Authentic Oregon

When vacationing it’s nice not to have every single moment of your itinerary planned so you can enjoy some down time and truly relax.  At TouVelle House Bed & Breakfast in Jacksonville, Oregon, we know that and have created a wonderful retreat with lots of areas where guests can just “set a spell”.  This year we added a bocce court for another outdoor recreation option.  Bocce is an Italian bowling game with aspects of croquet and horse shoes that can be enjoyed regardless of your level of experience.  It is a great way to relax and enjoy the company of your traveling companion(s).

The court is surrounded by the spectacular front garden where the day lilies are ablaze.  For your comfort while playing, Tim’s father made handcrafted benches based on an antique we found several years ago.  The benches are comprised of two seats with a table in between which is a convenient spot to rest your beverage.  You might have trouble deciding where to relax - between the swimming pool loungers and hammock, rockers on the front porch, Adirondack chairs by the pond, and bouncy lawn chairs in the gazebo--there are so many places to enjoy a book, work on your tan, or just sit still in the shade and watch the world go by.

TouVelle House B&B is located in the National Historic Landmark town of Jacksonville in Southern Oregon and is just two blocks from all of the shopping and dining options and only 4 blocks from the fabulous Britt Festival – a summer long outdoor music festival featuring internationally known artists from all genres with a classical festival in August.

submitted by
Tim Balfour, Proprietor
TouVelle House Bed and Breakfast
Jacksonville, Oregon
Reservations: +1 (541) 899-8938

The Prospect Historic Hotel B&B Inn - Motel and Dinner House along with Bybee’s Historic Inn will be card stops for the Poker Run on Friday June 17^th.

For over a quarter century the Medford Cruise has been all about automobiles, good times and good people. The Poker Run is a great opportunity to join in the fun, cruise with classic cars and win some great prizes. Approximately 90 cars will be participating in the run and the poker game. All of the proceeds benefit local youth organizations.

Both of these authentic Oregon Nationally Registered Historic Inns will be open for tours and a chance to stretch your legs on their magnificent grounds. Refreshments will be provided by each of the Inns.

            William M. Bybee, a prominent figure in the development of Jacksonville and the surrounding area built the Bybee House circa 1857. Now run by innkeepers Vikki Lynn and Tina Marie, the six-guestroom house has been restored to all of its original elegance and is known as Bybee's Historic Inn.  The Inn hosts a ‘Historic Characters’ Dinner on the third Friday of each month. (This is happening after the Poker Run)

            Albion Boothby built the Prospect Hotel (originally called the Boothby House) circa 1888, as a stop over for visitors to Crater Lake. Known as the Prospect Historic Hotel and Dinner House, Karen and Fred Wickman have enhanced the traditions set by the Boothbys in providing an elegant yet relaxing stay along with hearty meals, both for breakfast and one of their fantastic dinners. The Signature Prime Rib has been called “The Best in Southern Oregon” and is one of the Northwest culinary delights of Southern Oregon.

            The Medford Cruise Poker Run Cars will start showing up at the Prospect Historic Hotel around 10:30 to 11am on Friday June 17th and come by Bybee’s Historic Inn around 12:00 to 12:30pm.

            If you wish to see a lot of really great classic cars, stop by either Inn on Friday and ENJOY the VIEWING!

The May 2011 issue of Sunset Magazine features the "Top 50 Hotels Under $150" for travelers seeking room for a weekend night where the Sunset staff would really want to be.

From the article:

So we set out to find rooms—weekend rooms—for under $150 per night*. Call us cheap, but for that price we also want our own bathroom, no bedbugs, and rooms, or at the very least lobbies, with a dash of personality. And each one of these hotels is in a place we really want to go. (*All hotels have an under-$150 rate for at least 1 weekend through late spring and summer. Rates do not include tax.) What follows is our list of the best.

24. Chehalem Ridge B&B, Newberg, OR. With a view that it shares only with the hawks, this modern cottage has 4 cozy but unfancy rooms within striking distance of dozens and dozens of Willamette Valley wineries. Breakfast is a multicourse affair that on nice days is served out on the deck. $140; chehalemridge.com   

Innkeeper Kristin Fintel's comment:  "The rumors are true! Sunset Magazine Loves Us! We are listed as #24 of the West's best hotel deals. I might quibble with the word un-fancy (is "doily-free so hard to type?), but we appreciate the love non the less."

