Weekend getaway locales and lodging near Portland, OR

May 15, 2006 1:29 PM

I'd like to gather some recommendations for good bed & breakfasts or rental cabins for a weekend couple getaway in the Oregon Coast area or other areas of Oregon with great natural beauty. Requirements are listed on the inside.

The town should be small enough to let the natural beauty be its main attraction, but big enough to have a decent bookstore, good breweries, and quirky/arty stuff (Port Townsend, WA is a good point of comparison here). It should be the kind of town where non-mainstream people and non-traditional couples won't be given a second glance. The ability to find vegan-friendly restaurants is important. As for the lodging, we're not into "roughing-it" - fluffy pillows and hot baths are a must. It should be a place where the guests can have a lot of privacy and come and go as they please without being on top of other guests all the time. And it shouldn't be more than an hour or two drive out of Portland.

posted by matildaben to travel & transportation (11 comments total)

Can't name a specific inn, but Cannon Beach gets my vote for your requirements!
posted by tristeza at 1:47 PM on May 15, 2006

I have no coastal suggestions, but McMinnville, OR, in the heart of Willamette Valley wine country is a great weekend getaway, if you're into that sort of thing. As far as places to stay, I can HIGHLY recommend this bed & breakfast; I have also heard good things about this hotel.

If winery tours aren't your thing, the Columbia George is spetacular, scenery wise. Hood River, OR meets your quirky/ arty criteria, although it does tend to get a little overrun by hordes of windsurfing enthusiasts on summer weekends. This hotel is supposed to be quite nice, although I have never stayed there. Also, the Full Sail brewery is in Hood River.

On the other side of the river, Stevenson, WA, is a lot like Hood River was 5 or 10 years ago. Less boutiquey, more funky. And home to one of my new favorite breweries, Walking Man. (Warning: Popups)
posted by dersins at 2:03 PM on May 15, 2006

I haven't stayed there myself, but I've only heard great things about the Sylvia in Cannon Beach. "Truly a hotel for book lovers" they say and owned by the same folks as the quirky/arty Rimsky-Korsakoffee House.
posted by turbodog at 2:14 PM on May 15, 2006

correction: the Sylvia is around Newport, which is probably somewhat more than 2 hours away from Portland.
posted by turbodog at 2:17 PM on May 15, 2006

But beerwise, you'd be close to Siletz Brewing.
posted by turbodog at 2:18 PM on May 15, 2006

Seconded to Cannon Beach. I lived just south of there for while. I've heard that St. Bernards Bed and Breakfast is good if you have the cash. The Inn of Cannon Beach is also recommended. But you can search all that for yourself CannonBeach.net. While you're there you'll probably want to pop into Bill's Tavern for the brews and there's a lot of little cafes and such tucked in around the shops so I can't imagine you'll have a hard time time finding vegan food...the only one that comes to mind is the Bistro.
posted by nadawi at 4:36 PM on May 15, 2006

meh.. Cannon Beach = tourist town.

My wife and I stayed at the Sylvia at it was very very cool. There are many good restaurants nearby.

Manzanita is gorgeous. Fits your requirement for natural beauty, comfort, vegan restaurants, close to Portland. There's a pretty nice motel at the end of the main drag, right on the beach and many vacation rental homes all over the place. I spent a week there and by the end was on a first name basis with the clerk at the grocery store, so tourists really are welcome without sticking out and getting funny looks.

If you are willing to go a little further, Bandon.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 8:20 PM on May 15, 2006

Manzanita (where I lived, btw) might be a little more small town than they are looking for. There isn't a lot to choose from as far as being (dare I say it) tourists. It lacks the artsy stuff and the beer. I also think that those of alternative lifestyles would get more looks than the poster is wanting from their weekend away.

It is beautiful, though...
posted by nadawi at 11:25 PM on May 15, 2006

I like Depoe Bay. The whales came every day we were there, and the used book store had five kittens and all seven of the books I wanted. It is true that there will be some kitsch in town, but there is also salt water taffy and plenty of art, including a gallery of glass works.

There are a million things to look at, including the extremely tiny and picturesque harbour and the craggy breakfront. You'd also be within half an hour of the Newport aquarium and all the waterfrontery you could stand.

If you want to meet the whales close-up, there are charters from the bay, or you can just make friends with the spotty harbour seal who waits for the fishermen to come in.

Our oceanfront condo had a fireplace, a full kitchen, a gas barbecue, a hot tub, a clubhouse with a pool, and oh-so-delicious free wifi right next to the whales.

Harbour Lights B&B on the harbour has a vegetarian dining room (they also serve seafood) that will do vegan meals. I didn't go there, as we had a nicely-appointed kitchen in our unit, but it was recommended.
posted by Sallyfur at 2:41 AM on May 17, 2006

Pacific City and Tierra Del Mar fit the bill for all except the vegan stuff. Plenty of home rentals in Tierra Del Mar and a 3 mile stretch of beautiful beach with only 80 homes sharing it and half of those aren't occupied full-time. Pacific City has a few small hotels, a nice one right on the beach too, and a handful of art galleries. Depot City, Lincoln City, Cloverdale, Hobo, and Tillamook (don't miss the cheese factory) are all within driving distance as are many many even more exclusive beaches and hiking trails.

My Dad lives in Tierra Del Mar and I have stayed there many times. I also enjoyed hiking the coastal trails there many times in the scouts.
posted by IndigoSkye at 1:21 PM on May 19, 2006

Actually, I take back the Vegan remark, The Grateful Bread, fits that requirement.

One thanksgiving we needed a turkey baster and the local store was fresh out. But the man behind the meat counter lent us one of his to use. We returned it the next day and never thought anything else about it. Three years later we're living in Henderson, NV and some new neighbors move in, you got it, the man behind the meat counter from Pacific City.
posted by IndigoSkye at 1:24 PM on May 19, 2006