Green Vacation

Wallowa County Chamber Releases New Arts, History & Cultural Guide

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 by Heather Tyreman

Oregon geotourism includes the famous Joseph Art Walk in Northeastern Oregon. You'll find monumental sized bronzes produced by local bronze foundries on the street corners. Photo courtesy of the Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce

The Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce recently released its new Arts, History & Cultural Guide. You can download the PDF at this link to learn more about what's going on in this authentic Oregon corner.

Wallowa County is home to a diverse group of artists and artistic bronze foundries. With drop dead scenery of Northeastern Oregon, many photographers calls Wallowa County home. You'll find many local artists represented in the fifteen galleries scattered from Joseph to Wallowa, Oregon.

Geotourism and heritage are also important aspects. You'll find the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center (recently relocated to Wallowa) celebrating the multi-ethnic culture of the railroad and timber industry in the former town of Maxville. Nearby and in Joseph you'll find the Nez Perce Interpretive Center with information about the original inhabitants of this Northeastern Oregon region.

Mirror Lake Suite at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast in Joseph Oregon. The Bronze Antler is one of three Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild members in Wallowa County Oregon. Photo by Unique Angles Photography

What are you waiting for? We hope to see you here for your next Oregon geotourism vacation. And when you're looking for lodging, consider the Wallowa County members of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.

The artsy Bronze Antler B&B, green lodging certified Belle Pepper's B&B and the historic registered 1910 Historic Enterprise House B&B are all awaiting you.

And if you don't learn enough from the Wallowa County Arts, History & Cultural Guide, be sure to ask your innkeepers. They're a wealth of knowledge about the area.

A green vacation in Eugene Oregon

Wednesday, March 30, 2011 by Heather Tyreman

Expansive gardens at the C'est la Vie Inn in Eugene OR

Today the Annual Meeting of the Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild takes place in Eugene at C'est la Vie Inn. It's the annual convivial meeting of Oregon's best innkeepers and we're looking forward to seeing innkeepers from across the state of Oregon.

We spent the night before here at C'est la Vie Inn--one of many OBBG member inns with green lodging certification. Anne-Marie is very sensitive to the environment and emphasizes green products, recycling, local products--all in a very luxurious setting.

Eco friendly travel is important in Oregon and C'est la Vie Inn is the perfect green alternative for travellers coming to Eugene. Business travel or romantic travel--we hope to see you here. Contact Anne-Marie by phone at 541.302.3014 or via the inn's website.

Ready for Spring on the Oregon Coast with WildSpring Guest Habitat

Monday, March 28, 2011 by Heather Tyreman

WildSpring Guest Habitat recently published their Spring newsletter. This green lodging facility on the Oregon Coast is perfect for your upcoming getaway. Thanks to Michelle and Dean for sharing! Sustainable travel on the Oregon Coast is closer than you think. Contact WildSpring Guest Habitat toll-free at 866-333-9453 to start your Spring green vacation today. Here are some highlights from the newsletter:

Spring is coming to WildSpring

And that means our annual explosion of wild irises, each year more spectacular, plus our rhodies and azaleas say hello, and the baby deer start their cute stumbling around.

Fourth of July Celebrations!

And don't forget Port Orford for your Fourth of July plans. Our fireworks display is considered by many the best on the coast. We have an old-fashioned parade down Main Street, complete with tractors, classic cars, pretty ladies on horses and square dancing. We also have dingy races, arts & crafts, keg tossing and knot contests, and all sorts of "tom foolery." (I've always wanted to use that word in something...)

Eco Friendly Travel Bed and Breakfast has Something to Share

Friday, February 11, 2011 by Heather Tyreman

Eco friendly travel is just one of the things Oregon bed and breakfasts might specialize in. Here's some breaking news from the WildSpring Guest Habitat's owner Michele Duarte:

Hi there....we just found out something very cool....actually two things very cool...and just wanted to share:

USAToday just wrote about us (again) as one of five luxury vacations in the U.S. And Spawards just listed us as one of the top 100 spas in the U.S.

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/luxury-vacations-united-states-25861.html

http://www.spawards.com/winners

Wow....

And woo hoo!

Michelle

When you're looking for your green vacation lodging, consider WildSpring Guest Habitat. Or, as Michelle might say, "The great outdoors finally comes with an equally great indoors."

Congratulations, Michelle!

