ALDER CREEK LODGING
Snug in the Woods of Alder Creek
Along Highway 26 in the Alder Creek area, a wooden bear about 2 storeys tall used to stand guard. A living coat of ivy protected him from the elements and gave him a name: Ivy Bear. Ivy Bear himself is gone, but a warm, friendly visit awaits you at the nearby lodging, where the owners share their hospitality and love of what they call “the perfect area.” Ivy Bear Bed and Breakfast offers two guest rooms, both with private bath, cable, and your own entrance to the dining area on the upper deck. There is free coffee in the rooms, so you can enjoy a fresh cup while you wake up and get ready for a delicious breakfast. Your meal can be served in your room or anywhere you choose, including the patio or in the company of others at the nearby Ivy Bear Restaurant.
Among guests the shady rear deck is very popular, for they can enjoy the woods in private and up close. Some pets are accepted, so ask ahead. Add to this the presence of nearby lakes, just the right amount of snow in wintertime, and easy highway travel within an hour to Portland, and you have everything one could want in a night on the mountain.
For a log cabin stay with a cozy feel, try The Hidden Woods Bed and Breakfast. This restored cabin boasts not only modern comfort inside, but also plenty to do outside in an intimate and beautiful setting. The back patio includes a hot tub, raised stone fire pit, and koi pond.
Gardens surrounding the cabin have been featured in regional magazines, and include impressive rhododendron bushes. Another pond onsite houses trout as big as 20 inches, which guests like to hand-feed. Private access to the Sandy River is included, too, if an early walk or afternoon wade sounds good. Watch for spawning salmon in September and October.
When it’s time to come inside, look for painted mice. There are seven artistic mice in the cabin, all in plain sight. Guests have held contests and made bets, but no one yet has spotted them all before breakfast the first morning. To this day the owners receive mice figurines from visitors who are positive there aren’t really seven!
The last though not least interesting feature of the cabin: as “The Hidden Woods,” there is full bed and breakfast convenience, but the lodging can also be taken as “Alder Creek Cabin,” if guests wish to prepare their own meals and enjoy extra privacy.
Many cabin guests are returns or referrals, and it’s the same at Ivy Bear. One of these is the perfect forest getaway for you!
Ivy Bear
Two guest rooms, private deck, all amenities
54735 E Hwy 26
Sandy, OR 97055
503-622-0395
www.ivybear.net
Hidden Woods B&B at Alder Creek Cabin
Original log cabin, fireplace, hot tub, all amenities
19380 E Summertime Drive
Sandy, OR 97055
503-622-5754
www.aldercreekcabin.com
September/October 2007