The Willamette Valley Scenic bikeway is beautiful and October would be a great time of year to ride it. Here are my thoughts on each of your questions.
Quaint B&Bs
Salem
Century House of Salem is a historic home that’s just half a mile from the bikeway route and very bike-friendly.
Albany
Edelweiss Manor is another gorgeous historic home. As the bikeway passes through downtown Albany, you’d take a slight detour, cross the Willamette River via the Lyon St. bridge, and continue along Springhill Drive to Edelweiss Manor — it’s only 1.5 miles off the bikeway. Edelweiss is beautiful, and if you’re sore after a day of riding you can schedule a spa treatment or massage onsite. Mineral bath soaks are complimentary for B&B guests.
Brownsville
Brownsville is a very small, charming town, but it doesn’t have a traditional B&B. It does have several vacation rentals where you could stay for the night.
Eugene
This is actually just past the official end of the bikeway, but Eugene is worth a visit if you have time. The Campbell House is a great option — it’s walking distance to all kinds of restaurants downtown, plus the train station if you’re planning to take Amtrak back to the airport. Plus it’s a beautiful inn with great food and lovely rooms.
Places to Eat
Salem
In Salem, I love Table 508 for a classy meal or Venti’s Cafe for a more casual but still tasty dinner.
Albany
If you’re looking for something higher-end, try Sybaris Bistro (my favorite restaurant in all of Oregon!) or Cellar Cat. Frankie’s is in North Albany, closer to the Edelweiss Manor, if that’s where you stay. It has great food and in particular a great happy hour menu. First Burger in downtown Albany is a great burger place as well.
Brownsville
Check out Randy’s Main Street Coffee if you’re looking for a place to eat during the day — homemade bread, great sandwiches soups and pastries; Kirk’s Ferry if you’re looking for dinner and a tour of a historic trading post.
Eugene
Party Downtown has really creative and tasty food. The Electric Station is a cool spot in a historic train depot. Wildcraft Cider has unique handcrafted ciders and a delicious menu as well.
Shuttle Services
For a bike rental place with shuttle service, check out The Bike Concierge; they offer anything you need to make bike touring possible — bike rentals, shuttle service, sag wagon service, etc.
Time of the Year
October is a great time of year to ride the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway. There won’t be nearly as many tourists as in July and August. We may start getting into the rainy season by the end of October, but we still usually have many sunny days in October.
