July 31^st, 2011 by Anderson Lodge

Mood: enthralled

The Yale Valley Arts Festival was very successful and we are already planning for next year's event.  Be sure to check back to see the details for this quality Arts Celebration in July of 2012.  The Family Arts Day, Dance and Art Classes, Meet the Composer Night, and the Concert and Dinner (plus more) are still planned for next year as well.  Big "Thank You" to Julia Stoll-Smith for her passion and her hard work to put on this festival!

Our weddings have all been extremely happy with their celebrations.  We have heard over and over how wonderful they were from brides, parents and guests.  They all say, "We are going to recommend Anderson Lodge to all our friends!"  There is something about having the facility for the day and night that makes a truly unique event.  There is so much time to set up, to see your relatives and friends and of course everyone feels more a part of the whole celebration. As you sit gazing on the natural beauty of our Pacific Northwest during the ceremony it seems like a dream.  So beautiful.  It's when the sun goes down that you really see the magic of an Anderson Lodge.  The tiny lights in the trees and the outdoor lights on the patios create an ambiance like no other.  Guests wander from the outdoor patios, or sit on various park benches or indoors to the pavilion for dancing.  Amazing.

Guests rise the next morning and are greeted by gentle sounds of birds and usually the scent of coffee!  Breakfast and goodbyes are bittersweet of course.  It's like every successful vacation; you really don't want to leave.  But as you do, the memory of the whole glorious event is on everyone's mind.  You have so much to tell your friends once you are back home. 

Our family reunions are most commonly scheduled on week days rather than weekends leaving those prime days for our weddings.  But it is really to their benefit.  The lakes and attractions in the area are less crowded and you don't want to miss all what our Yale Valley has to offer!  Most reunions are happy to stay at either the Hilltop House or the Main Lodge with their families.  There is so much to do on site and guests can stay in the guest rooms or cabins or they can bring an RV or even tent camp.  It's true, facility has it all!  But 2 of our reunions have rented both facilities!  Both stayed 5 or more days and have had a glorious time!  I can't think of a better way to connect with family than at a reunion. 

Sometimes our reunions are quite creative and organize fabulous events during their stays.  One family arranged for a Square Dance instructor to come and teach their families some dances.  Another had a wine tasting from a local winery.  Others have had guided tours of the Ape Caves or hiking expeditions.  Field trips many times include the Cedar Creek Grist Mill or the many waterfalls in the area.  Golf enthusiasts always find time for the Lewis River Golf Course which is just 10 miles down the road.  Fishing is another activity that captures the attention of many.  There are 10 miles of lakes in the Yale Valley that have boat launches, picnic sites and swimming areas.  The list goes on and on.

Arvid and I are committed to making Anderson Lodge the best that it can be for our weddings and our reunions.  We have had held many of our own events here and are constantly improving it to make it perfect for our guests.  We have had our daughter’s wedding and our niece's wedding at the Main Lodge.  We have had our own anniversary celebration at the Hilltop House.  Of course, we have hosted many reunions as well.  We can honestly say that no matter which facility it is, the event we held was extremely successful.  The memories we make when we reach out to others are the memories that last a lifetime.

Long blog entry but I am feeling especially happy about our summer season.  Hope our guests have enjoyed it as well!

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