Worth going out of your way to stay! My aunt and I have stayed at the Cathlamet Hotel (pronounced like the Willamette, Dammit!) twice and I look forward to more repeats. We first stayed Labor Day Weekend 2016 (which coincided with a local boat festival and art show which were both fun to experience) and then returned for Thanksgiving. We were initially simply looking for a "different" experience which was "halfway" for each of us (I come from the mid-Willamette Valley and she comes from the Skagit Valley) and have become huge fans of the hotel and their new management, as well as the communities in this area. Laurel and her adult grandchildren bought this place last spring and over the summer and fall have made many improvements, in everything from improved wi-fi to updating the heating system and from getting new mattresses to new food options. I love the quaint, historic charm of this place, for starters. Each of the rooms we've stayed in have been very comfortable. We also enjoyed borrowing the DVD Basket (they have several to loan out) and plugging it into our in-room TV so that we could watch some movies we brought with us for a rainy afternoon (after we'd spent the morning getting happily soaked doing the Turkey Trot in nearby Longview with a few hundred other die-hard families). Though we initially had a bit of difficulty getting it working properly, the owners readily helped us work through it (as they have done with any questions or problems we've managed to come up with!). But, I have to say, my favorite part of the hotel itself are all the various public spaces. I often found myself simply wandering around at odd hours, just walking down the stairs to the grand lobby (and piano) or to the sitting area near the reception desk overlooking the historic main street of this charming community or to the eating and game area in the back of the hotel, adjacent to a sweet garden. Their eating area is not like most cheapskate hotels that put things out for a few hours and then lock it all up. No, this place caters to fisherfolk and others who may want to arrive or depart in the wee hours and want access to food and drink. See the photos for the array of hot and cold drink options, the breads, spreads, pastries, yogurts, and more. Plus, they now stock snack options in the vending machine which are WAY cheaper than you'll get anywhere else. Then, there's the game room/library area, complete with couch and plenty of tables and chairs. The first wkd I was here, I camped out with my laptop here and got a lot of work done in this open, airy space. And, then had lots of fun going through various books (and donating a couple more) and playing a few games. Coming here truly feels like a vacation where I can relax, get enough work done that I can relax further, and explore the town and surrounding countryside. Speaking of the countryside, a few tips for explorers: For Lewis and Clark buffs, this area is rich with history. http://cathlametchamber.com/explore-the-lewis-and-clark-trail/ The largest nearby town is Longview: make sure you go on a scavenger hunt and look for the squirrel bridges (yes, these are now infamous bridges of all different designs, including the Nutty Narrows, strung across busy intersections so the squirrels are less likely to get smashed). All of them are near the scenic Lake Sacajawea in the center of town. http://www.mylongview.com/index.aspx?page=77 Check out the county website for many updated tourist attractions, including local festivals, communities such as Puget Island (located right across the short bridge near the hotel) and the ferry schedule (the last remaining ferry on the lower Columbia River (larger than the Willamette River ferries and smaller than the Puget Sound ferries): http://cathlametchamber.com/ Make sure to visit the town of Skamokawa (pronounced Skah-MAH-koh-way) and the historic steamboat landing and Vista Park. http://vista-park.org/ Leave time to explore the different sections of the adjacent wildlife refuge, including the visitor center. But, realize that you will well and truly be blessed if you see them because, unlike the deer you're used to seeing, these are very shy and skittish deer. We were, indeed, blessed to see them both times we came. It's such a delight to see their 9 inch tails raised high like waving a white flag as they race away from you. Reading about the genetic differences and how the Columbian White-tailed Deer only live in this area and the Roseburg area today is fascinating. https://www.fws.gov/refuge/julia_butler_hansen/ Puget Island itself is fun to explore and, if you are lucky or plan well, you may experience the Famer's Market (mid-May to mid-Oct! http://cathlametchamber.com/puget-island-farmers-market/ On the Oregon side, just west of the town of Westport (where the ferry goes!),check out Bradley State Scenic Viewpoint for a fantastic overlook of where you've been from atop the cliffs overlooking the Columbia River. read more