Heading to a lake for corporate retreats or private gatherings is a great way to add a little R&R to an agenda of business meetings or group festivities. But if you’re planning to stay at one of these Northwest lakefront venues, you may want to add another “R” to the rest and relaxation equation: recreation. In addition to generous views of sparkling water and the surrounding landscapes, these resorts provide plenty of opportunities year-round for your guests to amp up or wind down.
CAMPBELL’S RESORT
Chelan, Washington
Campbell’s Resort offers 170 rooms spread throughout five lodges, and each shows off views of the surrounding Lake Chelan. It’s a welcome reprieve from conventional conference views, says Kris Nolen, Campbell’s marketing manager. “I’ve been to a few conferences, and most of the time you’re like, ‘Ugh, I have to go back to my room,’” she says. “When you’re here and you’re at a conference, you can go back to your room and watch the sunset and watch the water lap against the shore.”
Host a conference, holiday party or another fete of your fancy within the resort’s 14,000 square feet of meeting real estate, which includes 12 meeting rooms, banquet space for up to 300 people and a 2,000-square-foot terrace for outdoor occasions.
Open-air adventures also abound here, including ziplining, hiking, biking and boating (in the warmer months). “If you want to do team-building where it’s outside and recreational, this is definitely the place to come,” Nolen says.
Campbell’s also has a full-service spa onsite. Guests can indulge in manicures, pedicures, facials and other pampering treatments.
DELTA GRAND OKANAGAN RESORT & CONFERENCE CENTRE
Kelowna, British Columbia
Situated beside the 90-mile-long Okanagan Lake in beautiful British Columbia, this resort’s 262 newly renovated guest rooms, 70 luxury villas, and 60 suites and condominiums are flanked by lake, city and mountain views.
Heather Farris, resort sales manager for the Grand Okanagan, says the resort is a good fit for groups of varying sizes—from five to 15,000—with plenty of prefunction space and outdoor terraces overlooking the lake. Among the resort’s spaces is its 14,044-square-foot ballroom, which is large enough to accommodate 500 guests.
Amenities include a full-service spa and fitness club, indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, hot tubs, steam room, on-site boat and bike rentals, and nearby access to hiking, fishing and beaches. This spring, the resort will unveil the results of a multimillion-dollar renovation, which includes the addition of a waterfront restaurant and wine bar, wine cellar, outdoor dining patio and a newly designed lobby.
A bonus is Grand Okanagan’s location in the heart of British Columbia’s wine country, which boasts more than 200 wineries in the Okanagan Valley. Taking advantage of the venue’s prime address, the resort’s in-house catering team works with numerous regional food and wine purveyors to supply your soiree with locally sourced goods, Farris says.
THE LODGE AT SUTTLE LAKE
Sisters, Oregon
Nestled in the Deschutes National Forest, this Oregon lodge showcases views of mountains and nearby Suttle Lake, with flexible venue spaces to host groups of 10 to 200 people. Four 900-square-foot cabins sit lakeside, each fully equipped with kitchen, fireplace and wraparound deck. The accommodations’ décor brings the outdoors in with wood carvings by local artist Chester Armstrong.
For recreation, visitors can hit the many nearby hiking and biking trails, and for a relaxing massage, including hot stone and Swedish, they can head to the resort’s creekside spa.
TAMARACK RESORT
Donnelly, Idaho
Looking for something a bit more intimate? Make Idaho’s West Mountain Range, home to the Tamarack Resort, your destination. The resort isn’t by definition lakefront property, but Lake Cascade is just a stone’s throw away.
The Arling Center, Tamarack’s trio of meeting spaces, is a nod to Idaho’s past, with quaint options, including a chapel that seats 140; The Grange Hall, which seats 306; and a schoolhouse, which holds up to 49 folks in each of its two rooms. All spaces are equipped with A/V capabilities and have access to a nearby kitchen for catered affairs.
The lodge’s accommodations include 18 hotel rooms, one- to three-bedroom condominiums and one- to six-bedroom homes. On-site or nearby outdoor activities include ziplining, kayaking, paddleboarding, Jet Skiing, golfing and more.
