McMenamins Edgefield

Yesterday Chris and I celebrated 19 years of happily ever after by spending a night at McMenamins Edgefield in Troutdale. It is a 74 acre resort with hotels, spas, restaurants, movie theater, gardens, live music… It was originally built in 1911 as the county poor farm, where the poor (namely the elderly and disabled) were supported by the public. They lived on site and those that were able were required to help work the farm. Much of the artwork and buildings reflect the original intent of the property.

But while you are there, you hardly feel poor. The European style rooms (a common bathroom is down the hall) are comfy and without TVs or phones. You don’t miss them. With live music, theater, and tons of places to explore and relax there is no shortage of things to do!

We enjoyed a wonderful and relaxing dinner at the Black Rabbit! We had prawn wontons, salad (mine had a rosewater vinaigrette), steak, broccoli,  lamb shanks, chipotle yams, and spinach. Everything was so delicious and served at the perfect pace to enjoy it all!

After dinner, we walked around and explored the grounds before watching a movie at the theater. Cowboys vs Aliens wasn’t the best flick we’ve ever seen, but the Terminator Chocolate Cake with fresh raspberry sauce made up for it!

The Little Red Shed was a tiny and intimate place with a cozy fire burning in the fireplace.

This circle of trees with picnic tables and a fire pit was so lovely at night with the lights hanging in the trees, a fire in the grate and rain dripping through the leaves!

Before checking out in the morning, we stopped by the soaking pool at Ruby’s spa for a dip.

It was hard to believe that such a large pool could be so warm (about 101)!

Not only was it a delightful way to spend our anniversary but it was also the first time the boys stayed home alone overnight! When we called to tell them goodnight after the movie at 11:00, they were already asleep and in bed. Yes, we woke them up! And when I opened the dishwasher and found it still hot I thought something was wrong with it… Nope, they had done a load of dishes so they could fit the rest of the dirty dishes it  the dishwasher! Having the best boys in the world is the best gift ever!!!