Sleeping Lady Resort: Enchantment for All Ages

I’m not quite sure what I expected when I planned a stay at Sleeping Lady. But I figured I would be close to Leavenworth (one of my favorite little Washington towns), and I’d heard good things about the Central Washington resort — although mostly from adults.

But I had no idea that Sleeping Lady was such an enchanting and magical place.

On the 67-acre grounds (which also host a local radio station), quiet pathways weave between native trees, plants — and art. The outdoor Art Walk takes visitors past quirky works sure to delight children, such as a salmon catching a human (“Shaman Salmon”), the nine-foot tall “Chichuly Icicles” and the “Evil Eye Tree,” where the bright-blue glass eyes (traditionally used by Turkish and Greek people as a talisman to ward off evil) hang like teardrops from a living tree.

Winter is the perfect time to go, perhaps, as snow usually blankets the ground mid December through February. At the resort’s doorstep, 8K of track and skate groomed trails offer a way to nordic-ski off all the calories you’re about to eat (more on that, in a bit).

On check-in, front-desk staff gave us a fun booklet packed with cool facts about the property, jokes, wildlife tips and dot-to-dot and Sudoku activities, and told us about the Saturday night kids’ movie.

We stayed in the double alcove room, which featured hand-hewn fir log beds and desks and down comforters. There was an adorable little alcove that my six-year-old son claimed as his own; he created a tent hideout that entertained him during downtime. But I’ll be honest, the floor space is a bit tight – it’s better for reading and relaxing (there’s no television). To run off kid energy, you gotta get outside.

Luckily, you can walk down the trail to the The Grotto for a glass of wine next to the fire pit or inside by petroglyph-laced rock walls (kids allowed until 8 p.m.) or The Library, well-stocked with books, a fireplace and a piano.

The Play Barn acts as a game room, with foosball, table tennis and room for a board game or two. You can check out board games at the front desk or bring your own.

In warmer seasons, kids love taking a dip in the resort’s rock-lined swimming pools. But the outdoor adjacent hot pool is heated year round, however. If you think you’ll go, don’t forget to pack sandals and cozy bathrobes for the kids to prevent frozen toes and noses en route from your room to the pool.

You can read more about activities and amenities at Sleeping Lady.

Kid- (and Parent-)Friendly Food at Sleeping Lady

The rosemary-flecked crispy rolls were still warm from the oven at The Kingfisher Restaurant; this was my first hint that Sleeping Lady’s dining experience would be anything but typical.

Most stay packages include dinner buffet and/or breakfast buffet; let me tell you, the food here is worth every penny. “Buffet” is not usually a word that excites me – most buffets are half-warmed congealed cheese-food bakes. Here, the buffet includes all natural grassfed, hormone-free beef hangar steak, served with organic roasted carrots and parsnips and organic pumpkin soup. Local organic produce is sourced from Leavenworth and Sequim.

Oh, and the desserts. Tiny, perfect desserts (flans, custards, pie, cake) in miniature espresso cups, saucers and shot glasses.

There’s a PB&J station for picky eaters (a great idea I might steal for the next playdate/party I host) and stuffed grape leaves and potato salad for epicurean preschoolers.

Breakfast, well – do you remember that Richard Scarry illustration regarding Kenny Bear’s breakfast? It’s sort of like that. Breakfast included: fruits, assorted cheeses and salami, boiled free range eggs, Samish Bay yogurt, organic steel cut oatmeal, chicken and pork sausage, grilled roma tomatoes, free-range scrambled eggs, boiled free-range eggs, waffles, pancakes, raisin bread French toast. And yes, coffee. There were even more food options, but I got a hand cramp from writing it all down, and I figured you would probably get the idea from the list above.

If you can, ask for a window-side table, so you can enjoy the beautiful views of Icicle Canyon and the soaring Sleeping Lady mountain.

Extra: The small Mercantile has that homespun feeling and sells arty-crafty kits, regional clothing and books and journals.

Caveats: It’s not cheap, generally speaking. But the prices are justified if your children really do eat like Kenny Bear, of course, and some of the packages are good deals. For example, Lowest rates are $208 for Bed & Breakast package and $318 for the Great Escape Package for two adults, 2 kids 5-12 Sunday – Thursday through April 30, 2013.

If I were staying again, I would stay for at least two nights and plan to explore Leavenworth during the day, do some cross-country skiing and spend more time in that pool. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend a one-night stay, as Leavenworth is fairly remote and requires a two- to three-hour drive, unless you live nearby. I personally wouldn’t want to drive those roads in the dark. In the winter, the short days and long drive times would make the visit way too brief to be enjoyable with very small children. Trust me — once you get here, you’ll want to stay as long as you can.

But there’s so much to do in the area and at Sleeping Lady itself that your family will never get bored. Sleeping Lady is now one of my favorite destinations in the Pacific Northwest.