Historic Lake Lodge

In August, Don and I spent a couple of nights at this charming lodge, tucked into the forest, near lake and mountains.

The historic lodge has been offering up lakeside accommodations for nearly a century.

In this crazy ever-changing world, I love that this lodge has remained pretty much the same over time.

Guests can still sit on the long porch and look out towards the sandy north shore of Redfish Lake.

They can enjoy a view of the Sawtooth Mountains.

The lodge view from over the water hasn't changed much, since this image was captured on a real photo postcard. 1940s?

1996

In this photo from 28 years ago, the water and mountains look the same. But the kids aren't the same anymore. They're all in their thirties now!

Our kids and their cousin had fun, wandering out on the floating docks. But my memory is pretty limited. We only stopped to peek at the lake and lodge, back in 1996. 

August 2024, Without Kids

This past summer Don and I got to enjoy 2 notable nights at Redfish. 

This time, our kids weren't with us and neither was their cousin. But Cousin Andy's parents were! Thanks to Chris and Karen for encouraging us a year in advance, to book at the lodge! We grabbed 2 of the 8 lodge rooms!

Arrival

It was a Monday afternoon last August, when the 4 of us arrived at the lodge. We had just spent one night at lovely Sun Valley Resort. I was ready to embrace a whole different Idaho resort experience, at the rustic Redfish Lake Lodge.

The 1-hour drive was lovely, but had us a little concerned. Smoke from nearby fires looked worrisome. We'd been warned of a possible evacuation in nearby Stanley.

Lots of Activity

There was no smoke when we arrived. 

Just blue skies, towering green pine trees and lots of guests enjoying the lawn and lake.

Exterior

We parked in our designated space in back, not far from a towering log pole, that held an American flag. 

I paused to study the basic log and stone structure. It reminded me a little of Lincoln Logs. But this sturdy creation has been tucked into the forest for nearly a century. My L.L. creations never lasted a day.  

​The lodge initially had only 1 floor, when it opened to the first guests, in 1929.

Today the lodge looks just as dwarfed by the tall pines, as it did 95 years ago.
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Heading In

​It was after 4, when we headed inside, to check in. The porch was buzzing with guests. I spotted grannies and toddlers, frisbees and cartwheels. Even a Great Dane with a Support Vest. A happy vibe! 

We headed in the main door.  A smiling Redfish greeted us from the stained glass.

Redfish Lake was named after the endangered sockeye salmon and its brilliant spawning colors. 

​Lobby

The small lobby in front of the dining room, was hopping  when we entered. (unlike my morning photo)

Salmon River Valley Playground! I love a vintage ad!

The smiling cowboy with the gun and rose vest, was Robert Limbert. He was known as an explorer, photographer, and writer and also the man who wanted to create this place. A place where people could escape and commune with nature. Sadly he died just a few years after building Redfish Lake Lodge. 

Going Up

After checking in, we had 2 options for getting our luggage to the second floor.

The outside staircase was close to our parked car, but there was a more entertaining set of stairs, just inside the back door.

What a view as we climbed! And how lucky for us, that a very gracious woman who was hanging out in the lobby, offered to help us carry a load upstairs.

Second Story
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I climbed the stairs and wondered how long the bear (skin) had been clinging to that log wall?

The upper floor  held all the guest rooms. 4 faced the lake and 4 had woodsy views, in back. 

​The knotty pine walls reminded me of our family room, in my 1960s childhood home.

So did the Carrom Board (game) and badminton rackets, displayed on the wall.
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The pump organ also brought back childhood memories. We had one of those too. We kids perfected the art of spooky music.

The braided rug looked like one we had back in Iowa. But we never had a chair quite like the orange one, sitting on the rug. I'm sure that mod chair wasn't around in 1929.

Sitting Area

I spotted an open door to a guest room, facing the back. I peeked in and it looked pretty adorable! Super tiny, but lots of exposed logs and delightful rustic detail.

The Lodge website warned guests about booking those rooms. These are rooms meant for people who spend all day out on an adventure, and are not planning on spending a lot of time inside. I guess this odd lounge area, (pic above) was for the people with tiny rooms. We walked through it to get to the hall near our room.

