2022 Summer Guide to Suncadia
One of my family’s favorite summer traditions is spending time in Eastern Washington to swim, soak up the sunshine, and simply relax in the great outdoors. I’m not a big fan of camping, but I do enjoy being out in nature so spending time at Suncadia is the perfect compromise. Located in Cle Elum just 90 minutes east of Seattle, Suncadia Resort is an easy road trip and makes for a beautiful drive over Snoqualmie Pass. We first started visiting Suncadia back in the summer of 2010 and it’s been captivating to watch the property evolve over the years. The resort is now home to 3 swimming pools, a golf course, multiple restaurants, hiking trails, bike paths, a full spa, playgrounds for kids, and many other amenities that make it a great place to visit.
Last year many of the traditional on-site experiences at Suncadia were modified due to the pandemic, but this summer the resort is back in full swing and the property is buzzing with a variety of activities and activations. According to CNN Money, taking a break from work is when people come up with their best ideas. Translation: you'll basically be multi-tasking. Here’s my 2022 summer guide to Suncadia:
WHERE TO STAY
We love the Lodge at Suncadia and it’s a great place to stay if it’s your first time visiting. There are a variety of room types available including rooms with kitchenettes, washer and dryer units which are great if you’re staying for a full week, and even a few select rooms with hot tubs. The rooms with balconies are great for star gazing at night and you can’t beat the convenience of having on-site dining and coffee. The Lodge is a great home base if you want to visit the spa, enjoy a glass of wine at Portals, or be within walking distance of the Swim & Fitness center.
Earlier this spring we stayed at The Inn at Suncadia for the very first time and really loved our experience. The rooms were spacious and the property felt like a rustic boutique hotel. The Inn overlooks the golf course which was fun for spectating and is also home to Stovehouse restaurant which offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week. I also like that there’s a mini parking lot next to the Inn which makes it easy to load in your luggage.
For those craving a little more privacy and space, you can also rent vacation homes at Suncadia. Many of them have game rooms, hot tubs, large kitchens, and plenty of space for larger groups to spread out. You can book these directly through Suncadia or through private owners but note that not all privately owned home rentals come with access to Suncadia facilities. So if you really want to swim, make sure you check on pool access before booking.
WHERE TO EAT
Portals - Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this restaurant is located at The Lodge and serves classic Pacific Northwest cuisine. FIFTY 6° is the bar attached to the restaurant and serves the same menu as Portals if you prefer a more casual dining experience or an easy takeout option.
Swiftwater Cellars - This family-friendly restaurant is our go-to at Suncadia and is perfect for lunch, dinner, and wine tasting. The menu features whipped honey ricotta served with flatbread, tenderloin served with whipped potatoes, and chicken confit served with sauteed spinach. They also have a great kids’ menu. Reservations are recommended during the peak summer season and they are often booked well in advance. If you visit Swiftwater, don’t miss the gift shop in the lobby. It’s brimming with great home decor, fashion accessories, and gifts.
The Stovehouse - Located in The Inn at Suncadia, Stovehouse is a smaller restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu features a range of salads, sandwiches, pasta, and steak, plus a full selection of beer, wine, and cocktails. For dessert, they offer boozy shakes and root beer floats.
Coal House Caffe & Market - If morning coffee is a must, head to the Coal House Caffee at The Lodge where you can quickly get your morning coffee fix and pick up anything you may have forgotten including sunscreen, hats, snacks, and drinks.
Base Camp - Located just 10 minutes from Suncadia, Basecamp is a great place to grab a bite in downtown Roslyn. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner and also have a gift shop and bookstore. This is one of our favorite places to grab lunch with the kids because it’s fast and you can sit outside to enjoy the sunshine. They recently added QR codes to the outdoor tables so that you can sit down, order your drinks/bites, and have them delivered to you.
Brick Saloon - Located just next door to Basecamp, The Brick is the oldest continuously operating bar in Washington state, established in 1889. The menu features beer, wine, and pub fare, and they also have a full calendar of LIVE music and events. Kids are welcome in the family dining area until 9:00 pm.
Banzai Teriyaki - Seattle foodies got very excited earlier this year when celebrity chef Shota Nakajima announced that he would be opening a restaurant in Cle Elum. Although he’s no longer involved with the restaurant, it remains a delicious dining option within a 10-minute drive of Suncadia. On the menu at Banzai Teriyaki, you’ll find gyoza, edamame, fried rice, miso soup, and a full range of teriyaki combo plates.
