What I Did on Labor Day Weekend

On Saturday Nigel and I went to The Salish Lodge in Snoqualmie, WA for a wonderful stay. The lodge sits at the top of Snoqualmie Falls, a beautiful, 270-foot tall waterfall that is one of Washington state's most popular scenic attractions. The area is of great historical and religious significance to the local native Americans. It was a popular meeting place for them too, they would gather for trade there. And it is the source of their Creation story. You can read more about the history here.

Right now on the opposite side of the river from the Lodge there is a lot of construction going on. Puget Sound Energy is doing a 3 1/2-year long renovation of the hydroelectric plant there. You can read more about it here. Because of that, the trails that lead down to the base of the Falls are closed. We'll just have to go back to explore more.

What a great time we had! We lived in the lap of luxury, well, overnight at least. We booked a room with a river view. It had a fireplace, which we didn't use because it wasn't cold enough to need it, and a spa tub with jets, big enough for two. They had left us a chilled bottle of champagne in the room, and left the bed strewn with rose petals. I didn't actually get any photos of the room.

We arrived in plenty of time for our dinner reservations in The Dining Room, which is the name of the Lodge's fine dining restaurant. We had a delicious meal, and then a good night's sleep. Our package included breakfast. We had a table in a little alcove of our own, with a fantastic view. The alcove had curtains for privacy.

Nigel in our little breakfast alcove

OMG! What a delicious omelette! It was stuffed with caramelized onions, spinach, mushrooms, bacon and cheese.

For the most part I have sworn off baked goods, but I couldn't resist this scone with butter and homemade raspberry jam! So buttery and crunchy outside and light and fluffy inside.

View from our breakfast window

We could see a rainbow in the mist rising from the falls.

I'm the gold at the end of the rainbow!

Another view from the window

After breakfast I explored the lodge's country store. They had lots of great items for sale, and their displays were photo-worthy. My three-year blogiversary is coming up in a couple of days, and I bought a little something here at the store for a giveaway. So stay tuned to my blog to see what it is and how you can win it!

Isn't this a great owl?

I should have bought this chicken book! Who wouldn't love that chicken on the cover, with its great hairdo?

There is a library with a fireplace and stacks of family games and game tables, a great place to relax. They offer complimentary coffee here in the morning.

After that I explored the outside of the building, which is beautifully landscaped. They had some marvelous hanging baskets.

The Lodge also has a walking path behind the building that has some lovely beds next to it.

Through a gate into a secluded area. The lodge is on the right and the river and head of the waterfall on the left.

The garden beds had some large-leaf hostas.

Every so often I could feel the mist from the waterfall, like little prickles on my skin.

Isn't this a great lichen and moss-covered gnarly trunk?

Here you can see some of PSE's construction.

The head of the waterfall

A little further along were these wild sweetpeas. A member of the garden staff was cutting them back. They grow everywhere here at the side of the road and are very invasive.

I sat here briefly and watched swallows that were darting around overhead. Too hard to photograph!

On the ground right nearby were strawberries. I was tempted, but didn't pick any.

Across the road and up a hill is the Lodge's locked and fenced herb garden, and their honeybees, whose honey they use in many of the Dining Room's yummy dishes. I felt like I was standing under the approach and take-off lanes of a major airport. They were very busy bees, and demonstrated the meaning of the phrase "make a beeline."

Then Nigel and I walked through the waterfall park to actually view the Falls, which you can't see from the Lodge.

The steps at the park are inscribed with words that describe the waterfall.

There is Salish Lodge perched atop the falls.

Ah well! Back to normal life!

I hope you enjoyed taking this little trip with me.