Ashland Oregon Lodging

Blue Cheese, Oregonzola... Just Say Cheese Please!

Saturday, February 6, 2010 by Debbie Lusk

A road trip to Ashland to prep for our Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild annual meeting, a few of us decided that we liked being the "visitor" to Southern Oregon. So, after twenty four hours of planning, meetings and setting up schedules, we decided to find the cheese!

Our friend Fred at The Historic Prospect Hotel in Prospect, Oregon told us that we had to go to Rogue Creamery near Medford in Central Point before we headed back home to Albany and Hood River respectively. So, of course we always listen to Fred but I think just hearing the word "cheese" was really all it took to head us in the right direction!

So, off we were heading home with a pit stop or in our case a "cheese stop" at Rogue Creamery. We were in cheese heaven! Enamored by anything so famously local, down home but good enough to be in almost every gourmet market and local shop in Oregon, Rogue Creamery is the epitome of the perfect Oregon culinary experience.

Perfect for pairing with wine or beer, check out Rogue Creamery's website where "pairing" is as

important as the cheese itself. A nice mild Oregonzola with an Oregon Pinot Noir perhaps? Chocolate Stout, (my fav) with such beer as a stout or porter? Artisan cheese from an artisan cheese company focused on sustainability, perfecting the art of making the world's best cheese and sharing it with the rest of us who just simply love cheese!

Follow my recipe below using two of my favorite Rogue Creamery cheese's. The perfect egg and cheese dish for one!

Shirred Eggs

Butter the inside of a 3 or 4 inch ramekin. Add one tablespoon of bread crumbs to cover bottom. Place two thin slices of Rogue Creamery cheddar cheese over the bread crumbs to make a cup. Add a slice to two of tomato on top of the cheese and break an egg over that. Crumble a tablespoon of cooked sausage or bacon on top of egg. Add one tablespoon cream over top then grate two tablespoons of Rogue Creamery Chocolate Stout Cheddar on top.

Bake 375 degrees for about 20 to 25 minutes or till egg is set.

This is a fun recipe because it is so easy and you can change it up by adding fresh crimini mushrooms, small slices of fresh garden zucchini, fresh basil or thyme and change the type of cheese now and then with the same results. Your guests will be amazed at this sweet little cheese dish.

Is there a trip to Southern Oregon in your future perhaps? A little culinary vacation? A taste of Oregon maybe? Well, if you are visiting Oregon, stop in for some samples and load up your ice chests with some of the best cheeses Oregon has to offer. If you are an innkeeper heading to Ashland for our annual meeting in March, you can stop too! Taste the cheese, choose your favorite and load up for your trip home. The proof is in the cheese...a truly original Oregon Culinary Experience!

I Resolve To Learn More About Oregon Brewed Beer!

Monday, December 28, 2009 by Debbie Lusk

Don't you just love this time of year? An end of another year and the beginning of "new" beginnings, resolutions and promises we make to ourselves and others. Well...in 2010 I resolve to learn more about where I live. I resolve to learn more about Oregon, to learn more about why people flock here for the food and drink but most of all, I resolve to taste and learn all that I can about the beer brewed here in Oregon and why it is famous all over the world! I think this is a resolution I can keep!

Beer made here in Oregon has been a draw for visitors all over the world for years. Breweries, micro breweries and even the home brewer have succeeded in making the Pacific Northwest thee place to go for really good beer. It also helps that this area of the country is where the most and best hops are grown to be used in making that "really good beer!"

This hop growing region, hasn't always produced hops. German beer makers used hops grown in Germany for centuries with an introduction to the United States around 1629. Believe it or not, Wisconsin was the major producer of hops for a short time with New York in the lead for a while too. However, today, Washington and Oregon are the leaders in hop production for the entire country. The soil, Pacific Northwest weather and our love of beer I am most sure, makes this area of the country and maybe even the world famous for it's "hop growing" capabilities!

Where to go to get the best beer in Oregon??? Well, recently Travel Oregon asked their fans on Facebook to list at least five breweries where they find their favorite beers. It was interesting to see where their fans have been to taste and enjoy beer. I have to say that most of the breweries were in or near Portland! Is that surprising?...not really since Portland is Oregon's beer capital.

So, it kind of looks like maybe I am on my way to learning all about Oregon brewed beer. I think a little tasting trip may be on the agenda as well. That's what is great about Oregon! Whether you live here or you are a visitor staying at a Portland Oregon Bed and Breakfast or an inn around Ashland, wherever you go, a good Oregon brew isn't far away! We would love to hear where in Oregon you have found your "favorite" brew.

Side note: The tour at Deschutes Brewery in Bend is awesome and my favorite part of the tour...well seeing the hop storage room of course but the beer tasting while touring the brewery...that was pretty cool too! So, what is your resolution for 2010? Learning more about Oregon? Learning more about what makes us the place to go for the best in food and drink? Not too shabby and a resolution worth keeping!

