Architecturally Outdoors: the Methow Valley Guide

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Methow Valley, Washington — have you heard of it? I didn’t know too much about it until I came across photos of these huts.

 I’m behind in the times of hip places to go to outside of Seattle, as proven after spending 72 hours in the small town of Winthrop, Washington. I really was amazed by the energy in this area of Washington.

A quick flight to Seattle, a rental car, and a trunk of groceries, my husband and I high-tailed it to the Rolling Huts in the Methow Valley.

Composed of the towns of Mazama, Winthrop, and Twisp, the green and rollings hills of the valley are towered by snowcapped mountains. As the weekend starts to kick off, the valley slowly and surely starts to fill with weekenders looking for outdoor adventure and a break from city life.

The valley is speckled by numerous cabin getaways, a lot like the Rolling Huts, where the architecture beautifully blends into the outdoors.

Architecturally Outdoors: the Methow Valley Guide

What are the Rolling Huts?

Meet Olson Kundig, the architectural firm from Settle who designed them. Known for minimalism and a knack for creating spaces that blend into their surroundings, Rolling Huts is one of their gems.

Not quite camping but not quite a hotel, Rolling Huts is for the traveler who wants more of a “glamping experience.” I never knew that one could experience silence in such a beautiful space.

The minimally designed “huts” provide an opportunity to be outdoors in a comfortable and aesthetically beautiful way. I would make the journey all the way to Winthrop again just to experience staying in the huts.

*Note: The amenities in the hut include: sleeping platforms with mats, refrigerator, microwave, coffee pot, dishes/silverware, and outside water faucet, portable toilet outside each hut, and a nearby barn that includes proper showers/toilets.

One must bring their own sheets, and it’s smart to bring a bit of food. You can book directly on their website, and reserve one of the six huts situated on a grassy meadow.

Looking for more rentals, search for listings here:

What do you do in Methow Valley?

There’s a fair share of outdoor experiences to be had across the Methow Valley. Being situated close to North Cascades National Park, we spent many days going into the park to explore lakes and streams. There’s hiking on the Chelan Summit Trail and in the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests.

You can river raft and mountain bike, as well as fly fish and get in a game of golf. During the winter, the snow is heavy, providing incredible back-country and cross-country skiing.

Where do you eat in Methow Valley?

I was nervous at first, but I was surprised again as we started to dive into the food scene. We went almost every day to the famous Mazama Store for coffee and fresh sandwiches.

This general store is a local boutique version of Whole Foods, featuring everything you could want in products, snacks, and even kitchen accessories. Here a few other options that are great:

Winthrop: fine dining at Arrowleaf Bistro, East 20 Pizza for NYC style, and Old Schoolhouse Brewery for good American eats and local beer.

Mazama: Mazama Store for all your needs, Kelly’s at Wesole Polana which is located at Rolling Huts for good brunch, Jack’s Huts for snacks and coffee, and dinner at Mazama Country Inn.

Twisp: Mexican food at LaFonda Lopez, local beer and wine with a great patio at Twisp River Pub, and coffee at Blue Star Coffee Roaster.

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