Inn at Spanish Head

Inn at Spanish Head

Hallway Decor

Sunrise from the beach

Hi there!
This past weekend April and I got away thanks to a friend on a long overdue getaway.

We did not go to far just a hop over to the Oregon coast to Lincoln City and home to Inn at Spanish Head..

The inn is nestled on one of the best beaches there is to find in Lincoln City. There are a few things that make this inn not your run of the mill hotel. When you arrive at the hotel you will find a small parking lot to unload your car into. Parking is through a very windy tunnel.

Check inn &Tunnel to parking lot

They do have valet parking as an option and shuttle from the parking lot. The first thing you will notice is the lobby is on the 9th floor, you will have to go down to your room, that took a little getting used to. The second thing about this hotel you should know is the hotel is a condo unit owner owned type hotel, what this means to you is each unit is maintained and stocked by the owner so the accommodations do vary from updated to a very shale we say retro feel. You may ask to see the room first if you want to be sure what you are getting. There is also everything from a studio to complete suites available.

Studio suite room 338

The room we got was a super cute studio room 338it was like you would find in a normal hotel room but with a full kitchen, all the rooms do have kitchens and everything you will need. There is daily maid service, coffee , towels and the normal hotel services you would expect.

Indoor hot tub

This hotel does boast a 10th floor restaurant, Fathoms which has the best view & peanut butter pie you have to try! They serve some great dishes, the vegetable pasta pesto primavera was excellent and plentiful. I recommend having desert first with their Boyd's coffee, its so much more enjoyable when your not stuffed from dinner. If shes working we also recommend you ask for Jan she sincerely cares about your dining experience and made the evening more enjoyable she was great. Get there around 5 for the early bird menu to save some cash.

The hotel has a arcade, pool and indoor hot tub which as we have found in most hotels goes greatly unused. They are open till 10pm so take that late night swim the pool is heated but cool , the hot tub is just that hot .

Pool

We dragged a couple of chairs into the hot tub area in the morning and relaxed for hours without seeing a person , there is towels by the pool and hot tub so you wont need to bring any from your room . If you work out the gym is on the same level as the pool but only consists of an elliptical, bike and stair climber so plan on jogging the beach. On the up side they do keep a 5 gallon jug of water in the gym so bring your water bottle and fill it to save money on water.

Color abounds

It is the first hotel I have ever seen that also has water fountains on site as well .

The hotel lights the beach at night so even the nighttime view is great. It does get a bit windy so bring glasses to keep the sand out of your eyes, the nights can get stormy and windy too so if the sound of wind gusts and waves keep you up you hay want to bring ear plugs. Our second night was really stormy, with the fire going it made for a romantic stormy night.

We do recommend the inn for a weekend getaway or just to enjoy the Oregon coast make reservations the place is a hot spot.

If you are a snacker bring those with you the hotel doesn't offer much along those lines. If your in the mood for pastry's head over to Capt Dan's Pirate Pastry's voted #1 in Lincoln city for the best Marion Berry turnover in town. If your looking to stock up stay away from the IGA supermarket it is VERY overpriced on everything...

Till we see you next time,
Happy travels!
Tim & April.

Coffee and a Kiss on the beach

Fathoms 10th floor bar

Fathoms 

Beach time

Time for music

Sunrise on the beach

Grass spots

Solitude in the bar

Gazing out the 10th floor

Don't take those stairs!

Sunny morning , rare in Oregon 

View from room 338

Right on the beach view from 338

Coffee bar

Astoria Oregon

Hi it’s Tim & April

We have been on a bit of a hiatus for a bit ...

We thought we would share some thoughts notes about a place we both love. Astoria Oregon...

Astoria holds a Special place in both of our hearts. Astoria is where I met my beautiful bride April. We were married in a little church right there overlooking the Columbia River and took our wedding pictures in the dunes at Seaside.. I have fond memories of the first year of our marriage in our home behind the famous Flavel House, cold foggy mornings watching the ships that pass everyday during the years we lived there.

April even grew up and went to High School there.  a small old building in that little town is the first place I ever saw her…

Even if you have been to Astoria If you haven’t been in the past couple of years there is so much more to do and see.

Astoria was the first established settlement in the west the town was founded in 1811 they have a

 large celebration planned this year that is a cant miss.

As you may know Astoria has a history of movies being filmed including Kindergarten Cop, Free Willy, Goonies and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

 A Tour of the movie sites is always fun. In recent years

The City has added some very cool attractions in addition to the Maritime museum they have added a Riverfront trolley and some amazing restaurants you will find some of the best food around and a selection you wouldn’t expect for any small town.  


Take a spin up to the Astoria Column and climb its 164 steps to the top for a great view it will help work up that appetite.


If you are looking for someplace to stay that isn't your run of the mill hotel check out the new Elliott Hotel.  This one has comfort and style throughout right in the heart of downtown everything is walking distance from this hotel.

If you want to be on the water we recommend the new Cannery Pier Hotel this one is actually right on the water or over I should say, go to the web site and sign of for email specials you can really catch a great price and package by the being on the email list. The cannery features free Bikes (replica 1950s ) to use and you can schedule complimentary trips for dinner and plays in town in one of there chauffeured cars, a 1938 Packard or a 1939 Buick its worth staying at the hotel just for a chance to ride in history for free.

Astoria is just a couple of hours from Portland there is tons to do and see. so Much so We cant list it here.
We can tell you from a long history of living in this little town you can come walk and you will feel like you are in a quaint city of the past and present. It safe fun and friendly ..


Till next time happy travels
We will see you soon
Tim & April

LL Stub Stewart State Park

On the Road with Tim and April ! Happy Holidays! This short trip would be great for next summer ,

This is LL Stubb State Park just a short trip from our home town, This is a super cute wooded new state park . We choose to stay in the cabins, The cabis were perfect! No Tent ! no fuss ! all the cabins came with a covered porch , Table and chairs , Futon , twi/full bunkbed and POWER & Heat! Some of the people we saw brang extention cords and plugged in to cook outside. (you cant cook in doors) It was nice we brang a coffee pot as well a great addition! . 

There are a ton of trails right outside the cabin area there was a horse camping area as well as a kids playground day area, rv camping and hike in tent camping. The Camp grounds are beautifull and wooded in the foothills or Vernonia. Hiking was the main activity other then the daily ranger activities. There were many dirt trails for Horse , Bike and walkers and a 20 mile paved trail accross some beautifull train tressles one over 500 feet long from Banks to Vernonia. The views are mostly dense trees but for a nice wooded getaway I would give Stubb a try. There are two differant size cabins one a little larger you can reserve online. Happy Camping we will talk to you soon.

Check out the online brochure here (opens in PDF)

Facebook Photos

Flowers , Trees , Plants and the beautiful Northwest Await !

See you soon !

Tim and April

Fun at Sheridan Days

Hi there !

This week we are close to home in a little town west of McMinnville,

Sheridan, Sheridan is a small old town with a lot of history and a great small town feel, this weekend sheridan celbrates its full history at "Sheridan Days" this event is a fun city get togeather complete with a carnaval, car show, Bike show, lawnmower races, a band festaval and a highschool art show. There are ton of events and things to do and see.

This event really gives you that old time small town feel . The hand crafted art from the highschoolstudents will amaze you . Hop on over to the Sheridan High school all class reunion for some great phots and and people they have a ton off yearbooks for you to paroose , you can really see the years changing in the pages of those books.
For some great History of Sheridan Check out This web page its got everything you want to know about Sheridan .

Check the shedule for each year . This year it was a short walk across the bridge to check out the car show the local entusiasem is great just to see what the Car heads have done with the rides they take pride in .

Walk to the end of the road for some very cool tracktor races its a hoot !

Dont forget to stick around for the Parade , people start picking the spots super early so get your cooler and chairs and get your spot .

Keep an eye oh the Sheridan Days Web site for updates and upcoming events
This is a Family Freindly Fun Event and a must do !

Embassy Suites Downtown Portland (Multnomah Hotel)

Hello again !
This week on our 11 year annaversary takes us to downtown Portland one of our favorate hangouts, The Embassy Suites downtown , formerly Multnomah Hotel.

This hotel is one of our favorites! The building itself has some great history but more so it has everything you could want and a staff to do it . The hotel boasts an updated gym, great room service a wonderfull indoor pool complete with a sauna and two hot tubs, there is even a little game room with a pool tableand some games. The hotel has a free managers reception with free drinks and do it your self nachos as well as an awsome full breakfast with cook to order omlets and fresh fruit all included with your room.

Check the internet for the hotel specails , this hotel isnt the cheapest but it is so worth it! They have some cool deals that include parking , build a bear , tickets to the chinese gardens and more . Also if you pay up front on line you can save an extra $10 a night .
You are walking distance to so many awsome places like Voodoo donuts accross the street open 24 hours ,where else can you get a Capt Crunch Donut at 3AM ? There always seems to be a line its a must ! On another corner is the Bijou Cafe
that has a breakfast to die for and aline to go with it at opening time! and of course dont forget Kincaids in the Hotel serving Room service and some great Kobe Beef Meatloaf sliders. get there between 5 and 6PM and take advantage of a 3 course dinner dinner  $25

