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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.
Overlooking Fairhaven Village Green, this charming, historic inn overlooks Bellingham Bay; bay-view rooms have balconies and gas fireplaces, and a suite has French doors dividing a bedroom and sitting area. On a clear day the view ranges all the way to the San Juan Islands. It's steps from Fairhaven's restaurants and galleries, and a trail running from downtown Bellingham to the waterfront and Padden Creek passes in front of the inn.
Opened in 2021 in the city's dynamic and newly developed waterfront neighborhood just south of Point Defiance Park, this upscale mid-rise with spacious contemporary rooms and an excellent restaurant offers seaside relaxation and views yet proximity to a large city. Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, wet bars, and large walk-in showers. Copper & Salt Northwest Kitchen serves well-crafted regional fare, and Spa Serein offers a full slate of soothing body treatments. Don't confuse this property with the older, but still quite nice, Silver Cloud Hotel Tacoma Waterfront, which is a couple of miles southeast, closer to downtown.
Tacoma's lone waterfront hotel juts out into the bay along picturesque Ruston Way and the historic Old Town. Contemporary rooms and even swankier suites with plush carpets, overstuffed chairs, cozy fireplaces, and corner hot tubs look out over Commencement Bay and the boardwalk marina area. Aside from glossy bay vistas, rooms have microwaves, refrigerators, 55-inch flat-screen TVs, and Aveda bath products.
In a gabled building rising above the waterfront between downtown and Fairhaven, this cushy boutique hotel with an outstanding spa and fantastic views out toward the San Juan Islands contains light-filled, contemporary rooms with fireplaces, plush down comforters, double baths, and window seats. Artwork enlivens the walls of the popular restaurant, Keenan's at the Pier, and picture windows frame views of Bellingham Bay.
With nearly 400 spacious rooms, some with bunk beds and log-cabin-style forts geared to kids, this activity-focused, rustic-contemporary, lodge-style resort is the largest accommodation in the region. Families appreciate the elaborate and extensive 56,000-square-foot indoor water park, open year-round, that adjoins this retreat, part of the national Great Wolf brand. It's just off Interstate 5 about a 10- to 15-minute drive north of downtown Centralia and a 20-minute drive south of Olympia. Other amenities include seven restaurants and bars, a handful of shops, adult and kids' spas, and a full fitness center.
This luxurious, modern waterfront hotel overlooks the entrance to bustling Squalicum Harbor, and its dapper rooms have gas fireplaces, plush bathrooms with jetted tubs and separate glassed-in showers, and private balconies for lounging and dining. The contemporary Lighthouse Grill has grand views across Bellingham Bay and plenty of outdoor seating. The adjacent Zazen Spa offers a full slate of pampering products and services.
Overlooking Dyes Inlet, this contemporary five-story hotel in suburban Silverdale has spacious suites with nautical designs, some with balconies facing the water, and plenty of thoughtful extras, including a full breakfast. Although the surrounding area isn't terribly exciting, the waterfront location is pretty, and it's a good base for visiting Poulsbo and Bremerton. Several extended-stay suites have kitchenettes.
On the shore of the charming village of Mukilteo, which looks across Possession Sound toward Whidbey Island and lies midway between Everett and Edmonds, this cheerfully decorated two-story hotel is ideal for a seaside getaway without having to leave metro Seattle. Accommodations have armchairs, premium linens, huge flat-screen TVs, and other modern perks, and most have water views.
Spread over 3 lushly landscaped acres along beautiful American Lake, this 27,000-square-foot property was built in 1908 from the pieces of a 16th-century Gothic- and Tudor-style castle shipped from England; it has hosted two American presidents (William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt). It's replete with medieval-style stained-glass windows, gleaming wood floors, large mirrors, antiques, fireplaces, and hot tubs. From the lakeside patio and sunken garden—designed by the Olmsted Brothers—you can meditate on the spectacular sunsets.
In a cute 1910s house, this cozy inn has plenty going for it, including a spacious deck, a 150-foot dock on the harbor, a couple of kayaks for guests, and dramatic harbor views from each of the smartly appointed, contemporary rooms. Accommodations are spacious, with separate sitting areas and patios with chairs and tables.
