If you’ve been looking for an easy weekend getaway where you can unplug from electronics and plug into nature, consider a trip to Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort. This rustic-luxe mountain retreat, located just outside the Bavarian-themed town of Leavenworth on the banks of Icicle Creek, offers families a distinct Northwest experience—from sustainable gourmet cuisine to cozy cabin-like accommodations to a wide range of recreational activities. Still not convinced? Read on for a list of 12 reasons you and your kid crew need to pack your bags and head to Sleeping Lady before summer’s over.
1. Cedar-Beamed Guest Rooms with Forest Views. Guest rooms are arranged in six clusters and take their names from nearby natural features like cottonwood, rock, pond, meadow, fountain and forest. All rooms come with at least two beds and if you request a Loft room, your kids can climb up to an over-sized loft which holds a full-sized bed and dresser (and doubles as a fun lookout tower). The cabin-esque décor and the floor-to-ceiling windows let in tons of natural light and provide spectacular forest views. Psst… the rooms do not come with TVs, mini bars or refrigerators, but don’t worry. There is free Wi-Fi, so if you must plug-in, you can. And since there’s no TV, you don’t have to worry about your kids fighting over the remote. That’s a win-win in our book!
photo: Sleeping Lady Mountain Lodge
2. Farm to Table Northwest Gourmet Cuisine. Sleeping Lady has three dining options (two of which are family-friendly) and all use organic and locally sourced ingredients—many from Sleeping Lady’s own Organic Garden which the culinary team visits daily to harvest fresh ingredients and plan its upcoming menus. Kingfisher Restaurant and Wine Bar is the main dining spot and where you the fam can enjoy delicious daily buffet breakfasts and dinners. This four-star restaurant showcases the freshest available produce, wild seafood that is sustainable and harvested when in season, meat that is produced naturally from Northwest farms and other local products supplemented with seasonal offerings from the resort’s garden. The restaurant also offers gluten-free menu options, a dessert bar that totally rocks and the best pancakes, waffles and French toast we’ve ever tasted. O’Grady’s Pantry & Mercantile is another great dining option for families. This cozy restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and is known for its scratch-made Pacific Northwest favorites, some even infused with house-smoked meats. O’Grady’s also serves gluten-free options as well as desserts, ice cream and a fine selection of beer, wine and spirits. Psst… O’Grady’s is the perfect place to grab lunch or an afternoon snack and dine al fresco on the patio.
3. Bike Rentals for Family Trail Adventures. If you’ve got a family of pedal heads, Sleeping Lady is surrounded by several biking trails and Leavenworth’s new (and totally awesome!) Pump Track. If you don’t want to schlep your bikes with you, Sleeping Lady rents bikes at the Mercantile (inside O’Grady’s Pantry). Rates are $20 for the full day; $15 for a half day. Click here for a list of biking trails.
photo: Sleeping Lady Mountain Lodge
4. Woodland Rock Pools. Sleeping Lady’s swimming pool is open seasonally (typically May through September) and is by far one of the coolest pools we’ve ever seen. Nestled right into the hillside, this pool looks like something you would see penguins swimming in at Woodland Park Zoo. Your little fish will love swimming underneath the waterfall, jumping off the rocks, and doing laps around the pool. For tots who prefer a calmer scene or for parents who could use a good hot soak, there’s an adjoining hot pool which is heated year-round. Psst… after your soak (and before you slip into your complimentary robe), hit the sauna which is open 24-hours a day and located next to the pool. The swimming pool is also open until midnight which means you and the kids can swim right up until bedtime and everyone will be too tired to care about the missing TV in the room.
5. An After-Hours Spot to Relax & Unwind. The Grotto is an intimate after-hours meeting place that serves beer, wine and spirts alongside a delish tapas-style menu. The interior features a faux granite wall crafted to represent local stone and an impressive Chihuly icicle chandelier along with petroglyph-laced rock walls and carvings of wildlife which gives this spot plenty of mountain charm. The Grotto also boasts an outside terrace with a fire pit and a little waterfall—both complimentary to dining al fresco—and a good reason to bring grandma along, so you and your significant other can sneak off to the Grotto for a nightcap.
