My wife and I wanted to really get away - from cars, people, noise, work. But we didn't want to drive several hours and we wanted to take our dog with us. So I scoured the Internet for a vacation spot within 90 minutes from our home in Albany. I found this place and it was perfect.
I booked the cottage for a Saturday night. We drove up in the afternoon through the Willamette Valley farmland, southeast of Salem. Just beautiful, and so relaxing not to have to drive I5 at all. The road leading to the B&B is follows the N. Santiam, very scenic adventure in its own right. We got to the B&B and we were greeted warmly by Larry who showed us the ropes and offered advice on restaurants and such. The cottage is charming, slightly rustic but with all the creature comforts, including satellite TV, videos, a propane fireplace, a real fire pit out on the deck, a kitchen, and a claw foot tub that my wife sighed over.
The dog was a happy camper, with some grounds to discover. Our night was perfect. We drove a few minutes into town for some excellent pizza (another YELP review coming for Giovanni's), then returned, put a fire in the pit, and sat outside for several hours listening to... nothing but wind.
The B&B is a great home base for visiting the Opal Creek ancient forest, checking out the falls and parks around the N. Santiam, exploring the covered bridges nearby, or taking a side trip to Silverton or the wine tasting galleries that dot the countryside.
After a great night's sleep in the very comfortable king bed, we were treating to a multi-course breakfast of fruit, yogurt, waffles, bacon and eggs, along with juice, tea and coffee. All served with a magnificent view of the fir covered mountains, with the sound of the river rushing nearby.
All of this wonderfulness is created by the proprietors: Larry and his mom Robin. They are warm and welcoming folks, and we truly enjoyed sharing their company.
We are planning on being regular visitors. read more