A great spot for a short vacation, especially if y...

A great spot for a short vacation, especially if you like to drink your day away.

I went here to view the 2017 eclipse along with a few family members, and I found the hotel / boutique resort charming, if a little lacking in things to do other than wander around with a drink in hand. Don't get me wrong: that's a perfectly valid way to spend your day if that's your thing, but I like a little more on the plate.

The grounds themselves are well-kept, with a turn-of-the-century charm that's been carefully sculpted through the vintage decor and hundreds of tiny details such as wall paintings, furniture and the like. The main hotel is a wonderful place just to wander around to soak in all the details, and though it's a bit dark it photographs well if you know what you're doing.

The main attraction are the grounds, which are a bit of a maze, adding to the charm. You can pop into any one of nearly two dozen 'bar shacks' on the property to top up your drink or sample new ones, while checking out things like the orchard, distillery, wine cellars, sauna and more. It's a chill way to spend your day, though I wouldn't recommend it in really hot weather.

There's a movie theatre on-site as well as a few restaurants, each with their own menu and the food is both generous and delicious. You could easily spend a few days trying different meals from each place alone.

The area around McMenamins has a wealth of sites to see, mainly concentrated on the Columbia Gorge tourist area, with its forested riverbanks and many waterfalls to tour, all of them excellent. Spend at least a day driving around before you decide to head to larger nearby cities, which have far less charm than the small towns nearer at hand.

I recommend McMenamins as a 'getaway' destination: come here to relax, disconnect from the busy world, and enjoy a slower pace of life that people once had a century ago. Bring a few books, some boardgames and a plan to smile your way through a relaxing day, and you'll be happy.