"There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more" - Lord Byron
Change—a neutral word, but often a significant one. Over the past year and a half, I've taken in the sights and sounds of the "great indoors" and needed to switch up my ho-hum routine. I'm tired of spinning the same wheels in the same spaces, and so I'm done. No more couch sitting, web surfing and Uber eats. I need something...Evergreen.
Lucky for me, I had some PTO stashed away and was able to make a trip out to Alderbrook Resort and Spa. Me at a resort? Yes, yes, I know what you're thinking, but hear me out. The fine people at Alderbrook gave me precisely what I was looking for: a comfortable escape nestled in the boundless woods of Washington State.
Echoing the beauty of Washington State's Hood Canal, The Spa at Alderbrook Resort surrounds you with the tranquility of Nature, with the aroma of cedar and evergreen, and the gentle sound of water cascading over rocks. It is the ideal place to bring body, mind, and soul into balance.
Culinary Adventures
Have A Uniquely Pacific Northwest Experience
As much as I enjoy hitting the reset button, learning a new skill or two is a must when on a vacay. With that in mind, I thoroughly enjoyed partaking in the Gathering Grove Culinary Adventure. The concept is pretty straightforward:
Walk on private, old-growth forested trails.
Learn about local foraging and mushroom picking with a knowledgeable guide until you reach the Gathering Grove.
Find inspiration from the natural beauty and your senses.
Enjoy an immersive culinary experience led by Chef Sara.
**Major Key: this experience is best for groups with 10-24 guests, adding an interactive layer: Talking with people. Something also lost to the past year and a half...**
The Gather Grove experience had it all! Nothing beats a guided nature walk within an edible landscape, good times with good people, and a multi-course meal in the open air. Shout out to Chef Sara who's talent is only eclipsed by her dope personality.
I'm always happy to leave the crib and feel revitalized being out in Nature! I recommend that you - the reader - do the same. Get out, go out and wander a bit - but never be lost.
"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king."
J.R.R. Tolkein
So check out the Alderbrook Resort and Spa, say hello to the great people there, and please let'em know Amas sent ya.
