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I made the reservation a bit hastily — it dawned on me it was spring break and we were running out of options on the Oregon coast, or Washington coast for that matter.
After some quick searches filtering for pet-friendly rentals, I only had a few options that were anywhere near affordable, so I pulled the trigger much faster than I usually would have.
Lucky for me, it turned out great and the home was better than I could have imagined.
I ended booking Shipwreck on Booking.com, but it’s listed other places as well. I always encourage shopping around for the best rates on different sites as they can be wildly different. I noticed a huge price difference between sites when I added in my pup- look out for things like that!
Shipwreck is a 2 bedroom, 1 bath home made out of shipping containers, set back from Cape Kiwanda Drive on the main road in Pacific City on the Oregon coast. Despite being on a main road, the setback gives you enough distance that you never feel too exposed. The front yard has parking for at least 3 cars, two benches, a fire pit, and plenty of firewood — we had a bit of a tough time getting the fire going since the wood was a little damp, but great to have the option in drier months.
Out back is a deck with chairs and a grill, which leads down to a grassy area below and a side yard with a picnic table and string lights. Noted for a future summer visit. It’s also fully fenced in, so you won’t need to worry about your pup.
The 700 square foot home felt far more spacious than that sounds — ultra modern with lots of windows, cellulose blinds for full light control, and a layout that maximized every inch. My husband, Louise our 12 year old pup, and I were completely comfortable for two nights, and wished we were there longer.
The kitchen was incredibly well-stocked — complete with not one but two coffee machines, a Keurig and a Breville, all the pots, pans, serving and grilling supplies you could need, and to our surprise, a glut of spices and even a mortar and pestle. Depending on the management company, you often find nothing left over — this was a welcome surprise.
The home was an incredible balance between modern and cozy. Super clean, a good amount of games and puzzles, and blankets and pillows to really get cozy on the sprawling wide couch. The dining table was big enough to dine on one side and have a puzzle going on the other — we learned that a 252 piece puzzle is the perfect two-night commitment for us.
The bedrooms were equally well done — not kitschy beach vibes at all. The king size bed was super comfortable and I slept like a champ. The second bedroom had a queen, even more closet space, and a door leading out to the back deck. Both rooms had TVs and good bedside lighting.
The bathroom had a walk-in shower I wanted to live in. The water pressure was excellent, the water got hotter than I needed — a rarity — and the shower doors actually kept the water in, which seems to be rarer and rarer these days. A washer and dryer were available in the hallway too, though we never needed them.
Beach access is just across Cape Kiwanda Drive. There’s a gated community across the street, but you can walk right through the pedestrian gate — keep your eyes peeled for the beach access signs once you get to the road running parallel to the beach. From there you’ll see the famed Haystack Rock and a stunning layered hillside view. There’s a large dune up north closer to the shops that looks like a great walk — we’ll have to save that for next time when Louise is feeling a little fresher.
For our first night dinner, Los Caporales Mexican Restaurant was a great call — friendly, family-owned, with a dizzyingly large menu and great salsa. West Co. Fish, just up the road from them, sells the catch straight off their Dory boats. The rock fish fillets we picked up were some of the best we’d ever had, and we can’t wait to dig into the canned tuna we bought from them. Their operation is weather dependent, so you can safely count on them being open Saturdays 11-4, but it’s best to just stop by.
For groceries, hit up Chester’s Thriftway, just a bit further up the road from West Co. Fish. They have a great selection of produce and a wonderful spice selection. I’d skip Hart’s market in Pacific City altogether. Their selection was strange and insanely overpriced.
But honestly, the detail that won me over completely was the dog setup for Louise. Not only were there plenty of blankets and towels for her, but there was an entire basket of toys in the corner, and her food and water bowl area had a placemat and a little mood-lighting night light. It was as comfortable for her as it was for us.
Shipwreck was a fabulous find, and there’s plenty of meat left on the bone in that area to legitimize another stay. Finding a pet-friendly vacation home that truly caters to furry family members is such a treat, and Shipwreck is firmly on that list!
