From luxe lodges to rustic ski cabins, here’s where to get your snow fix
Let it snow! Winter is on its way in and the magic of the season beckons. The Pacific Northwest is a snowflake playground waiting for you to plan your family’s icicle dreams, snowball fights, and downhill sledding adventures with a winter cabin rental. Now is the time to book a cozy cabin vacation rental that’s close to Seattle and perfect for snow-filled days and cozy nights.
Forest Fantasies & Skiing at Mount Baker
Hansel Creek Guest Treehouse
Get hygge with it! Whisk your family into a magazine spread for Architectural Digest. This treehouse is a restored design masterpiece on stilts. Don’t worry, the décor is all hygge cozy and welcomes quiet times on the couch by the fireplace with kids cuddled up close. Soft pillows, textile art, and warm wood accents are lovely touches, while the floor-to-ceiling windows bring the forest into the house. Splash or soak in the four-foot-deep cedar hot tub or sit outside under the covered deck for fresh air and winter warmer sipping. Get the wiggles out with access to the Snowline neighborhood amenities: fishpond, rec center, outdoor pool, and playground. Don't forget your mittens!
Magic Nearby
Mount Baker is the snowiest resort in the country. Beyond skiing and snowboarding, tubing, sledding, and cross-country opportunities abound. With so much snow Mt. Baker Ski Area normally has the longest ski season in the state (it usually goes into March). In past years it was voted as one of the top 10 destinations in the US for skiing according to the American Ski Index. Is anyone else thinking mid-winter break trip?
Sleeps: 4
Cost: $225/night
Online: airbnb.com
Snowy Staycation in Snoqualmie
Holiday Chalet on the Slopes
Who says you must drive for hours to find your snowy mountain getaway? Just a quick trip from Seattle, this ski-in-ski-out log home is perfect for a low stress getaway. This duplex unit log cabin is all about comfort and chill time—from the hot tub on the deck, to the garage where you can store your ski gear, to the private covered walkway that drops you and your little ski bums at Summit West slopes. There's plenty of space for everyone in your ski crew to après together around the stone fireplace while playing games and sipping cocoa after a blissful day of snow-flurry fun.
Magic Nearby
The Summit at Snoqualmie features awesome steeps, back bowls, terrain parks, a Nordic center, and a tubing park. What more do you need? Tiny skiers can start their love of the mountain on the learning terrain, while parents show off on nearby runs. Open seven days and six nights a week, The Summer offers lots of powder time available for all levels. Check out the Remedy Pass which is a deal for those mountain lovers who can enjoy the slopes off-peak days and nights.
Sleeps: 4
Cost: $253/night
Online: airbnb.com
Schussing in Spokane
Riverfront Park & Historic Davenport Hotel
If you haven’t made it to Riverfront Park Spokane yet, the Numerica Skate Ribbon is a reason to head east and lace up those skates. The rink mirrors a frozen lazy river and consists of a 16-foot-wide pathway that is 650-feet long. Skaters glide by lighted holiday trees and decorations, enjoying gentle slopes as they make their way around large, cozy fire pits for après-skate cocoa sipping. The on-site Sky Ribbon Café offers a variety of snacks to quell growling little tummies and offers adult libations too. Numerica Skate Ribbon just opened for the season and this year there is another reason to make Spokane a holiday destination—Christmas Tree Elegance. Free to the public and set in the gorgeous lobby of the Historic Davenport Hotel, holiday dreams come to life for young and old. Fireplaces roar and the elaborately decorated trees are raffled off to lucky winners.
Tiny House
For a more modern, eco-vibe nearby, try the Tiny House by BlockHouse. Small footprint vacations are popular with growing environmental concerns and this new property will give your family a unique experience while making a difference. All the spaces are focused on eco-friendly design with a ‘Net-Zero’ living experience. Whether it be through forest restoration, recycled materials, or utilizing solar energy, your stay’s carbon footprint is minimized.
Magic Nearby
Schussing time! Skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and moguls await. Choose from one of the five ski resorts near Spokane: Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park, Silver Mountain Resort, 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort, Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area or Schweitzer Ski Resort. Play all day at one place or snow hop to explore them all.
