Accommodations

Manzanita [1] is a small town without an abundance of lodgings. Advance reservations are a must, especially in summer, and many accommodations require two- to three-night stays during the high season and on some holidays. A good alternative to motels for families here are the rentals available from the several property management agencies in town.

Among these is Ribbon Investment Firm (503/369-6009 or 888/503-6009, www.ribbonvacationrentals.com [2]), with more than 40 fully furnished homes to rent, running $110–225 per night (most require weekly rentals in July and August).

If you’re looking for an upscale retreat, the cedar-clad Inn at Manzanita (67 Laneda Ave., 503/368-6754, www.innatmanzanita.com [3], $150 and up), set in a Japanese-accented garden just a short walk from the beach, promises guests (no children) the three R’s: recreation, relaxation, and romance. Each of its 13 wood-paneled guest rooms features a gas fireplace and a two-person spa; most rooms have a balcony, offering glimpses through the evergreens of the nearby beach. Fresh flowers daily, robes, and other amenities help you feel pampered. Despite being in the middle of town near restaurants and the beach, a feeling of luxurious seclusion prevails. Although dogs aren’t permitted in the rooms, your pup might be willing to bed down in the “dog den” in the inn’s garage.

Six blocks from the beach, the five spacious, stylish, and airy cabins of Coast Cabins (635 Laneda Ave., 503/368-7113, www.coastcabins.com [4], $215 and up) comfortably sleep one to two (two-story Cabin 5 is designed for up to four people) and offer kitchenettes or full kitchens, satellite TV, and goose-down pillows and comforters. The Coast Cabin folks also rent out a few sophisticated modern condos in downtown Manzanita [1] ($329).

For a more standard motel experience, the Sunset Surf (248 Ocean Rd., 503/368-5224 or 800/243-8035, www.sunsetsurfocean.com [5], $95 and up) offers guest rooms (many with kitchens) in three oceanfront units that share an outdoor pool. Although rooms are decidedly plain, the setting is great.

Another reasonably priced older motel, the Spindrift Inn (114 Laneda Ave., 503/368-1001 or 877/368-1001, www.spindrift-inn.com [6], $90 and up) has rooms that are nicer than the rather plain exterior. It’s a very short walk to the beach.