2 Best Hotels in Hood Canal, The Olympic Peninsula and Washington Coast

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.

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.