Quinault Beach Resort & Casino

Abounding with shore birds, eagles and other wildlife, the Quinault Beach Resort and Casino is located on 250 acres of nature preserve overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It's also a fun and exciting place for a weekend that provides a balance of Las Vegas games with nature, a day spa and Native American culture.

Opened in 2000, the resort and casino are owned and operated by the Quinault Indian Nation, which has lived in the area for 4,000 years. The resort is decorated in warm colors and casual style of a Northwest lodge architecture. Among its décor highlights are excellent examples of North Coast Indian artwork and artifacts.

Views of the Rolling Tide

The resort's 159 deluxe view rooms and suites all feel large and welcoming thanks to their 10-foot ceilings and friendly gas fireplaces with sitting areas. The French balconies overlook the ocean or a calming fountain. The king and queen pillow-topped mattresses offer a restful night's sleep. Among the various larger rooms are studio suites, with beautiful views of the wetlands and ocean beyond them, which may be enjoyed from the in-room whirlpool tubs.

The resort's most special feature may be either the 10,000 square foot casino... or the easy access to a sandy beach... or maybe it's the fact that the both are so accessible to each other, so you don't have to choose between them. The Las Vegas-style casino has keno, plus table games such as blackjack, craps, roulette and poker. The casino's claim to fame is that it has the only ocean-view Texas Hold 'Em poker room in Washington.

The resort offers a big indoor pool and exercise room, as well as a full-service day spa with treatments such as hot stone massage and mud facials. Adults and kids will also find fun outdoors on the easily accessible beach. Kite-flying and beachcombing are among the favorite activities, as is hiking in the Quinault Rain Forest and Olympic National Park. Also popular are deep-sea fishing, horseback riding and golfing, which are all nearby.

An Array of Dining Choices

Four restaurants provide delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners. The flagship is Emily's Restaurant, which has been honored as the best fine dining restaurant in Grays Harbor County. Named after a tribal elder, Emily's serves fresh Northwest foods, with a focus on seafood. Naturally, the wild Northwest salmon is a house specialty, though the steaks are juicy from the grill. As for dessert, Mardi is a big fan of wild berries in puff pastry and fresh whipped cream. The elegant dining room is surrounded by hand-painted murals and delivers sweeping golden views of the ocean at sunset. Other food possibilities in the resort include sushi at Wasabi's Sushi Bar, light meals-and live entertainment-at the Ocean Lounge, and casual snacks and sandwiches at the Sidewalk Bistro.

The most remarkable part of a weekend at the Quinault Beach Resort and Casino is its ability to suit just about any mood, from relaxed to active, indoors to out. You don't have to choose ahead of time what you want to do for the weekend. And not having to decide may be the most relaxing possibility of all.

What a perfect beach for walking in the aftermath of a good storm. We found several keepsakes. Our room faced the beach and allowed us to continue to storm watch from a place of comfort- even the restaurant faced the ocean. What a great place!