My wife, Lisa, had been in need of a break for a long time. My work schedule is problematic and leaves her handling child care responsibilities at night during the week, and we hadn’t gotten away alone as a couple since our daughter was born three years ago. Lisa prefers experiences over things when it comes to receiving gifts, so this Christmas I set up an adults only weekend at the Oregon Coast. We took the trip earlier this month.

My first real full-time job out of college was in Newport, Oregon, a coastal hub town. I lived there for more than five years and have retained local knowledge of the Central Oregon Coast. It’s not a booming metropolitan area so the challenge is to find new places to stay and new things to do. I thought that a bed and breakfast would be more interesting than a hotel and went searching for a place we hadn’t previously visited.

What I found was a beautiful home tucked away in a little Depoe Bay neighborhood. The home overlooks the ocean and is just a short walk from Fishing Rock State Park. Kim and Lori are the innkeepers at Pana-Sea-Ah Bed and Breakfast, and I worked with them late last year to put together a little Christmas package for my wife. They delivered an experience above our expectations, which is the overall sentiment of most who visit.

We arrived at the home on a late Friday afternoon. Kim, who has to be one of the warmest people I’ve ever met, greeted us and gave us a tour of the inn. Wine and cookies were waiting for us in the common great room where the view of the ocean was magnificent. Kim took us upstairs to our weekend retreat, the Garden Room. It’s in a corner of the house with a panoramic view of the ocean and reading nooks under the windows, perfect for my wife who loves to read early in the morning. Waiting for us in our room was a bottle of sparkling cider and Dove chocolates. It was wonderful to fall asleep at night with the shades open, hearing the roar of the ocean through cracked windows.

Earlier in the day we started our trip at the coast with lunch in Gleneden Beach at the Side Door Cafe. It was our first time at this little eatery in a renovated warehouse where repurposed materials from Multnomah Public Library and Portland City Hall were used to decorate the restaurant. Following a delicious lunch, we walked next door for massages. Fantastic start to the weekend!

After a wonderful breakfast Saturday morning the rain let up, and we walked down the street to Fishing Rock State Park. There were only a couple other people there and no one else on the beach below. There was plenty of room to explore the small forest and rocks and then stroll home along the beach. After that we headed into the main stretch of Depoe Bay and then Newport for shopping, more shopping and lunch.

For dinner on Saturday Lisa and I went to Tables of Content at the Sylvia Beach Hotel. The hotel is a boutique inn located in the Nye Beach neighborhood where I used to live. Each room has the theme of a famous author: William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, John Steinbeck, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jules Verne, Agatha Christie, etc. The restaurant is unique and something of an open secret. I was aware of it while still living on the coast but never tried it. There is only one seating per night, and everyone picks an entree when making reservations earlier in the day. All other food is served family style. There are only a handful of tables, and seating is assigned much like on a cruise ship, meaning parties mix. It’s a fun way to meet and dine with new people. We ate with John and Tibby, a couple from the Willamette Valley, who were guests at the hotel and interesting people. Tibby was in the Navy during the Vietnam era. Based in Iceland, her job was listening for enemy submarines. We couldn’t top that!

After dinner with our new friends Lisa and I drove back to the bed and breakfast through the driving rain for more relaxation at the inn. There were no cookies on Saturday night, but there were brownies! We watched a movie and fell asleep to the ocean once again.

The trip was a panacea (or Pana-Sea-Ah!). Lisa was so relaxed and recharged by the end of the weekend, and we were so grateful for the hospitality and kindness that Kim and Lori showed us. It felt like we were old friends by the time we left on Sunday morning. Their home is a haven, and we promised to return. I’m hoping in the fall…

A few pictures from the weekend: