Property
Feel your inner hippy rejoice as you ramble up the driveway to this completely private dome house. The house is basically one great room, with six full-length windows facing west onto the Pacific and a wrap-around balcony. Climb a short ladder to the upper loft with a king-size bed parked on the floor, or ease down a few steps into the kitchen nook with the small bathroom behind it (gotta love the stained glass window in the door). Sorry, no bathtub. On the main level, you’ll find a small dining table,  sofa with pull-out double bed, wood stove, and flat screen TV. Outside, enjoy the deck with large Jacuzzi, Swedish sauna, gas barbecue-and the fact that you can’t see another house or building. While the one-room concept may not be ideal for every family, it can be a great getaway for those with younger children and other families who don’t mind sharing space.

Location
Moonset House is about 10 minutes north of Florence on Highway 101. The drive from Eugene is approximately 1 ½ hours via Highway 126. Or head south down the coast with a 1 hour drive from Newport.
Sleeps
1-4.

Highlights
Jacuzzi, sauna, large expanse of private lawn where the kids can run wild, flat screen TV,  humming birds landing right outside the windows (bring your birding guide), natural views, total privacy. There is great tidepooling to be had at many of the nearby beaches and turnouts to the north of Moonset House. Our favorite, and the easiest to explore with the little ones, is at Bob Creek Wayside, where there is also a stretch of nice sandy beach for building sand castles.

Good to know
While we survived the stay at Moonset with a 2.5 year old, we were glad we hadn’t arrived even 6 months earlier. The stairs, tile floor on main levels, and short bordering walls between levels would frankly be a nightmare with a younger toddler or a cruising baby. From around 3 years and up with most children, this would be a great place to stay, but do be aware that there is no bathtub here, just a stall shower and outdoor shower. Since much of the floor is tile and there is a no-shoe policy, be sure to pack along everybody’s favorite slippers or thick, comfy socks. Down the road at Fred Meyer, you can pick up groceries and beach toys-and slippers if you need them.

Contact
http://www.florence4rent.com/

August 24th, 2008 | by Shelly Rivoli