Wanderlust and Love

written by Cathy Carroll

The spray off a waterfall, the rush of a salty ocean wave, the lapping of a meandering river, the placid surface of a mountain lake—they woo us, beckon us, seduce us. Whether you plunge in, paddle in or perambulate by them, they heighten our senses, soothe us and provide the perfect setting for relaxing, romantic fun. They abound. Here are a select few.

NETARTS + PACIFIC CITY

Waves

Kayaking through mellow Netarts Bay between Cape Meares and Cape Lookout, connect with your partner as you take some lessons in play and relaxation from seals and sea lions lounging in pristine surroundings. Fully exhale as pelicans, great blue herons and bald eagles soar overhead, and western snowy plovers—palm-sized, sand-colored puffs—skitter on the shore. Songbirds serenade, and cormorants perch on rocks, spreading their great black wings out to dry.

Follow suit, warming your own wings beside a bonfire on the beach in Pacific City with a gorgeous hunk—of rock, that is, the off-shore sea stack called Haystack Rock. As the sun slips below the watery horizon, keep each other warm under a blanket of stars in the dark sky.

Tap into the ease of the adventure coaches at Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa who’ll build a bonfire for you and set you up with chairs, gourmet s’mores, a bottle of Oregon pinot noir and two Pendleton robes. Head back to your room, and the lodge team will return to clean up and extinguish the fire.

In the morning, sip coffee on the beach, and as the ocean retreats, explore the tide pools at the base of Cape Kiwanda. Discover purple rock crab, prehistoric sculpin and ochre sea stars forming a colorful marine-life quilt along the rocks. Slough it all off at the spa with a land-and-sea salt full-body scrub.

MCKENZIE RIVER

Waterfalls

Seeking positive vibes with your partner? Look no further than an Oregon waterfall. Extensive research has revealed that the pounding water breaks apart air molecules, releasing invigorating ions, instantly boosting focus. What better way to engage more deeply with your love interest?

Sahalie Falls, along the McKenzie River in the Cascade Mountains, is one of many across the state that let you easily reap these benefits. A viewing platform puts you within 100 feet of the massive tumble of whitewater, plunging 100 feet over a natural lava dam. The spot is wheelchair accessible and about a half-minute stroll from the parking lot.

Meander a 2.6-mile loop trail from Sahalie to Koosah Falls, which drops about 70 feet into a deep, mesmerizing pool, whisking away all cares except those you have for the person beside you. Continue on the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail in old-growth forest. Pause as you cross a few bridges about 2 miles to Tamolitch Blue Pool, where the river emerges up from the ground in a sapphire mirror of water. The U.S. Forest Service’s eleven clearly marked trailheads offer access from Highway 126.

Settle in nearby at Loloma Lodge in McKenzie Bridge at one of four riverfront cabins, with floor-to-ceiling window views of the McKenzie River. Curl up beside the wood-burning fireplace on radiant-heated stone floors, and head to bed where the sound of the rushing river is the only streaming music you’ll need.

DESCHUTES NATIONAL FOREST NEAR SISTERS

Suttle Lake

At Suttle Lake, encircled by ponderosa pine and yellow, orange and red autumn vine maple near Sisters, it may seem that glacial ice carved it out about 25,000 years ago just to melt your heart. Clear and calm, it beckons visitors to explore it by paddleboard or kayak, or circumnavigate it on the 3.5-mile, mostly flat trail on foot or by mountain bike through the Deschutes National Forest.

Sleep right at the edge of the mile-and-a-half-long lake in rustic, vintage comfort at The Suttle Lodge or in one of the cabins, all with a nostalgic aesthetic seemingly stolen from the frames of the Wes Anderson romantic comedy Moonrise Kingdom. At the lodge’s Skip Bar, sip a “Where’s Waldo?” of bourbon and marionberry shrub to pleasingly evoke the kind of love affair that’s not limited to only smart, sensitive teenagers.

Keep it cozy and prepare dinner on the Traeger grill on your cabin porch or have a casual dinner at the lodge before an evening of stargazing and listening to the fall wind in the pines.