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Many of the towns listed are easy day trips from Seattle, so staying there is always an option. On the other hand, hotel rates are nearly always lower outside Seattle. Tacoma, Olympia, and Bellingham have the widest variety of accommodations, with pricey hotels, midrange chains, and bed-and-breakfasts. Almost all but the smallest rural towns have midrange chain motels; towns lacking those, like Port Gamble, have at least one B&B. The only truly great luxury resort in the region is the Salish Lodge in Snoqualmie. There are a few other noteworthy hotels in these parts—the Murano in Tacoma, the Chrysalis Inn in Bellingham, and some fine B&Bs elsewhere—but relatively prosaic chains dominate the lodging landscape.
This thoughtfully updated motel with rooms and a few cabins offers reasonable rates and a peaceful location along U.S. 12, a bit north of downtown Packwood and within easy striking distance of the Stevens Canyon Entrance to Mount Rainier National Park. Rooms have flat-screen TVs, plush bedding, and refrigerators, and cabins are a nice option for families, as they sleep four and have full kitchens—they also have jetted tubs, an especially pleasing amenity on chilly winter nights.
A young Ukrainian couple bought and completely revamped this older motel-style lodging in the center of Ashford, giving it a fresh, distinctive look and an upbeat energy. The unique hot tub—a bubbling cauldron over an open flame—is a particularly fun touch. Guest rooms have an inviting rustic-chic aesthetic, with timber ceilings, rough-hewn wood beds, and stylish bathrooms with heated floors.
