Pack the chocolate. Bring the roses.
Leave the children at home and forget your worries. The time has come to celebrate love and passion.
Make this year’s Valentine’s Day special with a weekend away at one of the region’s comfortable and romantic resorts.
Yes, some couples will choose to find romance in a nylon tent, camping in the cold.
For the rest of us, we’ll take advantage of oversized soaking tubs, we’ll drink in panoramic views and then indulge in a delicious dinner.
Of the many places that are just far enough away to feel at ease but close enough that you don’t need a cat sitter, we chose three that all have Valentine’s Day specials.
Book soon, or plan ahead for next year.
Alderbrook Resort &Spa
Two hours west of Seattle on the southern shores of Hood Canal, Alderbrook Resort &Spa is luxury in the wilderness.
The Olympic Mountains dominate the views, while the quiet waters of Hood Canal lap at the shoreline.
Eagles, otters, seals and sometimes whales find their way here.
Settled in this beautiful place, the resort provides plenty to do, or nothing to do.
Special packages for Valentine’s Day are available beginning Friday and running through Feb. 18.
A “Surprise” package includes accommodations, $70 credit to the Restaurant at Alderbrook, a bottle of wine, and a dozen roses. Prices range from $209 to $389.
The “Unwind My Valentine” package adds a $100 credit at the Spa at Alderbrook and costs $309 to $489.
For $325 a person, couples can enjoy a two-and-a-half-hour special spa treatment that includes an aromatherapy bath infused with scattered rose petals; a body glow moisturizing treatment with a choice of Dead Sea salts and ginger-lemongrass oils, or spicy scented organic brown sugar and shea butter; a choice of aromatherapy or hot stone massage; and additional treatments and treats.
Alderbrook Resort
7101 E. Highway 106, Union
Reservations at www.alderbrookresort.com or 360-898-2145.
Salish Lodge
Overlooking thundering Snoqualmie Falls, Salish Lodge has a tradition of pampered elegance and luxury.
With rooms that offer views of the falls, complete with fireplaces and jetted tubs for two, this is a place to fall in love all over again.
The Spa at Salish has taken the romantic attributes of chocolate to a new level, incorporating a cocoa scent into treatments and using cocoa beans as an exfoliant. A range of treatments is available starting at $115 a person.
For the ultimate romantic getaway, select a “A Night to Remember.” This Feb. 14-only package starts at $1,500, but that money buys a lot. The couple will enjoy a view suite with a 50-minute “Chocolate Massage” for two, a five-course gourmet dinner, a bottle of Dom Perignon, handmade chocolates (to eat), a pair of keepsake crystal champagne flutes, and a country breakfast for two.
“Love at the Lodge,” starts at $199 a night, and includes chocolate fondue for two and a half bottle of port. This special is available Sunday through Thursday only.
Salish Lodge
6501 Railroad Ave. SE, Fall City
Reservations at www.salishlodge.com or call 800-272-5474
Fairhaven Village Inn
The Fairhaven Village Inn commands spectacular views of Bellingham Bay.
Visitors here find the calming waters on one side of the inn and all that the town of Fairhaven has to offer in the other direction.
Steps from the inn are restaurants from bakeries to fine dining. Along the way, visitors can browse bookshops, galleries and stores filled with locally made artisan ceramics and more.
“The really fun part is that the Inn adds a lot to someone’s stay,” said Connie Shannon, who along with her husband, Gene, owns and manages the 22-room hotel.
For Valentine’s Day, the owners are offering a free upgrade to a bayside room, which has a balcony and fireplace. They’ll also treat guests to a bottle of wine, all based on availability.
Room rates range from $169 to $199.
Fairhaven Village Inn
1200 10th St., Bellingham
Reservations at www.fairhavenvillageinn.com or 877-733-1100
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