If you want a pleasantly unique experience staying near Walla Walla, seriously consider The Weinhard Hotel in nearby Dayton.
Located about 30 minutes east of Walla Walla on Hwy 12, The Weinhard Hotel is charming and comfortable, exuding Victorian elegance throughout and while not necessarily oriented toward children, it is kid-friendly. The atmosphere is conducive to an enjoyable experience whether you're there as a family, on a solo retreat, or on a romantic getaway.
We enjoyed sipping sparkling cider while an elderly couple (husband is the drummer and wife is the pianist) performed "the old songs" for an hour in the evening. They even bring small percussion instruments they've picked up at various garage sales so that children can join in. There is also a nice selection of board games for some good old-fashioned entertainment.
Rooms are nicely appointed and include seasonal fruit and some chocolate. Be sure to catch the shower instructions during check-in or you're likely to have trouble figuring that part out on your own.
Whether it is intentional or not, there seems to be wi-fi access throughout most of the building if you find the right router. Hotel guests also get a significant discount at the attached Internet Cafe if you need access to the internet.
Dining is limited to some muffins and tea or coffee in the morning - we didn't feel a need to find out if there were other options nearby but people who want more to eat in the morning should probably check on this important aspect before tummies start rumbling.
For a springtime visit, we did find the rooms on the warm side and the hallway even warmer but not terribly stuffy; it just meant that we were comfortable in short sleeves most of the time. At night, it helped to have the window open a bit and the ceiling fan turning to keep some fresh air flowing.
The staff is particularly friendly and helpful in answering questions about the area and assisting in locating activities or appropriate dining options in the area. It's probably also worthwhile striking up a conversation with other guests in the hotel unless you're feeling especially reclusive. Chances are good everyone has an interesting story about why they're there and willing to share information they have about what's good nearby so consider taking advantage of that!
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