Run Oregon loves running – that’s no surprise. But we also love the Pacific Northwest and all that it has to offer. Running is a part of us, but it does not fully define us. In our “Make a Day of It” feature, we aim to showcase some great local non-running events and highlight where to run and how to make the most of your experience!
The next installment of this series is The Houses on Manzanita Beach!
The running:
The running races in Manzanita proper are few and far between, but it’s a nice “home base” between two of the bigger North Oregon Coast cities of Seaside (22 miles north) and Tillamook (26 miles). Here are a handful of local races to consider:
- Warrior Love 5K & 10K (February – Nehalem)
- Three Capes Relay (February – Tillamook)
- Manzanita Beach Walk / Run (July – Manzanita)
- Seaside Beach Run (July – Seaside)
If none of those races fit your schedule or your beach trip ambitions, there are still plenty of opportunities to explore the outdoors just minutes away. Right from the backdoor of this particular house, you’re at the north end of the beach that stretches south for about 7 miles. There are also plenty of miles of beaches and trails at Oswald West State Park, a quick 5 minute drive north, Nehalem Bay State Park 5 minutes to the south, and, of course, the beloved Neahkahnie Mountain Loop Hike, an 8 mile loop (or out and back, depending on your choice of trailhead) with a gorgeous view of the beach you’ve been staying on! When you’re ready to pamper yourself and/or work out some sore muscles from all the running and hiking, head to the highly rated Spa Manzanita for a massage / mani-pedi / facial, etc. Or test out your skills at the Manzanita Golf Course! There’s plenty to do, so make it your own!
I went for an afternoon run on the beach one day and could only smile at how it was the classic “Oregon coast in January” experience! Sand-blasting headwinds made it a slow slog, as if running on sand wasn’t hard enough. It was a little bit surreal to have an entire beach to myself, everyone else smartly staying inside that day. Running close to the water to take advantage of the more compact sand and then sprinting to higher ground as the the sea rushed toward me was a fun game for these miles! It wasn’t miserable, in fact, it was quite the opposite. I laughed at my soaking, sandy shoes and thought, “I could get used to beach life”.
Our rental experience:
The Houses on Manzanita Beach has 5 different housing options:
- Oceanfront Cottage (3 bed; 2 baths, sleeps 8)
- Beachside Lodge (4 bed, 3 baths, sleeps 16)
- Oceanside Modern Cabin (3 bed; 3 baths, sleeps 10)
- Beachfront Caretakers Bungalow (2 bed; 1 baths, sleeps 4)
- Historic Reed House (7 bed; 5 baths, sleeps 20)
Many thanks to the owners, Kim & Eric, we were able to spend a few nights in the beautiful Oceanfront Cottage. Everything about this house is private – private beach access, private fire pit area, private and cozy master bathroom with en suite, private living room nook…and having the place in January made me want to stay in sweatpants and read books in front of the huge windows while the waves crashed just outside because it felt so secluded and relaxing.
The 3 bedrooms consist of a master bathroom with king bed and en suite and gorgeous stained glass windows, another bedroom with a view of the ocean and second king bed, and the third has 2 sets of bunkbeds. The living room has a wood fireplace (bring your own or buy some in town to enjoy some awesome wood heat, plus a bit extra for the fire pit out back!) and lots of seating for just lounging around. There is also a smart TV, so movie night and binge watching Netflix can certainly be on the agenda as well.
The kitchen has been updated and is well-appointed; oven, dishwasher, stove, microwave, coffee pot, large fridge, and all the cooking equipment you could need. The best part of the kitchen, however, is the huge dining table! It’s perfect for dinners with everyone (featuring, of course, a great view!), and in our case, a few hours of playing Dominoes. It’s a great communal spot and for those nicer weather days, the sliding glass door opens to a great deck (with BBQ!) and a grassy lawn area which would be great for yard games or to throw a blanket down to read a book. Have I mentioned this house is pet friendly!? Dogs + grass = happiness. Dogs + beaches = pure bliss. Bring ’em!
The location of this house relative to town is great as well. It’s on Reed Rd at the north end of town, making it ~1.5 mile walk to the cute downtown area. An easy 25 minute walk. Or, really, walk up the beach and you’ll get there, too! Otherwise it’s mere minutes to drive and the town has great shopping, restaurants, and cute residential areas to covet. There are some grocery store options, a library and a bookstore, and a city park as well. Just a few miles south on Highway 101 is the town of Nehalem featuring a few more restaurants and great antique shopping!
Checking into the house was incredibly easy – just a simple code on the door unlocks the place and you’re in. I received a “welcome packet” via email a few days before so I had the address, contact information, keypad code, and arguably the most important thing: the WiFi info! When we arrived, it was a breeze. Checking out a few days later we needed a bit of extra time to throw our linens in the laundry and make sure our dishes were done, but really the hardest part was watching the ocean in the rearview mirror as we headed for home.
The comfort and value of these rentals are a tough act to follow. If you’re planning a trip to the coast, whether for running, hiking, whale watching, beach combing, a family reunion, a work conference, or a solo getaway to work on your novel, definitely consider booking one of their lovely homes. We recommend them! (They are also available to book through other rental websites such as AirBnb, VRBO, and HomeAway if that’s your preference!)
You can check out The Houses on Manzanita Beach on social media as well:
Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | or their own blog!
*More about The Houses on Manzanita Beach*:
I’m Kim Bergstrom, and my husband Eric and I have built on my father’s childhood dream of owning a beachfront house on the Oregon Coast. His father worked for the railroad and learned about the majesty and beauty of the Coast through that experience. He in turn passed on his love of this part of Oregon to my father. After graduating from Pacific University in Forest Grove, my father finally found his own bit of heaven at the foot of Neah-kah-nie Mountain in the tiny North Coast community of Manzanita Oregon.
I grew up commuting back and forth on the Sunset Highway while they built their dream. We spent summers searching through Manzanita Oregon tide pools, jumping waves, building huge driftwood fort while climbing over swaths of rocks and huge logs, skinning my knees while learning to ride a bike, following my brothers and cousins into town to buy penny candy and comic books or an afternoon of bowling, hiking up Neah-kah-nie Mountain, and crowded around the Thanksgiving and Christmas table with family and friends.
When people ask me about the houses, my standard reply is that they are considered charming and full of character. If vacationers looking for a Manzanita Oregon new condo experience, our beachfront Manzanita rentals aren’t a good match. But if vacationers are looking for a true Oregon Coast or Manzanita Oregon experience, whether as a couple, a family, with a group of family, friends, co-workers, or just yourself, our Manzanita Oregon vacation rentals are definitely the place to relax and enjoy a truly wonderful Oregon Coast get away.
*”More About” information taken from the company’s website. We like to let their own stories speak for themselves, because we review companies that have real personality and passion about what they do.
Many thanks to The Houses on Manzanita Beach for allowing us to check out their property! Please read our transparency page for info on how we do our reviews.