Room #12

Don and I (along with Chris and Karen) were able to book rooms facing the lake. 

There were no phones or TVs in the lodge, but we had a ceiling fan and a window. It was glorious letting in the air and sounds. 

Voices of kids playing on the lawn and the rhythmic squeaks and clanks coming from rocking boats near the dock, brought on more memories. Sounds of students and squeaky swings in old schoolyards!
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​And the view! That's the porch roof in the photo. Not a paved area.

The summer scenery was lovely. If I got curious about how the lake might look in the winter, I could study the photograph above the bed. Hmm? was that a snowy Salmon River scene?

We were grateful to have a comfy queen bed and one chair, which I used for a bedside table. I've no idea how rustic the accommodations were 90 years ago, but surely less cushy than this.

Bathing

We were also grateful to have our own sink for face washing and teeth brushing. 

Through the years Don and I have gone along with shared baths in campgrounds and old hotels. It's a hassle, but usually worth it.

Across the Hall

1 night of sharing a bathroom with strangers, is no big deal. I hoped our 2 night stay wouldn't make me crave a night at Holiday Inn. But honestly we couldn't complain. There were 2 nicely renovated community bathrooms, just across the hall. (men's & women's)

Near the sinks, an old black & white photo delighted me. I wish I'd packed overalls.

I'd been a little worried at first about 8 rooms sharing, but the spotless bathroom was usually empty. Except for a sweet mom helping her daughters brush their teeth one night. Not a problem at all!

Limbert's

​I can't say enough about Limbert's, the Lodge's restaurant. The cozy dining room was busy and festive during meal times. The menu options were pretty fabulous. Ricotta gnocchi to steelhead trout... sophisticated flavors and definitely not 1929 prices.

These photos were taken during a quiet moment, free of diners and staff. It was fun to peek another time, when young staff members were grabbing a bite, during off hours. They reminded me of camp counselor's, at the end of summer. So relaxed and familiar with each other.

The Old Hickory furniture brought back memories of the National Park lodges. Although I've never seen Old Hickory highchairs!

The day temps were lovely, but it was a treat to come down in the chilly morning and see flames flickering in the the old stone fireplace.

Best Table

We were so lucky to have this very table, for 3 of our meals.

Our table wasn't near a window, but it felt like it. The large painting gave us a view of the lake.

To the left of the painting was a tiny photograph. 

It showed Robert Limbert holding a pallet and brush, standing beside the very painting! We learned a few stories about this very interesting man, who created the lodge. I'm sure he'd be pleased to know guests are still enjoying.

Rustic Lounge
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Next to the photograph was an entrance to a bar, known as Rustic Lounge.  You have to love the  "loggy" Dutch door! 

I half expected the head of Mr. Ed, (the talking horse) to suddenly appear!

I snapped some pics before Rustic Lounge opened at noon. What a cozy little place with the big fireplace and a very fun assortment of chairs!

We never had a chance to try out any of the curious stool or chair options. The weather was too nice, to sit inside with drinks.

The Porch

We got to know the porch well. We got downstairs early the first morning and grabbed a seat easily.

From the chairs we had a lovely lake view. But there was also a pretty dramatic view in the window reflection!

In the afternoon and evening it was tricky business, getting 4 seats together. But the other guests seemed friendly and welcoming. Lots of scooting to make room for folks. Lots of chatting among strangers.

First Morning

The first night, we slept with windows and shades open, so morning would wake us. I got out a little after 7, to see what the property was like before crowds.

The pines behind the lodge were just beginning to glow with light. All 20 chairs were waiting for guests.

​I walked out on the rocky beach and enjoyed seeing the lake, so quiet and still. The rising sun spotlighted the mist above the water.

I greeted a fisherman with his dog. I played with my shadow for a while.

Around 8, Don and I wandered to the Two Guns Cafe, to grab some coffee. Once the old gas station, I believe.

The freshly painted logs made me think of tootsie rolls... which they might have sold at the General Store, next door.

In the store, we bought no candy and we didn't have coins to put in the machine for Character Readings. But we bought a souvenir mug, which Don and I now fight over. 

The chilly porch was still too shady, so we took our coffees inside and sunk into the worn leather couches, with the funny, but practical "armrests". What a view! 

