When the apiary was installed nearly 15 years ago on the hillside overlooking Salish Lodge, there were 120,000 honeybees that called the four-hive structure home. And how much honey did those bees produce? Apparently not enough.

A year later, Salish Lodge tripled the hives. And now, those bees that happily buzz above Snoqualmie Falls supply the Lodge & Spa with 2,4000 pounds of organic honey. That honey shines in the ingredients used in their dinner and drink menus, as well as their spa treatments.

The bees aren’t the only ones who are happily buzzing about. Overlooking the 268-foot Snoqualmie Falls, the Salish Lodge & Spa has become one of the most sought after destinations in Washington. A luxurious retreat less than an hour from Seattle, the Lodge swarms with visitors all year long.

Regional and Seasonal, with a Touch of Honey: Dining at Salish Lodge

Speaking of honey, September is National Honey Month – a fact not lost on Salish Lodge. Celebrating with a special tasting menu, the Lodge’s dining room offers a four-course experience highlighting the Lodge’s artisan honey.

Sweet corn soup with smoked Salish honey crème fraiche starts the honeyed tasting. Salish honey vinaigrette drizzled over stone fruit panzanella follows as a perfect ode to the changing season. For the main, the grilled beef short rib with the slightly spicy Calabrian chili finds a nice balance with Salish honey. An olive oil cake with a delicate, honey roasted pineapple Salish honey cremeux, caps off the affair.

You’ll find plenty of fish and fowl from the Northwest well represented on the dinner menu. The pan roasted Chinook salmon and Meyer Ranch Angus filet mignon served with duck fat potatoes are just a couple of standouts.

For a lighter bite, head upstairs to the Attic with its picturesque view of the falls. Grab a cozy corner nook or settle into one of its comfy couches and enjoy the casual Pacific Northwest charm. Their signature stoned fired pizzas, Beecher’s grilled cheese, and Dungeness crab mac n’ cheese help define the Attic’s relaxed vibe.

And, of course, this being September the Attic is offering a special menu of honey-tinged cocktails and bites.

A Hearty Start to Your Day

If you’re more of a morning person, the Salish Lodge Country Breakfast featuring the iconic Honey from Heaven service won’t disappoint.

A basket of freshly baked scones and muffins with fresh squeezed juice welcomes you to the table. Buttermilk pancakes served with Devonshire Crème and maple syrup are quick to follow. A creamy bowl of steel-cut oats served with sweet and savory toppings are the perfect complement to the morning’s offering.

The main dish is protein packed with three eggs, crispy smoked bacon, pork-apple sausage and honey cured ham. And, hashed Yukon potatoes come served on the side for good measure.

Be a Queen Bee at the Salish Spa

Pampering is what the Salish Lodge & Spa does best. In fact, Condé Nast Traveler named them one of the top 50 Hotel Spas in the United States.

Body scrubs, facials, and massages all carry hints of ingredients from the Pacific Northwest. Indeed, the Salish Honey Lemon Body Glow treatment underpins their Queen Bee at the Spa package. Those ingredients, along with the natural surroundings of the spa, makes for a luxurious and restorative experience.

But don’t let the pampering end there. After your treatments, continue into the steam room or have a soak in the therapeutic pools. Then wrap yourself in a bathrobe and enjoy the new you, while gazing at the Pacific Northwest landscape through floor-to-ceiling windows.

A Natural, Calming Wind Down

Newly renovated, the rooms are modern and sleek with a nod to the nature that waits outside your window.  The room’s balcony gives you a front row seat to the moonlit falls below. Similarly, the built-in gas fireplace and oversized soaking tub invite you to unwind at the end of the day.

If you’ve ever wondered if they shut Snoqualmie Falls off at night after everyone goes to sleep – wonder no more. The soothing flow of the powerful falls are heard in the distance from the moment your head hits the goose down and feather pillows, until you wake up in the morning.

If the pillows are not to your liking, the Lodge is quick to provide a pillow menu with enough choices to satisfy even Princess and the Pea.

Even more, if you’re traveling with your canine companion, dog‐friendly rooms are available – with their own set of amenities.

Experience ‘Better Than Ever’ Luxury

The lodge started out in 1916 as a wayside inn for weary travelers navigating their Model T’s through Snoqualmie Pass. Remodeled in 1988, the inn changed its Snoqualmie Falls namesake to the Salish Lodge. Today, you can enjoy the ‘better than ever’ Salish Lodge & Spa thanks to a recent $13 million remodeling effort.

The cars may have changed since those early Model T days, but the attention to service, quality, and luxury has not.

Salish Lodge & Spa is located 30 miles east of Seattle in the town of Snoqualmie. Visit salishlodge.com for additional information.