A Room At An Inn...the gift of time!

Monday, December 21, 2009 by Debbie Lusk

Imagine soaking in a tub filled with hot water in the great outdoors or sitting by a fire pit roasting marshmallows and sipping hot cocoa with a rushing river close by or waking to the delicious smells of coffee, bacon and eggs with onions and peppers and then the scones...oh the scones baking with the cranberries and nuts and then the marmalade or lemon curd and butter...

Have we convinced you that a gift of lodging is the perfect gift??? With over 90 membership inns to choose from, the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild membership inns offer so many choices, you may want to try a few for yourself. From the cafes in Ashland to the peaks near Mt. Hood, the skier, the coffee lover, the epicurean, the snow shoer, the wine connoisseur and even the shopper, can experience all that it means to be Oregonian. Giving the gift of lodging provides the recipient of your gift a truly genuine Oregon experience and the giver...well let's just say if the giver is you...prepare to be thanked!

Near wineries in the Willamette Valley, next to breweries near downtown Portland, down the road from the best skiing in Oregon near Mt. Hood or Bachelor, across the road from the sweetest cafe in Ashland or just a few blocks from some of the best restaurants in Oregon, a gift of lodging is the perfect gift.

So, it's ok...we got ya covered in the gift giving department! Go to www.obbg.org and order your gifts now and have a very sweet holiday!

Ski Oregon and Stay at an Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 by Mary Pellegrini

Oregon offers unparalleled opportunities for outdoor winter recreation and ski conditions have set records this year. Whether you are a skier, snowboarder, or looking for back-country trails for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, Oregon has it all. And after your day's adventure, get pampered at a member inn of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.

Central and Eastern Oregon Bed and Breakfasts

Mt. Bachelor, one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest ski areas. Only 20 minutes form Bend, Mt. Bachelor offers world class skiing and snowboarding from November through May.

Ferguson Ridge is a community owned ski area located just 9 miles outside Joseph, Oregon. Operated by the Eagle Cap Ski Club, Ferguson Ridge Ski Patrol, and the Enterprise-Joseph Lions Club, it's completely run on heart-volunteers who want a community place to gather and play

Willamette Valley Bed and Breakfasts

From the Willamette Valley, the Willamette Pass Resort on Highway 58 offers big mountain skiing to a variety of skill levels. Seven lifts including the states only high-speed six passenger lift will take you to 360 degrees of alpine adventure.

Mt Hood Bed and Breakfasts

Many of the bed and breakfasts in the Mt Hood region have partnered with Mt Hood Meadows and offer $39 lift tickets good for open-close skiing at the resort with your stay.

Mt. Hood's ski resorts provide downhill skiing and snowboarding, hiking, and cross country skiing. Mt Hood Meadows is the largest ski resort on Mt. Hood! Enjoy 2150 acres of terrain with high speed express service with 5 high speed quads. Twelve chairlifts total and Snowcat access the greatest variety of terrain in the state of Oregon. Experts will revel in back-country skiing at Heather Canyon.

Timberline Ski Resort is the only ski area in North America that's open 12 months of the year with up to 3,590 vertical feet.

Southern Oregon Bed and Breakfasts

From Mt. Ashland’s 7,533-foot summit, skiers and snowboarders ride a drop of 1,150 vertical feet. There is a remarkable terrain park, and the four chairlifts provide access to 23 trails as well as to open bowl skiing.

In Crater Lake National Park cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are popular. There are nine different skiing trails available, ranging in difficulty.

These are but a few of your Oregon winter sport options. Many inns of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild are within minutes of world class outdoor adventures. And Oregon ski areas are setting records with snow fall so far this season. Mt Hood alone got over 10 inches last night and are expecting more today. Begin planning your Winter Ski Trip today

World of Wine Festival and Southern Oregon Lodging Options

Saturday, August 22, 2009 by Mary Pellegrini

The annual World of Wine Festival, showcasing wines made from grapes grown in Southern Oregon is coming up Saturday, Aug. 29, from 5 to 9 p.m. The place: once again at Del Rio Vineyards & Winery, just west of Gold Hill. At latest count, 41 wineries have signed on to pour samples of their wines. Most are in Jackson, Josephine or Douglas counties, but not all. Wineries elsewhere in the state can qualify to take part if the wine they're pouring was made from Southern Oregon grapes.

Stop by this event as you explore Southern Oregon. You have many Ashland Oregon Lodging options and we suggest choosing an inn of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild. From the Rogue Forest Bed and Breakfast within the National Wild and Scenic Corridor of the Rogue River to the Oak Hill B&B, only two blocks from the world renowned Shakespeare Festival, the Guild has 9 unique inns to choose from when visiting Southern Oregon.