After breakfast with Chris and Karen, we headed for the porch once again!

Tuesday was quieter at the lodge. Lots more porch time awaited us, after a trip into Stanley, to check on fires. 

Stanley

​It was about a 10 minute drive into the smoky town.  We got gas at Sinclair and I posed on the dinosaur, named Claire. 

Sadly, the nearby "Wapiti Fire" had been burning for nearly a month. Our eyes were burning, so we didn't stick around long. Lucky to have our oasis at the lake.

Ice Cream for Lunch

​I felt like an oldster, so content with my porch chair. Karen was brave enough to join lots of kids in the cold lake water, while the rest of us gabbed in our cushioned chairs.

The kid in me said Forget Lunch and opted for an ice cream at the nearby Lakeside Grill. 

The Dock

I enjoyed my cone and wandered down the dock to check on the boats. 

We had booked a pontoon boat ride for 3:30! 

The Syringa, looked extra appealing, sitting at the end of one dock. The vintage boat could be booked for a sunset appetizer cruise.

I looked across the docks for the pontoon that we would be enjoying later.

That's when I noticed the steep ramp, leading down to the lower level. Yikes. 2 in our group of 4 had some walking issues that had me concerned. There was no railing.

Low Lake Level

I talked to staff and they apologized about the wonky ramps. They explained how the lake level had dropped after a summer of fighting fires.

An old photo with Chris, Karen and kids, shows how the floating docks once matched up. We were worried about getting our party down the steep ramps. Especially since the winds were strong and the floating docks were constantly in motion.

Not to Worry!

This photo is evidence that we all made it down the ramp. An incredibly sweet young staff member jumped in to offer his sturdy arm for anyone in need.

What a blissful hour! We had the boat to ourselves, along with Captain Hannah. She zipped us across the lake for the first 10 minutes.

The ride was exhilarating and the views were gorgeous. Hannah slowed the pontoon down near a cove and shared a little knowledge about the geology and the lodge history as well. After an hour we headed back to the lodge. Skies looked ominous with smoke.

And winds were wild as we headed off the dock! Don and Hannah both lost their hats in a sudden gust! I caught Hannah's with a cartoonish snatch. Don's hat took a swim, but Hannah and a coworker used 2 oars like chopsticks, in a comical rescue mission!  

Happy Group

​Our happy gang headed back to the lodge for another good evening of porch time and dining.

At dinner, we had some playful conversations with server, Melody... who could not be convinced to sing, despite her name. Our chatting got more serious as she shared about the lodge's evacuation 2 weeks earlier. It was sad to know that Redfish was again at risk. 

We stepped outside after dinner and the air smelled smoky.

We slept with windows closed on the second night, but still smelled smoke.  

We woke to a different view in the morning. The lake looked sad and eerie.

We thought about sitting on the lobby couches before breakfast, but they were all taken, with guests who were not looking out at the view. They were busily using the lobby's wifi.

The folks staring at laptops and phones seemed to be mostly cabin and camping guests, who were scrambling to make new plans. Fire worries. 

​We were some of the lucky ones, since we had already planned to leave that day. We headed out to see the lake before breakfast.

At breakfast the staff seemed more subdued. What a long summer they'd had. Lightning had started the Wapiti Fire over a month before. The lodge had been forced to close during peak season.

Wapiti Fire
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We packed and checked out at 11 and avoided road closures with a different route back to Boise.

As far as I know, the lodge did not have to evacuate after we left. But I'm sure fire concerns, stressed the staff and interfered with business. I so hope the lodge and area recovers from the summer fires. 826,000 acres have burned in Idaho in 2024.

What's Notable?

Our stay at Redfish Lake Lodge made me feel I'd stepped back into summer of 1965. It felt simple and relaxed. Comfortable temps. Delicious food. Boat time. Cozy rooms with open window. Being with family... I'll always have fond memories.