And Chehalem Ridge B&B is only one of ten properties that Sunset selected in the Northwest!  Kudos to Kristin & Curt!

What the Sunset staff didn't tell you is Kristin is well-versed in the kitchen, creating a variety of breakfast meals that suit individuals who are gluten-free or avoid eating such common foods as eggs, dairy, soy, corn, nuts, or even sugar.  Or course, if you're not food sensitive, her breakfast cuisine features the best the Northwest can offer.  And, the price of breakfast is included with your room.  Will you find that level of service in most hotels?

If you're looking for a Northwest culinary experience at an authentic Oregon bed and breakfast, look no further than Chehalem Ridge B&B in Newberg.  And maybe you'll see the Sunset staffers enjoying the view.

Now here's a nice little first hand travelogue about Jacksonville Oregon.  Kat of Katty's Cosy Cove took the time to write about her recent visit to Jacksonville in Southern Oregon.  I think it was the title, "A French Inspiration in Jacksonville Oregon" that caught my eye.  But what's thrilling are all of her wonderful photos!

Unfortunately her images won't come across to this blog post, but it's worth clicking through and visiting her blog.  Kat spent time in A French BouTEAque, a lovely little shop in historic Jacksonville and her blog is full of lovely photos of the French-inspired items inside.  Then she moved down the street to Pickety Place and shares images of the antiques and country accents inside.

Historic Jacksonville Oregon is full of wonderful little surprises like these.  If you're planning a trip there, consider doing it up in style and stay at an inspected Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild inn.   You'll find two members in Jacksonville:

TouVelle House Bed & Breakfast features 6 guestrooms with private baths, air conditioning and free WiFi and is walking distance to historic downtown Jacksonville.  The inn's decor is sumptuous American and European Arts & Crafts style.

Bybee's Historic Inn is located about a mile outside of Jacksonville and features 6 guestrooms with private baths, air conditioning, fireplaces, and free WiFi.  If you'd like to experience a Victorian themed inn, Bybee's is for you.

Submitted by guest blogger Michelle Duarte
Innkeeper WildSpring Guest Habitat
Port Orford, Oregon

The south coast is the place for travelers who want to get away from the same old thing - traffic, strip malls, franchise hotels and restaurants. Travelers who'd like to bring home tales of something off-beat, who enjoy exploring the special but quirky.

Oregon's spectacular south coast is a world all its own, very different from its northern counterpart. It is remote, underdeveloped, without the crowds. A series of authentic small towns scattered along what could reasonably be considered the U.S.'s last accessible, affordable coastline. This is where the ocean and the forests meet the crashing seas. Where rivers pour into the Pacific and people enjoy long, empty beaches perfect for agates and driftwood.

Port Orford is in the middle of it, perfectly situated as base camp to explore the best of the south coast...from redwoods to the south, the sand dunes up near Florence, and everything inbetween.

Hiking. Art. Antiques. Biking. Golf. Birding. Fishing. History. Museums. Shopping. Boating. Surfing. Horseback riding. Wine. Wind surfing. Parks, reserves, floral estates and estuaries. All framed with spectacular ocean vistas on one side and the forests and mountains on the other.  

And it bears repeating...all without the crowds.  

Visitors will find some unexpected options in Port Orford, 60 miles from the California border and an authentic port town of only 1,200 people.

The Port of Port Orford is probably the heart of the town, home to its commercial fishing fleet that - unusually - does not rest in the water. The Port is one of only two "dolly docks" in the U.S. and six in the world, where boats are lifted in and out of the water by huge cranes and sit on custom-made trailers when not in use.

The area is also known for its active art community, with eight galleries owned and operated by working artists, and some beautifully restored and maintained historic sites, such as Hughes House - an authentic Victorian Mansion - and the old Coast Guard Lifeboat station where brave and hardy men had to jerry-can gas down a thousand steps to Nellie's Cove where they would start their sea rescue missions during Port Orford's famous winter storms.

If visitors like to indulge themselves with luxurious accommodations in a naturally beautiful environment, there's WildSpring Guest Habitat. On five acres in a quiet, residential forest overlooking the ocean, it offers only five cabin suites built like small homes, filled with art and antiques, a Guest Hall, lounging areas, sculpture garden, walking labyrinth and open-air slate spa where guests can whale-watch by day and enjoy the Milky Way at night. Known for its peaceful seclusion, attention to detail and eco-friendly operations, it is an Oregon Bed & Breakfast member, a Select Registry Inn and has enjoyed some national attention of note, including USA Today and the NY Times.

