I was caught off guard.
Having booked so last minute and the online photos being meh, the house was far more spacious and comfortable than I was expecting. I have some very specific preferences when I book any lodging: ample couches, an open kitchen concept, and usable (preferably cute) outdoor space. Clocking in at just over 800 square feet, I imagined this house to be cramped and I was unimpressed by the single couch and two recliner chairs shown in the photos. I’d already been dreading the unavoidable vying for the couch that would be taking place between myself, my husband and our little dog. Despite being just over 20 pounds, our Terrier Louise manages to elongate and take up an unfathomable amount of space.
About Manzanita
For those who aren’t familiar with Manzanita, it’s a tiny little coastal town in Tillamook County, just 98 miles west of Portland, Oregon with a population of 664 according to recent census information. Inhabited mostly by retirees, this idyllic little beach town is a charming, mellow escape for anyone wanting to be near the beach but prefers to avoid the crowds of Cannon Beach or Seaside. Also incredibly dog friendly, Manzanita has 7 miles of beach that is fully open to the furry family members.
Apart from the quiet and quaint nature of this town, what I love most about Manzanita is that it has good grocery stores and restaurants you actually want to eat at, so you can show up with nothing more than a bag of clothes for a weekend and eat perfectly well during your stay. In my decades of coastal vacationing in Oregon, the lack of good grocery stores in most beach towns has had me packing for a weekend as I’m im camping, leaving me even more exhausted by the time I return home and have had to conversely UNPACK the mountain of things I’ve taken with me.
Turning right off of 101 N into Manzanita, I am always taken by how small the town is. Barely more than 1.3 square miles, Manzanita is TINY, and I get such an overwhelming sense of peace every time we arrive. The rental house was just north of Laneda Avenue, the main road that veers of Highway 101, and we drove slowly down Manzanita Avenue until we found the house. We backed into the gravel driveway and as we ascended the stairs, I felt a mix of excitement and dread about what our home for the weekend might be like.
The absolute best thing about Manzanita is that despite its tiny size, Manzanita has all the things you need for a weekend getaway. Living in Portland I am absolutely spoiled when it comes to quality food and drinks, but having grown up in Oregon I can tell you with certainty that any coastal town in Oregon requires you to pack in your own gourmet food and beverage if that is what you are into.
But not in Manzanita. There are a few well-stocked markets, one of them organic. Manzanita Market & Deli has an impressive wine selection and has most of what you could possibly need, including a fresh meat and fish counter, local baked goods, but also a hot counter if you really want to phone it in. The Winery at Manzanita is always the first stop when we arrive into town- it’s an inviting tasting room with adirondack chairs and large firepits on the patio. Manzanita Coffee Co. is just steps from the beach and have a tantalizing array of house-made baked goods. I had a hard time choosing between their offerings, but their blueberry scone was buttery delicious and rocked our world.
For tasty Mexican food, make sure to hit up El Trio Loco. You won’t be disappointed, and will most likely have leftovers. And if your pet needs any accoutrements, Four Paws on the Beach is a great shop on Laneda Ave. for anything you’ve forgotten or just want to get something to spoil your furbaby with.
The Gray Whale Cove
As I walked towards the front door, I peered through the blinds in the front windows and was immediately relieved at the size of the main room. I punched in the numbers on the electric lock and it beeped agreement as I fumbled with the deadbolt lock to enter. I pushed the door open and entered the hallway, letting out audible sounds of satisfaction.
Down the hall was a laundry room which we had complete access to, which is a plus, especially for any kind of beach trip with our pup. The main room had high ceilings, skylights and large windows filling it with light. The couch was larger than expected, and upon further investigation I discovered that the couch and the sofa chairs were all fully automated recliners. Game changer. There was a large TV that was mounted on the wall, as well as a full audio and DVD system. We were able to connect our phones to the bluetooth system which was great as we forgot our speaker, and when we return we will pack some DVD’s with us as they did not have any in their library of games and books. There was also an electric fireplace that we enjoyed on our second night. Unfortunately you cannot control the strength of it so it is all or nothing, and the thing can really crank. Instructions for the fire, the audio system, tv and internet are all clearly explained throughout the house.
The kitchen was well stocked, far better than my own, and I was impressed at the number of pans, platters, and baking paraphernalia. Do bring a coffee grinder. We forgot ours and after attempting to crush coffee beans by hand and having the weakest grossest coffee ever, we slunk off to the store buy some ground coffee. Since the rental was managed by Vacasa, there was a little Starter Kit box on the kitchen counter with a fresh sponge, small bottle of dish soap and packets of dishwasher and laundry detergent. Although I despise the exorbitant cleaning fee for rental bookings (for 2 nights we were charged $160 in cleaning fees despite needing to strip sheets, gather towels and start the dishwasher and laundry) I do wholly appreciate the professional cleaning that is done before our arrival and the fresh sponge. After a particularly gross rental experience years ago, I am now far more appreciative of Vacasa and their expensive but worthwhile system. You gotta pay to play, as they say.
The two bedrooms were small but cozy. One room had a queen size bed, while the other had a king bed and a mounted tv. We opted to sleep in the king bed and it was incredibly comfortable. The linens were also very soft and we looked forward to cozying in the bed at every opportunity.
The bathroom was small but the shower was hot and powerful, just how I like it. There is nothing worse than a tepid shower with lame water pressure so I truly appreciate a shower that feels like it could peel my skin off. Turning the shower on and controlling the several showerheads was a little tricky, but once again there are written instructions posted for ease of use. There were plenty of fresh towels so there was never a need to use a wet towel to dry off.
The back yard of this home is what had initially drawn me to book this house in the first place. Out the sliding side door of the home was a patio with a few chairs and a side table, and around the back of the home was a patio complete with grill, table and chairs, and an entire flagstone patio with adirondack chairs, side tables and a lovely landscaped yard. As it was early May and it had still been raining when we arrived, everything still had covers on it but it was clear all the furniture was well maintained. The front porch also had chairs for looking out onto Pine Avenue, to take in the views of the dog walkers that would pass occasionally.