I'm so glad we won't have memories of evacuation or scary flames. I'm also glad we were sort of unaware of just how serious things could be. It felt like I was a kid, shielded from worry. We were surrounded by the upbeat staff, in a positive atmosphere. I felt like a kid at camp, where our biggest decision was what time we should go eat and what flavor of ice cream to order. I'm so glad Redfish Lake Lodge survived the summer fires. I hope it's still around in another 100 years.
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Sun Valley, Idaho

I remember a fabulous dinner at Sun Valley Lodge, in 1996. Ever since, I've dreamed of spending a night at the historic Idaho lodge.

Over a year ago, while planning our 2024 trip to see my brother and sis-in-law in Boise, I peeked into rates at the lodge. Yikes! Forget that! 

No Lodge... Yes Inn!

My memory from nearly 3 decades before, was fuzzy. I didn't realize there was a lodge AND an inn. Sun Valley Inn was built in 1937, to provide more affordable accomodations than Sun Valley Lodge, which opened the year before. 

The inn is still much cheaper. But $473. for one night, is still incredibly high dollar for Don and me. We went ahead and splurged. Chris and Karen were game, too!

​Pre-Trip Homework

Before August, I made sure Don and I watched our favorite Sun Valley themed movies! Esther Williams and Van Johnson have some memorable swimming pool scenes in the Lodge pool!

In Sun Valley Serenade from 1941, there are scenes of Olympic skater/actress Sonja Henie, skating in her signature white leather skates, at Sun Valley Lodge. (all skates were dark leather, before)

Packing Old Stuff

Before we left Texas, I made sure to pack up some old/odd things, related to Sun Valley. Two vintage Ford Motor cookbooks, featuring recipes from Sun Valley restaurants...

... and my mom's old Sonja Henie doll! Chris and Karen are big fans of the Norwegian star and her most famous movie. They are also big fans of cooking. I figured we'd have some fun with my travel props.
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Sunny Sunday

On our visit nearly 3 decades ago, it was less sunny. I found my old 1996 photo, showing clouds. You can barely see the lodge in the lower right corner of this aged photo!

The inn's entrance looked lovely. It also looked modern. I always like to spot hints of the past, so I hoped the historic inn wasn't overly modern inside.

Check In

The renovated lobby was comfy and traditional. Our ​check-in was pretty relaxed, with a welcoming staff and big cushy chairs!

Only one room was ready, so our very sweet valet guy unloaded our bags and put them into Chris and Karen's room. Then we were off to explore.

​Wandering Near Sun Valley Inn

The Swiss-style Inn looked extra charming on a pretty day. The walkways near the chalet style structures were quiet at 3:30. 

So was the dining terrace, except for some staff. I tried to imagine a 1940s scene, with bundled skiers sitting out on the deck, after a day on Mount Baldy.
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The property around the Inn, was heavenly. I'd love to see it covered in snow, but the summer landscaping was stunning.

After exploring near the Inn, we headed towards the ritzier part of the resort property!

The Lodge

Sun Valley Lodge was completed in 1936. My photo shows more flowers than building, but the center of the X-shaped structure looked mighty sweet from my view, over the garden and across the pond.

The exterior was actually constructed of concrete, poured inside rough-sawn forms. A woodgrain was pressed into the concrete and then stained brown. Crazy!

​Back in 1996

Don and I visited the Lodge for dinner, 28 years ago. We were with Chris and Karen then also, along with our kids and my mom.

I won't comment on these caption-worthy photos, from our evening of dining and dancing. As I recall, we actually closed the place down. After the other guests were all gone, the gracious musicians catered to the kids and performed songs from Lion King and Pocahontas, for our dancing pleasure!


As we walked around the exterior I tried to conjure up memories of that brief visit so many years ago. I don't remember the pond at all.

I do remember the ice rink behind. But the interior was so dramatically remodeled, I couldn't recognize a thing!

​Room Ready

I got a text telling us our room was ready, back at the inn. I secretly hoped for a room in the larger section, with the balcony. You can see it overlooking the pond, in the vintage photo.

I hadn't noticed the brown section, a bit further down. There are a lot more trees now, but you can see there's another balcony. That was our room, on the second floor! No complaints!

Room 288

The hallway to our room was amusing! My photo hardly captures the wavy feel of the floor. Like I said, I like hints of the past, in historic hotels.

Our room wasn't huge, but there were two comfy chairs and and we could open the door and let in fresh air.

