Much like many young girls, I wished to be a princess when I grew up. I have always had an _ for crowns, jewels, and castles. Little did I know I would actually marry a 'King' when I grew up! My new last name was perfectly fitting for my dream guy and for my girlish dreams. When T and I got married in October '16 we didn't have the opportunity to take a honeymoon, so we wanted to go on a romantic getaway for our first anniversary. Naturally I found a castle for us to stay in like royalty for the occasion!
Castles aren't exactly something that you can typically book a night in on a rental site, but I was fortunate to have found this beautiful gem while hunting the web! Thornewood Castle is located in Lakewood, WA (in the Tacoma area, not far outside of Seattle) and is the only privately owned castle on the west coast.
The castle has a beautiful history, it was built as a wedding gift by one of the founders of the Port of Tacoma for his bride Anna. Construction began 100 years ago, but all of the materials are from an English manor dating back nearly 500 years. Thornewood had the manor disassembled and shipped from Wales to Washington for the construction of his castle.
Thornewood castle is constructed in a Tudor Gothic style and sits on 3 beautifully landscaped acres on the shores of American Lake. The views from the balconies are unbelievable! To the front you see the enchanting gardens, and to the back a view of the lake.
The "Secret Garden" is one of my favorite offerings of the castle. The walled and gated, sunken English garden is perfectly private for a romantic stroll.
The fountain in the center of the circle drive was actually constructed for the Stephen King movie "Rose Red" which was filmed there in 2000. Three other films have showcased the castle as well. Inside there is a small theatre room for guests to enjoy the major films and many others.
Now Thornewood castle has become a registered national historic place and a Bed&Breakfast for guests to enjoy. Events can also be hosted at the castle. During our stay there was a wedding, therefore most of the great room furniture was temporarily removed.
There is just as much character inside the castle as there is outside! The great room and dining room are extremely elegant. During your stay you have the choice to have breakfast delivered to your room or to eat in the dining room. We chose to eat in the dining room where a table was prepared for us and we enjoyed a delicious three course breakfast.
Our free time was spent wandering the halls and vacant rooms of the 27,000 square foot castle. Each room was themed in decor. One of my favorite rooms was the Presidential Suite, named appropriately after hosting two presidential guests.
We stayed the night in the Blue Room for our anniversary. It was quaint and relaxing, everything we wanted for our stay. Provided in our room were robes, snacks, drinks, a Keurig, TV, and a fridge. Oh, and can't forget the WIFI! I loved all of the antique details throughout the room and the bathroom too. The space was very comfortable, and the staff was very friendly. During our stay we were provided a castle key and a gate key so that we may come and go as we please, but we chose to stay in for the night after wandering the grounds for hours.
Overall our stay at the castle was pretty magical. We agreed it was like staying the night in a storybook, another era, and a museum all in one. This bed and breakfast is a higher price point than that of places in which we normally stay, but we didn't regret the price for the experience that we had. I would love to revisit the castle again during the Holidays or during the Summer!
I shared a lot of travel details and more castle pictures during our stay on my Instagram, make sure you're following along (@compasslanechic) to see more
xo,
RachaelLabels: review, travel
