Adventure.
You may think that in your hometown, adventure doesn’t exist. Adventure is found on remote beaches in faraway countries, on suspension bridges slung high above cloud forests, on frosted mountain peaks–but where you’re from? Adventure? Impossible.
But I’m here to tell you adventure is not really as elusive an idea as many people like to believe. Adventure, at any given moment, is actually all around us. It won’t come to you, though–adventure likes a chase.
I used to believe that adventure in central Washington was a fallacy, or that at the very least it was confined to the treacherous hiking and climbing trails of the Cascade mountains and the raging rapids of the region’s many rivers.
I’ve since learned that adventure is whatever you make of it. It doesn’t have to take place hundreds of miles from home where no one knows your name–adventures of the local variety can be just as exciting. They can help break up the monotony of your schedule or provide a quick escape from reality with relatively little effort.
Each time I come home to visit Washington, my aim is to uncover local adventures I wouldn’t have thought of previously while living there as a resident. This time, I wanted to experience a getaway without even leaving my hometown–I wanted to experience a true staycation, and the Run of the River Inn & Refuge in Leavenworth was just the place to do it.
The Run of the River Inn & Refuge is a charming cabin-style lodge on East Leavenworth Road, tucked in the middle of verdant vegetation and sitting right on a small projection of the Icicle Creek. It’s comprised of six luxurious suites and one full cabin, each one perfect for two people to share.
Since I couldn’t enjoy a staycation alone, I brought my mother along with me to spend an evening relaxing at this woodsy retreat.
Upon arrival, we were greeted in the Kingfisher Suite by a welcome package including maps, information and tips for what to do and see in Leavenworth as well as a bag of seeds for use on our river-view porch to bring the many birds and other furry friends that live on the property right to us.
The suite was ample and charming in the way only a log cabin can be. We quickly discovered the coffee maker and decided to put it to immediate use so we’d have something to go along with the freshly baked banana bread we’d been offered in the dining room at check-in.
We ambled through the rest of our spacious relaxation quarters slowly, taking in every little well-thought-out detail. The stone-line jacuzzi tub kitty corner to the bed? Oh, I had big plans for that later–the residual soreness from the previous day’s workout was soon to be obliterated.
The king bed took center stage, a four-poster of the log cabin variety. Pillows overflowed at the headboard, and when we stood either side of it, we practically had to call each other by phone to communicate. A bigger, more luxurious bed I had never seen, much less had the pleasure of sleeping in.
At the far side of the bed was the real relaxation station: A matching brown leather sofa and armchair/ottoman set situated right next to perhaps the best feature of the whole room, the stone fireplace. The weather was particularly cold this April afternoon, so we wasted no time in firing it up (pun most certainly intended) with a simple flick of a light switch.
My mother ooh-ed and ahh-ed over the attention to detail peppered throughout the rest of the room. A birding kit including binoculars and multiple bird identification books sat patiently next to the fireplace. Decor was largely antique and included such pieces as old suitcases, an old-fashioned typewriter, wooden skis and other sporting equipment, and decoy hunting ducks.
On the deck, the kitsch continued. We discovered an antique bicycle (one of many that are scattered around the property), hiking sticks, a picnic basket, and a backpack should we decide to embark on one of Leavenworth’s many nearby hikes. Even a pair of mountain bikes and helmets hang on the deck of each suite for any active adventure-seekers who might fancy a ride on Leavenworth’s picturesque backroads.
We emptied our bird seed onto the wooden feeding platform and took a seat on the swinging bench while we awaited our feathered friends, cameras and binoculars in hand. We didn’t have to wait long before we were joined by mountain chickadees, house finches, and other brilliantly colored avians (and the occasional hungry squirrel).
Our deck faced a wildlife refuge that is home to many more creatures that are often spotted by Run of the River guests, including great blue heron, eagles, osprey, owls, kingfishers and geese. We were lucky enough to watch a pair of male and female wood ducks wander the property and were told that it’s not uncommon for bears to mosey by as well. For wildlife lovers, the Run of the River Inn is ideally situated for sightings.
As the afternoon turned to evening, our dinner reservation at South in Leavenworth approached. We defrosted by the fire before setting off for town, a quick five-minute drive away.
Leavenworth has a number of lovely dining options, but I typically find myself at South at least once whenever I’m home. As the name suggests, food is primarily Latin-inspired with dishes and drinks hailing from countries such as Mexico, Jamaica, Cuba, Brazil, Peru, and Argentina. Though somewhat overpriced with a dining experience that is often rushed rather than relaxed, the food is always excellent.
We shared an appetizer of fried poblano peppers and sipped our cocktails (a pisco sour for me and a variation on the piña colada for my mother) before devouring dinner. I ordered a plate of mole enchiladas while she enjoyed fish tacos.Leavenworth, although beautifully lit up as usual, was far too cold for wandering that night, so we quickly made our way back to the inn to relax.
The rest of the evening was spent sipping a bottle of red wine from Ryan Patrick Vineyards, attempting to write poetry and love letters on the antique typewriter, soaking in a lovely floral-scented concoction in the jacuzzi tub, and generally enjoying the change of scenery on our little adventure a mere 10 minutes from home.
Eventually we crawled into our massive bed and turned on one of our favorite TV shows (Seinfeld, in case you’re wondering) before drifting off to sleep.
We awoke early enough the following morning to make coffee and take showers before the 9 o’clock breakfast, but still managed to walk in a few minutes late. This bed and breakfast serves all guests in a dining room in the main lodge, allowing everyone to chat and get to know one another.
Many of the guests were Washington residents on staycations of their own. A couple from Anacortes was in town for the weekend to celebrate their anniversary, and even a local couple from Leavenworth had decided to use the Run of the River as their getaway for a joint anniversary celebration and business retreat. We obviously weren’t the only ones with the idea!
Breakfast included a vegetable frittata, lots of fresh fruit, freshly blended juice, yogurt, bacon, and scones. And, of course, plenty of coffee. I loved the communal style of eating; conversing with staff and fellow guests made the experience so much more homey, as if we were part of the Run of the River family.
After a bit more bird watching, a bit more key pounding on the typewriter (possibly my favorite activity of our stay) and a bit more peaceful swinging on the porch bench, we bid our farewell to the Run of the River. We left relaxed, refreshed, and ready to take on the world. Or, at least, our normal lives.
If you’ve never experienced a staycation, it’s something I highly recommend you try. Adventure doesn’t have to mean selling all your things and flying halfway around the world to live entirely outside of your comfort zone. Sometimes adventure is exactly the opposite–a luxurious lodge that’s comfortable in every way, just minutes from home.
Have you ever gone on a staycation? How was it? Would you do it again?
This post was written in collaboration with the Run of the River Inn & Refuge. We can’t thank Jan, Roni, and the rest of the Run of the River staff enough for hosting us and showing us such incredible hospitality. All opinions expressed in this article, as always, are entirely my own.