A Northwest Secret

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

We returned yesterday from a 2 night trip to a destination all Northwest trailer sailors should make.

As a trip it is very short, only 4.4 Nm each way, but it will make your admiral very happy.

We towed across the narrows bridge over to Twanoh State Park, just south of Belfair.

http://www.parks.wa.gov/parkpage.asp?se ... ark=Twanoh

The park has a completely rebuilt 2 lane launch ramp with plenty of paved parking. There are new docks, and a great grooved concrete ramp. Once you have the boat launched you are floating at the closed end of Hood Canal and ready to head SW to Alderbrook Resort and Spa,

http://www.alderbrookresort.com/alderbrook_marina.php .

It's a simple, short trip to a spot at their 1500' dock (we were the only boat at the dock Thursday night and were joined by 2 others on Friday). You'll not only be treated to some fantastic views of Hood Canal and the Olympic Mountains, but you will also have the cheapest waterfront room at a very high end resort. Alderbrook was recently sold and the new owners sunk some serious cash into the property creating a gorgeous destination. (We've been there in the past and the changes are quite amazing.)

As we were there in the high season the cost to stay at the dock was $1.20 a foot. For $31 bucks a night (power included) we had the run of the resort. When you check in at the front desk you'll get your key card just like all those guests paying $200+ a night and you will have access to every amenity the resort offeres it's guests.

The indoor pool and spa were great (pool, hot tub, steam room, and sauna), the drinks at the outdoor bar were tasty (but pricey), the food was excellent, the kids loved all the open fire pits (gas) and the movies shown at the outdoor theater complete with pads, blankets, popcorn and cotton candy. The grounds are spectacular and the dock is first rate as well.

I highly recommend you all put this trip in your future plans.

[waternwaves]

Duane.....

Do they still have the outdo0r propane heaters at the outdoor bar, along with the shuttle van?
Plus...................... the golf......!!

alderbrook golf and yacht club bring your clubs.!!!!

[jda]

I used to live two miles from Twanoh State Park on the beach. At that time you could pick oysters and I knew some guys that were shrimping out of Union (just past Alderbrook at the elbow of Hood Canal) and the shrimp were just outstanding. It ruined me forever on shrimp. No shrimp have ever tasted as good.

Alderbrook golf is good. It's been many years since I've been there. In fact my wife and I were staying there once when there was an earthquake, we noticed it because we saw the chandelier swaying.

What about Port Ludlow? Another great golf course. Have you guys been up there?

This is making me home sick.

jda

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

If you haven't seen the resort in the last year and a half you will not recognize it. They even moved the entire highway in front of it to get a larger parking lot and more setback from the traffic noise. The building that used to be across the highwayt is now in the center of a much larger parking lot. Not only did all the buildings (cabins included) get a great facelift but they joined the two structures with a fantastic Northwest Lodge style lobby. They also put tons into the grounds and landscaping with great streams, waterfalls and ponds. They new Spa addition to the indoor pool greenhouse is also all new. The resort used to be nice, now it is gorgeous. They didn't have the propane heaters out as it was in the 70's, but I'm sure they have them (I even have one for my deck).

They still have the golf course up the hill as well. Do bring your clubs.

Port Ludlow is also a great boating / golf desination. That was my boating business trip the first year I bought the boat. We were having a customer event there and rather than take the ferry across and make the drive I met one of my sales reps at the launch in Everett. We launched and sailed over to the Port Ludlow marina. I did my presentations, had a nice dinner, slept on the the boat then got up for breakfast and a round of golf the next day. All at company expense of course. I bet they don't see many marina slip fees on company expense reports, still my slip cost much less than the rooms they got for everyone else.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Here's our logbook with the story and pictures.

http://ddunn.org/LogBook94.htm

[beene]

Awesome

Thanks again for sharing

G

[kevperro]

Duane: That looks great... about a two hour drive for us but I'll put it on the list for our first family cruise. The kids would love the pool & outdoor movies.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

From your direction I wouldn't drive all the way to Twanoh. You'd actually be driving right past Alderbrook on the way to the ramp.

My launch ramp book shows what looks to be two good choices on the west side of the canal.

Quilcene's ramp looks good. It looks to be part of a marina. From there you go south out of DaBob Bay, down Hood Canal and around the hook at the bottom to Union. Just past Union is Alderbrook Resort. It's a bit longer at what looks like a 15 mile boat trip.

There also looks to be a good ramp at Mikes Beach Resort in Lilliwaup. (Between Lilliwaup and Hoodsport). This puts you about the same distance as Twanoh is NE of Alderbrook (5 miles). You are almost to the bottom of the hook.

My book is a bit old so you might want to check that these ramps are still good.

[kevperro]

From your direction I wouldn't drive all the way to Twanoh. You'd actually be driving right past Alderbrook on the way to the ramp.

My launch ramp book shows what looks to be two good choices on the west side of the canal.

Quilcene's ramp looks good. It looks to be part of a marina. From there you go south out of DaBob Bay, down Hood Canal and around the hook at the bottom to Union. Just past Union is Alderbrook Resort. It's a bit longer at what looks like a 15 mile boat trip.

There also looks to be a good ramp at Mikes Beach Resort in Lilliwaup. (Between Lilliwaup and Hoodsport). This puts you about the same distance as Twanoh is NE of Alderbrook (5 miles). You are almost to the bottom of the hook.

My book is a bit old so you might want to check that these ramps are still good.

Quilcene is an easy drive and the longer boat trip would be welcome. I don't have the boat ready for the entire gang yet but maybe later this year. My crew includes four kids and we have a 26D which is a little tighter fit. Two nights is about our limit.