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Newport, Oregon On the third day of our West Coast Road Trip, Don and I spent the night on a paddlewheel riverboat.
The Newport Belle was docked in the South Beach Marina, in Yaquina Bay. Built 1993 The 97-foot boat looked like something you'd see on the Mississippi, 100 years ago.
The 3-story boat was built as a floating B&B, in 1993. Originally it did travel on the Coquille River, but now it stays put in the harbor. Sternwheeler Riverboat Don and I used to live in St. Louis, so we've seen many paddlewheel riverboats over the years. We've dined in a couple, on the Mississippi. And we slept in one, on the Sacramento River.  The Newport Belle just like the others, had the paddles in the stern of the boat. Above the Paddles The stern of the boat had an enclosed sundeck.  The floor to ceiling glass, gave us stunning views of the Yaquina Bay and Bridge. If we'd been moving, it would have been fun to watch the paddlewheel turning, below. Bow of the Boat The front of the boat faced the east. There was a nice little sitting area on the second level.  You can see the how close we were to shore. We parked in an assigned area, then rolled our bags past some fishermen cleaning their daily catch. We continued over the ramp, that took us right to the boat.  The sun deck was bright in the morning and offered a view of the nearly full moon, at night. Stateroom #2 The B&B offered 5 rooms. An upper room would have had slightly better views.  But it was a treat to roll right onto the boat and find our door just steps from the dock. Beautiful! There was no need for "checking in" since we had a code. We stepped right in and grinned at our beautifully renovated room.  The bed (with memory foam mattress & pillows) looked heavenly. The white wood ceiling and wainscotting looked fresh and clean. View The view of the fishing boats and Yaquina Bridge was a nice surprise.  I grinned out the window, then turned to take in the rest of the room.  As I took in the sweet space, "Martini Music" played on satellite TV. What a nice TV, by the way. Bathroom Theme The Beachy-Boat theme was carried right into the bathroom. Gotta love a shell nightlight!  The bathroom was a decent size for a boat and the newly renovated space felt fresh and fun. Details I love a theme and our floating hotel had an obvious one. There were seahorse lamps and anchor coasters.
I loved the sea turtle mugs and octopus pillows. The table with bottled water and Keurig coffee was handy. And below the glass table, we found books related to boats. Life Jacket Props I spotted the life jackets above the "closet" and chuckled. What a clever decorator prop! Then I realized these were probably required, even if our boat wasn't going anywhere.
I love dressing with the theme, when staying at a fun hotel. I could have packed a sailor cap for this stay, but didn't need to. I just popped on the orange jacket and posed for a photo, outside our door. Finding Happy Hour Just before arriving at 4:30, I spoke with the owner Paige, on the phone. She gave me parking instructions and reminded me that Happy Hour was at 5.
We didn't want to miss, so up we went to the second floor. We entered the "Main Parlor" and walked towards the stern. Drinks with a View Three other couples had already arrived. We were invited to join them in the enclosed sundeck, or we could have found a table in the parlor area.  These Covid Travel Days are tricky, but this felt safe and spaced out. The door was propped open with a fan. Plus this was a great bunch and we had good conversations about being vaccinated. Yay for that! Yum Owners Paige and Randy took good care of us. We were handed a drink menu and our own platter of cheese and meats.
I kind of loved the little bar counter behind us, with the pennies under the glass! Perfect View Randy and Paige treated us like guests in their home. They jumped up to refill drinks, then joined us with their own.  Randy and Paige told us how they purchased the boat right before the pandemic and threw themselves into renovations. What an adventure and now they live on the third floor, with a view like this every day. Wandering the Marina By 6:30, our group broke up. Some headed for dinner, but Don and I needed to explore.