WHAT TO DO
Pools - In addition to a swimming pool and hot tub at The Lodge, you can also splash around at the Swim & Fitness center or at the Nelson Dairy Farm Pool. The Swim & Fitness center pool is a great place for littles who are just learning how to swim and for grown-ups who want to relax. The Nelson Dairy Farm pool is high-energy with a lazy river, splash pad, and large jacuzzi.
Spa - Glade Spring Spa at Suncadia is excellent and offers a full range of facials, massages, and body treatments. They also have hot outdoor mineral baths, a rustic sauna, and cozy relaxation rooms.
Park - There are multiple parks on-site at Suncadia but our favorite is Dawson Park. It features a playground for kids, tennis and pickle ball courts, lush green grass, and even a fenced dog park.
Hiking - Suncadia Resort has multiple trails on the property where you can hike and get out into nature. Whether you’re a seasoned outdoor enthusiast or you prefer a paved path, there’s something for everyone.
Activities - Located near the Swim & Fitness center, Suncadia’s Rental Pavillion offers bikes and scooters, mopeds, kayaks, stand-up paddle boarding, kid activity kits, and more. If you like golf, you’ll be pleased to know that Suncadia offers two scenic championship golf courses.
Entertainment - Suncadia has a full line-up of free outdoor summer concerts and movie nights. Visit the concierge for a current calendar of events. You can also check out the 2022 Suncadia Activity guide.
WHAT TO PACK
The summer days get hotter in Cle Elum than in Seattle but the evenings can get chilly and the wind is also a factor, so you'll want to pack all of your usual summer attire plus a sweatshirt or light jacket for when the sun goes down. You’ll also want to pack sunscreen, bug spray, slides for the pool, and sturdy shoes for hiking and activities.
Suncadia is great for family trips, romantic weekends, and getaways with the girls. It’s an easy 90-minute drive from the city yet it feels like a world away. If you’re looking for a relaxing destination this summer, this is it.
Suncadia Resort 3600 Suncadia Trail, Cle Elum, WA 98922
Weekend Road Trip To Portland
Summer is the best time of the year to hop in the car and explore the best of the Pacific Northwest. The weather is great, the scenery is gorgeous, and it’s easy to pack up a cooler filled with your favorite snacks and hit the road. If you’ve been craving a weekend road trip, look no further than Portland. The trip will take a little over three hours by car from Seattle, but once you arrive, get ready for good food, great sights, and tax-free shopping.
We just returned from a long holiday weekend in the ‘Rose City’ and it was definitely a trip to remember. It’s been over two years since our last visit because of the ongoing pandemic, yet despite all the changes in the city, there’s still a lot to love. We arrived on Friday evening and checked into The Bidwell Hotel, just a few blocks away from Pioneer Square. Valet parking was easy and we got a spacious corner suite with a king-sized bed and cozy sitting area that overlooked the city.
The next morning we drove 30 minutes away to explore Topaz Farm on Sauvie Island. It’s a family-run, working farm that uses regenerative practices to grow fresh fruits and vegetables. On arrival, you’ll find easy parking, plenty of space for the kids to run around, tractor rides, and a great marketplace with beautiful farm-to-table food offerings for an easy lunch. Topaz Farm also does LIVE music under the oak tree on beautiful summer nights. You can check out the line-up here. We will definitely be planning our next trip around one of those events.
Later that evening I met up with some friends at High Horse, inside The Bidwell on the second floor, for drinks and light bites. Best known for its signature cocktails, craft beers, and local wines, High Horse is also a great pick for exploring delicious regional cuisine. The menu includes fresh oysters, mussels, grilled calamari, goat cheese bruschetta topped with grilled peaches, and flank steak salad. High Horse offers happy hour specials daily at 4 p.m.
On Sunday after doing a bit of shopping downtown, we decided to venture even further outside the city to check out Hood River. Located an hour from Portland, Hood River is a beautiful drive filled with scenic waterfalls and breathtaking views of the Columbia River. Once you get there, you’ll find cozy bookstores, boutique shopping, art galleries, and plenty of great restaurants. After cruising the main strip, we stopped for lunch at Double Mountain Brewery. They’re famous for pizza and also have a great selection of sandwiches and salads. If you’re feeling adventurous, don’t miss the Truffle Shuffle pizza, a white pie with mozzarella, crumbled goat cheese, and portabello mushrooms marinated in truffle oil.
