Lodging

Posted by Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

Silver Reef Hotel, Casino and Spa

After a night on nearby Lummi Island, sharing two twin beds in a stuffy room without air-conditioning, I was looking forward to having a luxury hotel room all to myself. I was planning to sleep late and wake up to a leisurely breakfast of homemade waffles and fresh fruit.  The Silver Reef Hotel in the small community of Ferndale, Washington exceeded my expectations with a friendly, helpful staff and spotless hotel.

While I’m not drawn to smoke-filled casinos, I was pleased to find the entrance to the 101 deluxe room hotel situated around the corner from the slot machines and gaming tables. As a guest of the hotel, I stayed on the sixth floor, a secure floor requiring key card entrance to the entire hotel level. The executive level entitled me to Diamond Executive King Room, #604, that rented for $149 Sunday – Thursday and $169 on Friday and Saturday nights. Diamond Executive Suite #601, one of four suites equipped with a whirlpool tub, mini bar area, and plush robe and slippers, will set you back $279-$299, unless you are a high roller guest of the casino.

Silver Reef Diamond Executive Suite

I loved that the hotel had a spa and indoor swimming pool on property for the non-gamers in the group. Rather than slipping on the plush robe and enjoying a bubble bath in the tub with the sea salts that were left tucked in the towel, I opted for sleep on the ultra-comfortable Sealy Posturepedic mattress.

DESSERTS GALORE

I did enjoy a fancy Chocolate Rockettes molten lava cake that evening in the Steakhouse Restaurant on property. The intimate restaurant is known for table-side service preparation. “We offer customer service the way it used to be,” said Sales Manager Randi Axelsson. 

 Every dessert, no matter how fancy, was priced at a reasonable $8. Too bad Pastry Chef Audrey Hursch lives so far from San Francisco. I would follow her anywhere for the peanut butter cookie creation.

Bananas Foster Prepared Tableside

Photos by Nancy D. Brown

Silver Reef Hotel, Casino and Spa 1 (866) 383-0777 ext. 254

4876 Haxton Way, Ferndale, WA 98248

From Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

Phoenix Grand Hotel Lobby

It was almost eighty degrees in Salem, Oregon on a Tuesday afternoon in April. What’s that about? I was actually grateful that the Phoenix Grand Hotel offered air conditioning during my recent stay. I was speaking on the “Meet the Bloggers” panel at the Oregon Governors Conference on Tourism, taking place at the adjoining Salem Conference Center. By the way, the quality of the food served during our conference was quite good; especially for a large conference venue.

Phoenix Grand Suite photo by Nancy D. Brown

As a guest of Travel Oregon, I stayed in room 433, a spacious suite located next to the elevators. This was an excellent location, considering I was constantly using the elevator to go from my room to the Salem Conference Center. Sadly, I never made it to the indoor swimming pool, but I did take advantage of the complimentary wi-fi and the business center to print my airline boarding pass. While pets are not allowed at the hotel, families traveling with small children will appreciate the use of hotel-supplied pack-n-plays. The hotel also scores points for offering shuttle service from the Amtrak train station, located less than a mile from the hotel. FYI, the hotel also offers a Willamette University friends and family discount.

Budget-minded travelers will appreciate the free expanded-continental breakfast included in the price and free underground hotel parking. I also liked the fact that the hotel held my luggage after the 11 a.m. check-out time so that I could wrap up the conference.

Phoenix Grand Hotel 1 (503) 540-7800

201 Liberty Street, Salem, Oregon 97301

AAA Discounts offered. No pets allowed.

From Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

Snowboarder at Yosemite

The snow has arrived at Yosemite’s Badger Pass and for those who prefer snowshoeing in the Sierra National Forest, Tenaya Lodge is a wonderful home base.  As a California girl, I think winter is one of the best times to visit the Yosemite region with the blanket of snow in the sierras and icicles hanging from misty waterfalls.  Even the animals seem more serene this time of year.

Ski Packages

The Lodge has three winter packages to please spa girls, snow bunnies or snow boarders. Available midweek, starting at $169, packages include nightly accommodations and two all-day adult lift tickets. The Learn to Ski or Snowboard package includes nightly accomodations, two lift tickets, two all-day rentals and two group lessons.  This is worthwhile if your kids are eager to try snowboarding but you don’t want to shell out the bucks to purchase equipment that might get parked in the hall closet.

Ahh Spa!

Tenaya Lodge Spa

The last package is more of a Girlfriend Getaway or “Keep Mom Happy” while we ski package. It includes lodging, two one-hour Champagne-Mimosa Massages, two one-hour Fire & Ice Facials, two ice skating sessions with rentals and a spa welcome basket starting at $709. For those of us with champagne tastes and beer budgets, Tenaya has an indoor swimming pool. Our kids thought the underwater speakers were very cool.

Winemasters Weekend – March 6-8, 2009

Tenaya Winemasters Weekend

For the foodies among us, check out the Winemasters Weekend, a joint venture between Tenaya Lodge and California State University Fresno. While UC Davis has Mondavi cache, Fresno has a world-class viticulture and enology center graduating California’s newest winemakers and cellar rats. The Winemasters Weekend includes two nights accommodations, a welcome reception, top notch cuisine and if you can manage to lace up your skates; ice skating is included. Also included, three hands-on workshops with fellow food and wine lovers and the Winemaster’s Masterpiece Gala Reception and Dinner.  For pricing, schedule of events, menu and more details, visit TenayaLodge.com/Winemasters. 

 Photos courtesy Tenaya Lodge

Tenaya Lodge (800) 722-8584

1122 Highway 41, Fish Camp, CA 93623