The subsequent time I’ve guests staying in a single day in my space, I’m recommending they keep on the Valley River Inn.
Although I stay right here in Eugene, I’ve stayed there earlier than and eaten on the restaurant a couple of instances. I benefit from the meals very a lot and actually like what they’ve carried out with the rework on this resort, which has been a part of the neighborhood in Eugene for a very long time.
The Valley River Inn in Eugene reopened final yr after a very nice renovation, and their new poolside eating service makes it an much more ultimate vacation spot for guests in search of each leisure and journey.
Valley River Inn holds the distinctive distinction of being one in every of Eugene’s solely riverfront accommodations. There are different accommodations on the river, notably those alongside Franklin Boulevard close to campus. Nonetheless, you don’t have a purpose to be close to campus, you won’t essentially need to select these.
The Valley River Inn property sits instantly on the gorgeous Willamette River, with many rooms providing riverside views. They’re significantly stunning in the course of the summer season months when the sky is blue, the water is recent and chilly, and the timber are inexperienced.
As you’ll see in my earlier account of my keep (linked above), the river is gorgeous anytime. Winters in Eugene are sometimes grey, so the water simply seems particularly stunning within the summertime.
The resort’s place alongside the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path System makes it excellent for individuals who need to deliver their canines and have the ability to simply take them for a stroll — the resort has dog-friendly rooms on the primary flooring. Go for a run, go for a motorbike trip, or chook watch alongside the path proper outdoors your door.
The resort gives complimentary bicycles for visitors to make use of for as much as two hours at a time, making it straightforward to discover Eugene’s intensive community of motorcycle paths with the children. If the resort doesn’t have bikes, one other approach you possibly can expertise town or river trails by bike through the use of the bike share program sponsored by the native hospital, PeaceHealth. Search for the sky blue bikes — you obtain an app and pay as you go, solely 19 cents a minute, after which go away the bike wherever you find yourself. On our day on the resort, there have been additionally a few resort bikes and a few bike share bikes proper there.
And right here’s a bonus that busy dad and mom will recognize: The opposite purpose that Valley River Inn is a cool selection is as a result of it shares a car parking zone with Valley River Middle, a buying vacation spot that additionally has a enormous arcade and movie show. Your loved ones is not going to be bored.
Poolside Eating, With a Few Quirks
The rationale I went again to the resort is as a result of we wished to attempt the pool now that it was summertime, and we additionally received to order from the brand new poolside lunch menu from the on-site restaurant, Candy Waters on the River.
With Eugene’s excellent pool climate — every day temperatures normally vary between 80 and 90 levels — households can spend whole afternoons lounging by the outside pool and order scrumptious Pacific Northwest delicacies introduced proper to you everytime you really feel prefer it.
Highlights embody recent salads, bruschetta topped with Roma tomatoes and whipped ricotta, and a standout Candy Waters burger with Tillamook further sharp cheddar. We received the bruschetta and likewise upgraded our fries to garlic truffle fries, which have been scrumptious. Youngsters will gravitate towards the crispy rooster tenders and a mac and cheese, with creamy fontina cheese and toasted breadcrumbs on the highest, although dad and mom may even take pleasure in these tasty delicacies.
Moderately than poolside desk service, visitors order utilizing QR codes that connect with a web based ordering system. The pool menu didn’t have a drinks menu. We found that you may get drinks poolside, however it’s a must to go in and get them organized from the restaurant or from the resort foyer desk so that they know to place the drinks in plastic cups, which is comprehensible for pool security.
And all meals – even the extra elegant objects just like the crostini and the charcuterie and cheese plates — are delivered in takeout containers.
These service components didn’t diminish the standard of the meals or the general expertise for us, besides that it might be good to discover a solution to plate some objects higher in order that the nicer objects just like the crostini and the charcuterie plate are offered rather less casually. The trade-off is affordable pricing and the pliability to take pleasure in high quality restaurant meals in a relaxed poolside setting.
Past the Pool
We’ve actually loved the rooms we’ve stayed in. Each time we stroll into the resort, we each say how a lot we like the fashionable lodge look. There’s a complete wall of books to browse, an enormous fire, and a big desk for enterprise work. You’ll additionally see a couple of good and comfortable seating areas the place you possibly can work, discuss, or have a cup of espresso.
For households, the placement gives the most effective of each worlds: a peaceable retreat setting surrounded by mature timber and plush landscaping, shut sufficient to Eugene’s points of interest and facilities to maintain everybody entertained. The mixture of its riverside location, handy buying and actions for households just like the movie show and the arcade, free bike leases, the scrumptious on-site restaurant, and now poolside eating makes it the most effective resort on the town so far as I’m involved.
After I used to be carried out on the pool, I went to the Candy Waters on the River restaurant for a nightcap. I received the whiskey flight which is a sampling of 4, half-ounce pours, and the strawberry butter bake dessert. The dessert is significantly the most effective restaurant dessert I’ve ever had. I don’t know precisely what a butter bake is, but it surely was dense however wealthy, filled with buttery taste, type of like a strawberry shortcake however extra buttery.
I attempted to search out the recipe for my spouse. I even requested on the resort desk about it as a result of it was so good, they usually informed me that it was the private recipe of somebody who works there. It’s undoubtedly one thing we’ll return for.
As I’ve talked about earlier than, it’s so stress-free to take a seat by the river to have a drink or a pleasant meal, particularly as a result of so there are so few eating places the place you are able to do that in Eugene. We actually love the brick and arches of the Candy Waters on the River restaurant and are so glad they preserved these cool options within the rework.
The subsequent morning I ordered breakfast and received avocado toast, bacon, eggs, potatoes, and a few fruit. The bacon right here is actually good too.
I checked out the foyer choices for issues you should purchase which I hadn’t appeared on the night time earlier than, and I used to be impressed that you possibly can get some strong meals for a low value. Since you might have a microwave in your room, you possibly can get one thing fast and straightforward like a microwave pasta meal or ice cream to take again to your room. Additionally they had espresso, pastries, and a few alcoholic drinks you possibly can have in your room.
Valley River Inn: A Eugene Hospitality Standout
Valley River Inn represents what I feel is the most effective form of native renovation — they’ve up to date all the pieces that wanted updating whereas conserving what made the place particular within the first place. For households visiting Eugene, you actually can’t do higher than Valley River Inn. The children will love the pool and the arcade subsequent door, dad and mom will recognize the riverside views and high quality meals, and everybody will take pleasure in having Eugene’s greatest outside actions proper at their doorstep.
It’s turn into my go-to advice, and after experiencing all the pieces they’ve to supply, I’m assured your loved ones will adore it too.
And truthfully? It’s the form of place that makes you need to prolong your keep an additional night time. Particularly if it means one other likelihood at that strawberry butter bake dessert — significantly, should you keep right here, don’t skip dessert at Candy Waters. Belief me on this one.