Oregon Family Cabin Vacation: Bear Creek Lodge

Earlier this fall we introduced Stay22.com, a new travel booking website that combines search results for hotels with VRBO. We like Stay22 because it allows our readers to find larger, more family-friendly properties with ammenities like dish washers and washing machines and private swimming pools, ammenities not often found at traditional hotels and motels. Sometimes an extended stay hotel works, sometimes VRBO is better—sifting through everything in one place saves both time and energy.

With the world on a travel hiatus, our big “vacation” for 2020 was spending one week in a lodge over the kids’ holiday break. Speficially, we were looking for a large kitchen, common hangout space, and enough separation between bedrooms and bathrooms to feel like we were in a home-away-from-home.

As luck would have it, we happened upon the Bear Creek Lodge property near Lincoln City, Oregon.

Built into the remote old growth wilderness near the small community of Otis, Bear Creek Lodge is situated six miles up the road from the Drift Creek Falls trailhead and an easy drive into both Lincoln City and Neskowin (read this story about visiting the “Neskowin ghost beach” at low tide).

Drift Creek Falls

Drift Creek Falls

Neskowin Beach

Neskowin Beach

While there are many lodging options in Oregon’s Northern Coast, we liked the kid-friendly game room at Bear Creek Lodge and the air hockey and foosball tournaments that ensued. The oversided L-shaped sofas in the living room gave us plenty of space to spead out for a nightly movie night (BYO DVD or choose from the large selction available for guests to peruse). Is there a statute of limitations on how many times you can watch The Princess Bride?

Movie Night in the Living Room

Basement Rec Room

Other ammenities included a wood-burining stove (wood stacked and ready to go), books, and this old timey toilet! We were also pleasantly surprised by the “extras” ranging from bubble bath to complimentary laundry detergent and breakfast items in the fridge.

While Bear Creek Lodge worked for our family’s desire to disconnect and have a COVID-friendly outdoor focused vacation in a home larger than our own, you may be looking for something a little closer to the ocean or a different size or configuration. No worries, simply click on the Stay22 map above and do your own searching.

No matter where you land or how you recreate, stay safe and here’s to safe adventures in 2021!

About the Author

Julie Henning
Julie Henning is a freelance writer and journalist based out of Eugene, Oregon. She is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and owner of the family-travel website RoadTripsForFamilies.com. She is a recent past member of the Midwest Travel Writers Association and the Association for Great Lakes Outdoor Writers. In March 2018 Julie Henning published the book "100 Things to Do in Eugene Before You Die" (Reedy Press). She is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and recent past member of the Midwest Travel Writers Association and the Association for Great Lakes Outdoor Writers. She has been published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Wisconsin State Journal, Travel Wisconsin, Travel Oregon, Hometown News Group, The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Illinois), the Rochester Post Bulletin, Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine (DNR publication), Experience Michigan Magazine, the Official Oregon Wine Touring Guide, Metro Parent Milwaukee Magazine, Eugene Cascades & Coast Official Visitors Guide, Trivago, Intercom Magazine, Roadtrippers.com, Amtrak.com, Eugene Magazine, and FTF Geocacher Magazine. Julie has appeared on Wisconsin Public Radio, Ohio Public Radio, and KCBX FM Central Coast Radio. She has produced episodes for Journey of Discovery with Tom Wilmer, a National Public Radio travel podcast. Julie has also produced travel apps with Sutro Media and Bindu Media. She works full time in marketing. Julie has appeared on Wisconsin Public Radio, Ohio Public Radio, and KCBX FM Central Coast Radio and is an affiliate producer with the Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer, a National Public Radio travel podcast. She has blogged for TravelWisconsin.com, Travel Oregon, and VISIT Milwaukee. Julie travels with her three kids and black lab as much as possible and lives by the motto, "Not all who wander are lost." Check out some of her best work at www.juliehenning.com.