Plan Your Green Vacation at the Snow Packed Peaks of Mt Ashland

Thursday, December 30, 2010 by Mary Pellegrini

Mt Ashland Ski Resort near Ashland in Southern Oregon

Consider Mt Ashland when planning your green vacation. Community owned Mt. Ashland, the highest mountain in Southern Oregon’s Siskiyou range, is one of the only slopes in the nation where skiers can carve graceful turns during the day and enjoy clever turns of phrase at night.

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. The mountain’s 200 acres of skiing offer a number of challenging runs, including Ado and Balcony, leading locals to brag: If you can ski Ashland, you can ski anywhere.

Mt. Ashland’s Green Chair program helps the Bonneville Environmental Foundation reduce our nation’s dependency on fossil fuels as our primary sources of generating electricity and promotes sustainable travel. The renewable energy credits, also called Green Tags, purchased by the ski area will eliminate the release of 600,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere each year for the next three years. Mt. Ashland will provide each visitor to the ski area the opportunity to invest in the Green Chair Renewable Energy program by purchasing a $20 Green Chair season pass upgrade or a $1 lift ticket upgrade. The passes and tickets will identify the guest as a Green Chair Renewable Energy supporter. Mt. Ashland encourages all visitors to participate in the ski area’s vision to become completely independent of energy derived from fossil fuels.

Mt Ashland Ski area is located just 30 minutes from Ashland, where après ski options include a vibrant arts community, superb restaurants, and quaint bed and breakfasts, many of them members of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild. Plan your sustainable travel vacation by first selecting an Ashland Oregon Bed and Breakfast then head up to the slopes of Mt Ashland Ski Resort.

Eco Friendly Travel at Certified Green Inns of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild

Friday, November 19, 2010 by Mary Pellegrini

The Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is committed to Sustainable Travel and we are encouraging our members to be "Certified Green" through the OBBG Green Certification Program. Not that we have to do too much coaxing. Most of our members already implement many "green" practices, like recycling and composting. But we don't stop there. We apply business practices that promote sustainability of our planet's natural resources such as using recycled paper, minimal use of disposables and using greener cleaning supplies and energy efficient lighting.

On the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild website's Green page you'll find information and details of the Green Certification Program and a list of those inns that have gone through the checklist to become certified. It really is such an easy thing to do, going Green and to provide Eco Friendly Travel. Visit the following Green Certified inns of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild who proudly display the OBBG Green Certification Green Inspection Program logo on their website and begin your Sustainable Travel Vacation today.

The Portland Rose Gardens, Japanese Gardens and Portland Oregon Bed and Breakfasts

Thursday, August 19, 2010 by Mary Pellegrini

The International Rose Test Gardens in Portland Oregon

Tucked away in Washington Park, one of the largest urban parks in our nation, are the International Rose Test Gardens. The Rose Garden contains 10,000 plantings of 550 rose varieties and boasts one the most photographed view of the City of Roses with Mt Hood towering in the distance.

Portland’s International Rose Test Garden is the oldest official, continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States. The primary purpose of the garden is to serve as a testing ground for new rose varieties. An early summer trip to Portland is not complete without a visit.

A trip to the Portland Rose Gardens is quick and easy for many Portland Oregon Bed and Breakfasts

Peninsula Park Rose Garden
Older, but not as well known, the Peninsula Park Rose Garden is located in north Portland. As you step into the sunken rose garden, you walk through lush paths, sweeping archways and over two acres packed with 10,000 traditional rose plantings.

Portland Japanese Garden
Nestled in the hills just west of the Rose Gardens are the Portland Japanese Garden. The tranquil beauty and serene settings have made these gardens one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan. The grounds of this 5.5 acre have been designed with careful use of plants, stones and water features, providing many peaceful spots for meditation and contemplation.

Tranquil settings in the Japanese Gardens near Portland Oregon Bed and Breakfasts

The Portland innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild can offer tips on the best time to go and the best way to get there. Many of our inns are located close to TriMet's MAX light rail lines and buses that have routes right into Washington Park so you have the opportunity to Go Green!

For the best of Portland Oregon Lodging choose a Portland Oregon Bed and Breakfast when taking your vacation in the City of Roses.

A very "GREEN" vacation!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010 by Debbie Lusk

We love being "green!" We love preserving our natural resources, we love the word, "sustainable" and we love experiencing all of this in the natural beauty that surrounds each of us living in or visiting the great "green" state of Oregon!

Not only are we on the forefront of all that exudes "green," we are and have been the example to the rest of the country that if you wanna be green, you have to learn from the best! Riding our bikes, using public transportation, conserving, recycling, you name it, we are doing it, re-creating it or sharing it!