The bathroom was nicely updated, but I must say, the design was odd. Once again, there was a glass bathroom door issue. Surely this trend is coming to an end.

TV and Blankie

The blanket on the foot of the bed was pretty and soft. Also handy for the balcony, when the temps dropped after dark.

We hardly had time for the large TV, but we had a nice surprise when we turned it on before bed. Photo later...

Quick Pool Time

We only had 1 night at Sun Valley. How could we do it all? We couldn't, but Karen and I were determined to at least make quick use of the Inn's pool. We headed down the stairs from our hall and checked in at the spa, before reaching the peaceful, round pool. Quieter than the Lodge pool.

I posed in honor of Esther Williams. That was before I realized her movie was filmed at the other pool.

This vintage photo above, shows that little has changed with the enclosure around the Inn's pool. You can see our balcony, in the center of the photo.

My pool photo shows that we had the place to ourselves. It does not show how cold the water was. I got halfway in, but Karen was brave enough to swim.

This old photo shows the same pool, with an angle that shows the Lodge. I doubt we'll ever be able to afford a night at the Inn or Lodge, during busy ski season!

The Old Brown Balcony!

The 4 of us gathered for Happy Hour beverages on the balcony, around 6:00. The balcony only had 2 chairs, but Chris inquired and a very gracious staff member arrived with 2 extra chairs.

I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed our balcony. It felt like we were 4 summertime kids, having some playtime in our cozy treehouse. 

I made Chris and Karen guess what fine surprise I was holding, inside a few layers of bubblewrap. They didn't guess. But once revealed, they did offer to adopt Sonja!  I didn't have to carry Mom's precious doll back home to Texas.
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Memories & Popcorn

While enjoying our balcony time, we began to reminisce about our 1996 visit to Sun Valley. Besides dining at the lodge, we also remembered a theatre that played Sun Valley Serenade continuously, for no charge. From the balcony we could see the Opera Theatre. That must have been the place! 

I dashed over to find out and chatted with the young man behind concessions. Nope. He said they only show new release movies now. But the young guy knew lots of trivia. 

He pointed to a poster and told me that Lucy and Desi once filmed an episode, at Sun Valley. He share a few more tidbits and then I told him a story... about my mom and the theatre, back in 1996.

28 years ago, our family group (minus Mom) arrived at the theatre and began watching Sun Valley Serenade. Mom said she'd meet us later, after her shopping. Eventually we watched her enter the dark theatre. Our eyes were adjusted, but not Mom's. We elbowed each other as we saw her walking past. Suddenly the 7 of us were giggling, as we watched her head for the only other people in the theatre. She joined a family of 8 and didn't seem to notice. I eventually jumped up and brought her back to join us. She seemed annoyed, like "What took you so long?" After the movie Mom walked up to the mystery family and shared a few laughs about her faux pa. For years we teased mom. But she'd always rolled her eyes and asked, "Well, did you ever make any friends at Sun Valley? No? Well I did!"  

Silly memory.  Miss you Mom! I bought some popcorn and brought it back to our balcony gathering.

​Suppertime at The Ram

By 7 we were ready for a bigger feast than popcorn! We left Sonja behind, but I put the 1950 cookbooks in my bag. We headed just a few steps to The Ram.

The 74-year-old cookbook was from the day when the Inn went by Challenger Inn. Not sure if Inn's restaurant was called The Ram, back then?

The Lodge accommodations may have been the popular choice for the rich, but the celebrity guests have always been drawn to The Ram. I didn't expect to spot any celebs at dinner, but I was eager to see if I could order the cookbook's Stuffed Idaho Mountain Trout Saute Almandine. Probably not.

I'm afraid our waiter Mark was a little too busy to be thrilled by the book. He did look at it and he told me they no longer served the Stuffed Trout. (not really the point) But the piano player Larry, was quietly delighted! He's been playing piano at The Ram for 45 years and had tons of his own SV memorabilia.

A Good Evening

​The food was delicious and yes, expensive. But we had a fabulous time.

It was after 10 when we headed back. Sleepy and happy, but ready for a little TV before bed. The TV had a nice surprise! The old Opera House no longer shows the famous Sonja Henie movie, but the guest room TVs play it on a constant loop! I had to pull our Sonja so she could pose with the black & white movie!

