DISCOVER WASHINGTON STATE'S HIDDEN GEM: SEMIAHMOO RESORT AND SPA IN BLAINE
Everything you need to know about staying at Semiahmoo Resort and Spa
Situated just 45 minutes south of Vancouver, British Columbia, and two hours north of Seattle, Semiahmoo Resort and Spa is the place to wine, dine, and relax. The main area of Semiahmoo Resort is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on an incredible spit, making guests feel like they're truly escaping their everyday. The 300-acre resort encompasses a world-class golf course, a full-service wellness center, delicious restaurants, and the most beautiful beach views across the bay.
Disclaimer: This article is in partnership with Semiahmoo Resort and Spa, but as always, all opinions and thoughts are my own. This post also features some affiliate links, which means I get a small commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you.
Every time we drive on the spit, it genuinely feels as though we're leaving our home (which is only about fifteen minutes away) and flipping a switch into vacation mode. We've been visiting Semiahmoo Resort since we first moved to Washington State in 2022 for various events, to dine at their restaurant, or to walk on the beach nearby.
From the moment you walk into the lobby, guests are greeted with the warm and cozy feel of the Pacific Northwest and the nautical style and decor of being right on the water. What was really lovely about the vast lobby was that there were little nooks and places to sit and hang out, play games, enjoy coffee, or even read a book in their library.
What are the rooms like at Semiahmoo Resort?
We stayed in a king water-view room with a covered balcony, which was wonderful for Andrew and me because it offered space to relax on the comfy couch or sit outside on the balcony and enjoy the views.
My favorite part of this particular room was that the bed faced the balcony, which overlooked the ocean. So imagine waking up to the sounds of the waves crashing on the beach and the subtle songs of the birds cawing. When traveling, I typically bring a sound machine (Hatch is my favorite), but this time, I didn't need it and was lulled to sleep by the sounds of nature outside our window.
Regarding amenities in the room, there was a coffee maker with various options from coffee, cider, and tea, a mini fridge to keep your leftovers or drinks you brought cold, and lovely shampoo, conditioner, and lotion in the bathroom. If you've read more than one of my articles on hotels, you know I'm such a sucker for high-quality shampoo, conditioner, and even just having lotion in the room at hotels. Semiahmoo Resort's bathroom offerings did not disappoint, and the smell of everything was terrific, too.
What experiences or events does Semiahmoo Resort offer?
Wine and dine at Uncorked Wine Dinners
What's even more remarkable about Semiahmoo Resort is that they offer carefully crafted experiences for guests, one of those experiences being the Uncorked Wine Dinners. We had the lovely opportunity to experience a five-course wine dinner with Orin Swift Cellars. This dinner included a wine pairing for every single course, and oh my gosh, how fabulous it was. I do want to say they pour a little heavy, so thankfully, we stayed the night on the property. The wine was delectable (so we weren't complaining too much😉), and the food was creative and absolutely delicious.
The dinner was truly an experience and journey we went through hearing from the chef and models from Orin Swift Cellars throughout the evening, making this much more than just a wine dinner. They host numerous dinners like these, which you can find more information on here. At the end of the dinner, you have the opportunity to purchase a bottle of wine or join their wine club. We ended up buying a bottle of our favorite from Orin Swift, the Machete.
Spend your holidays at Semiahmoo
Semiahmoo Resort always has something going on to celebrate numerous holidays throughout the year, from Valentine's Day dinners to mixology classes, Mother's Day and Easter brunches, Christmas dinners, and watching the fireworks over the ocean on the Fourth of July. You can see more about their upcoming holiday events here. We loved spending the Fourth of July at Semiahmoo because they had delicious BBQ, drink tickets with lots of options, live music, yard games, and a great view to watch the fireworks over the water at Peace Arch in downtown Blaine, right on the border of the USA and Canada.
What dining options are available at Semiahmoo Resort?
Breakfast at Packers Kitchen + Bar
Start your morning with a delicious breakfast at Packers Kitchen + Bar and a gorgeous view of the ocean and Canada in the distance. Packers Kitchen is the main restaurant at Semiahmoo's main resort area, where guests can go for delicious fluffy pancakes, biscuits and gravy, breakfast burritos, and my personal favorite, salmon eggs benedict. Grab a coffee or orange juice, or if you're feeling a cocktail, they have great bloody marys and mimosas! As a local to the area, we love swinging by for breakfast or brunch because of their great food, views, and service. Breakfast is served Monday through Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. See the full breakfast menu here. If available, I highly recommend getting a table by the window because while we were enjoying breakfast, we saw numerous seals swim by!
Dinner at Packers Kitchen + Bar
In addition to breakfast and lunch at Packers Kitchen + Bar, they serve an incredible dinner. We've had dinner at Packers a handful of times when friends and family visit or just for a cute local date night. We always start with some fresh oysters and their crispy Brussels sprouts, then order a cup of the Semiahmoo chowder, which is clams, salmon, cod, bacon, and potato, and a salad before our entrees. For the main entrees, you can't go wrong with the Salish Sea Cioppino, which is clams, mussels, cod, salmon, prawns, and chorizo in a tomato saffron broth, with a toasted baguette, fish and chips, the Semiahmoo bacon burger, or the ribeye. Find the full dinner menu here.
Be sure to check the schedule of events here to keep up with special brunches and dinners offered at Packers Kitchen + Bar, such as Valentine's Day dinners, Easter brunches, etc.
Coffee and treats at Seaview Café
Seaview Café is Semiahmoo Resort's very own in-house coffee shop! They offer coffee, espresso, baked goods, and even grab-and-go beverages. It's a great place to grab a beer, seltzer, or coffee before heading outside to sit by the fire or look for shells on the beach. They’re open from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily.
What amenities are available at Semiahmoo Resort?
Regarding amenities at Semiahmoo, there are plenty of options for every type of guest, or if you’re local to the area, you can buy a day pass to use most facilities for $20 per adult. You name it, from spa treatments and pools to hot tubs, bird-watching tours, complimentary bikes, golf, fitness classes, tennis courts, and even whale watching.
In addition to these amenities, every evening (weather dependent), guests can cozy up by one of the many beach bonfire pits and make s'mores starting at 7:00 p.m. and going until 10:00 p.m. You can find all the delicious supplies you need to make this yummy treat at the front desk.
One of my favorite parts about living near the ocean is walking along the beach, enjoying the sound of the waves, looking for pretty shells, and, of course, looking for whales and seals. Because Semiahmoo Resort is on a spit, you have the ocean right at your finger tips and tons of beach to walk along. Sometimes I even bring my dogs to walk around this area because they have sidewalks and trails all along the spit making it perfect for walks, birdwatching, and sealife watching (is that a thing?!) too!
What is there to do nearby?
The resort is less than a 2-hour drive from Artist Point, where you can see beautiful views of Mount Baker, waterfalls, mossy forests, trails, glacier lakes, etc. We head up to Artist Point pretty often because the drive isn’t too far, and gorgeous all the way there. If that’s not typically your scene, don’t worry because Blaine is an adorable town across the water, only a 10-15 minute drive away, with the cutest main street and great restaurants. Some of my favorites are Drayton Harbor Oyster Company, The Vault, Paso Del Norte, and Border Town Pizza.
Semiahmoo Resort and Spa is an oasis in northwest Washington that you're sure to want to visit time and time again during every season.
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