And, for some of us, we love "experiencing" being green too! Filling our "re-usable" water bottles with our perfect tap water, we headed out for our hiking adventure on a trail near Mary's Peak! About 20 miles out of Philomath near Corvallis is where we began our trek yesterday.

We only had a few hours before our guests were arriving so we headed out and up the trail to Mary's Peak by noon! It was a gorgeous day but all I could think about was getting my exercise in and getting as far as possible up the trail before heading back down. Taking a few people "new to

Oregon" with us, was exciting. We love showing off this awesome place and couldn't wait to start walking. About half way through our walk, someone said, "wow...this place is really green!" I almost laughed cause if I had a dollar for every time someone said that to me...well...you know how that goes. But hearing again those words, I had to slow down and take it all in! I looked

up and saw the magnificant trees stretching toward the sun. I saw each wild flower and thought about how perfect each petal is. I saw water falls, I stepped over the biggest slug I have ever seen and sat long enough to watch a spider weave her web.

Over two hours later and still not sure how far we got up the mountain, but we met some great people on the trail, pet some nice dogs and will take more time next trip to make it to the "peak!"

If you are visiting Oregon and want a true "green" experience, check out our trails! Pack your camel packs, your lunch and your sun screen and get your hiking boots and get going!

Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers and experience Oregon's green!

See you on the trail!

OMSI Presents Innovative Solar Canopy Charging Station

Saturday, August 7, 2010 by Mary Pellegrini

Green Technology at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

Through a collaborative effort from the SANYO North America Corporation (SANYO), InSpec Group (InSpec), and Portland General Electric (PGE), the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) has installed a solar canopy charging station to service electric cars, e-bikes, and most portable personal electronic devices. The solar charging canopy marks the first such installation in North America aiming to provide a solution for the increasing use of alternative transportation and punctuates the fact that both Portland and Oregon are in the forefront of integration green building, transportation, and renewable energy. The canopy is now available for public use.

The solar canopy has been installed in the OMSI's south parking lot and is large enough to cover 3 standard-sized parking spaces for automobiles. It features weatherproof lockers, each with 120V AC outlets, with two of the lockers serving as charging mounts for the SANYO 'eneloop bike' Synergetic Hybrid Bicycle, a pedal-assisted hybrid electric bike. Additionally, beneath the canopy there is a bicycle rack for bike parking. The solar panels in the solar canopy have been manufactured and assembled using the ingots and wafers produced in SANYO Solar of Oregon, LLC, located in Salem, Oregon.

WildSpring Guest Habitat, a Green Certified Inn of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild

Sixteen inns of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild have obtained their Green Lodging Certification with more in the process. We, along with Portland, are committed to providing eco-friendly travel to our guests visiting Oregon. Plan your green vacation today and know you will certainly have a place to recharge your body, soul and electronic devices!

Green Lodging at an Oregon Bed and Breakfast

Friday, July 23, 2010 by Mary Pellegrini

Green bed and breakfasts are becoming more and more popular, adding an environmentally conscious twist to the quaint, quiet and natural charm of a traditional B&B. Interest in Eco Friendly Travel destinations is

The Old Parkdale Inn - Green Certified by the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild

on the rise, and a green bed and breakfast can provide a comfortable and guilt-free stop for conscientious travelers.

A bed and breakfast is a quaint alternative to a traditional hotel. It's a cozier experience for travelers, who receive a peaceful night and a meal prepared for you in the morning. Many eco friendly travelers have found that a green B&B, one in which the house may be LEED-certified, energy efficient, using enviromentally safe products and where the breakfasts served are organic, local, seasonal and sustainable, is certainly the way to travel. For added solace the inn and surrounding grounds are infused with the sights and sounds of nature.

Plan your green vacation today by booking a room at a bed and breakfast certified green by the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild. We are committed to business practices that promote the sustainability of our planet's natural resources and integrate that commitment into exemplary guest services.

Ashland Oregon and the Annual Meeting of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild

Monday, March 29, 2010 by Heather Tyreman

Greetings from Ashland Oregon! Mary Pellegrini and I arrived yesterday evening for the start of the Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild Annual Meeting week. Today's Monday, March 29, 2010, and we started of the day with a great breakfast at the Oak Hill Bed & Breakfast, one of the Ashland Oregon lodging sites supporting the meeting.

