Pack the wine and chocolates—plus the skis, bikes and hiking boots
written by K.M. Collins
Want to get snowed in on a romantic getaway this winter? While the wind blows and the snow falls, snuggle up beside a fire or in a hot tub at a cabin in the middle of a forest. Here are five ways to do just that.
COAST
WildSpring Eco Friendly Cabin
WildSpring Guest Habitat, overlooking the Pacific in southern Oregon, is set on five acres of temperate rainforest, in quaint Port Orford. These luxurious cabins in a naturally beautiful environment let you doze off to the sound of the wind through the trees and wake to deer grazing outside cabin windows.
Have a meditative morning, walking the resort’s labyrinth and strolling through the sculpture garden, then head to the beach for agate hunting, or walk about a mile into town to explore this working fishing port, the galleries of an active artist community and the Coast Guard Lifeboat Station. Ride some or all of the sixty-one-mile Wild Rivers Coast Scenic Bikeway for plenty of ocean views.
Unwind afterward by booking an in-cabin massage and meander over to the guest hall deck, a perfect perch for scanning the ocean to glimpse whales. Or, collapse onto the sofa for board games, beverages, fruit, popcorn and chocolates. End the evening in an open-air slate hot tub, and in cabin massages.
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
McKenzie River Lookout Cottage
Get cozy in a cottage amid an evergreen forest fairyland on the west flank of the Cascade Range along the McKenzie River. Take in views of the serene, iconic river from the king bed, aglow by the fireplace.
Plan to pack your days with premier fly-fishing, rafting or mountain biking. Kick back on your deck at sunset and venture over to the McKenzie General Store and Obsidian Grill for pub fare and depending on the date, live music, too.
www.mckenzieriversidecottages.com/tours
CENTRAL
Rock Ridge Cabin at Black Butte Ranch
Sidle up, hang your cowpoke hat and kick your boots off for the night at Black Butte Ranch’s Rock Ridge Cabin with its river stone detailing, antler fixtures, quilted bedding and rough cut shiplap paneling.
Spend the day biking paved trails that wind by the horse paddock, meadows, pond and natural Paulina Spring rising from the ground. Go horseback riding, golfing and checking out the nearby town of Sisters. Back at the ranch, take a swim at the resort’s pool and recreation center. At your cabin, sink into the hot tub beneath a canopy of pines.
www.blackbutteranch.com/rock-ridge-069
SOUTHERN
Pine Path Crescent Lake Cabin
In the shadow of Diamond Peak and on the flank of the famed Crater Lake, Pine Path Cabin is a mountain modern dream. It was built in the 1960s, along idyllic Crescent Creek.
Explore the 1.5-acre surrounding the cabin and find Western hemlock old growth, wildflower meadows and scat tracks from bear, elk and deer. Sleeping, reading and hot tubbing in this wild and scenic spot is a rare treat. Make it your base camp for fishing on nearby Crescent and Odell Lakes, skiing Willamette Pass and farther afield, mountain biking in Oakridge.
EASTERN
Cabins at Wallowa Lake Lodge Cabins
Get ready for a traditional National Park Lodge feel and experience. Wallowa Lake Lodge has that ambiance and design. Built in 1923 with logs cut and milled from the property footprint, the lodge was originally named Wonderland Inn. Today, approaching its centennial, it is community owned, with more than 100 investors.
The lodge’s eight lakeside cabins, available year round, offer expansive views of the forest, lake and wetlands. Expect daily visits from wildlife, then get out and explore some of America’s best scenery just beyond your backyard.
