A prime place to stay along the river on the edge of downtown Corvallis is the Holiday Inn Express (781 NE 2nd St., 541/752-0800 or 888/465-4329, www.hiexpress.com, $105 and up). It’s within an easy and pleasant walk of the downtown riverfront restaurants; get a river-view guest room and perhaps you’ll see an eagle flying upriver early in the morning.

Also along the river near downtown is the Super 8 Motel (407 NW 2nd St., 541/758-8088, $70 and up). It’s nothing fancy, but the location is good.

With a sister location in Reedsport, Salbasgeon Suites (1730 NW 9th St., 541/753-4320 or 800/965-8808, www.salbasgeon.com, $120 and up) is situated in the heart of Corvallis’s business district, just a jaunt from dining and shops. Guests have access to the large indoor heated swimming pool, the sauna, and a gym as well as in-room high-speed Internet access. There’s also a good restaurant on-site.

The Hilton Garden Inn (2500 SW Western Blvd., 541/752-5000 or 800/445-8667, $107 and up) is practically part of the OSU campus; it’s located near Reser Stadium (the football stadium), Gill Coliseum (the basketball arena), and the OSU Conference Center. It’s a very comfortable hotel with good amenities for business travelers.

The Hanson Country Inn (795 SW Hanson St., 541/752-2919, www.hcinn.com, $95 and up) gives you the feeling you’re way out of town even though it’s actually within walking distance of campus. Antiques, canopy beds, 1920s woodwork, and a book-lined library warm up the interior. On the outside, a hillside overlooking the Hanson farm offers a feeling of tranquility. A two-bedroom cottage, ideal for families, sits behind the main house.

If you really do want to get out into the countryside, consider a farm stay at the Leaping Lamb (20368 Honey Grove Rd., Alsea, 541/487-4966 or 877/820-6132, www.leapinglambfarm.com, $125 and up), where a private two-bedroom cabin with cooking facilities (basic breakfast items supplied) is perfect for families. It’s well situated for hikes into the nearby forest or for just communing with farm animals.