Baked Eggs with Matcha Finishing Salt at the Oak Hill Bed and Breakfast Ashland Oregon lodging

If we weren't here for business we could easily make this a northwest culinary vacation. Pat & Tom purchased this 5-room bed and breakfast in 1999 and haven't looked back one bit. This morning Pat thrilled us with fresh pineapple and berries, her specialty herbed baked eggs and some of her fantastic barley flour scones. Pat's developed her own custom finishing salts--the one today included green tea matcha!

This afternoon is meeting time for the Board of Directors of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild. We've got plenty on the agenda. More posts coming!

Oregon Farmer's Market...a lesson in culinary tourism!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010 by Debbie Lusk

Can you say sustainable travel?...can you utter culinary tourism?...or can you blurt..."wow...I've never seen veggies this green before!"

Well...it began on March 20th in Portland! It's Spring here and it's time for our Oregon Farmers Markets to sprout up all over the state and share their stuff! Flowers, veggies, art...you name it and you can find it. From now till deep in to autumn, you can drive in to just about any Oregon town, city or region and find a farmers market!

Throughout this season, you can enhance your Oregon culinary experience by tasting the fresh faire and enjoying our local goods as they are paired with wines and cheese's and yes...we grow them too! And we do a mighty fine job of it! The Willamette Valley as well as Southern Oregon grow the best grapes for the best wine in the entire state! The cheese's here in Oregon...wow, what can I say?...they are delightful and can also be seen at almost every farmers market in the state!

In the city of Albany, you not only find our lovely home and garden grown goods, you will find local honey, flowers, crepes and even local music to be had as well. It's all about what is here, what we can see, taste and touch and then take home.

If it's made here, grown here or even played here, you can experience it here! We hope when

you are planning your Oregon Culinary Vacation this season, you plan on checking out our Oregon Farmers Markets! See you in the crepe line!

Portland, Oregon. Known for Eco Friendly Travel, Certified Green Lodging and Green Beer

Thursday, March 18, 2010 by Mary Pellegrini

St. Patrick's day is behind us but Green is here year-round in Oregon. Many Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild members provide Certified Green Lodging. And at Hopworks Urban Brewery in southeast Portland, the brewpub calls itself an "eco brewpub."

Many celebrate St. Patrick's Day with green beer, but in Portland, we're not talking the food colored or dyed kind. We’re talking about the organic kind.

Green is no doubt the theme at Hopworks Urban Brewery in southeast Portland. Not only does it serve all certified organic beer. It also uses all renewable energy, runs its kettles on biodiesal fuel, and even sits its customers on furniture made from recycled wood.

"We're really the first brew pub to incorporate all aspects of sustainability in our operation," said Christian Ettinger, brewmaster and owner of Hopworks.

Combining green beer with Portland's National Green status and the Green Lodging Certification held by some Portland area B&Bs makes for an authentic green Oregon vacation.

Blue Plum Inn ~ Portland
Forest Springs B&B ~ Gresham
Nob Hill Riverview B&B ~ St. Helens

These member inns of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild's Green Certification Program are committed to engaging in practices that promote the sustainability of our planet's natural resources while providing luxurious accommodations and sharing their eco-friendly values.

Hopworks Urban Brewery is not alone in its green brewing. It joins other "green" breweries like Lauralwood, which back in 2002 became Portland's first ever organic brewery, as well as Root's Brewing Company which was the first brewpub in the city to serve all organic beer. While you'll find plenty of organic green beer at these pubs, you won't find any green colored beer on this day or any St. Patrick's Day

The Craftsman B&B ~ A Green Vacation on the Oregon Coast

Thursday, February 18, 2010 by Mary Pellegrini

Located in Pacific City, The Craftsman Bed & Breakfast welcomes you to experience beautiful Oregon Coast Lodging in style, grace, and comfort.

The Craftsman B&B was awarded the Best Period Restoration Award

The Craftsman B&B has been awarded the Best Period Restoration Award in the LanierBB.com Guests’ Greatest Picks Award program out of 8,500 B&B’s world wide.

Built in 1921, The Craftsman B&B was renovated in 2004-2005 to return the character of the period and modernize the workings. Classic Arts and Crafts elements were incorporated - from the Greene & Greene inspired cloud lift detail of the railings and gate to the wainscoting typical of a Gustav Stickley house.

The craftsman style house features four guest rooms with period-inspired design and decor, queen beds and private baths. No lace or doilies here. Mike and Laura Rech are committed to providing eco friendly travel by obtaining Green Lodging Certification through the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild and implementing green business practices.

