Dining

Sometimes the best finds are ones that are off the beaten path.

Nye Beach in Newport is one of those finds.

While hundreds of thousands of tourists and locals scour Highway 101 for the perfect spot, one of the best places to enjoy everything from dining to shopping to beach access is just a few blocks off the highway.

“A lot of people know about us,” said Berniece Hammon of the Nye Beach Merchants Association. “But folks from out of town might not get down here and they will really be missing something if they don’t.”

Do not pinch yourself, this is not a mirage, and hopefully you didn’t overdo it with the wine-tastings throughout the Willamette Valley.  The strikingly handsome stone and polished wood edifice you come upon on the outskirts of small, humble Newberg, Oregon is in fact very real.  The Allison Inn & Spa opened its doors in September of 2009 as the area’s first upscale destination resort.  The most remarkable thing about the 85-room and suite hotel may well be that there is nothing else like it in Oregon’s wine country and it instantly filled a niche for visitors who wanted

The Blacksmith Restaurant serves distinctive new ranch cuisine in the historic Pearson Blacksmith Shop in Downtown Bend. The newly-renovated restaurant will make diners nostalgic for the comfort foods of the past with a contemporary spin. Executive chef Gavin McMichael features a seasonally changing menu, creating new classics like: “Lobster Corndogs,” “Not Your Mother’s Meatloaf” and “Northwest Cheesesteak.”

Creating something unique is what Ray Peck, and his wife, Diane Weisenberg, wanted when they opened Wind Horse Coffee and Tea in Milwaukie. 

They remain true to one-of-a-kind experiences by dreaming up new product ideas and offering extraordinary products in their shop.

Even entering the store is a bit of a surprise. It’s decorated in vibrant southwest design which offers a stark contrast to the sometimes grey Pacific Northwest days.