The Willamette River is a tributary of the larger Columbia River and runs through the industrial heart of the little known town of Oregon City. In this city, along small pockets of this river are a few mini communities which aims to take you away from the hectic day-to-day life that surrounds it. I headed to one of these pockets; an enclave of houseboats, moored on the river below a busy railroad and next to a paper mill plant. Why? To experience my first time on a houseboat!
But first finding this place was no easy feat. There were no signs and most of the area was surrounded with factories and warehouses. The only marker was a small rocky parking lot amidst all the industry. This was definitely not the best place to get lost. And certainly not the kind of area I’d normally visit. But there is a silver lining. The enclave of houseboats turned out to be very serene and beautiful. And luckily after some effort, we found it.
On one side of this very busy railroad was the parking lot and on the other side was the boardwalk to the houseboat. It was a dangerous crossing. In fact, it is here that I almost got hit by a train. But that is a story for another day. Once you safely crossed over the rails and head down to the bottom of the ramp, you’ll end up here on the boardwalk. Our houseboat was just behind the one with the greenhouse.
This brown one was our two-story houseboat for the next few days. The photo above doesn’t show the upper section since the houses were moored very closely to one another which made photographing it very difficult. This closeness also meant that your neighbor will hear and see most everything you say and do. The inside is cozy, but small. There’s even a fireplace, full sized stairwell leading to the upper section, and a loft space; a lot of features for such a small place.
The best part of this houseboat, or any houseboat, is its deck which leads directly to the water. This is the reason most people rent and live on houseboats. Our deck on the river wasn’t big and we had a view of the paper mill plant on one side, but it was sunny-ish and peaceful, just enough to properly relax.
However, we were too lazy to take advantage of the water. Kristi did very briefly take the row boat out. Jet skiers kept passing by as the currents they created swayed our houseboat back and forth. Fishermen were out hoping to make a catch. And the resident ducks kept hounding us for food and then diving for what we threw in the water. While we just lounged on the deck with cocktails in hand hoping to get a feel of the illusive Oregonian sun.
Kristi Taking a Ride on the Row Boat
Renting a houseboat is easy. This is especially true in Seattle where I live and where they have some of the best looking ones I’ve seen. They’re also quiet popular in Amsterdam in which they are widely used as hotel rooms. But I came to Oregon City to a houseboat on an industrial part of the river because there was something else special here. What? The surrounding area is filled with different antique malls and village to explore. And for the bargain hunter or antique lover, this is like a piece of heaven. At least, it was definitely an added bonus to the house boating experience.
The antique villages are popular and abundant in the area. Most of the villages have shops that also doubles as the owner’s homes. These homes have been partially transformed to store fronts that sell antiques. Some even added restaurants where the homeowners prepare meals for their guests. Mixed-in with these refurbished houses were a few commercial buildings that house actual antique dealers for higher end items.
Amanda purchases a ring from an Antique Village
In fact, Amanda found a sapphire ring in one of these stores. It was the exact style she had been looking for, for many years. A truly perfect find!
Back on the houseboat, we again sat on the deck watching what’s left of the fainting sun disappear as the misty clouds roll in and slowly cover the paper mill plant in the distance. We sit in silence and enjoy the quietness of life. While my house boating trip was neither great nor awful, it was worth the experience. Just remember that houseboats do sway from time to time, the space inside are typically small, and it is usually moored very close to the neighboring houseboats. But if you love water activities and are willing to look pass these shortcomings, then staying in a houseboat would be just perfect for you.
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You are portraying this area as industrial, and dangerous. That cannot be further from the truth. These house boats sit at the end of a large area of homes that are owned and rarely rented. The area has very little to no crime, and the one house that is a mess is due to people trying to restore an old home that is beyond restoration. From where you were you can walk to downtown Oregon City (mile at the most). I understand you are trying to make your article more adveturesome but try to stick to the truth and reality of the area.
And not all house boats are small. There are many on the river that are 2000 sqft plus and are larger and nicer than most peoples homes.
Thank you for your insight.
While I always want my articles to be interesting, nothing I say in it is far from the truth. This is an old article from a year ago, and perhaps much has changed since then, and to be honest I haven’t been back since this experience. When five of my friends and I went, everything we saw and experienced was how I described it. The location of this particular houseboat was in what we believe was a seedy area of town. This was my perception and that of my friends. However, I am glad you clarified it is a low crime area. It’s also good to know there are bigger houseboats available. But most houseboats I’ve been on ever since have been on the smaller end. Including this one in my article.
Lovely! What a great way to live … sigh.
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If only it were easy like this for most of the year. I imagine one would get claustrophobic after a while. But who knows!?
Would love staying on a houseboat. I sleep better on boats with the gentle rocking.
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Not me, I must say. But everyone’s different. I truly believe you’d like it on this houseboat where there are lots of little rocking – continuously.
What a cool experience! This might sound silly, but I’ve wanted to stay on a houseboat ever since I saw them on the movie Sleepless in Seattle when I was a kid – it was the first time I realized people actually lived on the water like that. Would love to try it out sometime!
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No, its not silly. I actually often pass the Sleepless in Seattle houseboat on Lake Union. The real thing is smaller than what it appears in the movie. But then again, all houseboats are small. Though the romance of living right on the water might just trump the tight space. I hope you do get to try it some day.
This is the kind of place where I want to stay during vacation. It may look dangerous but the surroundings are so solemn. It makes me want to sleep, eat and stroll around.
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If you go here in Oregon City, then I say staying near the houseboat would probably be best. The surrounding neighborhood is not so good. But once you move to the more quaint areas like the antique villages, its really nice. I hope you do get to go houseboating.
The pictures are amazing and I want to live in a houseboat so bad now! It just looks so peaceful and serene that I want it so bad. Thank you for sharing. This is amazing.
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I’m not sure I want to live on a houseboat. But I’ll admit that despite the busy and industrial surroundings, this enclave of houseboats were at a peaceful location. We were able to relax a lot.
Wow this looks great! I would love to stay in a houseboat some day…. maybe when I am back in Europe.
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I’m thinking probably the best ones are in Amsterdam around Europe … would be a great experience for the two of you.
I’ve always loved the idea of a houseboat – would love to stay in one myself sometime!
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The idea to me is interesting, to say the least. It allows for residential expansion on water. But it is just too tight for me to stay in one for an extended period of time. You should try it one day soon.
This looks like fun! @Sichree23 Houseboating on the Williamette River http://t.co/kVX2z0Vs
It looks lovely, I would love to stay in a house boat, especially one that was close to antique shops and cute villages, but not sure about living in one. I think the confined space and close proximity to neighbors would be too much for me after a while.
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I totally agree with you! The location is peaceful enough to relax on top of all the antique villages to shop. But its too close to neighboring houseboats and too tight inside that I’m not convinced about living in one. We knew what the neighbors talked about during our stay and I imagine they knew what we talked about, too.
The houseboat enclave looks absolutely lovely. I’ve been on a canal boat holiday in England and loved it so I think I’d be right into a stay here. Plus I’ve heard so many good things about Oregon.
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Oregon is one of those raw and beautiful states. I love exploring here! I’m hoping some time in the future to be able to go down a riverboat on the Canal du Midi in France for a boat holiday.
Looks very inviting, Sherry. You’ve changed my mind about houseboats.
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It was lovely as this houseboat was beautiful compared to others. Glad to change your mind
“Houseboating on the Willamette River” #boat #Oregon http://t.co/tMouhi23 via @sichree23
We were just down in the Willamette Valley a few weeks ago wine touring. I had no idea those houseboats existed! I was really surprised in Seattle how many houseboats there were on Lake Washington – was a real surprise to see some really cool houses – I guess I just expected a simple floating thing about the size of a trailer home, but some are pretty elaborate, like in the pictures you show from Willamette River. (I’d be worried that I bought this awesome hangout on the water, and then one day… it sinks)
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These houseboats in this area are hard to find and hard to come by as its mostly just word of mouth knowledge, so people rarely know they exist. But I guess that’s part of their charm. I agree with you – I’d be afraid to own something that may sink on top of not being able to own the water it sits on. So good thing I don’t own a houseboat. They’re great to rent for a few days but hard to live in for an extended period of time, I think.
“Houseboating on the Willamette River” #boat #Oregon http://t.co/lZGXmpmi via @sichree23
It looks very peaceful. I loved the house boats in Amsterdam.
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One day, I hope to see those houseboats, too.
gorgeous!!“Houseboating on the Willamette River” #boat #Oregon http://t.co/hT0QKMwx via @sichree23
I love staying in boats, but have never stayed in a house boat, maybe it’s time to try. I need to try it in Amsterdam one of these days
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I think houseboating feels similar to boating. That is except that houseboats are usually bigger and are moored rather than mobile. Hope you get to try it one day … the experience makes for a great story.
Were you near the Willamette Valley wine region? (Of course the wine region is all I know about Oregon.) I could sip a nice pinot noir while boating down the river.
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No, these houseboats were in the middle of all the industry along the river. We did, however, sip a lot of wine during the course of the few days. It was so relaxing.
