Great get away spot

Guest: Collin (Portland, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 09/10/10 Review Submitted: 08/04/11

My wife and I spent a blissful weekend of RR and the RR last september. The place was quick and easy to get to from Portland but felt completely private and secluded. The setting was as described, nicely wooded with sunlight dappling down on the front lawn and a small creek meandering not to far from the front porch. The cabin/house is very spacious and comfortable, the bed in the master suite was restful and we found the recliners in the living room so comfortable we fell asleep in them watching a movie after a great day of hiking on one of the trails described in their wonderful guide book and wine tasting in hood river. We plan on coming back with our family for more fun.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Wonderful Secluded Cabin - Needs Some Work

Guest: Holly D.
Date of Stay: 07/07/11 Review Submitted: 07/12/11

We were looking for a very secluded cabin in the woods and the Red Relaxer fits that to a tee. It is on a beautiful piece of property but unfortunately, the trails have all gotten overgrown and so there were only two trails I could walk unless I bushwacked by way through. Such a shame as the property is on a great hillside and there are several creeks running through it. The cabin was SPOTLESS and so kudos to the housekeeper, Christy. The rooms are exactly as the pictures show - very comfortable and clean. Couple of problems with a non-functioning oven and a recliner that did not recline, but overall, everything else was exactly as described in the literature. We hiked up the road and got the perfect view of Mount Hood. Definitely go to Trilliam Lake - perfect picture spot for Mount Hood pictures and reflection in the lake. We went to Timberlake Lodge (old historic lodge built by WPA) and there were hundreds of people skiing in mid-July!! It was gorgeous! Mid-summer is a great time to go as the roads are all passable and the fruit trees (cherries, pear, apple) are loaded with fruit. Also went to the lavender farm in Hood River and had a great time harvesting our own lavendar. Don't miss the Apple Valley Country Store in Hood River and check out the handmade quilted table runners and cloths from local quilt maker, Rhonda Harris - amazing work! Store is full of homemade jellies, mustards, salsas - all were crafted from family recipes. If you want to get off the grid for a few days, this secluded cabin is the right place. We cooked all meals there at the cabin and the kitchen was well stocked with the basics. Remember you will need to bring your own shampoo and hairdryer as none of the "hotel like" amenities are provided.

Owner response:We got a new oven and cleared some debris from our hiking trail. It's our goal to give our guests the most care free and relaxing experience possible. If there is something not quite right, we want to hear about it - preferably the moment you notice it.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

What a trip!

Guest: Georgi (Alexandria, Indiana)
Date of Stay: 06/16/11 Review Submitted: 06/24/11

We had a great time! Went skiing in June and lots of hiking. Favorite hikes included Salmon River Trail, Little Zigzag Falls, and Bill's Secret Waterfall. Our favorite dining experience was the delicious hamburgers at the Ratskeller in Govy (Government Camp). Beautiful views and a great place to stay! The beds were so comfortable, the living room spacious, and loved all of the helpful tips on things to do. Very clean place, and a helpful owner, too! Would highly recommend it to anyone! Thanks!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Totally Relaxing