Its A Birthday Year for Oregon ~ Events Planned All Year

Sunday, July 26, 2009 by Mary Pellegrini

The Sesquicentennial birthday of Oregon is reason for Celebration. And the celebration will last until February 13, 2010 at events taking place across the state. And its your chance to win with the Explore Oregon and Win Challenge of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild. Combine this with the Travel Oregon 150 Challenge and win grand Oregon Tours!!

Travel Oregon to attend rodeos, county fairs, festivals and wine tasting events. There are more hiking and biking trails than even the most avid outdoorsman can hike or bike in a year! Visit the Oregon Coast, Mt Hood and the high deserts of Central and Eastern Oregon.
Attend a theatre and performing arts festival in Ashland. The farmers market and gardens of Portland. Don't forget the winter sports that will be here before you know it.

Members of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild are ready to accommodate you and provide local information only those living in the 7 regions of Oregon can provide. And with over 90 inns scattered throughout Oregon you are sure to find exactly what you are looking for in exactly the part of Oregon you want to visit. Start planning your Oregon Vacation, or staycation, today.

Hittin' The Road In Oregon And Eatin' Pizza For Breakfast!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 by Debbie Lusk

Guests at The Pfeiffer Cottage Inn, Albany, Oregon

It's that time of year! If you haven't already sat down with your family, your honey or your best friend and planned your summer vacation, do it now!

This motorcycle and side car husband and wife were our guests recently at The Pfeiffer Cottage Inn. So much fun and what a cool bike! From San Luis Obispo to Ashland then here to Albany. These lovely guests were the first of many to bike or bicycle to this area of the Willamette Valley this season. From now until the leaves fall in late autumn, the weather is perfect for that long bike ride and we have a whole lotta bicyclists already booked here at The Pfeiffer Cottage Inn.

On the road all day whether your pedaling, riding or sitting in a sidecar, makes for very hungry guests. Oregon Bed and Breakfasts are gearing up to feed our summer visitors and get them started with full tummies and that satisfied grin as they head out the door for more adventure.

This recipe is my most recent favorite. It is very simple, very tasty, full of protein but mostly a gorgeous presentation at the breakfast table. I got most of my ingredients from our local farmer's market so again using local, organic and fresh is what we do here supporting Oregon Culinary Tourism at it's tastiest!

Fried Egg and Sausage Ciabatta Breakfast Pizza

1 loaf ciabatta bread (about 1 pound)
1 cup chopped green onions
8 Tablespoons olive oil, divided
8 ounces sliced hot pepper Monterey Jack cheese
1 pound spicy or sweet Italian sausages, casings removed
8 large eggs

Preheat oven to 450 degrees "F". Cut bread horizontally in half. Place bread halves, cut side up, on separate baking sheets. Mix onions and 6 tablespoons oil in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Reserve 2 tablespoons onion and oil and spread remaining onion oil over bread. Top with cheese.

Saute' Italian sausages in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until cooked through, breaking up with spoon. Divide sausage among bread halves. Bake pizzas until cheese melts and bread begins to crisp, about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, fry 4 eggs in a little oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Arrange the eggs atop each pizza and spoon reserved onion olive oil over eggs. Cut each pizza between eggs into 4 pieces.

This breakfast pizza is a meal in its own but goes well with a big bowl of cantaloupe or broiled pink grapefruit.

So, if you are looking for that "perfect ride", check out an Oregon Bed & Breakfast. From Ashland to Portland and Hood River to the Oregon Coast choose from almost 100 very cool, very accommodating and very much ready to welcome you and your bike to Oregon.

See you soon!

You Say Puffcake, I Say Pancake...A Culinary Delight In An Oregon Bed & Breakfast!

Friday, May 22, 2009 by Debbie Lusk

Danish Puffcake or Dutch Pancake Served At An Oregon Lodging Facility.

Danish Puffcake

4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
4 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch salt
1/2 cup whole milk
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup blackberries

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Place a 12 inch ovenproof skillet with 4 tbsp butter in oven.
2. In a blender, combine eggs, flour, salt and milk until a thin batter forms, about 30 sec.
3. Remove pan with butter from oven and pour in batter. Return to oven and bake until pancake is puffy, golden and set, 18-20 minutes.
4. Serve from skillet or transfer pancake to a plate. Drizzle with more melted butter, if desired, and lemon juice; dust with sugar. Serve immediately with berries. Serves 4

So, what's the difference between this "Danish Puffcake" and a "Dutch Pancake"??? Nothing that I can tell! However, I can tell you that when we prepare this dish for our guests at our Oregon Bed & Breakfast, they can't stop talking about it. Just as many of the dishes prepared not only at our inn, but at many Oregon Bed and Breakfasts from Ashland to Portland, a lot of thought, a lot of time and a lot of locally grown "booty" goes in to each meal.