6. A Play Barn to Keep Kids Busy. If your kids love to play games, you must hit The Play Barn. This space, which is not really a barn but rather an uber-cool large cabin, is where you can play pool, act out plays or puppet shows on the stage, view family-friendly movies (during the summer), play table tennis, foosball or a variety of board games (available at the main office) or make arts and crafts at one of the large tables. The best part? The activities (and the mess) stay in The Play Barn and not in your room. Score!
7. Hiking and Fishing and Horseback Riding. Oh My! During the spring, summer and fall months, you and the kids can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, fishing, nature walks, horseback riding, whitewater rafting and wine tasting (reason number two to bring along grandma). The Waterfront Park Trail in downtown Leavenworth is a great trail for kids since it offers a gentle three-mile trek along the Wenatchee River and through several quiet riverbank forests as well as plenty of benches to rest tired feet and interpretive signs to explain the natural and cultural history of the area. Bookmark this list of Leavenworth trails and don’t forget to pack your sturdy walking shoes. If your kid crew prefers to ride through the river and the woods (literally), all manners of horseback riding are also available in Leavenworth. Visit leavenworth.org for more info. And if kayaking or rafting is more your family’s beat, check out this list of excursions available for newbies to adrenaline junkies.
8. Signature Spa Treatments & Amenities. Reason number three to bring along grandma—Aspen Leaf Day Spa. While the kids are swimming at the pool or hiking on the trails, you can enjoy a relaxing full body massage, facial or body treatment in one of the private treatment rooms. We guarantee you’ll emerge feeling serene, rejuvenated and ready to take on your crazy kid crew.
9. Self-Guided Art Walk. Sleeping Lady offers an inspiring landscape of art and nature. And its walking art tour provides a comprehensive view of works by professional artists (think Dale Chihuly) as well local craftspeople that contribute to the beauty of the resort’s buildings and surroundings. Start at the office and follow the map (provided at check-in) to 11 awesome pieces of art inspired by the natural elements of the Cascade foothills. From bronze and stone sculptures, to prints and paintings, to fiberglass salmon sculptures and Chihuly Icicles, you and your petite posse will enjoy finding the creative expressions that fill the property.
10. Canine Companion Rooms. If you’re planning on bringing Fido along for the weekend, Sleeping Lady offers Canine Companion rooms for an extra $20 per day. These rooms, which can accommodate up to four people and your family’s furry friend, include cozy doggie beds, water and food bowls and complimentary treats. Now, that’s what we call doggie-friendly treatment.
11. Three Miles from the Bavarian-Themed Town of Leavenworth. If you’re looking for even more activities, you’ll find lots of fun things to do, see and eat in the town of Leavenworth. Take a hatchery tour at the Leavenworth Fisheries Complex, see thousands of nutcrackers (in all shapes and sizes) at the Nutcracker Museum, sample to-die-for chocolates at Schocolat, explore Waterfront Park and Blackbird Island, enjoy a bite to eat at Munchen Haus, hit Smallwood’s Harvest for tons (and we mean tons!) of farm fun on the cheap or take a hike through Icicle Gorge Nature Loop Trail.
12. All Inclusive Pricing. Sleeping Lady offers a Great Escapes package which includes accommodations for two people (additional adults are $65; kids are $27; and tykes 4 & under stay and eat for free), a gourmet dinner and breakfast buffet at Kingfisher Restaurant and full use of the resort’s amenities including the woodland pool and sauna. Add on a Signature Relaxation or Resource Renewing Treatment massage and this weekend getaway screams R&R.
Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort
7375 Icicle Rd.
Leavenworth, Wa 98826
800-574-2123
Online: sleepinglady.com
Do you think your family will be visiting Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort this summer? What are you looking forward to the most? Tell us in the comments below.
— Kristina Moy (all photos courtesy of the writer, unless noted)
This trip was paid for by Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort, but all opinions expressed here belong to the writer.
