Guest Post: Manzanita - A Vacationer's Perspective
We Love Our Guests
Don't know if you've been following us long enough to tell, but one of the best perks of running our vacation rental business The Houses On Manzanita Beach is the interaction with our guests.
Granted, people planning vacations are usually in a good mood, and pretty excited at that.
In our 19+ years of helping guests craft the perfect vacation, we've gotten to know some guests really quite well.
The Renaissance Guest.
Jo Benedetti first visited our Oceanfront Cabin in mid-2013. She was looking for a much needed break from work. Since that time she's taken a very early retirement and has travelled the world (can you tell I'm envious), but still returns to our area for regular Manzanita R&Rs.
Besides being a terrific amateur photographer, runner, lover of books and a glass of fine wine to toast spectacular sunsets, Jo holds the distinction of one of our guests that has stayed in all three of our houses.
Her latest visit was to our recently remodelled Historic Reed House, and she graciously agreed to share her story and her wonderful photos.
Don't you think they're great? Follow along for the rest of her vacation.
p.s. Below is the one photo not taken by Jo, but by her talented husband Brian at The Historic Reed House.
Jo's Story
Last October my husband and I took a four-day trip to Manzanita Oregon, which is just south of Cannon Beach. We've vacationed in Cannon Beach many times but it always felt so crowded which is why we love Manzanita more.
It's less touristy but still has everything I want: cute shops, good restaurants, a pub, two grocery stores, including a small Whole Foods, great pizza from Marzano's, a wine bar, even a golf course (though I don't golf).
Oh...and the Cloud and Leaf bookstore! Don't you just love when vacation towns have a bookstore? I always make a point to buy books while on vacation.
On our last day the Bread and Ocean bakery next door to the bookstore served me the best latte I've ever had. (Had I known earlier I would have been there every morning!)
In Manzanita you come across folks of all ages, locals and tourists alike - cute construction/surfer guys with dreadlocks, families with young children, older couples stopping through on a long road trip. Everyone is so friendly.
We had a great time watching the Seahawks/Panthers game (even though we ended up losing) sitting with fellow Washingtonians at the San Dune Pub. We always make it to the San Dune a couple of times when we visit and feel so welcomed.
On this trip we stayed at The Historic Reed House. The house recently went through an extensive remodel that took over a year. (I know because I followed it on Facebook.)
It was worth the wait. This house could be on the HG Channel! We've already booked it for a whole week next October to stay with my brothers and their families. I hope to make it an annual family get together.
I can't quite do justice to the Reed House with words alone or even photos. I know it's cliche to say, but this place really feels like a home away from home. (Ha! What am I saying? It's better than home, given that we live in a condo in suburbia!)
It's a big house! But here's the thing: it's not so big that you feel lost in it if you are just hanging out on the main floor. It's the right size whether you have two couples or eight couples.
When you walk in right away you smell the new wood. The fir floors look original and are an important feature in the house.
The owner is a designer and she did a fantastic job blending the old and the new, which lends to retaining the history and character and warmth of this home even with all the modern conveniences.
At first I focused so much on the view and the main floor that it took me a couple days before I noticed everything: a vintage phone booth (the phone works too!); schoolhouse lighting; a custom made rolling barn door to the master bathroom; vintage movie theatre seats in the upstairs TV room; farmhouse sinks and so much more.
Some of the photos are town shots I took with my other little camera when I went to for a run. I wished I had the nerve to ask the cute dreadlocked guy with the surfboard on top of his truck and the tools in the bed of it if I could take his photo!
Manzanita Beach Life Response:
Thanks Jo for sharing your experience. It's been wonderful following along!
Enjoy~
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