Breakfast at the Lodge

Don and I weren't starving for a big breakfast, but I had another cookbook, with a recipe for Sun Valley Lodge's Apple Pancakes. We headed to the Lodge, at 10.

We found Gretchen's Restaurant, adjacent to the lobby. The restaurant felt relaxed and bright on a Monday morning. Our waiter Joe was friendly and welcoming.

He was pleasantly curious about the 1954 cookbook and he also had lots of SV trivia for us.

Joe told us about the Gold Metal Olympic skier that the restaurant was named for. We learned that Gretchen Fraser also did the skiing scenes for Sonja Henie in SV Serende. Then I bragged on a bit about my friend's parents skating in the movie, back in 1941. (as if they were my parents and not Jill's) Eventually I just had to pull Sonja out of my bag. Joe had just the right enthused reaction. (or he faked it well) I asked Joe what he thought about Sonja getting out on the rink that morning!

Post Breakfast Exercise

​Joe was encouraging! I knew I could blame him if I got reprimanded for putting obstacles on the rink.

After some rink time, (about 5 minutes) we had to get back and packed up, so we could check out by 11. 

Lunch at the Roundhouse!

But we were not done with our Sun Valley Adventures! We couldn't leave without lunch at the iconic and octagonal Roundhouse, near the slopes.

It was quite an adventure getting to the restaurant, sitting atop Bald Mountain at 7,700 feet of elevation.

The Roundhouse Express Gondola got us almost all the way up to the restaurant. Chris and Karen were able to make a grander arrival. The Roundhouse had a golf cart ready to deliver them to the door! After a great lunch and some more silliness with the doll, we headed even higher!

Gondola and Ski Lift

The enclosed Gondola was pure luxury compared to the open air ski lift, that took us further up.

We can't thank Chris and Karen enough, for being so game for adventure!

It was freezing on that windy trip up! Then gloriously cozy in our glassed in Gondola upon return! Thanks Chris for gifting me your Austrian hat, for our mountain adventures!

What's Notable?
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Our one night couldn't have been better! The history, the food, the comfy and classy accommodations! The late August timing, with pleasant weather and few crowds, made our stay just perfect.

But our traveling companions made it a total blast! Such fun with Chris, Karen and Sonja!
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We weren't drawn to the hotel's architecture or history. The building is fairly new and sort of thrown together with a turret here and a balcony there.

Mostly Don and I just couldn't pass up the Themed Room Experience. We were determined to stay in one of the hotel's 40, kooky looking rooms. You never know when an exciting hotel will suddenly go out of business. Then you have to kick yourself, for letting it get away. We've experienced that before.

For a hotel that boasts about fantasy filled rooms, there was absolutely no character to the lobby. The 2 ladies in their uniform vests, also seemed lacking in character. We were given a key to The Treasure Island Room and headed up more stairs, with our suitcases. Odd to have no elevator, in a fairly young hotel.

​The Treasure Island Room

I felt like we were in an apartment building as we walked down the musty smelling hallway. Then I noticed the fake jewels and the titles on each door. "Sleeping Beauty's Castle" and "Jungle Safari" I was giddy with anticipation.

We opened the door to our own special room and found it already prepped, with spotlights and romantic music and an ice bucket with chilled apple cider! It was just as silly as I had hoped it would be!

Bathroom on the Lower Deck
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​​Before climbing the wooden steps to see the wonders of our ship-themed room, we searched the bathroom for hidden treasures.

A good sized dressing area held the vanity and robes. One door led to the toilet and the other to a closet with a fridge... Ah-ha! Two pieces of cheesecake and two plastic forks!

Ahoy!
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​Next we headed up the steps and did exactly what The Anniversary Inn hopes their guests will do. We wandered the space smiling and procaliming, "Wow! Look at that. Wow!"

But we were also laughing.  A lot. It was so incredibly corny and kitschy and hilarious and I loved every bit.

The Upper Deck
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​The whole guest room was actually huge. As we moved past the red shipwheel, we gazed upward at the loft! 

