Jeremy M.
Yelp
It was a random gorgeous Saturday morning when we woke up in February 2010, one of those rare, beautiful, actually warm days in the middle of winter.
On a whim we decided to go to the coast for the day/night. Having done the Seaside / Canon Beach thing to death (great cities, but a little stale), we did a quick perusal of beach towns within a reasonable drive of Portland and settled on Astoria. Although not "technically" a coastal town, as it sits on a hillside overlooking the mouth of the Columbia River, it's still nevertheless only a 20 minute drive to Fort Stevens State Park and its nice beaches.
My wife and I are big fans of older houses so the Grandview easily fit the bill of a decent looking place to stay. I called around noon and asked for their cheapest room (~$50). The elderly woman on the other end immediately asked me if I chose that room because it was the cheapest. "Actually, yeah," I remarked a little sheepishly. She then offered us any room in the place at that price. Score one for traveling in the off season! We ended up reserving "The Treetops."
The description from the website: "Spacious room with spectacular view from balcony overlooking the Columbia River and grove," did not disappoint. The room was decent enough, painted white, old fashioned furniture, and with a few paintings/photographs of the above mentioned "treetop" theme. The kicker was the absolutely breathtaking view from the private balcony, located on the uppermost floor. Sunlight bouncing off the water. Boats and barges leisurely floating by. The Astoria Bridge in the distance. And not one, but two churches probably built in the 1800s within blocks.
As we left for dinner, the elderly woman gave us the key lock combination to let ourselves in when we returned, which wasn't until after midnight and a thorough study of the various eateries and bars Astoria has to offer.
Breakfast in the morning was a simple affair. No selection on what was served, but we aren't picky eaters anyhow. I know you're supposed to get "bed" AND "breakfast," but really, who doesn't stay somewhere for the bed part of the deal 95% of the time? Options included: oatmeal, orange juice, coffee, fresh fruit, bagels with lox and capers. I know that I ate my fair share. Plus for the price we paid, any morning food is a treat. I can't say that I would of enjoyed eating with random strangers, so I'm glad we were the only ones staying there.
Overall, recommended.