8 Best Hotels in The Olympic Peninsula and Washington Coast, Washington

With an idyllic setting on a scenic bend of Hood Canal, this elegant, evergreen-shaded resort dating to 1913 contains snazzy rooms overlooking the water, a courtyard, or a gurgling creek. There's a slew of extras, including a full-service spa, 18-hole golf course, beach, an indoor pool with water views, and several miles of hiking trails through peaceful old-growth forest. The stellar restaurant sources much of its seafood from the canal, and a 54-foot-long yacht offers sunset cruises with views of the Olympic Mountains. The location is perfect for a weekend getaway from Seattle or for exploring the Kitsap Peninsula and the eastern reaches of the Olympic Peninsula.

A favorite roost of young Seattle and Portland urbanites, this hip, eco-minded resort has guest rooms with stylish mid-century modern decor and expansive sea views and sleek, contemporary studios in a pool building. Amenities include two-person showers or jetted tubs, in-room fireplaces, a sauna and heated pool, and a lobby shop stocked with craft beer, regional wines, and trendy gourmet goodies.

This 100-acre retreat dating back to the 1940s has gorgeously renovated cabins, each decorated in earth tones with timber accents, beachy but elegant furnishings, and upscale kitchens. Through the big windows you can enjoy the tranquil, evergreen-shaded setting along a bluff overlooking Boone Creek and the ocean. Coastal trails attract a mix of surfers, divers, boaters, and hikers. This beachfront hideaway is the perfect place for winter storm watching, clamming, and getting away from it all.

A few miles north of downtown Long Beach, this sprawling, well-maintained compound set among the dunes includes modern suites, older cottages, and economical motel rooms; many units have ocean views, and cottages have shared decks. The variety of options makes this a great choice for everyone from backpackers on a budget to big families. There's a wealth of recreational facilities on the property.

One of relatively few Washington accommodations with a direct oceanfront location, this rustic but well-maintained compound of cabins and two motel buildings is set on a stunning mile-long beach on the Quileute Tribal Reservation in La Push, 15 miles from Forks. Indigenous artwork fills the cabins and rooms, all of which have either kitchenettes or full kitchens; deluxe cabins have fireplaces and jetted tubs. There are also RV camping sites, plus a convenience store, coffee shop, picnic area, and barbecue grills; River's Edge seafood restaurant is a 10-minute walk.

Reached from Port Townsend via a pretty 18-mile country drive, this boutique resort makes a good base for touring both the eastern Olympic and northern Kitsap peninsulas. It offers plenty of appealing amenities, including kayaking and boating, in-room spa services, a charming restaurant, and more than 30 miles of hiking trails. The oversize rooms in the three-story, nautically themed inn have gas fireplaces and jetted tubs, and many have balconies overlooking the yacht-filled marina.

This 1930s-era cabin compound on Hood Canal, built in a rustic fairytale style by the guy who designed the sets for Errol Flynn's Robin Hood movies, is ideal for a romantic yet reasonably priced woodland getaway, complete with an enchanting lodgelike restaurant and a pub offering live music. All cabins have old-fashioned lodge-style furnishings, kitchenettes, and, in some cases, hot tubs and fireplaces.

For a truly bohemian and memorable Pacific Northwest experience, book one these eclectic accommodations—rustic cottages, a fleet of well-kept vintage travel trailers, and four second-floor suites carved out of a ballroom inside the 1892 summer retreat of businessman and U.S. senator Henry Winslow Corbett. Trailers have cooking facilities, and you're also welcome to make breakfast in the homey shared kitchen. The grounds also contain a garden hot tub and Finnish sauna and a pay-on-your-honor food and sundries shop on the enclosed porch of the red-painted main lodge.