By: Sage Salvo, for 7 Cedars
(December 12, 2023) — 7 Cedars is going lights out with a breathtaking holiday experience like you’ve never seen. Experience 3.5 million lights, gingerbread houses on display, and even the Big Guy himself.
For many of us, the holiday season doesn’t just arrive; it gusts through the front door in a cheerful storm of festive fun and celebratory to-dos. The entire month of December can get swept up in cookie-baking, tree-decorating, present-swapping, cocoa-sipping and, of course, reconnecting with family.
The season is joyful, festive, magical — and more than a little exhausting. After all, those traditions and trips don’t organize themselves; once we hit adulthood, it’s up to us to ensure every holiday excursion and get-together goes off without a hitch.
“The holidays are fun, but they aren’t relaxing,” Glenn Smithson, general manager at 7 Cedars, a resort tucked away in the scenic heart of the Pacific Northwest, pointed out in an interview. “If you’re hosting, you need to clean, cook and entertain; if you’re visiting, you need to pack, travel and maybe spend a few nights on someone’s couch. You don’t have a chance to take time for yourself.”
By the end of the season, it’s easy to feel like you need a holiday from your holidays — so why not plan one in advance?
A peaceful holiday getaway on the Olympic Peninsula
Nestled between Sequim Bay and the Olympic National Forest, 7 Cedars provides a quiet, beautiful respite for those caught in the holiday grind. Located less than two hours from major regional cities like Seattle and Tacoma and only a short drive from the towns of Sequim, Port Townsend and Port Angeles, the hotel is ideally positioned for those who want to plan a holiday getaway before — or after — visiting family.
“We want to provide a comfortable place for people to land during the winter season,” Smithson said. “Maybe you want to spend quality time with your spouse before visiting your in-laws or avoid sleeping on an uncomfortable sofa bed during a holiday visit. Maybe you just want to take in the beauty of a Pacific Northwest winter. No matter your reason, having a few days to unwind can make a big difference,” he said.
Relaxation-minded guests certainly couldn’t ask for a better or more beautiful place to set down their bags in December. Aside from its comfortable rooms, luxurious amenities, exceptional restaurants and easy access to local skiing and hiking, 7 Cedars is renowned for its stunning holiday lights display.
This year, the resort and other properties within the Jamestown S’Klallam tribal campus will be illuminated by a whopping 3.5 million LED lights. Bright strands will be woven around tree branches, along architectural edges and into landscaping features to create a breathtaking holiday view for guests and locals alike. In the pitch-darkness of an Olympic Peninsula night, the display reflects in the waters of Sequim Bay, evoking a soft, colorful, almost bioluminescent glow.
“There’s nothing quite like it,” Smithson said. “We get quite a few requests for bay-facing rooms during the winter season because people want to sit on their balconies, sip cocoa and immerse themselves in a panoramic view of the lights and the sea. It’s a unique and peaceful way to get into the holiday spirit.”
Festive fun for the entire family at 7 Cedars
Of course, dazzling holiday lights aren’t the only festive attraction guests can look forward to when visiting 7 Cedars; there’s plenty to do during the day, especially for families hoping to take in holiday nostalgia. For three consecutive weekends in December, the hotel hosts Santa and his sleigh along with a well-stocked Hot Cocoa Station. The whimsical attraction is completely free and open to the public, so families can visit Santa, take pictures and even take part in a scavenger hunt.
“There’s a real community warmth to the hotel during December, Smithson said. “We wanted to provide a place where kids could make these memories with Santa since we don’t have a local mall. We’ve done it for the last two years and I think people are finally realizing that — oh, this isn’t just a novelty; this is becoming an annual tradition for families in Sequim.”
That said, kids aren’t the only ones getting into the holiday spirit at 7 Cedars. Every year, the hotel’s departments aim to outdo each other in a gingerbread house competition. At the start of December, employees in each department create their respective masterpieces for display in the hotel’s lobby. Then, anyone who visits can vote for the favorite to be selected as that year’s winner.
The gingerbread houses, Santa and — of course — the lights all contribute to a peaceful, warm holiday ambiance. 7 Cedars is a place where people can take a breather for the holiday hustle without ever losing that intangible holiday magic.
“Take a few days for yourself this December to simply enjoy the holiday season,” Smithson suggested. “Bring your partner, your kids; just leave the stress behind.”
To learn more about 7 Cedars’ hospitality, offerings and holiday activities, please visit 7cedars.com.