Whether you're planning your vacation around culinary or eco friendly travel or just looking for a perfect romantic Oregon Coast lodging experience The Craftsman B&B can and will provide it all. Another unique, quality inn of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild

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!

Farm To Table...A Cook's Treasures In One Oregon Bed & Breakfast!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009 by Debbie Lusk

Flowers at French Prairie Gardens in St. Paul, Oregon.

All throughout the Willamette Valley, farmer's markets are popping up their tents, propping up their tables and unloading their farm and garden treasures for anyone seeking a purely organic culinary experience. Culinary tourism here is fast becoming the reason why people are planning their entire vacations around food. It is also one of the top 10 reasons why someone chooses a destination to begin with.

Almost two years ago, Sunset Magazine wrote an article on the Willamette Valley and why it is such a treasure trove of really good, fresh, wholesome food. Because of that article, Matt Bennett, owner of Sybaris and Clemenza's in Albany still receives guests that have traveled just to taste the bounty he prepares and serves in his restaurants. With monthly menu changes, Matt uses his culinary skills to prepare his classical meals using only the freshest ingredients found in the region.

Jack and Heidi Czarnecki own The Joel Palmer House in Dayton and have also given visitors to Oregon a reason to eat really good food. On the Oregon and National Historic

Mushrooms growing wild near an Oregon Bed & Breakfast.

Registers, The Joel Palmer House is home to one of the finest restaurants in the Willamette Valley. Gathering mushrooms on the property along with other locally grown ingredients such as greens, herbs and vegetables, the dishes prepared and served here are spectacular. Using a method they refer to as "freestyle", Jack and Heidi also use ingredients found in Mexico, China, Thailand, Poland and India. For example, taste Joe's Wild Mushroom Soup or Heidi's 3 Mushroom Tart or the Rack of Lamb Palmer House with Hazelnut Pepper Sauce and Jalapeno Cornbread, oh my gosh! You can't stop there, so try the Cheesecake with Dayton Berry Sauce or the Chocolate Banana Bread Pudding.

French Prairie Gardens in St. Paul, Oregon is the epitome of the "farm to table" experience. So, if you decide to plan your Oregon vacation around "food", visit the gardens in St. Paul on your way home. Be sure to bring your farmer's market basket and fill it with fresh vegetables, breads, fruits, muffins, scones, cobblers and anything else your heart or belly desires. This 500 acre farm offers a little bit of all that is good and fertile in the Willamette Valley. The rural setting, the animals, the food so fresh from the soil, this farm is another reason why culinary tourism here in Oregon is the heart of sustainability and simply a really good reason to dine on really good food.

And, after you have dined, check out or into an Oregon Bed & Breakfast. In Albany, you have your choice of three Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild membership inns. The Train House Inn, Edelweiss Manor or The Pfeiffer Cottage Inn. In and around St. Paul and Dayton, The Lobenhaus Bed & Breakfast offers a full Oregon Bounty breakfast prepared with fresh seasonal ingredients from their own gardens or local farmer's market.

So many ways to taste all that is fertile and good here in the Willamette Valley. Culinary tourism at it's tastiest!

It's Always About The Food...Culinary Tourism in Oregon

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 by Debbie Lusk

Epicure: a person devoted to pleasure and refined sensuous enjoyment, especially for good food and drink! That is what you can get in Portland, Oregon. Yes, it's a "foodie" tour and it sounds heavenly. The Portland Epicurean Tour takes you on a wonderful journey through Portland letting you taste a bit of what makes this area of Oregon one of the most sought after "food lovers" heaven and the center for culinary tourism. Go through the back door of a distillery and sample the gin or rum and restaurants to check out the beer, coffees, chocolates, bagels, pizzas, gelatos, cheese's and salmon. Every tour is a little different with it's own offering of foods and drink and appeases even the most refined appetites.

As an innkeeper, I as many of my fellow innkeepers, believe it's almost always

Lodging in Oregon, Pfeiffer Cottage Inn Breakfast Table

"about the food!" In our local travels, we have discovered the joy in finding some new way to use the fresh, local and organic ingredients found in abundance at road side stands and farmer's markets in Oregon. In Oregon wine country, you not only find wine grapes, but there are berries growing on the sides of the road, greens growing in rows along winding streets and huge gorgeous pears hanging off trees in the orchards in the Mt. Hood region. So, how can it not be about the food.

