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Thursday, March 8, 2012

TP Thursday: Washington’s “Old West”

We live 'out West’in that part of America made famous by mid-20th Century television Westerns. 
Watching Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Gunsmoke’s Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty, and, of course, Bonanza's  Hoss, Little Joe, Adam and Ben Cartwright as kids we learned of those early days in our part of the country:  tumble weeds tumbling through vast open spaces, sparcely populated by 'Cowboys and Indians' and always with mountains in the distance. . .

So it shouldn't be surprising that one of our favorite stays in Central Washington was at a place that put us right in the 'Old West'; a step back in time, and less than a three-hour drive from Seattle.
 
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We stayed in this 'room'  at Cherry Wood Bed and Breakfast, in the heart of Yakima Valley wine country.

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The bed and breakfast is a working ranch in the midst of an agricultural area, so the rates include a hearty ranch breakfast. Had we had the time, for an additional price, we could have saddled up and taken a trail ride tour of local wineries.  I must admit that our taste of the 'old West' was nothing at all like those black and white television shows where they pulled a thin bed roll off the back of the saddle and hunkered up on the hard pack by the campfire for warmth.

Our stay was for an article I was writing about ‘glamping’. . . , that cushie-kissed means of 'camping in comfort'. 

Glamping 2010 002 We did have our own old wooden "outhouse" to use when nature called. However, hidden behind these wood walls was a fresh-scented, plastic 'Port-a-Potty' which was pumped and cleaned regularly.





Glamping 2010 018  We brushed our teeth and washed up under the watchful eye of the self-appointed morning hygiene supervisor.









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When we stepped inside the ‘door’ – an opening in our canvas walled tee-pee -- we found ourselves surrounded by luxury:




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We offered a toast to the 'Old West" as we sat on the wooden swing, near the campfire pit watching the sun set over the far-distant Cascade Mountains, sipping our glasses of Yakima Valley wine.

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It is TP Thursday so click this link to  Budget Travelers Sandbox and take a quick trip around the world through the lenses of my fellow travel bloggers.  And watch for the return of Washington Wednesdays, WAWednesdays, next week on Travelnwrite. This year's tales will begin at Iron Springs Resort at Copalis Beach.

15 comments:

  1. That sounds like my kind of camping! A ranch breakfast AND a tour of a winery? I'm in :)

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  2. Ooh TeePee's sound great! I looked into saying in TeePee's in northern Oregon but didn't know about the ones in Yakima. Not a fan of Yakima so I might opt for Oregon :) Loved you're pictures!

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    1. The teepees are outside Yakima in Wine Country; closer to Zillah and Toppenish. Although, if you've not been to Yakima recently, give it another try. The wine industry has a distinct presence there. . .tasting rooms and restaurants, not to mention a Hilton in the heart of the downtown. If you go, let me know and I'll send a list of recommendations.

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  3. What a cool experience! I've never seen a furnished teepee before!

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  4. My kids would love sleeping in a teepee, and I could get behind the idea of glamping.

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  5. Looks like an interesting place to stay.

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  6. That looks very civilized to me!I even like the outhouse.

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  7. That is awesome! Was it cold??

    If you don't mind, I'd love for you to link up with our Friday Photo meme called Friday Daydreamin'. I know my readers would love to see this!

    Thanks,
    ~Becca
    www.rwethereyetmom.com

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  8. I am not a camping person but would love to do glamping here. This is awesome! I've heard great things about Yakima Valley wine country and would love to visit.

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    1. It is a fabulous place for touring wineries. I'd start in Yakima and work my way to Prosser and the TriCities (or vice versa). Horizon Air flies to both from Seattle. We were there in the spring and the owners apologized for the clouds! Ha, we told them they should see the clouds in Seattle. Let me know if you do go, I'll send more specfic recommendations, if you'd like.

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  9. What a nice surprise to see the bed and furnishings inside the teepee...it looks so comfy. The last time I stayed in a teepee I was sleeping on the ground and a squirrel came in looking for food :-) Your experience looks much better!

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  10. Thanks for linking up today!I hope you continue to each week!

    ~Becca

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  11. Now that's my kind of tee-pee. I sure do remember those old TV shows. I love it when I'm somewhere that gives me a glimpse of the old west (whether the "real" west or the one I learned about on TV). Cherry Wood looks like a good place to go glamping.

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