This time of year our Farmer's Markets in Oregon are abundantly flowing with great finds such

as organically grown vegetables, grain fed beef and pork, fresh eggs and whatever gorgeous flowers are blooming. I prepared the recipe above yesterday after hitting the Corvallis Farmer's Market on Wednesday. I picked up a dozen eggs, berries and ranunculus then headed back to Albany. Trying to impress a full house with the puffcake, we served "Pear Pudding" and "Spring Frittata" filled with cilantro, asparagus and blue cheese too. It worked!!!

Coming from Santa Barbara, Joan Tapper and Nik Wheeler got a taste of the sweetness we have to offer here in the Willamette Valley. Author and photographer are capturing the best of Oregon in words and photographs and will be sharing them in their next book set to be released in the fall of 2010. From Jacksonville, Florence,

Nik Wheeler and Joan Tapper visit The Pfeiffer Cottage Inn. An Oregon Lodging Facility.

Ashland, Brownsville and Albany, these two have experienced our Oregon Bed and Breakfasts, our delightful culinary treasures, our beautiful beaches, our quaint towns and villages and are looking forward to sharing it all with you.

If you are planning to visit Oregon, let an Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild inn treat you to breakfast. Brandishing their culinary skills and using fresh, local and organic ingredients, and of course their bragging rights, the inn keepers in Oregon are proud to share about how priviledged they feel living where the food tastes better, the wine tastes sweeter and the sun shines brighter.

Stay at Oregon Bed and Breakfast Inn and Tee off at an Oregon Golf Course

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 by Mary Pellegrini

OK. I guess its time to put away the snowshoes and skies and bring out the golf clubs and then try to decide where to golf. I went to Travel Oregon's website to find "a few" courses to blog about and I found well over a hundred!!

The OregonGolf.com website "provides the most comprehensive information on public and private golf courses". And with Oregon Bed and Breakfast Inns located in every region we would like to encourage you to "Explore Oregon and Win" while you tee off across the state.

Bend Oregon Lodging and beyond. The golf courses of Central Oregon are well known but what about the ones in Enterprise or John Day?

There are far too many courses in the Willamette Valley, including the Portland area, to count! And between the Oregon Inns in the Willamette Valley and Portland regions plenty of beds to accommodate. The map also includes courses near Mt Hood so I include a link to inns in the Columbia River Gorge

Eugene is really considered the southern part of the Willamette Valley but the golf map includes it and those near Ashland Oregon Lodging

The Oregon Coast has many world renowned courses and many bed and breakfasts to drop your clubs after a sunny day on the course

Indian Creek Golf Course, Hood River Oregon

Was that too much information? You really can have a golf vacation in Oregon, teeing off at some of the best courses in the country, staying at quality bed and breakfasts, while participating in "Explore Oregon and Win".

Stealing Ideas From An Oregon Bed & Breakfast and Sharing Them With You!

Friday, April 10, 2009 by Debbie Lusk

Cream Sherry and an Oregon Bed & Breakfast

Last summer just a few months after we opened our inn, we had to return to California to attend a retirement party. It was our third trip back down in just seven months and only two months since we began taking guests. Needless to say, we weren't ready for another vacation. We were full swing into enjoying our inn and sharing the beautiful Willamette Valley summer with our new friends and guests. So, since we had to go, we thought we might as well make the best of it and carve a mini-vacation into our schedule all the while remembering it might be our last for a bit. That took us to a Gilroy, CA bed and breakfast and back to the California heat we thought we had escaped from. A night in the garlic capital of the world then we were ready to head to the coast. The Bath Street Inn in Santa Barbara was our next stop. Since this is the bed and breakfast that inspired "me" to be an innkeeper, I was so excited to see it again. Sometimes things just aren't as we remember them. Sometimes, they are better.

Since that trip down south, we have stayed at many Oregon Bed and Breakfasts. Being new innkeepers, we try to soak in as much information as possible and take home something special that we can incorporate in to "our inn" experience. On the way home from California last summer, we stayed at Ann Hathaways B & B and Garden Suites, an Ashland, Oregon lodging facility and a member of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild. Trying to soak in all we could, it didn't take long to figure out why this inn is so successful. The welcome, the feeling of being home, and of course the baked cookie fresh fruit pizza helped. Being located in the gorgeous setting of downtown Ashland helped too but that cookie pizza thing was really good. Remember I have told you in my past blogs, it's all about the food. Well, this experience was also all about the Cream Sherry and the sweet little cordial glasses perched on a tray in the sitting room.

Stealing another idea, I couldn't wait to get back to our inn and go on an antique shopping spree. That led me to my collection of cordial glasses and offerings of Cream Sherry or a really good Port to our guests. Sipping a little sherry while nibbling on some dark chocolate could be considered a desert and add in a comfy chair on an old front porch in downtown Albany and you might be a guest at The Pfeiffer Cottage Inn.