The most recent addition to the local scene sits on the northern end of Battle Rock Park and offers arguably the most beautiful views of the Pacific ocean in the U.S.: across sea stacks, a beach with sand the color of a mocha late, down to Humbug Mountain, the tallest mountain in Oregon to rise directly from the ocean.

Here, Redfish is that rare restaurant serving food that actually lives up to the view, and looks like it came from Top Chef. The executive chef Patrick Zulick trained at celebrity chef Thomas Keller's Bouchon Bistro in Las Vegas, and specializes in Pacific Northwest adaptations of traditional French recipes using fresh local fish, beef, chicken, lamb and produce. It has the Redfish LOFT upstairs, a one-room luxury guest suite overlooking the bay.

Also part of this new mixed-use development is Hawthorne Gallery, with museum-quality art in a space that begs comparison to metro world-class galleries. It shows the unique works of 14 internationally collected artists from across the country, including eight of the very gifted Hawthorne family, who also owns the famous Hawthorne Gallery in Big Sur, California.  

Port Orford, beautiful and surprising, is a great place to visit if people want to experience the best of Oregon's beautiful coast without having to fight their way through crowded streets to reach it.

For more information about Port Orford and WildSpring Guest Habitat please contact:

Michelle Duarte, owner, WildSpring Guest Habitat and webmaster for PortOrford.org and EnjoyPortOrford.com
michelle@wildspring.com, 541.332.0977

www.portorford.org
www.enjoyportorford.com
www.wildspring.com

For more information about Redfish and the Hawthorne Gallery, please contact:

Jeff Mecredy, manager & media relations, Hawthorne Gallery, Redfish LOFT
jeff@hawthornegallery.com, 541.366.2266
 

It's about the beach, history, glass floats in the sand, music performances, making your own dishes and even your own candy – it’s not just about the holidays and New Year’s Eve celebrations. Lincoln City lights up for the season in more ways than just the Christmas lights strung along the buildings.

With so much to see and do on the Oregon Coast, consider Oregon Coast lodging at a member inn of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild in and near Lincoln City.  From a quiet romantic getaway to a fun family retreat, the inns in and near Lincoln City await.

Through Memorial Day 2011. Finders Keepers on the Beach: Glass Floats on the Beach. Weather permitting, every day colorful hand-blown glass floats are placed on the beach.  If you find a float, bring it to the Lincoln City Visitors Center at 540 NE Hwy 101 to receive your certificate of authenticity and a biography of the artist who made the float. 800-452-2151 or 541-996-1274 or www.oregoncoast.org

Through December 11. “Kennewick Man on Trial” traveling exhibit at the North Lincoln County Historical Museum. The exhibit uses text, photos, maps, and historic illustrations, to explore the science as well as the ethical and legal ramifications of the 1996 discovery of the “Kennewick Man” remains. Free admission. Lincoln City, Oregon. 541-996-6698.

December 11. Hands-on Cookies & Candies cooking class. Cost: $50. 1 – 4 p.m. Culinary Center. Lincoln City, Oregon. 541-557-1125, 800-452-2151 or www.oregoncoast.org/culinary

December 11. Birding Field trip, hosted by Lincoln City Audubon at the Nestucca Wildlife Refuge. Walk will include a variety of habitats such as pastures, grasslands, and tidal marsh. Binoculars and guide books will be provided. 9 – 11 a.m. 541-992-0440. Near Pacific City, just north of Lincoln City.

Chocolate and Candy Making 101. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Litehouse Chocolates. Lincoln City, Oregon. 541-614-0660.

December 19. Gift of Music at Salishan Lodge. Gleneden Beach, Oregon (just south of Lincoln City). 541-764-2371.

December 25 - January 1. Glass Sand Dollars, Glass Crabs on Beach. 100 hand-crafted glass sand dollars and glass crabs along with 100 glass floats will await discovery along the 7.5 miles of Lincoln City beaches, weather and ocean permitting. 541-996-1274, 800-452-2151.

December 26 - January 1. Oregon Coast Whale Watch Week. 541-765-3407 or http://www.whalespokenhere.org

• Oregon is the second largest producer of craft been in the U.S.
• Oregon is the No. 2 hop growing state in the country.
• There are currently 78 brewing companies, operating 110 brewing facilities in 48 cities in Oregon, 36 breweries operating in Portland, more than any other city in the world!