I’d love to that! Just going to Oregon has been on my list forever — staying on a houseboat sounds like such a cool experience!
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Its such a lovely state. Particularly along the coast. The quaint little towns make it worth the effort.
“Houseboating on the Willamette River” #boat #Oregon http://t.co/oJRDpF9W via @sichree23
I’d love to experience a house boat someday!
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Well, here’s to hoping that you do
I love houseboats! This looks so fun. My mom gave me a sapphire ring that looks just like that when I was younger. Very pretty.
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Yes the ring is surely pretty and Amanda was lucky to find it. Great taste didn’t come cheap though, even at an antique shop. I love that you have a similar one, too
“Houseboating on the Willamette River” #boat #Oregon http://t.co/4C8XQiP3 via @sichree23
That’s lovely, I’ve been to a restaurant/houseboat in the Amazon river, wonderful
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Wow – a restaurant boat on the Amazon river sounds even more fabulous!
“Houseboating on the Willamette River” in #Oregon http://t.co/ldOeqYNu // via @sichree23 #boat
It has always been a dream of mine to live on a houseboat for awhile. Plodding up and down the coast at ease and setting anchor to live for a few weeks.
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You (and Dayna) would be the envy of many travelers. Never thought of exploring places that way. That’s certainly “out-of-the-box” traveling. Wish it would come true for you someday soon.
Yay, Oregon! I have a soft spot for the state, having grown up in southern Oregon. Kali and I have been wanting to stay on a houseboat for years, but I never thought about doing it there! Brilliant idea – it looks so serene and peaceful.
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Its a great way to get away. There’s no one else around except people wanting to get away, too. I love the peacefulness this place provided. And for the misty fog in the mornings and nights.
what a wonderful idea! I’ll do this, too at some point! And amazing story telling through your pics!
Its a must with the amount of houseboats popping up everywhere in the USA. At the very least, its worth saying you’ve been at least once. Hope you get to go.
That would be a blast,I think !
I totally could see you on a houseboat. Imagine what photos you could capture on one. It would be an entertaining few days for you.
Never been on a houseboat, but this part of Oregon is just gorgeous! Actually, any part of Oregon is beautiful. Sign me up for my first house boat experience there!
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“Houseboating on the Willamette River” #boat #Oregon http://t.co/NZeRFmqL via @sichree23
This is great! I have never stayed on a houseboat either but always thought it would be fun. Love the deck area in that middle photo! A perfect place to sit and enjoy a glass of wine or two.
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And we enjoyed the houseboat, mostly for that purpose alone: cocktails and the view.
RT @SophieR: “Houseboating on the Willamette River” #boat #Oregon http://t.co/F4QKP450 via @sichree23
What a cool experience! I’ve never stayed on a houseboat, and, somehow, I’ve never associated houseboats with the USA, so this was interesting reading. I’d like to try out a houseboat on Dal Lake in Kashmir sometime.
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So you piqued my interest; I Google’d “Dal Lake in Kashmir” and I realized that wouldn’t mind houseboating on there, too. The lake itself is beautiful. But it appears that there is a lot of commercial aspects to it as well, as oppose it just being a relaxation destination. Though I’d love it if someone came up to my houseboat in a kayak load of groceries. I never have to leave.
“Houseboating on the Willamette River” #boat #Oregon http://t.co/F4QKP450 via @sichree23
“Houseboating on the Willamette River” #boat #Oregon http://t.co/SRuFvLXt via @sichree23
I’ve always been curious to try staying on a houseboat during our trips to Amsterdam but we haven’t done it yet. I love that ring!
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Amanda loved the ring, too. Would you believe she had been looking for that exact ring for many years? And she found it, of all places, in an Oregon antique shop in a very small town. So interesting what we find when we are not looking for it.
“Houseboating on the Willamette River” #boat #Oregon http://t.co/FkBua7i5 via @sichree23
“Houseboating on the Willamette River” #boat #Oregon http://t.co/Lv5iQuXY via @sichree23
Wow! This place is actually more well kept than any of the other houseboat slips and boardwalks I’ve seen. The houses are beautiful, too. Certainly an oasis within all those industrial plants. Funny you guys found it in such an unassuming place. I wish I was such a savvy traveler, too.
I have to give my friend Heather the credit for finding this place. I was fortunate to be able to enjoy it with her hard work. You’re right, it was very well kept – surprising to us all.
“Houseboating on the Willamette River” #boat #Oregon http://t.co/qwienSlj via @sichree23
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“Houseboating on the Willamette River” #boat #Oregon http://t.co/Tkq3hBQq via @sichree23