During the 15 years that I’ve lived in Washington State, I have visited several resorts throughout the Pacific Northwest. While many travels and locals alike assume that the best resorts are located in the metropolitan areas of Seattle and Portland, in my experience the best accommodations come from resorts that are east of the Cascades. One of my favorite places to go to get away from it all is Eastern Washington.

My family and I love to go to lakefront hotels and cabins, and Eastern Washington lake resorts offer unparalleled amenities. We recently visited the Sunbanks Resort on the shores of Banks Lake, and their service is second to none. After traveling throughout Eastern Washington, I can say that we will definitely be frequenting Sunbanks Resort again.

When people think of major bodies of water in the Pacific Northwest, they generally conjure up images of the mighty Columbia River or the sea ports on Puget Sound. Natives of the area, however, know of the myriad of other idyllic bodies of water that are riddled throughout the picturesque landscape. One of my favorite spots to visit in the inland northwest is Banks Lake.

Every spring my family and I take a Banks Lake vacation to enjoy the landscape and unparalleled fishing. My son and I always take a day to enjoy the bass fishing, while my wife and daughter relax at the spa in the resort. We also love going on short kayaking trips around the banks of the lake, exploring the various wildlife that is native to the area.