The painted walls made it look like our bed was neatly placed in the bow of the ship... or was that the poop deck? And what about that funny little sail on the mast? It was hiding our 40" TV. So clever.
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Up, in the Seagull-filled Sky!
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​The painted clouds and gulls were illuminated by two bedside lanterns. There was also a blinding spotlight, coming from one of the masts.

The rotating ceiling fan, created a strobe effect that made me a little seasick. It took a while to figure out how to turn the spotlight off. However, the king-sized bed with nautical comforter, turned out to be very comfortable. 

Looking Below
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​Standing at the railing, I took in the exciting view below.

The adventurous side of me did a lot of pondering. A rope here... a horizontal pole there...? What a great photo, if I could get myself into that little crow's-nest-tower-thing!


Romance With Every Glance

It was hard to determine what was the most entertaining part of the room. The table, filled with sand and shells was the perfect place to enjoy sparkling cider and cheese cake. 

But the shower with nearby towel swans, had me totally giggling. First, you had to sort of walk the plank to get to the little island that held the flesh-colored, jetted-tub. "Is there a shower?" I cupped my hand like a pirate's spyglass and focussed upward. Sure enough, there was a shower head coming from a coconut, near a dangling seagull.

Coconut Shower
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​Don and I both fumbled with the faucet, but couldn't get any water to come on.

I made the hike down to the desk to inquire and after two different people visited the room, we had a working faucet. That was good. There was no way I was paying for a night in the Treasure Island Room and NOT using the coconut shower.  

​Land Ho!
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​The website mentioned that our room had a balcony. "If you be feeling homesick for land, step out...see the Boise scenery!" Evidently recent guests must have felt homesick for their cigarettes, because the standing ashtray was quite full.

So I made use of the balcony chairs instead. I brought them inside and up on the deck of the old "Hispanola". You never know when some other pirates might visit.

Pirate Props
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​Don and I have been known to pack a few props when we're road traveling. This hotel stay hardly needed any props, but we did pack bandanas and an eye patch. 

We returned later that night and clearly no one had plundered our cigarette butts... or removed them. (I don't speak Pirate well) That made me so irritated, I had to get my mind on other things. I made Don pose for photos with me.

​Movie Night

If we had owned a copy of Treasure Island, I would have brought it along and made Don listen to a chapter. That's pretty much not what they expect their romantic couples to do at the Anniversary Inn. 

But I did bring a copy of Mutiny on the Bounty, starring a very handsome Clark Gable. That turned out to be a lot more fun than I thought. I wish my photo could have captured the film's scenery and how it actually blended with the sails and ropes, surrounding the TV. That was actually very fun.
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I got up with the sun the next day and headed down the hall in my running gear. I don't think that's typical hotel guest behavior at Anniversary Inn.  But it was actually a pretty nice way to make use of the inn's location.

City Views
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​I headed up the hill towards an area known as Depot Bench. It was such a beautiful morning, despite the haze of recent fires.

I ran and paused and ran and paused. What a lovely city. I was kind of surprised that the Anniversary Inn looked sort of appealing from above.

Back for Breakfast
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​When I returned the halls were lined with holders for breakfast trays. I raced to get my shower and it was pretty comical trying to get my hair shampooed.

By the time the water left the coconut, fell 20 feet and reached my sudsy head, it more of a mist. I stuck my head under the faucet.

Flowers & Feast
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​Don and I needed a little food reward after all the trickiness of showering.  We spread the feast out, over the sand-filled plexiglass shell.

Red and blue silk roses, a carafe of coffee, croissant with egg, frittata, toast and yogurt with fruit. It was actually pretty tasty and I was glad to just relax in our room and not share a breakfast room with other romantic guests. 

What's Notable?
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​Don and I thought our stay was a hoot and a half. We totally appreciated the stage set/carnival feel of our room. I loved the goofy shower island and the ropes and sails and murals. The room made me laugh and we had fun. 

But, when Don and I need a romantic getaway, we will go elsewhere. The over all feel of the hotel was odd. The staff seemed weary and the halls and stairs felt like they were intentionally blah, to make the room more exciting. I'm so glad we had fun and I'd actually be open to experiencing a room at the Salt Lake City location, in an historic building. But it may be a while before I get my sea legs, for another try.
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