Along with some new recipes, watch my blog for more of these good ideas and how to incorporate them in to your homes or inns. I will also be including my own ideas and some links to a few of my favorite resources that help me with decorating, preparing my breakfast table for guests, or just plain fun ways to play house. Remember, we appreciate comments on our blogs and are always loving new recipes from other innkeepers and guests as well.

Make a date in April 2009: Ballet and B&B pairing to support the Eugene Ballet

Sunday, April 5, 2009 by Heather Tyreman

The Eugene Ballet Company is facing a $130,000 budget shortfall and is taking their 2009 season production of Swan Lake into a "show on the road" throughout the Pacific Northwest in April 2009 to raise awareness of the arts and hopefully solve their budgetary woes.

This is a wonderful opportunity to have a quick romantic Oregon getaway with an evening showing support for dance and the arts as well as a great overnight stay at one of the Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild's quality bed and breakfasts.

You can get the full story at the Ballet's website devoted to their efforts, DancersActNow.com .

Upcoming Eugene Ballet performances of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake and B&B Oregon pairings:

Tillamook, OR: Sunday, April 12th at 2:30 pm. Plan a stay 36 miles north at the romantic Arch Cape Inn along the Oregon coast. (See another blog post here about this new Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild member.)

Medford, OR: Wednesday, April 22nd at 8:00 pm. Stay down the road in an historic Ashland Oregon lodging at one of many OBBG member inns. (Gee, tag on a play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and you'll have quite the cultural getaway!)

Salem, OR: Thursday, April 23rd at 7:30 pm. Forego the Salem Oregon hotels and stay at Eagle Crest Bed & Breakfast (and here's another OBBG blog post about this lovely B&B).

Florence, OR: Friday, April 24th at 7:00 pm. Stay at the Blue Heron Inn. Remember to call since they don't have email (and here's another OBBG blog post about this unusual B&B).

Newport, OR: Saturday, April 25th at 7:00 pm. Choose from five oustanding Oregon bed and breakfasts in Newport to complete your cultural weekend.

Even if you live in one of these Oregon towns, wouldn't it be fun to put together a romantic Oregon staycation and show support for the arts? We think so!

Oregon Covered Bridges...the romance, the history and the ride!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009 by Debbie Lusk

Oregon has the most covered bridges in the west and one of the largest collections in the country. Around 1850, the pioneers began building bridges out of the plentiful Douglas fir. They then built houses on them to protect them from the Oregon dampness. There was once hundreds of these covered bridges and now only 51 exist in several counties in Oregon.

From Portland, the Willamette Valley, central and southern Oregon as well as the Coast, covered bridge history is alive and well due to the recognition of these historic sites and the repair and revitalization of the covered bridges.

Activities around the state are actually centered at these bridge sites. The Mid

Willamette Valley Covered Bridge Bicycle Tour

Valley Covered Bridge Bicycle Tour is in August and this event draws hundreds of bicyclists through the bridges with nice easy roads that offer a scenic tour of the country side as well as the covered bridges.

Last year, the Covered Bridge Festival moved to Albany and drew thousands of visitors from all over the world. The history and beauty of these old bridges remains a romantic draw even today. The festival drew several guests to our inn last summer and by bicycle, many of them rode off to see the five covered bridges in Scio and Stayton. Food, entertainment, reenactments and demonstrations are all part of the festival. And, if you just want a nice ride on a comfy bus, you can enjoy your own personal tour with one of original bridge builders as your guide.

We enjoyed the self-guided covered bridge tour when we went in the fall a few years ago. Not only did we enjoy the romantic drive, the bridges with the fall foliage as a backdrop was breath taking. Since then, we have sent many guests on a self guided quest to experience the same.

In Jackson County, Oregon, the McKee bridge near Jacksonville is aptly near the Tou Velle House Bed and Breakfast. An Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild inn, this three story Craftsman style home is nestled in historic Jacksonville, Oregon in the Rogue Valley. It is only 5 miles from Medford and 17 miles from Ashland. This Oregon Bed and Breakfast makes for the perfect base to go exploring by bicycle or auto.

Guest Room at The Oval Door B & B Inn, Oregon Bed & Breakfast

In Lane County, you have 19 covered bridges from Belknap to the Wildcat Creek

Covered Bridge near Oregon Bed & Breakfast

bridges to tour. The Oval Door Bed and Breakfast Inn, offers 6 guest rooms, gourmet breakfasts prepped and served by culinary trained chef/innkeepers. This inn is an Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild inn as well as a newly built farm-style house in the heart of Eugene, Oregon.

In Benton County, you can tour Irish Bend. This covered bridge along with 2 others are close to Corvallis and the Harrison House Bed and Breakfast. This 1930's home offers 5 guest rooms and provides lodging in Oregon that you can write home about. The inn is close to the OSU campus, gourmet restaurants, and downtown Corvallis.

