What's a nature-y hotel that's a short flight from Los Angeles?
May 19, 2015 2:01 PM Subscribe
Trying to take a short trip with two toddlers where they can get knee-deep in nature - forests, lakes, whatever. Ideally it's a nice, high-end hotel that's family friendly, a short flight (we'd like to go beyond the road trip radius) from LA. Any suggestions? Maybe somewhere outside of Portland?
Whistler is amazing, but it's a 2 hour drive from the Vancouver airport, which is a bit of a haul.
Skamania Lodge is really nice. Also Alderbrook Resort (though also a bit of a drive from the Seattle airport, it's slightly closer than Whistler/Vancouver and doesn't require any passports, etc.).
posted by primethyme at 2:30 PM on May 19, 2015
Skamania Lodge is really nice. Also Alderbrook Resort (though also a bit of a drive from the Seattle airport, it's slightly closer than Whistler/Vancouver and doesn't require any passports, etc.).
posted by primethyme at 2:30 PM on May 19, 2015
American has a direct LAX to Santa Fe flight (still - they are stopping it in September). Santa Fe has plenty of high end hotels and some great mountains, Indian stuff, etc.
posted by H. Roark at 2:48 PM on May 19, 2015
posted by H. Roark at 2:48 PM on May 19, 2015
Timberline Lodge is about 1hr 15min from Portland International Airport.
posted by elmay at 3:32 PM on May 19, 2015
posted by elmay at 3:32 PM on May 19, 2015
Fly to mammoth, and stay at the Westin Monache in Mammoth Lakes. Its a grueling drive, so flying is preferable, but Im not sure if the flights are seasonal only for ski season.
posted by Joh at 3:45 PM on May 19, 2015
posted by Joh at 3:45 PM on May 19, 2015
Fly to Reno, drive to Tahoe. Stay at the Hyatt Lake Tahoe.
posted by freezer cake at 4:27 PM on May 19, 2015
posted by freezer cake at 4:27 PM on May 19, 2015
San Jose, redwood forests at Stephens Creek. Bound to be some good hoteling there. I know the flight will be cheap.
posted by Oyéah at 5:10 PM on May 19, 2015
posted by Oyéah at 5:10 PM on May 19, 2015
Hood River, OR is just over an hour from PDX airport. Really cheap this time of year. Great hiking, beautiful scenery - it's on the Colombia river, surrounded by mountains - and some fantastic restaurants.
posted by Anoplura at 6:44 PM on May 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Anoplura at 6:44 PM on May 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
Mammoth is the right answer here if it's not too close, and although it's far enough to fly driving makes better sense if you don't have expiring mileage (or money) to burn. The Westin mentioned is a nice place.
It's not that grueling if you avoid commuting hours when leaving/returning. It's all (or almost all) four lane divided highway now.
With toddlers in tow, I'd think that approximately 4.5 hour drive in the familiar environment of the family car, with some possible pit stops or roadside attractions, would be better than more or less the same time spent on getting to the airport, getting to the flight, flying, getting off the plane and renting a car, etc.
Otherwise, Timberline (Mt. Hood/Portland) and Santa Fe are both lots of fun (although Taos has better mountains and more nature than Santa Fe. You can do both!) I'm not up on the current hotel choices.
Another option might be Telluride, in Colorado. . (via Montrose airport.)
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:28 PM on May 19, 2015
It's not that grueling if you avoid commuting hours when leaving/returning. It's all (or almost all) four lane divided highway now.
With toddlers in tow, I'd think that approximately 4.5 hour drive in the familiar environment of the family car, with some possible pit stops or roadside attractions, would be better than more or less the same time spent on getting to the airport, getting to the flight, flying, getting off the plane and renting a car, etc.
Otherwise, Timberline (Mt. Hood/Portland) and Santa Fe are both lots of fun (although Taos has better mountains and more nature than Santa Fe. You can do both!) I'm not up on the current hotel choices.
Another option might be Telluride, in Colorado. . (via Montrose airport.)
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:28 PM on May 19, 2015
I'll second Skamania. Had a government project kickoff meeting there last June and it was great.
posted by supercres at 8:41 PM on May 19, 2015
posted by supercres at 8:41 PM on May 19, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
I think you've inadvertently quoted their advertising slogan in you question.
posted by Keith Talent at 2:23 PM on May 19, 2015