Rustic Cabins on the Washington Coast
- Cabins are abundant on the Washington coastline.woodland cabins image by Scott Williams from Fotolia.com
The state of Washington has more than 3,000 miles of shoreline, and is dotted with oceanfront resorts, state and national parks, and vacation lodges. Most of these getaway areas feature rustic cabins with a variety of accommodations. The cabins are affordable, and most are open year-round for rentals. - The Quileute Oceanside Resort in La Push is on the northern section of Washington's coastline. La Push is a Native American tribal village, and some of the cabins at the resort are more than 75 years old. The Northwest Places website says the Quileute tribe has a "relaxed way of life," and the resort does not bother with telephones and TVs. The resort has several newer cabins for those who prefer more luxuries, but they still have a rustic old-fashioned charm. Cabins have wood-burning stoves and up to three bedrooms. The majority of the cabins have oceanfront views, but the more rustic A-frame cabins are set farther back.
- From the outside, no one would guess the single-room cabins at Manitou Lodge in Forks, Washington, are carpeted and have room for a bed, let alone a mini fridge and microwave. The rustic shingled and wood-slat cabins are available from April to September and are situated on the Olympic Peninsula close to fishing, hiking and wilderness beaches, according to their website, manitoulodge.com.
- More than 20 cabins are available for rent at Doe Bay Resort. The cabins are nestled in large clumps of trees that offer privacy and a feeling of isolation. Some of the cabins are two stories, with accommodations on both levels, and the weather-beaten, salt-infused exteriors make them look older than their years. Doe Bay also has yurts, a mix between a tent and a cabin. These offer guests an experience closer to camping, as they have no water, electricity or beds. The island resort is different from other coastal vacations spots. Frommer's Washington State calls it a "counter-cultural retreat center." The resort's motto is to apply ethical treatment to everyone and everything, and it has an on-site organic garden where produce for the café is grown.
- Kalaloch Lodge in Olympic National Park sits on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Cabins are set in two rows, with the bluff cabins facing the water and the log cabins sitting a row behind. Many of the units have fireplaces and come with a bundle of wood. The lodge staff encourages guests to walk and hike through the forest and across the beach, even providing each cabin with two walking sticks. The "Complete Guide to the National Park Lodges" says pets are allowed in all of the cabins, and the sound of the ocean can be heard from the rooms.
- The coastal cabins available for rent in Washington's state parks run the gamut from luxurious to rustic simplicity. There are eight coastal state parks, and each offers an array of cabins. Dosewallips State Park has year-round camping with small furnished cabins and modern platform tents. The southernmost coastal region in the state, Cape Disappointment, is anything but. The cabins may have electric heat and porches, but they are tucked back in a forest of alder trees atop cliffs overlooking the ocean. This park also has yurts available for rent.
