Thornewood Castle Inn

Description:

• There may not be any real castles in the United States, but this imposing 30,000-square-foot manor house, located a few miles south of Tacoma, sure comes close. Built in 1909, Thornewood has 28 bedrooms and 22 bathrooms, and incorporated into its design is a 15th-century wood-paneled staircase and stained-glass windows dating from the 15th to 17th centuries. Guest rooms are, as you might expect, quite large, and if not quite as sumptuously appointed as the rest of the house, they are certainly grand in design. The mansion sits on the shore of American Lake, and the gardens were designed by the Olmsted Brothers. This is truly a one-of-a-kind inn. About the only drawback here is that nearby suburban homes dispel the fantasy that you are lord or lady of all you survey.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Very Highly Recommended 2010