We wandered up and down the docks, studying the boats. I was surprised to see the "Life Jacket Loaner Station" nearby. What a nice thought. Some Odd Ones I dreamed of taking off in one of the sailboats.  I studied the commercial fishing boats and I especially wondered about this very odd, wooden boat. What stories might that boat have to tell? Main Salon Don and I could have driven into Newport for dinner, but we didn't want to leave the boat. We only had one night.  We headed up to the Main Salon, which was available to all guests. We brought a few more nibbles and drinks and lounged near the wood burning stove... which would be nice in the winter. Books and Art We checked out this fine colorful fish and some of the other artwork and knickknacks.  There were lots of books and we found one about the Delta King, the boat we stayed on, in Sacramento. Sunset We would have missed the sunset if a couple playing Cribbage in the sundeck room, hadn't alerted us.  I ran up to get a picture or two, through the glass.
Then I stepped out to the tiny walkway and got the best view of the sinking sun. Finally the sun was down and the old Yaquina Bridge from 1934, looked very impressive. Glowing Green and Purple Whenever we spend a night at a notable hotel, I make a point of getting a nighttime photo.  Sometimes there's a fun neon sign or a spotlight. But the Newport Belle had the best nighttime costume of all! Glowing colors!  After taking photos of the Newport Belle, I turned and caught the moon, glowing above the boats. Surprise! When we headed inside we had another lighting surprise. The lights behind the headboard were glowing and changing color!  I hadn't even noticed the lights before, but in the darkened room they came alive. How fun is that? I was sad to turn them off, but I knew that glow would make me too giddy for sleep. I turned on the mounted fan and slept well with the hum. Morning In the morning we headed upstairs, for our 3-course breakfast.  There were lots of options for seating, which was nice. We chose a table beside the window and began with juice and coffee.
The first course was yogurt, with toasted pistachio and apricots poached in cardamon and local honey. Then came a big warm slice of blueberry coffee cake. Main Course My expression looks a little embarrased about my waffle choice. It came with bananas and big fat walnuts, plus 2 slices of bacon!
Don went for the breakfast burrito with bacon and avocado. We swapped plates and sampled each others. What a decadent feast! Relaxing Until Checkout After breakfast, we had a nice chat with Randy and Paige. They were an amazing team and we couldn't thank them enough.
We should have walked off breakfast, but we did some sitting instead! What a lazy, relaxing morning! What's Notable? We stayed on a boat that felt luxurious and comfy for less than $200. ( I do see some higher rates now) And that included happy hour and our 3-course breakfast.  There was a nice balance between socializing and privacy. We enjoyed sharing the boat and happy hour, with others. The conversations were enjoyable. But we also felt like we had the boat to ourselves when we went our separate ways. Perfect!
Best of all, we had a view of boats and water, without being trapped on a boat! No seasickness and no claustrophobia! I would do this again!
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Bisbee, Arizona in May 2014 We stayed here on the third to last night of our TX-CA-TX road trip.
Out of our 15 different accommodations, I think I may have the fondest memories from our night at the Shady Dell! A Desert Trailer Park When we arrived at this retro retreat just outside the old mining town of Bisbee, all was very quiet.
Luckily there was a note with instructions for us, taped to the screened door of the office. 1927 We stepped inside the gates and began exploring.
It was fun imagining this place in 1927. That's when it first opened as a trailer park and campground, for weary auto travelers on the famous Highway 80. Ghost Trailer Park There was no one at Dot's Diner and no one in the phone booth.
There was no one watching movies on the Astroturf which wasn't a surprise. Accommodations We crunched along the gravel pathways, peeking at all 9 vintage trailers.
There was a festive 1947 Tiki Bus with Polynesian flare. I liked the 1957 "Airfloat" with the picket fence. Our 38-Foot Chris Craft Yacht Our wonderful little get-away awaited us under a shady roof, tucked beside a dense wall of rustling bamboo.  "Harbie" the chipmunk captain held a bouquet of flowers and two frowning tiki carvings greeted at the pathway. Little Friend We also spotted a little green friend.
He blinked at us, as we toted our bags towards the wooden dock, that surrounded our pleasure boat! Music We heard some sweet tunes as we stepped on the rear lounge area of the boat.