After our meal, we headed to the waterfront park to watch local outdoor enthusiasts kiteboard and kayak. The park is located on six acres of land and has a swimming area, bike path, picnic tables, play structures, and even a pint-sized rock wall for the kids to climb. You’ll also find plenty of coffee shops, ice cream stands, and breweries within walking distance of the park. This was a relaxing way to end the day and we loved sitting in the grass overlooking the water and soaking up the last of the summer sunshine.
Monday was the 4th of July, so we decided to check out a parade with some friends in Portland’s Mt. Tabor neighborhood. The local fire department led a precession of kids on bikes as part of the 4th of July festivities and then pulled over to let the littles check out the fire engine and try their hand at working the fire hose. There were plenty of laughs and photo opps for kids and adults alike. The day was complete with neighbors socializing and enjoying a good old-fashioned potluck complete with classic American hot dogs and 4th of July-inspired treats.
To cap off our Portland adventure, we also checked out a few of our favorite shops on Hawthorne including Sloane, the House of Vintage, and Communion. If you love a treasure hunt, the House of Vintage is definitely worth the trip. It’s a 13,000-square-foot store featuring a curated selection of merchandise from over 60 dealers. We always find great things when we visit and there’s always something new to discover.
Our Portland weekend was jam-packed with activities and it was nice to have the opportunity to catch up with old friends while we were in town. The Bidwell Hotel offered us the perfect home base for our adventure because it’s centrally located downtown and had everything we needed for a safe and comfortable stay. We will definitely be planning another trip down to Portland again soon.
Portland Road Trip Notes
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Bidwell Hotel 520 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205
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2022 Bozeman Travel Guide
Last fall, Trevor Noah announced that his "Back to Abnormal" comedy tour would be heading to Bozeman, Montana in April. As a big fan of both "The Daily Show" and Montana, I instantly booked tickets and encouraged a few friends to do the same. A few weeks prior to the event, Trevor ended up rescheduling the show in order to host the White House Correspondents Dinner that same weekend, but my family and I were already committed to the trip so we decided to go anyway and I'm so glad we did. Our long weekend in Bozeman was one of the best trips we've taken in a while and we can't wait to go back. Over the course of a few days, we visited with some friends who moved to Bozeman during the pandemic, checked out all the local shops on Main Street, dined around town, stopped in on a local comedy show, and even visited Yellowstone National Park. Here is my travel guide on the best places to shop, eat, stay, and play in Bozeman, Montana.
How to Get There from Seattle
According to Google, the drive to Bozeman from Seattle is approximately 10 hours and 53 minutes via I-90 East. If we had more time to dedicate to this trip, driving might have been a more cost-effective option for our family, but since we only had a long weekend to spare, we decided to forgo the drive time and maximize our time in Bozeman instead. Non-stop flights from Seattle run about $415 per person on Alaska Airlines and there's generally a morning, afternoon, and evening flight option available.
Once we arrived in Bozeman, it was really easy to rent a car from Hertz and get on our way. If you're a AAA member, you'll save money on fuel, car seats, and adding additional drivers to the car.
Where to Stay
Located in the heart of downtown Bozeman, the Kimpton Armory Hotel offers convenient access to everything on Main Street including coffee shops, boutiques, restaurants, and more. We've stayed at many Kimpton Hotels before and have always had a great experience, so I'm pleased to report that this hotel provided all the usual amenities and services that we've come to expect. The rooms were clean and spacious, there were multiple restaurants on-site, and valet parking was quick and easy.
Where to Eat
The first night we arrived, we met up with friends for drinks at Tune Up, the basement bar at the Armory Hotel. Last Best Comedy was hosting an open mic night and we enjoyed drinks and laughs as a prelude to our dinner up at the Sky Shed, the hotel's rooftop bar complete with fire pits and relaxing mountain views. Everything is great on the Sky Shed menu, but we really liked the Furikake Fries, Fried Chicken Bao Bun, and Coconut Curry.
On our second night, friends of ours that moved from Queen Anne to Bozeman during the pandemic took us out on a date night to Brigade. Known for sourcing local ingredients and putting them together in a creative way, Brigade has some great options on the menu including regional charcuterie boards, black truffle gnocchi, and wild mushroom ragu. They also do a happy hour every day from 3-6 p.m. where you can get $3 martinis, oysters, and draft beers.
If you're looking for coffee to power up your day, don't miss Wild Joe's on Main Street. They serve a great selection of locally roasted coffees and they also offer grab-and-go sandwiches and drinks and snacks for kids. My daughter loved the "Fluffy" which is a foamy steamed milk drink with chocolate, topped with whipped cream and sprinkles, of course.