I think it's time to pack your bags, your picnic basket, your bikes, and check in to a Oregon Bed & Breakfast to begin your tour of some of Oregon's most romantic history.

Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild Comment Cards--Use 'Em (Please)!

Sunday, March 15, 2009 by Heather Tyreman

comment about your stay at Seaside Oregon lodging or Portland Oregon lodging

The Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild provides OBBG Comment Cards to its member Oregon bed and breakfasts and encourages the inns to put them out where the guests will use them.

Many bed and breakfasts put return postage on the comments cards so they'll go straight to the Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild administrator without the guest doing a thing except dropping the card in a mailbox.

Here are the things asked about on the comment card (all open-ended):

Meal Quality
Service/Hospitality
Cleanliness and Safety
Other Comments
(Optional) Name & Address of Guest

And then there's the catch-all comment: "If I could change ONE THING about my stay, it would be. . ."

The Guild uses these cards to keep track of how members are doing. If a guest identifies something unsatisfactory, the comment card is referred to the Guild's Membership Chairperson for followup with the member inn.

As an Oregon Bed & Breakfast owner I find these cards very instructional and use them to inform my customer service. Every now and then a guest (anonymous or not) suggests an improvement we can act upon. More often, guests comment about how happy or delighted they were with their stay.

We do our best to find out from the guests during their stay about how well they are pleased with our bed and breakfast. The OBBG Comment Card is often an affirmation of what we already know in general.

Comment Card for Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild

But sometimes guests aren't comfortable mentioning what they didn't like about their stay. The Comment Card gives them a way to let the Guild know--and the innkeeper know too--either anonymously or with name provided--what the issue was.

The next time you choose to stay in an Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild member inn as your Portland Oregon lodging, Ashland Oregon lodging, or wherever you stay, be sure to comment about your experience--on the Comment Card or directly to the innkeeper. We thrive on knowing how we can improve the quality of your lodging experience!

Think you have what it takes to be an Innkeeper? This course is for you!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 by Heather Tyreman

Want to open a Bend Oregon Bed and Breakfast? Thinking about Crater Lake lodging? Ashland Oregon lodging? If you're serious, then an in-depth bed and breakfast training program might be just what you need. And there's one coming up in the Pacific Northwest very soon. Bed and Breakfast Seminars is a new venture of two Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild innkeepers and endorsed by the Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild.

Guest blogger Diane Emineth tells the story:

Oregon Coast lodging owner Diane Emineth

Two Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild innkeepers, Diane Emineth of Sandlake Country Inn and Debbie Dersham of Eagle Rock Lodge are combining their years of innkeeping and mentoring experience to create the Pacific Northwest's first 3 night/4 day intensive Aspiring Innkeeper Seminar. The first seminar will be at the beautiful Eagle Rock Lodge April 5-8, 2009.

Diane and Debbie saw a real need for an extensive seminar in the Pacific NW. Their desire is to equip aspiring and new Bed and Breakfast owners with the information and tools that they will need in order to have a successful and sustainable Bed and Breakfast. The burnout rate in this industry is very high (7.5 years) and they both feel that if new innkeepers are better informed and prepared, these percentages can decrease

In these unsteady economic times, many people are considering changing careers. Is this a good time to buy a bed and breakfast?

"Yes!" says Rick Newman, Managing Partner of Bed and Breakfast Financing. "It's a great time to buy!" Newman says. "Don't be discouraged by the Doom & Gloom in the media, Inns that can document a profitable history can be financed, even in this market."

It's frightening and exciting all at the same time to change your life and live your dream. Be armed with the knowledge before you buy or start your own B&B. Learn from the experts the pitfalls both financial and personal by experienced innkeepers before you spend your life's savings! They will also share with you some of the amazingly wonderful experiences of interacting with guests and how rewarding a life as an innkeeper can be.

Oregon wedding sites owner Debbie Dersham

From personal experience for Debbie, her first year as an inn owner was a combination of "deer in the headlights and a train wreck." But through education through the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild and a great mentor, Diane Emineth, Debbie is living out her dream career as a successful Bed and Breakfast owner. Diane and Debbie would like to share their knowledge and expertise with up and coming Innkeepers.

For more information about the seminars, go to their website at www.bedandbreakfastseminars.com or call them. They'll be happy to answer any questions you might have about attending their seminar. Contact Diane Emineth at 503-965-6745. Contact Debbie Dersham at 541-822-3630.

Prospect Hotel - Ideal for Crater Lake Lodging and Bird Watching on the Crater Lake Loop

Saturday, March 7, 2009 by Mary Pellegrini

Located just 28 miles from Crater Lake National Park, The Prospect Hotel can be the perfect home base when birding on the Crater Lake Loop of the Oregon Cascade Birding Trail. The Rogue River is minutes away with mature riparian habitat surrounded by mixed conifer forests. Peregrine Falcon, Calliope and Rufus Hummingbirds nest in these forests. Diamond Lake supports high concentrations of diving birds. The rich, diverse habitats on the Crater Lake Loop provide home for a large variety of birds. Crawford Creek Meadows is home to at least eight species of nesting owls.

