Top Notch in the Northwest

Solstice Spa and Suites owners Tambra Zimmerman and Julie Hamstreet offer a unique spa and lodging retreat for outdoor adventurers in the Bavarian hamlet of Leavenworth. Voted one of the Top10 Relaxation/Spa Hotels in the country by TripAdvisor. Photo by Carolyn Price

Need any more reasons to love where you live? We’ve noticed a surge in the number of national and local awards being doled out to local Northwest companies, events, and even cities themselves. The Northwest is known not only for its beautiful and diverse landscapes, but also for its residents’ enthusiasm for innovation, recreation, and relaxation; no wonder our neck of the woods has been getting so much love lately!

Here’s a rundown of some recent accolades:

Outside Magazine named Boise, Idaho the “Best Town 2010,” for its 2,000 acres of parks, 25-mile greenbelt, exceptional paddling, road cycling and triathlon communities, 135 miles of hiking and mountain-biking trails in the area, proximity to ski areas, and a robust local economy to boot! Other Northwest towns that made the Runners Up list include Bend, Ore. and Port Townsend, Wash. Towns nationwide were ranked for their accessibility to the outdoors, recreational opportunities, affordable housing, and job opportunities.
Seattle’s Cedarbrook Lodge has been recognized by travelers around the world with a flurry of user-voted awards from TripAdvisor, including the prestigious rank of No. 1 Hotel in the United States (yes, in the entire country) in the 2011 Travelers’ Choice Awards. It also won No. 2 Bargain in the U.S., No. 6 Best Service in the U.S., and No. 17 Hotel in the World.
Also picking up TripAdvisor accolades is Solstice Spa & Suites in Leavenworth, Wash. — chosen as one of the Top 10 Relaxation/Spa Hotels in the country.
Headquartered in Kent, Wash., Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) has yet again ranked high on FORTUNE magazine’s 2011 list of “100 Best Companies to Work For.” REI placed 9th this year, appearing on the list for the 14th consecutive year since the list’s inception — one of only five organizations to boast such longevity on the list.
Get Out There magazine voted the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon the Best Marathon (Western Canada) in its 2010 Readers’ Choice Awards. Beating out such marathons as Vancouver, Calgary and Okanagan, the Victoria Marathon is proud to have earned the coveted award.