’ve been stopping on routes where we might need to go to the bathroom is Costco. If it’s lunch or dinner time we can even have an inexpensive car picnic with sliced pizza from the cafe and salad from the deli and Spindrift sodas that we buy almost every time we come here. Most of the places we’ve road tripped to have kitchens so we also pick up Ellenos yogurt and fruit for an easy breakfast too. But Costco is reliably the one place that enforces mask wearing. And like Disneyland since Costco has a membership/entry fee that can be enforced if people refuse to follow the rules, I feel like it’s one place where people are compliant so I’m really thankful to Costco for helping to keep us as safe as they can.
And how are the dog friendly cabins at Alderbrook Resort?
We arrived a little after dark and the paths around the area are well lit and well marked. We checked in at the front desk and we were given a map and easy directions. We were able to park at the back of our cabin to unload our things before parking in the parking lot (there are a few Tesla chargers here too if you also drive electric). Our cabin had two bedrooms, a sitting area and a kitchen with a dishwasher which I especially appreciate when we are staying in a place for more than one night. We brought our pup bed and he was quite comfortable in this space. Scout really loved running in the grassy area by the cabin we stayed in and he was happy being so near to the water. I really liked that there were lots of dog bag stations around the area too-I think that helps people to remember to pick up after their little friends.
What to do at Alderbrook Resort?
We were only at Alderbrook Resort for a short visit so we didn’t get a chance to go boating but we walked along the dock a few times and it was really beautiful. In the morning it was so foggy and gorgeous for photos and by the afternoon we ended up with a beautiful sunny day. We thought about trying their geocaching adventure and maybe let the kids go swimming (when we were there it was reservation only) but the kids had online school so didn’t have enough time. Instead we followed the hiking map and did a hike before their classes and it felt so good to be out in nature. The trails were well-marked and interesting and we did a short hike that was around 2.5 miles. They also played a bit of soccer on the grass and just enjoyed being outside.
We thought we would have a chance to takeout dinner from the restaurant but we ended up eating on our drive in so we’ll have to try that next time. They had some clear plastic domes on their deck that looked like pretty dreamy spaces to eat in and there were chairs around a few bonfires on the property that were inviting as well. We arrived just a little before the restaurant closed so we ordered dessert and it was nice to eat around the table in our very own space.
And is there any wildlife at the Alderbrook Resort?
I had to add this because the morning we were there, a worker on the dock mentioned he saw a beaver swimming in the area for the very first time and showed me a bunch of pictures on his phone. I really wish we were able to see the beaver in real life too, but I thought this was so cool that someone who spent so much time in the area still felt a lot of wonder about all the natural scenery. It’s such a spectacular place and I’m glad we visited because the kids and pup had a great time too.
(PS. I posted about this place on instagram and so many Seattleites also mentioned that they have a lot of love for this hotel. It’s nice to hear when you enjoy staying a place that other people have had a good time there too.)
Terumi Pong is a Seattle-based family travel writer and mom of twin teenage boys. She loves coffee and pastries, shopping local and looking for greener ways to live. She is also known as Scout’s mom (Scout is a 5ish pound little black yorkie-poo)