The Propsect Historic Hotel Bed and Breakfast, built in the late 1800's, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The magnificent stage house sits on five acres with grounds great for strolling or just relaxing after a long day's hike. The historic hotel has been totally restored and

For Crater Lake Lodging choose The Historic Prospect Hotel

has housed noted dignitaries such as Theodore Roosevelt and Jack London. The 10 guest rooms, most with private baths, are furnished with beautiful antique furniture and handmade quilts.

Nestled in the woods behind the main house, the 14 motel units offer exceptional privacy and convenience. The motel is accommodating to travelers with large groups.

Spend a few days at the Prospect Hotel, visit Crater Lake and the birding sites along the Crater Lake Loop, then head south to the Mt. McLoughlin Loop of the Oregon Cascades Birding Trail.

This loop will take you along the north-western flanks of the Upper Klamath Basin and possibly the most ecologically diverse section on the entire route. After a full day of birding the Mt. McLoughlin Loop travel west for Ashland Oregon Lodging at an Oregon Bed and Breakfast member inn. With over 85 inns, The Guild makes it easy to explore Oregon, traveling through scenic and diverse landscapes and knowing a comfortable Bed and Breakfast awaits your arrival.

Let's Have Breakfast In The Garden!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 by Debbie Lusk

Many Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild inns are known for their spectacular breakfasts. So, how can we top the second half of the bed and breakfast experience? Let's have breakfast in the garden!

Anne Hathaways Bed and Breakfast and Garden Suites, Ashland, Oregon

Early last summer, we stayed in Ashland at an Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member inn, Anne Hathaways Bed and Breakfast and Garden Suites. Being part of the guild, and belonging to the "innkeepers get-away" program, we had the opportunity to enjoy the inn as the hosts treated us to a lovely night at their inn and a memorable breakfast in their garden. Also in Ashland, Oak Hill Bed and Breakfast offers to serve a multi-course breakfast in their gardens. Ashland offers many other unique Oregon lodging choices along with restaurants, galleries, wineries, biking, fishing, river rafting and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. A complete vacation (staycation) package all in one

Scones at Oak Hill Bed and Breakfast, Ashland, Oregon

place!

Over 20 years ago when we stayed at our first bed and breakfast in Santa Barbara, CA, we were served breakfast in their gardens. I still remember every detail about that experience. I remember the crepes, the berries and the flowers in the garden. That experience alone urged me to consider being an innkeeper someday. So, when our guests come to visit us, weather permitting of course, we offer to serve them breakfast in our garden. There is something about dining in a garden that gives the meal that is served there a special and unique feeling.

Oregon Lodging, The Pfeiffer Cottage Inn, Albany, Oregon

Innkeepers here in Oregon and especially guild member inns, are avid "farmer's market" shoppers and are always looking for locally grown and organic foods when possible to make their breakfasts not only healthy but fresh and unforgettable. The Willamette Valley for example is not only known for it's wine grapes, but they are also known for their berries as well. So, don't be surprised when you are visiting an inn in the valley, and you are served a big bowl of locally grown berries topped with a dollop of homemade lemon curd with your breakfast. Fresh herbs are also a great find and are generally plentiful at farmer's markets. I discovered Thai Basil last summer at Albany's farmer's

Thai Basil Quiche, The Pfeiffer Cottage Inn, Albany, Oregon

market, a new herb to me and quite a tasty treat when used in quiche.

It's always fun and sometimes a very necessary to get away even for us innkeepers. Such a treat and special find to enjoy breakfast with other guests and our hosts in their gardens. More memories and unforgettable experiences to share and take home with us!

Choose Country Willow Bed and Breakfast Inn for a romantic Ashland Oregon Valentine's Weekend

Monday, February 9, 2009 by Mary Pellegrini

For fine Ashland Oregon Lodging and a perfect Valentine's weekend, we offer you the Country Willows Bed and Breakfast Inn, a quintessential country inn situated on the edge of the village, only minutes to the center of Ashland in beautiful Southen Oregon.

Country Willows Inn fine Ashland Oregon Lodging

An inspected and approved member of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild, Country Willows invites you to enjoy a little romance with your sweetheart. Beginning Thursday, February 12th through Wednesday, February 18th, chocolate truffles and a beautiful fresh rose will be waiting in your reserved guest room.

And while visiting Ashland, consider taking in a play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Founded in 1935, OSF is among the oldest and largest professional theatre in the nation. The 2009 season opens February 13 and presents an eight-and-a-half month season with 11 plays and more than 780 performances.