Hotel Multnomah opened in 1912 it was Portlands largest hotel till the 1960's.  This is an all suites hotel and has some great history too. When you check out the pool you can still see the original M's on the pillars from its original name. The hotel boasts a list of visitors 9 prsidents including John F. Kennedy, Charles Lynberg ,Elvis and Queen Marie of Romania. They have even had two airplanes land and takeoff from its roof. They have several room options from a one room suite to a one bedroom suite to the Royal/Presidentail suites which we opted for this time. The Royal suite isnt to much larger but it does have some great upgrades , a full four post canopy bed, fire place and an outside corner view . from out room on the top floor we had a view of most of the bridges in Portland and what a view it was! The hotel is located close to China town which if you havent seen is worth a stroll, not to mention your 2 blocks from the water front. The hotel does offer Valet parking but if your not planning on using your car

take advantage of the self park if will save you another $15 a night.

Your rooms come complete with a Refigerator so feel free to bring a bottle of wine and a book sit by the fire and watch the sun set ...or rise like we did . The beds are super comftable and the staff more than ready to accomidate your needs . 2 flat screen tvs and a new reservation pre check in where you can request whatever you like waiting for your arrival in your room. The pool area is an extended figure eight with two hottubs . the suana was wonderful as well but bring a bottle of water they dont have anything in the sauna for steam heat. You wont need towels or anything, everything else as it is provided. They have a water cooler in the gym and even provide headphones you can keep fopr the excersize - Tvs . The only negative is if there are alot of people the reverb is pretty loud but the pool is worth going to one way or another .  If you like to Walk or Jog the Tom McCall Waterfront Park is a must do , we opted for a 5:30 AM jog to catch the sunrise , the streets are pretty empty but quite a few joggers on the path the sun on the river is a view and a half . If its the right time of year the Portland Saturday Market is now at the park put that on your list for the day as well. Artists , Hand Craft Food and more! It Runs Feb 28th to Dec 24th - Sat 10-5PM Sunday 11- 4:30PM

This Hotel is deffinantly worth staying at on a visit to Portland of just a getaway for the weekend .

                                                                                                                                                                  Till next time Its Tim and April Wishing you Happy Travels!

Bagby Hot Springs

Hello It's Tim & April!

This weekend finds us in a new place,

"Bagby Hot Springs", Bagby is one of Oregon's many hot springs. This is our first trip to this hot spring , the hike is an amazing well kept 1 1/2 mile hike with easy grades and so much to see , it runs along side a creek for alot of the trip , the water is crystal clear with many access spots and deep pools if you don't mind the cold water. What you should know about bagby- The water is hot! 134 degrees so

you will need to mix it with some cold creek water (buckets are provided) ,also there is a good chance you are going to see some naked people there are two areas to soak one is a public area where clothes are optional and people do use that option, there are five private soak rooms with hand made tubs made from a single log ,as well as a large 6 foot round tub a little further up the trail for a group. Go early! getting there early is a great way to get a soak log fast, it seemed like alot of people showed up in the after noon , this is a 24 hour use area so you can soak after dark, bring candles, we heard it does get a Little rowdy on the weekends at night even though alcohol is not allowed.

The place is amazing and pretty but of course there are people who have carved into the walls and not cared for the place like you would hope other than that the place is worth the hike and walk , it is way out in the woods so pack water and lunch.

The hot spring was discovered in 1880 by a hunter....you guessed it named Bagby. The first cabin was built in 1913 and still stands today. There used to be a telephone switchboard located there at one time, in the 1920's the bathhouse was built. In the 70's a fire destroyed the place and it was rebuilt by the friends of Bagby in 1974.

You cant camp at the springs but there is an 8 spot campground further up the trail.

There are a ton of campgrounds in the area you'll see them on the drive up.

You'll also pass the Ripplebrook ranger guard station about 14 miles before the Bagby parking area , they do have wood , some snacks and a map I would recommend you get , note it is also $5 to park at the trail head for state park day use.

The soak is great , we went right to the spring & got a tub in about 15 minutes , there are toilets at the springs , plan on packing out any trash you bring. We went to the creek and found a nice smooth rock to have lunch on and soak our feet , take your time and enjoy the walk the bridges are great and there are so many trees and rocks to see look the the leaner's.

The drive to the falls is just as great following the river . Bagby is defiantly on our you should do list !

Oh ! and its free!

To get there go through Estacada on Hwy 224 go 26 miles to the Ripplebrook Guard station at the road 46 and 57 junction take rd 46 go 4 miles take the Road 63 fork go 4 miles take the road 70 fork go 6 miles to the Bagby parking area there are road signs .

Well that's it for this weekend, keep an eye out in two weeks well be celebrating our 11th anniversary for two days doing nothing but enjoying the historic Embassy Suites In Portland.

Till next time Happy Travels

Tim & April.