Davenport Hotel
Online: thedavenportgrand.com
Tiny House
Sleeps: 2-3
Cost: $75/night
Online: airbnb.com
Storm Watching & Sunshine on the Olympic Peninsula
Kalaloch Lodge
Ready for some serious weather? Cue Washington’s stormy, majestic coast replete with lighthouses and driftwood. Kalaloch Lodge’s cabins overlook the crashing ocean from atop a cliff and the view makes guests feel they are the only people around. Fully stocked kitchenettes make dinner time an easy family affair and the rooms are small but perfect for hunkering down. Don't forget to pack your favorite board games. Coastal activities offer more quiet amusement than on the mountain this time of year. Long beach walks and storm watching should be on your daily agenda. Also, it's prime season for clamming. Washington is one of the premier places in the country to dig for razor clams. Your kiddos will be occupied for hours digging the wily little critters out of the sand. Then enjoy dinner over a bonfire on the beach. Slurp, lick, yum!
Holiday Home
Sequim boasts the best weather in Washington with low rainfall, matching Los Angeles’ climate and sunny days. If your family wants a drier December vacay but still wants Washington’s iconic blustery seascapes, stay at Serene Country View Holiday Home in Sequim. Grab your cousins! This is a spacious place where large groups can gather around the breakfast bar, the BBQ outdoors and the puzzle table for game nights. A fully equipped kitchen and a lovely view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Canada round out the experience. There’s a fire pit for roasting those quintessential s’mores or staying warm while winter stargazing.
Magic Nearby
The Olympic Peninsula is a natural cold weather playground, and families looking for traditional winter sports will find plenty of steep and deep at Hurricane Ridge Ski & Snowboard Area. The mountain has tubing and sledding options as well, with epic views of the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Kalaloch Lodge
Online: thekalalochlodge.com
Holiday Home
Sleeps: 8
Cost: $190/night
Online: airbnb.com
Cross Country Skiing in Winthrop
Sun Mountain Lodge
Sun Mountain Lodge is open, so grab a Nordic ski fan and head to Winthrop. The Lodge is the largest cross-country skiing resort in the country, with 60 kilometers of meticulously groomed trails available from your resort room door. Strap on those skinny skis (rentals available on-site) and get out there! Those amazing trails aren’t going to ski themselves. After the snow angels are made, grab some hot cocoa and plan the day. Choose from snowshoeing, sledding, on-site sleigh rides and downhill skiing at Loup Loup Ski Bowl.
Magic Nearby
What’s better than ice skating during the winter? Ice skating outdoors with stunning views of Mount Gardiner in the distance. Winthrop Ice Rink is an NHL regulation ice facility and hosts a variety of events—like free skate, figure skating and hockey—and the 6,000-square-foot changing room has rentals, hot showers, and even ping pong tables.
Online: sunmountainlodge.com
Winter Wonderland in North Country
Canyon Creek Cabins
Located in Seattle North Country, Canyon Creek Cabins are another option for an enchanting winter escape. A modern take on the A-frame, every detail is a design-fanatics dream. Gorgeous wood furniture, fireplace, hot tub, indoor hammock, sleek bathroom, and family-size dining table on the deck by the roaring creek. This cabin is great for larger groups as well as four-legged canine friends.
Magic Nearby
Skiing and boarding at Stevens Pass is the epic snow play families can look forward to. Whether you're a beginner (they've got lessons for every level and age) or you've been skiing for as long as you can remember, these slopes are tons of fun to carve.
Sleeps: 6
Cost: $400/night
Online: airbnb.com
Build a Snowman in Skykomish
Tye Haus
Bring board games and unplug at this picturesque A-frame just off of US 2. Its simple design will charm the kids, like a good storybook cabin should. Parents can take the queen bed up in the loft while the kids can bunk side by side downstairs. Enjoy the fireplace alongside hot cocoa after a brisk day of exploring or relax in the bubbly deck hot tub once the kiddos are asleep. It's the winter escape you've been looking for.
Sleeps: 4
Cost: $387/night
Online: airbnb.com
Please note, prices listed were valid at the time of publication but rates can fluctuate at different times of the year. If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation.
