By Amy Wolf, Sunset travel editor

As the recession blues drag on in lockstep with the winter doldrums, and as some of us begin to feel seriously disgruntled with our ever more demanding and less lucrative jobs, or lack thereof, an attitude adjustment is in order. Which, to me, means it's time for a trip somewhere nice. Somewhere big, beautiful and vast, and perspective-giving. And cheap.

Washington's Olympic Peninsula, where primeval rainforest meets endless sea, is all of that, plus it's morbidly romantic in an eerie sort of way, thanks to the teeny-bopper phenom Twilight. And right now it's cheaper than ever to stay in the area's two nicest lodgings, the Lake Quinault Lodge and Kalaloch Lodge, since both are offering a Buy One Get One Half Off package through February 28. With rates starting at $117 at Lake Quinault and $89 at Kalaloch Lodge, that makes for some screaming deals.

Trend research reports that travel to national parks will go way up this year, as will hiking. So why not jump on the bandwagon?

How to decide between Lake Quinault Lodge and Kalaloch Lodge? If you can swing a four-night vacation, stay at both, for a taste of two very different sides of the Olympic Peninsula.

If you have to choose one, I'd go with Lake Quinault Lodge, since it offers lakeside recreation, amazing hiking, and great old national park architecture all in one shot. You'll feel like an English countryside gentleman (or woman) lounging in front of a huge fireplace in the lobby of the 1926-built grand lobby before you set out for a paddle on the lake or a hike along blindingly green trails through one of world's rare temperate rainforests.

Kalaloch Lodge is a little more Old Man and the Sea than Walden Pond, set right out on the windswept sea. Go here if you love long walks on the beach and don't mind slightly rustic lodging.

And let the wind and those vast views wash those blues right out of your hair. Happy travels.