The tasting room at Novelty Hill Winery and Januik Winery. Photo by Sue Frause.
Pacific Northwest Getaways by Sue Frause
This is the sixth of 10 Pacific Northwest Getaways that are fun to explore in the fall and winter -- or any time of year. They're in no particular order or ranking, but range from small island towns to large cities, and from affordable family overnighters to luxe accommodations for two.
Since our anniversary is in August, it always seems a bit silly to "go away." Mainly because we live on Whidbey Island, a place where a lot of other people "go away."
But this was our 35th anniversary, which seemed like an important milestone. With that in mind, we wanted to go to a romantic place, one where we hadn't done much exploring. Woodinville, Washington leaped off the map, and it was less than an hour from our home.
The wine industry in Woodinville began in 1976 with the opening of Chateau Ste. Michelle. Now with nearly 40 wineries, Woodinville Wine Country has become a major hub for Western Washington winemaking. We spent an afternoon visiting two: DeLille Cellars and Novelty Hill Januik. Both different in style and architecture, the duo is a perfect way to while away an afternoon, no matter what time of year.
We booked a room at Willows Lodge, which truly is a lodge with its rustic Pacific Northwest design and decor. Its 84 rooms all feature stone fireplaces in every room, private patios or balconies and deep soaking tubs for two. Enjoy a glass of vino in your room (we had a trunk full in our car!) or the lodge's lounge and don't miss dinner at the Barking Frog. Executive Chef Bobby Moore, who was invited to cook at the historic James Beard House in New York City, makes magic with local ingredients and a few of his own unique twists. Truffled macaroni and cheese? Yup. We dined there on a Sunday night, and the place was packed with locals, lodge guests and business folks (Microsoft is nearby).
The next morning I had booked an appointment for a treatment at The Spa at Willows Lodge. The spa menu includes everything from a 30-minute Massage ($60) to the four-hour Willows Spa Experience that includes the Outdoor Hot Tub and Sauna; Hot Stone Massage; Spa Lunch; and a Grand Classic Facial ($275, gratuity included).
Then take your wine home and enjoy!
NEXT: Victoria on Vancouver Island, BC
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