Cabins and B&Bs

About 20 minutes outside of Grants Pass [1] and well within the wild and scenic section of the Rogue River is the Doubletree Ranch (6000 Abegg Rd., Merlin, 541/476-0120, http://doubletree-ranch.com [2], cabins $95 and up). Originally homesteaded 100 years ago, this 160-acre four-generation working ranch offers cozy cabins, all set up for housekeeping with full kitchens. There’s also a five-bedroom house available that is perfect for family groups.

About 15 minutes north of town a couple of miles off I-5 Exit 66 is Flery Manor (2000 Jumpoff Joe Creek Rd., 541/476-3591, www.flerymanor.com [3], $120 and up). Canopy beds, unique furnishings, and a quiet secluded setting give this country manor a genteel air. All rooms have nice little touches like plush robes, fresh flowers, and morning coffee and tea service. The breakfast features a health-conscious menu. With a private balcony, a double Jacuzzi, and a fireplace, the Moonlight Suite is the right prescription for a romantic hideaway. Reservations are a must.

Approximately 20 miles north of Grants Pass on I-5 in Wolf Creek is the Pacific Northwest’s oldest continuously operated hostelry, the Wolf Creek Inn (100 Front St., Wolf Creek, 541/866-2474, www.thewolfcreekinn.com [4], Thurs.–Sun., $80 and up). Originally a hotel for the California and Oregon Stagecoach Line, this historic property, built in 1883, is now owned by the state parks department and is operated as a hotel and restaurant. Legend has it that President Rutherford B. Hayes visited the tavern in the late 1880s, and One-Eyed Charlie used to chew the fat in the dining room. You can also view the small room where author Jack London stayed and wrote part of his novel The End of the Story.

Wolf Creek’s boardinghouse had its heyday when it was a halfway house on the Portland–Sacramento stagecoach route, but it continues to serve road-weary travelers. The period furniture imparts atmosphere, while the beds and private baths are modern and comfortable; breakfast is included in the room rates. There are no TVs or phones in the rooms, however, in keeping with historic authenticity.

The restaurant (11 a.m.–4 p.m. and 5–8 p.m. Thurs.–Sun.) serves admirable Northwest cuisine, with veggies from the inn’s gardens and home-smoked meats.