Have you dreamed of staying in a mansion on a hill? Your travel dreams can come true at Cameo Heights Mansion Bed and Breakfast near Walla Walla, Washington.
Located in rural southeastern Washington near Walla Walla, Cameo Heights Mansion offers luxurious accommodations that are a bit off-the-beaten-path. It’s the perfect location for a romantic getaway if you need a quiet break with your honey.
But the bed and breakfast also makes a convenient headquarters for exploring Walla Walla wine country. And then there are outdoor activities like hiking, birding or wildlife watching at McNary Wildlife refuge or Chamna Wildlife refuge.
Alan chose the luxury property as a romantic getaway for my first foray back into the travel world after a winter spent recovering from back surgery. The fact that our journey included a 7-hour zippy sports car ride through Montana, Idaho and Washington added to the fun.
Cameo Heights Mansion review
For three days, we enjoyed the luxurious ambiance of the French Room. Located on the third floor, the oversized suite includes a gas fireplace, skylights over the comfy bed, large windows that look out onto the pool area and a flat screen TV if you really must watch television. An Acer computer tablet offers wifi internet access for those who need to stay connected. And an iPhone docking station on the nightstand makes it convenient to listen to your favorite music selections.
In the bath area, you’ll find an air-jetted tub for soaking your cares away. Be sure to try the toiletries, which are made in-house. Plush robes hang on the door and the black towel labeled “makeup” is an especially smart touch considering the use of white towels in the bathroom.
Innkeepers (at the time of our visit) Alan and Deanne Fielding have thought of everything that you might need. How do they know?
Deanne says it’s because of the quality control questionnaire they ask every guest to fill out. Yes, they really do pay attention to your suggestions, putting as many of them as possible into effect.
Forget counting calories at the gourmet breakfast that’s included in the rate. Your morning will begin with coffee and homemade danish delivered to your suite at 8:00 a.m.
After a relaxing wakeup, breakfast is served at 9:00 a.m. in the dining room. During our stay, each breakfast began with a fruit cup that was almost too pretty to eat (but we ate it anyway).
Main courses like panko-crusted poached eggs with truffle infused sauce accompanied by grilled ham and potatoes or lemon custard almond crusted french toast are a luxurious start to the day.
There are plenty of activities for guests who choose to make Cameo Heights Mansion the focus of their visit to eastern Washington. Lounge by the pool, relax in the heated spa or take a walk through the orchards.
Indoors, you’ll find a state-of-the-art home theater with an extensive movie collection. Challenge your partner to a game of ping pong in the recreation room or a romantic version of bingo. I enjoyed playing the Petrof baby grand piano in the living room.
Dine at The Vine
Dinner at The Vine (a restaurant open to the public located at Cameo Heights Mansion) is well worth the extra expense—reservations required. Chef (at the time of our visit) Nathan Carlson creates delicious dishes then stops by your table to answer any questions about the meal.
During our stay, Alan and I enjoyed dining on the terrace overlooking the pool area. And we couldn’t resist trying the DaMa Wine Tasting Menu which led to a visit to the winery’s tasting room in Walla Walla the next day.
Things to do near Cameo Heights
As I mentioned earlier, Cameo Heights Mansion makes a good headquarters for exploring the Walla Walla wine country as well as the Red Mountain region. Over 100 wineries are located within 35 miles of the mansion.
Are you a birdwatcher? Over 337 bird species have been documented in Walla Walla County. With the Yakima, Snake, Columbia and Walla Wall Rivers close by, the area is also a prime spot for water sports. Check out the Cameo Heights website for more things to do.
Cameo Heights Mansion is especially convenient if you’re looking for an escape from the urban scene in Seattle, Portland or Spokane. Surrounded by acres of fruit trees, your city stress will melt away on a walk around the manicured grounds or down the cultivated rows of apple and cherry trees.
And don’t forget about the romance. I’m sure glad that Alan didn’t.
