Alderbrook Resort on Hood Canal has been a popular Pacific Northwest vacation destination since it first opened in 1913. Back then, no roads reached the resort and guests arrived by canoe. The resort has been through many owners and remodels since opening, and now is easily reachable by road on Washington State Route 106. But some guests still do arrive by boat, where they can overnight on the property’s extensive docks.

Alderbrook has long been on our list of places to visit in the area, but their availability and our schedule never matched up. The two finally meshed earlier this year on a beautifully sunny weekend, and we made the two-hour drive from Seattle to spend a couple of nights there. We had a lovely room, with a balcony overlooking the marina and Hood Canal, and enjoyed a chill weekend at the resort. We started with a fabulous evening at neaerby Hood Canalé wine bar, and ended with a visit from the Easter Bunny shortly before heading home.

We drove straight through via Tacoma on the way there, but decided to return via the ferry from Bremerton, where we’d not visited since our foot passenger ferry trip in early 2022. With over an hour until the next ferry to Seattle, we parked our truck in the ferry line and spent some time in Bremerton, including a visit to the striking Harborside Fountain Park in Bremerton that features five copper-plated fountains in the shape of submarine sails that eject water in varying patterns and timings.

Below are highlights from March 29th through 31st, 2024. Click any image for a larger view, or click the position to view the location on a map. And a map with our most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.

3/29/2024

Tacoma Narrows Bridge Position: 47°15.85’N, -122°32.71’W Heading across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge on a wonderfully sunny afternoon to spend the weekend at Alderbrook Resort on Hood Canal. The resort is just under a 2-hour drive from our apartment.

Hood Canal Position: 47°23.37’N, -122°54.63’W Looking across Hood Canal as we head south on State Route 116 to Alderbrook Resort.

Alderbrook Resort Position: 47°20.87’N, -123°4.08’W Our room at Alderbrook Resort on Hood Canal.

View from room Position: 47°20.87’N, -123°4.08’W The view at dusk across the hotel grounds to Hood Canal from the balcony of our room at Alderbrook Resort.

Atrium Position: 47°20.85’N, -123°4.09’W The scent of cedar fills the air in the atrium within the main accommodation wing at Alderbrook Resort.

Rhododendron Position: 47°20.79’N, -123°4.22’W Vibrant pink Rhododendron growing in the gardens at Alderbrook Resort.

Dalby Water Wheel Position: 47°20.80’N, -123°4.30’W In 1924, Ed and Ethel Dalby bought a wheel from a Seattle cable car system in Seattle and placed it here to generate electricity for their property. It was one of the first hydroelectric plants on Hood Canal and operated until the 1940s. We passed it while walking to dinner at Hood Canalé wine bar.

Hood Canal Position: 47°20.87’N, -123°4.40’W We had a fabulous evening over a bottle of Italian red from the excellent selection of wines at Hood Canalé wine bar, about a 15-minute walk from Alderbrook Resort.

Charcuterie Plate Position: 47°20.87’N, -123°4.40’W Hood Canalé has a wood-fired pizza oven, but we opted for their delicious charcuterie plate.

Hoodstock Position: 47°20.87’N, -123°4.40’W A poster at Hood Canalé for the upcoming Hood Canal music festival: Hoodstock.

Dalby Water Wheel at Night Position: 47°20.80’N, -123°4.31’W Passing the Dalby Water Wheel, lit up at night, on our way back to Alderbrook Resort. It looks like they’re having fun inside :-).

3/30/2024

Olympic Mountains Position: 47°20.88’N, -123°4.08’W View from our room at Alderbrook Resort across Hood Canal to the Olympic Mountains on a beautiful, clear morning.

CFOs Position: 47°20.87’N, -123°4.08’W Coasters in our room with the images of Alderbrook Resort’s CFOs (Chief Feline Officers), Alder and Brook. We saw Alder wandering around the resort later in the day.

Low Tide Position: 47°20.89’N, -123°4.07’W Low tide at Hood Canal. The shoreline slopes quite gently and the water goes out a long way.

Native Canoe Position: 47°20.89’N, -123°4.07’W Native canoe reflecting into still waters on Hood Canal.

Dinner Position: 47°20.87’N, -123°4.08’W An excellent dinner at the Restaurant at Alderbook, with a sweeping view to Hood Canal.

Dusk Position: 47°20.88’N, -123°4.07’W Dusk looking across Hood Canal from the balcony of our room at Alderbrook Resort.

3/31/2024

Easter Bunny Position: 47°20.87’N, -123°4.08’W The Easter Bunny found us in Alderbrook Resort. Here’s James with his easter egg hunt haul.

Breakfast Position: 47°20.87’N, -123°4.07’W Breakfast on the balcony of our room at Alderbrook Resort. The fog was so thick when we got up that we couldn’t even see the dock, but it’s a little better now and later cleared to another beautiful sunny day.