While in town we also checked out Revelry, located just steps away from The Armory Hotel. I liked that they had unexpected things on the menu like the house-smoked trout and avocado toast, frites & fondue, and coal-fired beet and cranberry salad. The beer and cocktail menu was great, too.
The Armory Hotel actually has 3 restaurants on-site, and on our final night we dined at Fieldlings. It's the fancier of the three restaurants and the menu features fresh ingredients from local purveyors. We liked the house-made ricotta served with grilled sourdough bread and the beef short rib rigatoni.
Bozeman Food & Drink List
Revelry - 24 N Tracy Ave, Bozeman, MT 59715
Brigade - 233 E Main St Suite 201, Bozeman, MT 59715
Fieldlings- 24 W Mendenhall St, Bozeman, MT 59715 (Located at The Armory Hotel)
Sky Shed- 24 W Mendenhall St, Bozeman, MT 59715 (Located at The Armory Hotel)
Tune Up - 24 W Mendenhall St, Bozeman, MT 59715 (Located at The Armory Hotel)
Wild Joe's Coffee - 18 W Main St, Bozeman, MT 59715
The Hideaway (Liquor Store/Dive Bar/Casino) - 1625 W Main St, Bozeman, MT 59715
What To Do
Yellowstone - Bozeman is located about 1 hour and 45 minutes away from Yellowstone National Park. If you've never been, it's definitely worth the drive. On our trip, we saw a ton of animals including deer, bison, elk, wolves, birds, and even mountain goats. It was really fun for the kids to try and spot animals with their binoculars and they kept a running list of everything they spotted. The north entrance of the park is located in Gardiner, Montana and the entrance fee is $35.
Sweet Pea Festival - If you're heading to Bozeman in August, don't miss the Sweet Pea Festival. This year, the festival is celebrating its 45th anniversary and the event will include food, music, art, flowers, dance performances, and more. This event is a great opportunity to check out the "Best Of" Bozeman and wristbands are available now.
Country Bookshelf - Bookworms and casual readers alike will love Country Bookshelf. It was founded in 1957 and continues to be a place where locals of all ages can come to find great books. It's even been named by Martha Stewart as one of the "Best Place to Find the Best Reads" and they also have a robust calendar of events.
Museum of the Rockies - A friend of ours recommended that we take the kids to the Museum of the Rockies, and with interactive exhibits and a full planetarium, it did not disappoint. Located on the campus of Montana State University, the museum has an extensive collection of dinosaur fossils and a T. rex skeleton. The gift shop is great, too!
Where to Shop
Downtown main street in Bozeman is brimming with bars, restaurants, and local boutiques. It was a fun place to shop and explore while we were in town. As is the case with many small towns, the customer service was amazing and it was fun getting to know the locals.
Heyday - Since 2007, Heyday boutique has been a great place in downtown Bozeman to shop for apparel, accessories, home goods, and gifts. The store is bright and airy and the team is eager to help you find exactly what you need, and maybe even a few things you don't, because when it comes to a well-edited assortment of must-have merchandise, they've got the formula dialed in. You can even shop online and enjoy $8 flat rate shipping.
Mōka - Located in the heart of downtown Bozeman, Mōka is a great place to visit whether you need a wardrobe refresh or a fun outfit to wear for a night on the town. They have great shoes and accessories, and even offer sizes for teens.
Jonah & Sage - Small town boutiques like Jonah & Sage are truly what make cities like Bozeman great places to shop. Locally owned & operated since 2001, the store is designed to outfit locals for whatever Big Sky Country brings their way. They carry a variety of brands including Commonform jewelry, which is lovingly handmade in Montana by my dear friend Stacy. I also love the fact that they have menswear, home goods, and gifts, making it a one-stop shop for everything on your list.
Bonnie & Clyde - If you're looking for contemporary clothing in Bozeman, don't miss Bonnie & Clyde, located in the Main Street Market. Nestled just past the cafe and coffee bar, Bonnie & Clyde is brimming with shoes, clothing, bags, accessories, jewelry, and more. I got a great pair of summer sandals here that I can't wait to wear once the weather in Seattle warms up!
The Last Word
Bozeman was a delightful, family-friendly place to visit and we will definitely be booking another trip soon. The friendly atmosphere and small-town vibe will always have a special place in our hearts. It was definitely a trip to remember!
If you visit Bozeman and check out any of the places on this list, please tag @Sydlovesfashion on Instagram so that I can ride along on your adventure, too!