Stay: Cannery Pier Hotel, Astoria, Oregon
A big thank you to the folks at Travel Oregon for helping make this trip possible by securing us a discounted rate at the fabulous Cannery Pier Hotel.
Situated right on the mouth of the Columbia River in Astoria, Oregon, the Cannery Pier Hotel is one stay I just can't shake. I don't remember the last time a hotel had any kind of lasting effect on me - but our waterfront (really overwater) room actually helped me remember something very important to me; I simply love being on the water and seeing it just outside the window brings out my happiest self.
I could have spent an entire week enjoying our room (and I might just plan on doing so someday), the amenities the hotel offers, and the surrounding area. It was incredibly difficult to leave so early in the morning to begin our Oregon Coast Challenge.
The Room
Immaculately decorated and well kept, our deluxe room with a king bed felt like my kind of luxury. The in-room refrigerator and microwave were conveniently located on their own large sized cabinet with a sink - making an excellent food preparation area for folks like my husband and I who tend to eat-in while on the road. A dining table, fireplace, and window seat all placed to allow for admiring the river views allowed for plenty of day dreaming.
Aside from the prime spots to view the water from, the bathroom may have been one of the most thoughtfully designed parts of our room. From the deep claw-foot tub (shutters open up to the river view across the room) to a rainforest shower and plenty of counter space - it may be the most comfortable bathroom I've ever experienced.
All that being said, the highpoint was waking up in the wee hours of the morning to a private view of the dimmly lit river and the Astoria-Megler Bridge.
The Amenities
Generally, I feel like it's hard to find a hotel (at least one in the price range of us mere mortals) that truly has it all - both gorgeous guest rooms and piles of amenities. When we arrived, just at the end of happy hour, the front desk clerk encouraged us to make it over before it closed. Checking into our room first, we were surprised with the best set of dog friendly amenities we've ever encountered; bowls filled with all sorts of treats, a bed, and a squeaky toy. Our pup could not have been happier - although she certainly still preferred our bed to her own (who can blame her!).
Remembering happy hour, my husband made a dash down the hallway to catch it before it closed. He returned to the room just minutes later with a glass of wine in hand and a piled high plate of cheese and crackers. Happy hour had already ended, but the staff happily made him a special plate to bring back without even asking. While there is a light breakfast buffet in the mornings, most of it is not gluten free - however, they do offer a large selection of my favorite brand of tea (Numi) and some fresh fruit.
Aside from the goodies in our room and the complimentary tasty treats, the Cannery Pier Hotel also offers a lovely indoor hot tub with views of the bridge, vintage bicycles, and rides in some very well kept vintage cars (which you can catch a peek of in our video).
Around the Cannery Pier Hotel
One of the things I found the most exciting about the Cannery Pier Hotel, aside from the fact that it is literally on a pier, was that a very gluten free friendly restaurant was located just across the parking lot. The BridgeWater Bistro indicates their gluten free and vegan friendly dishes directly on their regular menu - this includes clam chowder, fish and chips, and seafood cakes! The restaurant is right on the water itself with views of the hotel and the Astoria-Megler Bridge. However, if you would prefer to spend as much time in your room as I did - they also do to-go orders.
For more fun things to do around the Cannery Pier Hotel in Astoria, the first three stops on my one day itinerary down the Oregon coast are all within an hour's drive.