Stay: Chevy Chase Beach Cabins in Port Townsend, Washington
A big thank you to Jennifer and Jeff of Chevy Chase Beach Cabins for helping make this trip possible by comping our stay in exchange for sharing our experience with you here on the blog.
Welcoming guests since 1897, Chevy Chase Beach Cabins (CCBC) offers a combination of welcoming proprietors, fascinating history, and a comfortable laid back vibe. Creating just the right spot for a peaceful break as opposed to feeling like it's just temporary escape. Of all the cabins I've stayed in around the Pacific Northwest, CCBC felt the most like coming home for a much needed rest.
I first came across this historic vacation spot on Instagram of all places. The CCBC account is filled beautiful images from around the property and totally adorable shots of Scout, the official greeter and beach tour guide. If you're as in to coastal scenes and puppy dogs as I am, it's certainly an account I recommend following. Those shots of Scout and further reading on their website led me to discover how dog friendly CCBC is! They list guidelines for visiting pups on their Dog Friendly page including; "Please give your dog lots of belly rubs, long walks, and in general just spoil them rotten!" Perfection for dog-friendly travel.
Our two nights spent in Cabin 4 felt much longer in the best way possible. We enjoyed the rainy evenings by cooking in, watching movies from the house collection, and chowing down on a very special cake we brought with us to celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary. Mornings were filled with slow breakfasts, which may or may not have included more cake, and staring with wonder out our windows at the clouds and mountains over Discovery Bay.
Oh and before I continue sharing our stay at CCBC with you, let me just get the name story of this spot out of the way. It doesn't have anything to do with the actor or the city in Maryland. CCBC is named for the Cheviot Hills in England where a prior proprietor's (the Chases) family originated.
The Cabin
Perched on the cliff above the bay, Cabin 4 couldn't have felt more like home. It's long lean layout, repeating picture windows, and wood paneled bedroom reminded me of my grandparent's home in Fort Bragg, California. A place I've always held close in my heart. The instant I walked through the doorway, I started planning a return trip for that sense of home and peace.
The main living area is well situated for optimal viewing of the bay, with a comfy couch, arm chair, and table set just under the windows. A small unassuming flat screen is appropriately situated in the corner with a built in DVD player to watch movies from the library located in the big white house. The fully equipped kitchen, complete with a full sized refrigerator, oven, and dishwater sits just across a breakfast bar from the living area. Thoughtful images of the property from decades ago deck the walls along with other simple pieces of artwork.
Outside the cabin, a deck with a great big stump, grill, and table and chair set provide a picture perfect spot to enjoy the dry summer months outdoors. We visited in late October and while we were greeted with some sun - it was not quiet dry enough to really enjoy it. That being said, sitting at the dining table under the window was a perfectly acceptable substitute.
The Views
Of all the cabin options around the resort, Cabin 4 arguably has the best view from every room. The deck and all the windows look directly out to the waters of Discovery Bay. During our visit, the waters were mostly quiet and the sky was filled with the most dynamic cloud movement. When the clouds clear, the snow capped peaks of the Olympic Mountain Range come into view. Golden hour here is also stunning - especially in the morning when the light bathes the trees in a warm glow.
The Property
As previously mentioned, the CCBC property has been welcoming guests since 1897. The property was originally built by John Tukey and Linnie Chase and known as Saint's Rest. Their daughter Mary renamed it in 1923 after modernizing the facilities. For all these years it's been welcoming families returning season after season and only changing hands a couple of times.
CCBC currently has seven different cabins and homes available to reserve. Ranging from studio cottages to John Tukey's original homestead house, built in the late 1800s and beautifully renovated. For a couple and one pup, Cabin 4 was the perfect option but I'd love to come back with a bigger group someday and stay in either the Homestead House, Cabin 6, the Clubhouse, or the Meadow House. Amenities around the property include private beach access down a great little trail, a pool (open in the summer months), a tennis court, lawn games, and plenty of running space for the most energetic pup.
Making the property ever more intriguing is the buried treasure which is thought to lie somewhere on the property. Yes, you read that right, buried treasure - for real! The story goes that John Tukey witnessed a group of men boat ashore on the beach below with a chest and then leave without it. It was later confirmed that one of the men had stolen over six thousand gold coins from Victoria, British Columbia. Excavations around the property have found a few coins but the full chest still eludes all who seek it.