Oregon Coast Inn Offers Quirky Amenities
Oregon's coast is known as a treasure trove of pristine beaches
- some of the cleanest in the world. Then there's the Nehalem
Bay area, on the northern coast, with its legends of buried
treasure around tiny Manzanita, possibly sequestering the real
thing in its thick envelope of slightly mysterious forest. It's
an area that seems to never cease in its revelations and hidden
delights. No matter that you may be a frequenting regular, the
beaches, Neahkahnie Mountain and the three tiny towns of
Nehalem, Wheeler and Manzanita - which comprise the bay area -
always yield new discoveries.
The San Dune Inn is one of those, even for addicted veterans of
the area like myself, who visit here almost every week from the
metropolitan area of Portland, some 100 miles away. While
there's a lovely little local nightlife hotspot called San Dune
Tavern just stumbling distance away, the San Dune Inn - a very
family-friendly motel - is one of those lurking surprises
awaiting.
Not many lodging spots can claim to have a vast array of
freebies like bikes, game equipment, popcorn and movies. But San
Dune does. Stay at this charming, unassuming place just steps
away from Manzanita's main drag - Laneda Avenue - and you'll
find stuff for volleyball and other games suitable for the sand,
as well as beach balls, bikes and simple sandcastle-making gear
like buckets. It's a kid's dream come true.
At 41, and a kid at heart, all these playthings are a dream come
true for me as well.
Perhaps what charmed me the most about this place upon my first
few visits was the thick London accent of owner Brian and his
down-to-Earth approach, as well as the kids' stuff available for
play. And then there was that really adorable dog: Buddy. This
tiny little pup was so fluffy and soft he felt more like a
stuffed animal. But he was the real deal, and loves greeting
guests as they come in.
On this stay, Brian's wife, Billie, hooked me up with a lovely
little room on the westward end of the motel. From here, you
could just barely hear the waves of Manzanita's beaches in the
middle of the night, lulling you to sleep. The room is
immaculate, with a color theme of blue, coming complete with a
coffee machine, VCR and TV, a blow dryer hooked into the wall, a
small fridge and even a shower cap.
The San Dune Inn has 14 such cozy rooms, all of them with VCR's,
cable TV, the small fridge, microwave and access to all the cool
freebie amenities for sand play, as well as free movies, games
and even books. Six of the rooms feature full kitchens with
separate living room and bedroom areas. Plus, the place is pet
friendly - and there's this nifty little barbecue area out back
with a tent next to it.
For me, as the middle-aged kid with a surreal sense of
exploration, I was interested in playing with the bikes. After a
party at a friend's house nearby, I took one for a joyride on
the beach. I'm not sure zipping around at three in the morning
is what the Hines had in mind for these, but I was filled with a
load of childlike joy. It's been perhaps 20 years since I rode
one, and I discovered the old adage is true: you never forget
how.
Subsequent visits found me reveling more in the slight kookiness
of this place. Brian has quite a raucous sense of humor, and is
great for a fun spot of conversation. I've gone on late,
nocturnal bike rides with regularity now, thanks to Brian and
Billie. Sometime in the last year, they acquired a somewhat
wacky statue of a heron made from found junk. Intriguing, pretty
and yet delightfully off-kilter.
I've also found myself going through their extensive library of
flicks, taking in all the M. Night Shaliman movies they have.
In the end, I discover the San Dune is perfect for families with
kids - or adults who act like kids. Next time, perhaps I'll take
the more grownup route, take a friend and we'll stay in and
enjoy one of their fairly large selection of movies. Or maybe
we'll both act like kids and play with the beach toys and bikes
again. You'll find it about a block away from Laneda, at 428
Dorcas Lane. Bring your pet, look for the big sign on Laneda
pointing the way, and log onto www.sandune-inn-manzanita.com.
888-368-5163.
More on the Manzanita area can be found at www.beachcon
nection.net/vtour_nbay.htm