Guest: Susan (Portland)
Date of Stay: 01/06/11 Review Submitted: 01/14/11

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Red Relaxer! The kitchen and living room have an open floor plan; so it is the perfect place for a large group to sprawl out it. You can partake in different activities (cooking, lounging by the fire, playing a game at one of two tables) and still be at the center of the conversation and the heart of it all. There were large windows in every direction of the house so when we first got there, we pulled all up the shades and had a tranquil view of snow covered trees enveloping us all weekend. The there are three houses in the area but they are either off in the distance or well down the road–we could only see one - so you definitely feel secluded. There is a wraparound porch that runs from the front door all the way around the side of the house to a back deck (which you can also access from large sliding glass doors in the living room). We didn’t use the deck because of the season, but it would be the perfect place to gather, night or day, in the warmer months. There are three creeks around the property which provide relaxing ambient noise and fun for the aimless wanderer. I think that the pond is at the back of the house, by the deck. If so, it was very low and almost dried up while we were there. Otherwise, we were looking in the wrong place. Although, I am sure that when the snow melts, that will change. For travelers with babies: The owners have some very thoughtful items you tend to not find in other rentals (a high chair, pack and play, bouncer and carrier – the back pack kind!) We didn’t know this going in but were really appreciative because we had three young ones with us. The kitchen had everything we needed including an array of jarred spices, a pop corn make and a waffle iron! The master bed room and bath are HUGE, which is a plus and a nice place to go to if you need a moment to yourself. The only negative I have on this place is mostly a personal preference and didn’t seem to bother anyone else - I am slightly anal about organization. The closets, drawers and storage areas need a bit of refreshing and reorganization. But this would never keep me from coming back. In fact we are already thinking about a summer retreat. Lastly, we really got a kick out of reading the Fun Book and the random signs left around the house by the owner. We all agreed we liked his sense of humor – like he’s the kind of guy you want to have a pint with.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

White Christmas 2010

Guest: Kailua Ohana (Kailua, Hawaii)
Date of Stay: 12/23/10 Review Submitted: 01/13/11

We had a wonderful stay at the Red Relaxer during Christmas of 2010. It had everything we needed, and was very clean. Being from Hawaii we weren't exactly sure of what to expect during snowy days but, we felt completely safe and comfortable in the cabin (there was an actually a power outage for about 5 hours). We had plenty of room to spread out and relax, especially with a few teenagers and a couple of toddlers who had all visited on Christmas day! We all enjoyed the snow and Mt.Hood ski areas are were just about 10 to 15 min up the highway. The couches and recliners were super comfy and clean. My husband kept saying how it really was relaxing at the Red Relaxer, and easy to fall asleep anywhere in the house! We would definately recommend this property to others wanting a family vacation home to rent. The only part that was a little bit innconvenient was the fact that there is no cell phone service and no way to place long distance calls, I think that there should be long distance service provided to guest. Overall we had a great experience and will be back. Aloha & Mahalo for having us!!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Amazing Property

Guest: Mark (Portland)
Date of Stay: 12/05/10 Review Submitted: 01/13/11

My family of seven (5 children under the age of 11) stayed at the Red Relaxer. We had a great time. It is a beautiful property located on a maze of streams nestled in the woods next to a meadow. We had several adventures hiking around during our short stay. We saw several salmon nearly as large as our 15 month old ;-). My oldest daughter is a bird enthusiast and loved the watching the birds. The sledding on the property or nearby hill was a blast. The cabin is rustic on the outside yet modern on the inside. Very comfortable. I'd highly recommend staying at the Red Relaxer!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Red Relaxing

Guest: oregongirl (Portland, OR)
Date of Stay: 12/30/10 Review Submitted: 01/13/11

The house is located close enough to services to be convenient, but far enough away to really feel like you are secluded in your own little retreat. The house was a clean comfortable modern home with all of the cookware and supplies we needed. There is a beautiful creek running through the property, which is covered in forest and low bushes. The area was covered in a fluffy white blanket of snow when we visited.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

This is a wonderful place to stay

Guest: Linda (Portland)
Date of Stay: 11/19/10 Review Submitted: 12/30/10

What a great house! We had a reunion with some friends and rented the house for a long weekend in November 2010. Everyone had a wonderful time. The kids had a great time exploring the property... there were huge salmon spawning in the creek while we were there. Your recliners are so comfortable! It was totally relaxing to sprawl out in front of the wood stove. Thanks for letting us stay there, we'll definitely be back!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Guest: F.F. (-)
Date of Stay: 05/25/07 Review Submitted: 08/03/10

What a lovely stay! We were always busy, from hiking in the woods, walking in the creek, and sitting by the fire watching the stars. Thank you so much for the stay, it was wonderful!

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Guest: G.F. (-)
Date of Stay: 07/11/08 Review Submitted: 08/03/10

Fantastic house with everything we needed. We very much enjoyed the trail guides in the Fun Book. An excellent place to stay, and we hope to be back!

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