The Oregon and Washington coast boast an unparalleled beauty that scream “road trip.” While California has California Highway 1 running along most of its coastline, Oregon and Washington have the 101. And it’s just off the 101, where you’ll find Kind Traveler partner, Adrift Hospitality, which has developed a collection of coastal boutique hotels, restaurants and a distillery for travelers between Seaside, Oregon and Long Beach, Washington. When you book an Adrift Hospitality property on Kind Traveler, you’ll have the opportunity to support North Coast Food Web, helping to keep the community healthy and the food system stronger, or a charity of your choice.
Travel Kindly in Coastal Oregon & Washington with Adrift Hospitality
In this Kind Traveler story, writer and photographer, Spencer Spellman, takes you on a little Pacific Northwest coastal road trip via Adrift Hospitality’s Oregon and Washington hotels. Read on to learn about some of Adrift’s unique properties, and the dreamy coastal towns you’ll find them in.
Ashore Hotel, Seaside, OR
Seaside is located between two of Oregon’s most iconic coastal towns, Cannon Beach and Astoria. From Portland, it’s about an hour and a half drive. Seaside was Oregon’s first seaside resort town, and much of those elements and charms of a seaside resort town remains today. It’s promenade, dubbed the Prom, stretches 1.5 miles along the beach, and just off of the promenade is a bustling area of shops, restaurants and hotels.
In the heart of Seaside, just a block from the beach is the Ashore Hotel, featuring 22 rooms with a mid-century motel vibe. Some of the Ashore's perks include an indoor heated saline pool, dry sauna and cruiser bikes, which are all included in the small resort fee (which also covers parking and EV charging). My favorite part of my stay at Ashore, however, was coming back at night to the wine bar after a day of exploring. I’d grab a drink from the bar, and then enjoy it outside around the fire pit while chatting with other guests. The wine bar has a small brunch and all-day menu as well.
Bowline Hotel, Astoria, OR
Driving north from Seaside just 30 minutes away is the charming town of Astoria, which is set on the mouth of the Columbia River. For those who have a penchant for ‘80s pop culture, you may immediately recognize Astoria from The Goonies. It seems fitting then that the Oregon Film Museum is actually located in Astoria. Astoria is considered one of the oldest towns in Oregon, and while it only has a population of 10,000, it’s often been called Little San Francisco because of its hilly streets, Victorian homes and more. Astoria is the last Oregon town you come to before crossing over the Columbia River into Washington.
Directly on the Columbia River is Adrift’s newest hotel, the Bowline Hotel. The Bowline Hotel has been transformed from a seafood processing plant to a luxurious 40-room hotel right on the Columbia with views of the Astoria–Megler Bridge and the Washington riverfront. Rooms come with either trolley or river views, and feature amenities that include in-room soaking tubs, fireplaces and a coffee/tea bar. On the ground floor, overlooking the Columbia River, The Knot is a full-service restaurant and bar that’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Don’t miss the “Cocktail For A Cause,” a monthly Adrift initiative in which a portion of profits from a cocktail goes to local charities.
Adrift Hotel and Inn at Discovery Coast, Long Beach, WA
From Astoria, you’d cross the Astoria–Megler Bridge, and follow the 101 along Baker Bay until you reach Long Beach, which is just 30 minutes away. Long Beach has earned its name, considering it stretches continuously for 28 miles. Like Seaside, Long Beach has a long history as a seaside resort town. Today, tourist shops and restaurants dot the main drag, while one of the most popular places is the half-mile boardwalk. Get off the main drag of Long Beach, however, and you’ll find numerous state parks, including Cape Disappointment, which has an active lighthouse, hiking trails and more. Unique to the area are cranberries, which you can see firsthand at the Cranberry Museum.
Long Beach is the only destination where Adrift has multiple properties, including the Adrift Hotel and the Inn at Discovery Coast, both of which are actually located next to one another. Adrift Hotel has a little bit of it all, including a full-service spa, heated saline pool, barrel sauna, fire pit, and bikes. On the top floor is the Pickled Fish Restaurant, which has a sweeping view overlooking the beach and Pacific Ocean, and showcases a creative Pacific Northwest-inspired menu. Located next door is Adrift Distillers, which is the company's own small-batch, craft distillery, where visitors can take part in a tasting and/or buy a number of craft spirits.
Just beyond the Adrift Hotel, closer to the beach, is the Inn at Discovery Coast, which is Adrift’s adults-only, luxury boutique inn. The Inn at Discovery Coast shares many of Adrift Hotel’s amenities, such as the full-service spa. However, the Inn at Discovery Coast has a more elevated guest experience and some unique guest room experiences. Among some of those unique guest room experiences is the Beach House, set off from the main building, in a gardened space with views of the Pacific Ocean. Situated next to the Beach House, on the second floor above the pool and full-service spa, are the Pool House Rooms, which have private balconies with a view of the beach forest.