Lake Crescent Lodge in Washington
In 1951 Lake Cresent became part of the Olympic National Park in Washington, but before that the Singers had built Lake Cresent Lodge and the adorable little cabins that surround it. In 1915 the Singers invested $50,000 into creating Lake Crescent Lodge, a pretty penny in those days. Folks would come over from Seattle, crossing the lake by boat, to get to the property as the road was rough or nonexistent in those days.
Lake Crescent Lodge
To really go back in time, stay in one of the Historic Lodge Rooms. While these are the smallest and least expensive they are also the most charming in my opinion. The drawback is that the bathroom is down the hall just like it was in the olden days. A Historic Lodge Rooms goes for $105 plus tax a night.
Lake Crescent Lodge Rooms
The best bet for a cabin is the Roosevelt One-Room or Two-Room Cottages. These go for around $229 to $239 a night. They are not the actual cabins from 1915, but they have been rebuilt to look just like the originals, which were worn out. Some of the cottages look right out onto the lake and these are the best ones, usually booked way in advance.
Cottage
I can see why cottages at Lake Crescent are popular; it’s a spectacular place. The water invites you to take a swim or do a few laps around the lake in a canoe. Down the road from the property is Sol Duc Hot Springs (aprox $12 for a day pass) and numerous hikes into the Olympic National Park. Of course the Hoh Rain Forest, one of the only temperate rain forests in the world, is also right down the road from Lake Crescent Lodge making for an ideal day trip.
Aside from enjoying the lake and the park, Lake Crescent Lodge also has a restaurant and bar on site run by Aramark. I didn’t eat at Lake Crescent Lodge but did look over the menu and noticed that they offered a nice variety of local, northwestern eats at fair prices.
View of Lake
Lake Crescent Lodge also offers accommodations in the Marymere Motor Lodge, the Pyramid Motor Lodge and the Storm King Motor Lodge. While these options are less expensive, they’re pretty ‘blah’ and need a make-over. Stick with the Historic Lodge Rooms or the Roosevelts for a good stay.
MORE:
416 Lake Crescent Rd.
Port Angeles, WA, 98363
USA
Open seasonally
http://www.olympicnationalparks.com/accommodations/lake-crescent-resort.aspx
Post and Photos by Regina Winkle-Bryan. See more of her lodging tips at The Spain Scoop.