When Don opened the doors with green stained glass, the swing music grew louder, coming from a vintage radio. Nice touch from our mystery hosts. Packed with Style What a treat! Now only would we be sleeping on a yacht, but the whole interior was saturated with fun props, art and ship memorabilia!  The swooping leopard skin chairs and 1940's "buffet" felt very Hollywood. Everything else was delightfully nautical from lamps to framed art. Hats Provided! I get so childishly giddy over themed accommodations that I often pack my own costumes.  I didn't need to here. They had a couple of captains hats as well as sailor caps at the ready! The Galley Down a few steps at the center of the boat was the fully equipped galley.  The china had little anchors, the vintage coffee pot was ready to go. There was even a small refrigerator with a complimentary bottle of champagne.  The dining area was cozy with a wonderful map covered table. There was a nice wooden ship with a clock and yet another little mascot to welcome us aboard. This topless little sea nymph was also keeping guard over her shell collection. Cozy V-Berth A few steps up, into the bow of the boat, we had a triangular bed and lots more vintage décor.
There was a skylight and two portholes, a china flamingo and a light-up seashell. The door had a peephole in the shape of an anchor! The Bathroom Don is a foot taller than me and could not stand up in our bathroom. But he was at least feeling at home seeing a bottle of Old Spice and even a golden razor!
The porthole looked out at the waving bamboo. We had no shower, but there was an option for that down at the washhouse. Starting the Evening The weather was perfect and we were eager to settle into the evening on our ship. First we hiked to the gazebo in search of ice and met a small gathering at the picnic table. (So we were not alone) They were an odd, but friendly bunch, wearing mostly vintage clothes.  A man wearing a 1940's suit insisted we use some of their ice. We chatted as he reached for the half melted bag of ice. His eyebrows raised to learn we were in the yacht. "Did you know it's haunted?" As he poured ice into my container I had to point out to him that the leaky bag was drenching his wingtip shoe. He was unfazed... and Don and I determined they were all ghosts as we headed back to our boat. Drinks on the Dock We decided to save champagne for another day and enjoyed some tiki cocktails instead. We made use of the dock seating first and had a good time chuckling over collections of old cruise brochures.  We read through the captain's log, which was really a guest book and laughed at the write ups from past visitors. These people all seemed like us... having a silly old time. New Area to Enjoy Next we moved to the open area at the rear of the boat. There was a nice rolling cocktail cart and a padded bench.  We flipped through quite the collection of albums, all island themed... from Don Ho to Harry Belafonte's Calypso. Dancing Time! Don put "Hawaii Calls" on the turntable and we tried out a few dance moves.  Our dance skills are pretty lame, so we're lucky we didn't break a lamp or any limbs. After a few amusing minutes we turned to more low key activities. Books and Games We were determined to make use of every space and every goody that these fine owners had enthusiastically collected.  I can't believe we didn't get to meet them. I love the passion they have for this place. And I love that they trusted us to enjoy without destroying them!
There was so much to enjoy from the old radio to the Sunken Treasure game. The reading material was pretty tempting. If we'd had a couple days I could have read "A Girl in Every Port" or "Sails and Whales". Dinner in the Galley Our light dinner of bread, fruit and cheese, on our anchor plates... on the map table, was perfect!  We played a game or 2 and headed off to bed with a balmy breeze blowing through the portholes. Night Luckily we had no ghost happenings in the night. It was a little eerie, I'll admit. It was the night before the full moon and the winds picked up, rustling the bamboo dramatically.  And the creepy thing I didn't mention earlier, is that on the other side of the bamboo, just steps away from our boat, was an old cemetery. Now if that wasn't the perfect set-up for a ghost encounter, I don't know what would be. What's Notable? I think the absence of hosts or staff added to fantasy of this silly overnight boat adventure! It really did feel a little like we were in an episode of Gilligan's Island! Oddly though, I felt like I knew our hosts the whole time.
They obviously have a great sense of humor and even better sense of playful fun... with their careful attention to detail when it comes to decorating. I would love to return and stay in every trailer and hang out with some of the others around the picnic table! Another time!