Many Oregon Bed and Breakfast Inns are located in Ashland, Oregon and they fill up quite rapidly during the theatre season. We suggest you plan your vacation to Southern Oregon today so as to be assured of reserving a room in one of OBBGs quality inns.

Of interest to B&B guests who knit. . .

Saturday, February 7, 2009 by Heather Tyreman

The stop-action animation film "Coraline" was recently released in Portland and Ashland, Oregon, with a big opening night party in Portland. It's an Oregon-based film, created by Oregon company Laika and set partly in Ashland Oregon. The story revolves around a little girl who finds a parallel world existing through a door in her apartment.

Now, I haven't seen it yet and it'll probably be awhile before it comes anywhere near my bed & breakfast in the far eastern part of the state (Joseph Oregon), but I did read about the tiny, tiny sweaters and mittens used in the film. Here's a video interviewing the knitter, Althea Crome, posted by the Oregonian writer Peggy McMullen. Peggy's article is more in depth, but the video sums it up beautifully:

Hopefully our Ashland members of the Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild will weigh in with how much the scenes in Coraline resemble the town. It's a little early to tell, but watch for comments to this post.

Knitting is a great activity for a comfortable, cozy spot--like in front of the fireplace in a beautifully appointed living or sitting room. Or maybe out in the sun porch. Many of our bed & breakfasts have these kinds of spaces. A glance through our on-line directory will show you where.

Romantic Getaways for Valentine's Day and Beyond at Oregon's Bed and Breakfasts

Sunday, February 1, 2009 by Mary Pellegrini

Valentine's Day is February 14, this year part of a three day weekend made possible by Presidents Day on February 16th.

Many of the inns of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild offer Romance packages , some to be celebrated any time and some with an emphasis on Valentine's Day.

From the Oregon Coast to Eastern Oregon. From Ashland to Portland. The Willamette Valley to the Hood River Valley.

A special experience awaits you at a member inn of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild. Visit the Specials page on the OBBG website and find a romantic getaway designed especially for you and your sweetie.

Arch Cape Inn - Arch Cape - roses, wines, chocolates - you design your package

Bronze Antler - Joseph - Flowers for my Sweet - Nothings says it quite like flowers or a lovely plant.

Cannon Beach Hotel - Cannon Beach - 'My Heart is Yours' package for couples!

Country Willows Inn - Ashland - Valentine Sweetheart Special

Cricketwood B&B - Bend - Chilled champagne or sparkling cider, chocolates and fresh flowers

Oak Hill B&B - Ashland - Wine and Truffles

The Pfeiffer Cottage Inn - Albany - Chilled sparkling wine and chocolates

Ocean House - Newport - Sweetheart Special

River Walk Inn - Eugene - Chocolate, flowers and wine for two

Tyee Lodge - Newport - Sweetheart Special

Youngberg Hill Vineyards & Inn - Not Your Momma's Chocolate

From the Oregon Coast to Eastern Oregon. From Ashland to Portland. The Willamette Valley to the Hood River Valley. An unforgettable romantic getaway awaits you at a member inn of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild

Celebrate Oregon's 150th Birthday at an Oregon Bed and Breakfest Guild Inn

Friday, January 30, 2009 by Mary Pellegrini

In celebration of Oregon's 150th birthday, the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is offering $150 in Lodging Gift Vouchers to travelers visiting at least 5 of Oregon's 7 regions.

Oregon is a beautiful state and we want to encourage those living in our state, as well as all travelers, to take advantage of our Oregon 150 promotion to visit. From Joseph in Eastern Oregon to Seaside on the coast. From Ashland to Portland, the Willamette Valley and the Hood River Valley.

Under the program travelers who stay at OBBG member inns in at least 5 of the 7 regions will qualify for $150 in Lodging Gift Vouchers. Prizes will go to the first 10 travelers submitting copies of receipts for stays around the state between February 14, 2009, and February 14, 2010. The regions include Portland Metro, Mt. Hood/the Gorge, the Oregon Coast, Willamette Valley, Central and Eastern Oregon, and Southern Oregon.

Click here for more program details and to start planning your trips today.

If there is an event being planned for Oregon's Sesquicentennial chances are great that there is an innkeeper of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild nearby, waiting for your visit, ready to join in the celebrations.

One of the first of Oregon's Sesquicentennial events in the Oregon Wine County will take place in Carlton at Scott Paul Wines. They will bring out "something old' from their cellars to compare with the "new" vintages currently being offered.

For a taste of Oregon Wine Country lodging visit Carlton, home to three Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild members

Abbey Road Farm - luxurious accommodations sure to provide a unique lodging experience one of five "Silo Suites"
RR Thompson House - elegance surrounded by gardens filled with roses and flowers of every color
Lobenhaus Bed, Breakfast and Vineyard - spacious rooms and 8.5 acres of woods, creek and vineyard

Come join the party! The Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild members and the event planners for the Sesquicentennial birthday party are expecting you!