Tucked along the quiet waters of South Puget Sound, Pickering Passage House in Shelton has earned its place among the region's most celebrated vacation rentals — recognized by Explore Hood Canal.
Some mornings out here, the water gives you a gift. Watching orcas move down Pickering Passage is one I never get tired of — and after all these years, I've learned it's far from a once-in-a-lifetime thing.
There's a particular kind of stillness that only winter brings to the passage — snow on the deck, steam rising off the water, and the deep, dry heat of the sauna at your back. It's become our favorite way to spend a cold night out here, and once you've done it, you'll understand why.
There's a stretch of late October, when the sun angles low through the canopy and the maples turn gold, when there's simply nothing better to do than follow the Cedar River Trail and watch the salmon push upstream. If you're staying at the Lily Pad this fall, this is the day I'd plan your whole trip around.
Pickleball isn't just a fun way to spend an afternoon at Pickering Passage House. It's Washington's official state sport, invented barely an hour from where you'll be playing. Every game on our court is a little piece of Pacific Northwest history.