Bisbee, Arizona in May 2014 Don and I had never been to this small town, but we arrived on the last leg of our 4-week road trip.  At the Inn, we were right at the foot of Castle Rock and just a few steps from downtown Old Bisbee. Oldest Wood Structure This great, red and green wooden structure was built in 1895 as a boarding house for the local miners. It remained a boarding house into the 1940's. The lower level, with office and gift shop, was then a dirt crawl space. The 2 levels above housed miners who may have relaxed on the porches on summer evenings long ago.  It was actually a soldier, not a miner who years ago sat on that veranda cleaning his gun when it accidently went off. It killed a woman walking on the street below and some guests claim to have seen her ghost. If you look carefully to your left, you might see the ghost image of the man with his rifle. But if you look even closer...it's actually a young man and his guitar. Arriving I grinned as we crossed the bridge, over a dry creek bed towards the battered red door. You could tell this place was going to be fun when the large rusty bells clanked and announced our arrival.  If we'd gone left, we could have stepped into sort of a sun room that had coffee and sometimes breakfast treats. (It doesn't claim to be a B&B) But we turned right into the office, which had a cave-like feel. Not because it was once a dirty crawl space under the building, but because you could feel the odd, cool air coming from the Apache Springs Well that was right behind Cheryl. Cheryl Cheryl, who checked us in said a few years ago, the son of a previous owner stopped in town for a visit.
He shared memories of being a little boy and exploring under the building, where a few boards covered the well. The Well And here is the well, with neon sign and ladder behind the desk. In 1877, Apache Indians showed a natural spring to some miners and a mine shaft was built on site.
When the spring flowed into the shaft, it became a well. They built the boarding house right over the well and the copper mine moved elsewhere. Swimming? We spoke with the owner, Chris (who had an awesome New Zealand accent) and he said a few years ago some young women asked if they could take a swim.
The girls lasted only a minute in the icy, dark water. Exploring There were some great nooks and crannies for hanging out. Up a set of stairs we found an added room with TV, puzzles, magazines and posters.
 This would have been a teenager's dream...in the '70's. There was another cozy area around a wood burning stove. This was no Hilton lounge, but you had to love the homey feel. Love a Porch! Our room, #21 was on the first level overlooking the street. There were Adirondack chairs and a porch swing, with a view of Castel Rock. Owner, Chris has kept quite a bit of the quirky décor from when he bought the place 5 years ago. "It had been pretty much a party house since it was inherited."
The owners who bought in the 1980's had decorated the rooms with some pretty unique collections in of art and doodads. Chris warned with a chuckle, "I don't take any responsibility for any of the quirky décor in the rooms." He said the reputation of the place was built on the crazy stuff. Last Chance Last Chance was the name of our room. It was quite a doozie with the Asian theme!
We opened the screened door first, then the deluxe pink and white door... with complicated drapes. Four Bathroom Photos! I'm sure I have never shared 4 bathroom photos in the blog, but this bathroom cracked me up.
It was large enough to have a wooden chair and full tub. And the sink area could have held a number of appliances. I just had to look in those cabinets and of course...there were more Asian themed knick knacks! What's Notable? I'll always remember the kookiness of this quiet little place across from Castle Rock. It's really like no other historic hotel I've visited.
If we'd had more time, I would have used the veranda more, or explored the gardens behind the hotel. It was very peaceful for us, but I imagine on a weekend we could have met up with some unique travelers at a place like this! We'll have to return.
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Ninety Notable
Nights My New Year's Resolution for 2014 was to start documenting some of the memorable overnights I've had in some very odd and curious motels and hotels. Like the adventures in my Dining Blog, I have learned to enjoy the surprises that happen when you step out of the comfort zone, far away from the well-known chains. I began with a few entries recalling my very first home away from home memories from my youth. Then, I started sharing about some of the quirky and unforgettable motels, hotels and inns that my husband and I have discovered in recent years. The best part about this challenge was making some lists with Don and getting on the road in search of new overnight adventures. I gave myself a 2-year goal to write up 90 stories and the goal was met. Now we just keep on adding! Archives
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