USS Independence Position: 47°33.14’N, -122°39.68’W The USS Independence, foreground, in dry dock at the US Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Bremerton. Launched in 2008, the 418 ft (127 m) ship is the first of the Independence-class near-shore littoral combat ships, capable of speeds over 44 knots. The ship was quietly decommissioned in 2021 “due to public health safety and restrictions”. Six others have also been decommissioned, with 19 in the class remaining active and 5 still under construction.

Navy Fire Truck Position: 47°33.55’N, -122°39.30’W Fire trucks don’t typically fly the US flag, but U.S. Government vehicles such as this U.S. Navy truck in Bremerton do.

Mezcalitos Position: 47°33.84’N, -122°37.61’W Rather than drive back from Alderbrook Resort through Tacoma, we decided to take the ferry from Bremerton, where we’d not visited since our ferry trip in early 2022. With over an hour until the next ferry to Seattle, we parked our truck in the ferry line and spent some time in Bremerton, starting with a delicious lunch on the patio at Mezcalitos near the ferry dock.

USS South Carolina Position: 47°33.85’N, -122°37.63’W The bow of the USS South Carolina on display at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Memorial Plaza, dedicated to Bremerton’s shipyard workers.

Estber Bielmeier Position: 47°33.89’N, -122°37.63’W Statue of shipyard worker Estber Bielmeier, based on a photo taken of her heating rivets in 1919. Women made up a large part of the shipyard workforce during the both World Wars, with the majority of men away on military duty.

Harborside Fountain Park Position: 47°33.73’N, -122°37.54’W The striking Harborside Fountain Park in Bremerton features five copper-plated fountains in the shape of submarine sails that eject water in varying patterns and timings. The fountains were designed by WET Design of Sun Valley, California, creators of the famous fountains at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas.

Walla Walla Arriving, Bremerton Position: 47°33.73’N, -122°37.51’W Our ferry to Seattle, the Walla Walla, arriving into Bremerton.

On Board Position: 47°33.64’N, -122°37.45’W We arrived at the Bremerton ferry dock 1:20 before the sailing and were the first in line and the first to board the Walla Walla.

Harborside Fountain Park From Ferry Position: 47°33.69’N, -122°37.50’W Another view to the Harborside Fountain Park, this one from the ferry before we depart for Seattle.

Departing Bremerton Position: 47°33.68’N, -122°37.47’W The Walla Walla departing Bremerton en route to Seattle.

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Position: 47°33.60’N, -122°37.41’W The ferry docks in Bremerton are adjacent to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, established in 1891. It is largest naval shore facility in the Pacific Northwest, employing 14,000 people.

Manette Bridge Position: 47°33.83’N, -122°36.24’W We’ve passed under the Manette Bridge near Bremerton in our boats many times en route to Dyes Inlet. Silverdale and Oyster Bay are popular stops for us.

Rich Passage Position: 47°35.25’N, -122°34.11’W The Walla Walla heading eastbound into Rich Passage at the south end of Bainbridge Island (left).

Wellcraft, Rich Passage Position: 47°34.02’N, -122°30.61’W A Wellcraft 355 running westbound through Rich Passage. We’ve not been on board a Wellcraft before, but toured the similar Axopar and Arksen boats at the Seattle Boat Show earlier this year. We found the Arksen 30 layout more appealing, with another advantage of being certified RCD Class B, for winds up to force 8 and waves up to 4m. The Axopar has no rating that we are aware of, and an Axopar 37 recently lost a windshield to a wave in the San Juan islands.

Mt. Rainier from Rich Passage Position: 47°34.11’N, -122°30.20’W A great view to Mt. Rainier as the Walla Walla exits Rich Passage en route to Seattle.

American Spirit from Rich Passage Position: 47°34.19’N, -122°29.96’W The pocket cruise ship American Spirit heading south from Seattle on a multi-night cruise of the Puget Sound and San Juan Islands.

Seattle Skyline Position: 47°34.23’N, -122°29.84’W The Seattle skyline, viewed from the Walla Walla at the east end of Rich Passage.

View Homes Position: 47°34.32’N, -122°29.59’W Rich Passage is lined with spectacular view homes, particularly along the south shore of Bainbridge Island.

Walla Walla Car Deck Position: 47°36.06’N, -122°23.22’W Looking down to our black Honda Passport, at center in the front, on the Walla Walla car deck.

Seattle Center Position: 47°36.12’N, -122°22.65’W View to Seattle Center as the Walla Walla nears the ferry terminal. Climate Pledge arena, where we watch the Kraken NHL games, is at far left, with the iconic Space Needle at right.

Seattle Skyline Position: 47°36.08’N, -122°21.72’W The Seattle skyline from the Walla Walla. Coleman Dock, where we will land, is at bottom right with another ferry already at the terminal.

Insignia Position: 47°36.06’N, -122°21.49’W Our apartment complex, Insignia, viewed from the Walla Walla. Our unit is in the top left corner of the right (south) tower.

Coleman Dock Position: 47°36.12’N, -122°20.41’W Ferry workers readying for the arrival of the Walla Walla from Bremerton to Coleman Dock in Seattle.

Click the travel log icon on the left to see these locations on a map. And a map of our most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.