Sun Mountain Lodge

Set at the top of a very long drive, Sun Mountain's light-filled, wood-shingled main lodge has stone fireplaces, leather armchairs, and numerous pieces of wall-mounted antlers and taxidermy, including an entire bison in the lobby. It's a family-friendly place with hearty food, quilts on beds, and a roster of camp-like activities. But the resort -- with its cathedral ceiling lobby, free Wi-Fi, and cozy wine cellar -- is firmly in the 21st century. The Restaurant is a white tablecloth, fine dining place with views to the mountains and a menu that includes vegetarian options. The Wolf Creek Bar & Grill serves casual fare and has a flat-screen TV and rustic wood chairs with a large bar. But much of the focus is on the resort's 8,000 acres: There are trails for hiking, mountain biking, snow shoeing, and cross country skiing; the resort has a gear shop for rentals, and a concierge can offer advice on outdoor activities. In warm weather, guests can choose from two outdoor pools, hot tubs, tennis courts, and a host of other games like volleyball and croquet. Guests can also swim and sail (rentals are available for a fee) on the 120-acre Patterson Lake. The property's pools have stone terraces surrounded by loungers and views of the mountains. This is a popular property with families, both for the wide range of activities and for the homey rooms, some of which include kitchens. 

The Sun Mountain Lodge is inclusive in its offerings but is rather isolated. It's a nine-minute drive from the small town center of Winthrop, which is styled after an Old West frontier town. The Shafter Historical Museum and White Buck Trading Company and Museum can be found here. And it's four minutes by car from the hotel to the Winthrop Twin Lakes Loop drive. Guests interested in renting equipment for white water rafting can drive 12 minutes to Methow River Raft and Kayak. The Gamble Sands Golf Course, one of the most picturesque 18-hole courses in the West, is a 73-minute drive away. Wenatchee Washington, known as the Apple Capital of the World for its many orchards, is a 90-minute drive. The closest small airport, Pangborn Memorial, is two hours away by car. The Seattle/Tacoma International Airport is a four-hour and 30-minute drive. 

Guest rooms at the Sun Mountain Lodge vary in terms of their size and decor, but they all sport a homey country-lodge look. Typical decorative details include floral patchwork quilts on the beds, brown leather armchairs, solid oak tables, or bentwood lounge chairs. Color schemes run from dusty pinks and sandy browns to cool blues and grays. Higher-category rooms can include separate seating areas, private patios or balconies, or jetted tubs. And many have stone fireplaces. Cabins along the shores of Lake Patterson have fireplaces and full kitchens. Views display the Cascade Mountains, Methow Valley, or the sweeping landscape surrounding the lodge itself. All rooms have air-conditioning, radio alarm clocks, free Wi-Fi, CD players, tea and coffee making facilities, irons and ironing boards, and minibars -- but they purposefully do not have a TV. Some higher-category rooms have iPod docks. The bathrooms continue the homey look with rosy granite countertops and rose-and-white checked floors, in most. Individual toiletries, magnifying mirrors, and robes add a little luxury to these spaces. Bathrooms either have shower/tub combos or soaking tubs and separate walk-in shower. Larger rooms may have jetted tubs, and some are set by windows with mountain views. 

Sun Mountain Lodge really makes the most of its 8,000 acres of land. Hiking trails cover the grounds, and horseback riding is available from one-hour trail rides to private lessons (for a fee). Horse-drawn sleigh rides are also available for a fee, in season. Mountain bikes, cross country skies, and snowshoes can be rented as well. The location by Patterson Lake allows for all sorts of water sports, including paddle boats, kayaks, and sailboats; rental fees apply. Guests interested in fishing can rent equipment and purchase fishing licenses. There's a gear shop on-site for guests who forgot necessary sporting attireThe property has two freeform pools surrounded by loungers and some sun umbrellas. There's also two tennis courts, and on rainy days, the game room has a pool table, table tennis, and Foosball tables. There is also an extensive range of children's programs. And a spa provides beauty and massage treatments.To refuel from all that activity, Sun Mountain has two restaurants with vegan and vegetarian options, and a bar, all with terrace dining options. The resort offers meals on the trail for a fee. There is a gift shop for sundries as well. A concierge will help guide guests toward activities, and a wine and wedding director are also on staff. Babysitting is available for a fee, and children are presented with a gift at check-in. The hotel provides ironing and laundry services for a fee. Both parking and Wi-Fi are free.