Suncadia Resort: the Best Cle Elum Hotel to Escape City Life

I was invited to visit one of the many Cle Elum hotels in Washington: Suncadia Resort. The term “resort” had me worried it’d be touristy, but I was completely blown away.

It’s huge. I’m talking 6,400 acres huge. And it’s mostly undeveloped land that included a farm, trails, river, pond, and mountains.

I barely saw anybody while I was there, which got me thinking: “This might be one of the best Cle Elum hotels!”

Here’s a recap of my trip, with tips for what to do and the reasons I think you need to stay at Suncadia Resort.

About Suncadia Resort

Suncadia Resort is located about 1 hour and 40 minutes outside of Seattle near Cle Elum, Washington.

It’s within the Wenatchee Washington National Forest and, while the resort is more than 6,000 acres, only 20% of its land is developed. The majority of it is still forests, mountains, and rolling hills. It’s a destination meant for outdoor recreation, while having some of the creature comforts of a vacation.

Suncadia Resort is owned by a broader hotel group called Destination Hotels. However, each hotel pays deep respect to the region it’s in and integrates with the area as much as possible.

For example, Suncadia Resort has its own garden program, which it’s trying to grow to sustain more of the guests’ food consumption. The restaurants feature produce from farmers that sell at the Roslyn Farmers Market. The bar program is designed in partnership with local breweries and cocktail masters to reflect the region’s palate.

Why Suncadia is One of the Best Cle Elum Hotels

Besides its dedication to reflecting the local area, I think Suncadia Resort is one of the best Cle Elum hotels because of its variety of activities. Here’s a look at what you can do at Suncadia Resort.

You can rent a bike and avoid driving

One of the first things I did while at Suncadia Resort was rent a bike and go on a tour of the grounds. I can’t reiterate enough how vital this was to my happiness.

Suncadia is vast, which makes walking from place to place infeasible if you’re on a short trip and wanting to explore as much as possible. I loved how the resort has a ton of paved paths to ride your bike. It encouraged me to get outside, enjoy nature, and get some much needed exercise.

There’s an onsite winery

I absolutely love exploring Pacific Northwest wineries. So to me, the best Cle Elum hotels are the ones with a winery!

Swiftwater Cellars is right in Suncadia Resort and offers European-style wines. Guests can relax on a patio that overlooks gorgeous vistas, choosing from a variety of wine flight options and food bites.

The wines were awesome, particularly the 2012 SWC Syrah, but be warned it’s a bit pricey if you’re looking to purchase a bottle. The beautiful tasting I got above was $18 for a reasonable amount of wine.

There’s a dope spa

The Glade Spring Spa is a mini oasis inside an oasis. I absolutely loved the ambiance of the cushy oversized bean bags and mineral pools that you could soak in for as long as you wanted. I spent over an hour outside my treatment just lounging and reading my Kindle.

The resort offered me a complimentary coconut and coffee scrub. I’ve gotten a few scrubs before, but never one like this.

It was in an all-tile room with a huge shower head on the wall. The first thought that came to my mind was “American Psycho” (you know, good place to off someone with all tile and a drain in the middle of the floor…), but I was quickly put at ease with a super relaxing scrub that wasn’t too abrasive. I was so relaxed that I’m pretty sure I fell asleep!

Sure, the spa isn’t cheap (the cheapest treatments were $140 on a weekday, more on the weekend). But it has fabulous ambiance and yummy lunch options. If possible, I recommend going on the weekdays. It can get crowded since it’s probably one of the best spas at a Cle Elum hotel!

There are hiking trails down to the Cle Elum River

The Inn at Suncadia Resort overlooks a grass-filled slope that meanders down to the Cle Elum River. There are evergreen trees as far as the eye can see, with a long staircase to take you directly down to the river.

I chose the gentler sloping trails to get down to the rocky banks of the river. It was so peaceful, the only sound the soft crunch of pine needles under my feet, the cawing of a bird, and the bubbling of the river.

While I went in the fall, there’s also snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and ice skating available during the winter. You can event rent equipment if you don’t have your own!

There are a ton of fitness options

Besides bikes and trails, there’s a ton of fitness options at Suncadia Resort. When I was there, I took a morning yoga class that hiked down to the Cle Elum River. There’s also the option to take a class in the fitness studio if you’d prefer to stay put.

You should look at the resort’s events calendar to find something going on when you’re there. You’ll often see fitness classes listed!

There’s also a gym, indoor and outdoor pool, and kayaks, canoes, and paddle boats you can rent and take out on the pond outside the gym. If you’re into golf, there’s also a beautiful course that the Lodge at Suncadia overlooks.

There are good restaurants in the adorable nearby towns

Suncadia Resort is the perfect Cle Elum hotel because it’s near two quaint towns in Washington that are nine minutes away in opposite directions: Roslyn and downtown Cle Elum. If you’re not staying at one of the resort’s accommodations with your own kitchen, I highly recommend getting off the resort for tastier, more affordable meals.

For example, Roslyn Cafe is a must. It’s famous thanks to the cult-classic movie, Northern Exposure…or so I read…I never heard of it.

I got the house-smoked salmon omelet, suggested by the waitress. The salmon was so flavorful and went perfectly with the creaminess of the sour cream and the freshness of the scallions. The toast was so satisfying…buttery and jammy, just like what you get at a greasy-spoon diner.

If you can only eat at one place, I’d recommend here.

Another great food option is Winegar’s Ice Cream, which is local to Ellensburg, WA. There’s a little convenience store (whose name I can’t remember) right on the main drag of Roslyn that sells sandwiches, ice cream, and convenience store goods.

By the looks of the place, you’d bet the ice cream wouldn’t be that good, but trust me, it is. The chocolate ice cream is super creamy without sacrificing flavor.

Lastly, don’t miss Owen’s Meats in downtown Cle Elum. They have awesome pepperoni. I remember driving home with it hanging out of my mouth as I munched. I’m sure it was an awesome sight to onlookers.

Overall, Suncadia Resort is one of the best Cle Elum hotels if you’re looking for a fun way to escape city life for the weekend.

I loved it for a solo getaway, but it’s also a great trip for kids because there’s so much to do.

This Cle Elum hotel is also a great starting point for discovering other areas of Washington. Check out these guides for ideas of where else to explore after you experience Cle Elum!

Disclaimer: Suncadia Resort provided complimentary accommodations, a spa treatment, and some meals in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting a sponsor that makes The Emerald Palate possible!