The fact is, Oregon has always been in the forefront when it comes to "culinary tourism" and "sustainability". Long before good, local and fresh foods became the popular trend, Oregon led the way in culinary tourism because of all the agricultural treasures found here. Pair all that great food with some spectacular travel options and you have found the perfect draw for visitors seeking the perfect vacation.

The Apple Inn Bed and Breakfast and The River Walk Inn, both Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild inns, share some of their recipes on line along with other websites that offer many recipes that are typically used at bed and breakfasts. Some Oregon Bed and Breakfasts even offer cooking classes often included in the cost your room giving you and your innkeeper the opportunity to share recipes, a meal, and of course the fun. Finding the goods, and taking advantage of the local "booty", is the prime goal for the makings of the perfect meal.

Flowers in Lemon Curd Jar at an Oregon Bed and Breakfast.

If you are a "foodie", love to cook, and enjoy the whole bed and breakfast package, you might be an epicure! Go to www.obbg.org and click on the "Oregon Bounty" logo to see how Oregon Bed and Breakfasts are using local ingredients in their menu's and still leading the pack in "culinary tourism" in Oregon.

Taking Green Lodging One Step Farther

Thursday, March 19, 2009 by Heather Tyreman

by
Mike Rech
Owner & Innkeeper
The Craftsman Bed & Breakfast
Pacific City, Oregon
Guest blogger

Innkeepers Mike & Laura Rech of The Craftsman Bed and Breakfast in Pacific City, Oregon, are taking Green Travel one step farther.

They have always believed in saving the planet and making as small of an impact as they could.

Green is in, so they decided instead of quietly being green, they would promote their green practices.

They are part of the Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild's Green Inspection Program and are listed with another Green Travel site, istaygreen.org, where they rate 3 leafs.

The Craftsman is offsetting its carbon emissions with Carbonfund.org; the country’s leading nonprofit carbon offset organization. Carbonfund.org’s CarbonFree^® Partner program is a national movement of businesses and organizations that are leading the fight against global warming.

Their car is even carbon neutral! VW of America and Carbonfund.org are planting the VW Forest. They are offsetting carbon emissions by funding the reforestation of the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley.

They want to help you be green too. You can purchase Green-e certified renewable energy certificates, Green Tags, to help offset the carbon footprint of your travel to The Craftsman B&B. Their Green Tag web page has a chart where you can look up what kind of car you drive and figure out how many Tags would offset your travel.

Green Lodging News, an industry specific e-zine, wrote a story about The Craftsman’s partnerships and practices, click here to read it.

Find out more about The Craftsman’s Green Philosophy on their newly redesigned website.

For their already green inspired guests, they offer discounts for green practices already in use: 10% of a 2 night stay if they arrive on 2 wheels, arrive via Public Transportation or arrive in Hybrid or Bio-fuel car.

Visit The Craftsman B&B; experience Green Travel, Pacific City and the beautiful Oregon Coast in style, grace and comfort. No lace, no doilies!

Thanks for blogging, Mike. Visit this wonder Oregon coast lodging the next time you're planning an Oregon coast vacation. Skip the Oregon coast hotels and opt for green practices at an Oregon Bed & Breakfast member inn.

It's Always About The Food...Culinary Tourism in Oregon

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 by Debbie Lusk

Wine, Weddings and The Willamette Valley!

Sunday, March 8, 2009 by Debbie Lusk

Everyone needs a vacation. Whether we choose to be a bit frugal and stick close to home or go all out this summer, there is always something to do in the Willamette Valley.

Wine grapes, near Oregon Wine Country Lodging facility.

Of course by now most of you know that Oregon is known for its Pinot Noir grape and the loveliness that comes from it. So, why not book a trip or even of a staycation for yourselves and visit Oregon Wine Country this June. The 2009 Barrel Tour for The Wineries Of Lane County is Saturday, June 6th and Saturday, June 20th this year. All you have to do is reserve your spot, get on a cushy bus and drink and eat your way through Lane County all day. Doesn't sound too difficult to me.

Besides the wine, the perfect weather, the water, the green, the Willamette Valley is also known to be a prime spot to have an outdoor wedding. The Eagle Rock Lodge an Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild inn, is only 35 miles from Eugene, Oregon. Lodge owner Debbie Dersham is an expert at weddings and the lodge is considered the finest destination wedding venue in Lane County. The lodge features a 3 course breakfast, homemade pastries, and smores by the fire in the evenings.

Oregon Wedding Site, Eagle Rock Lodge, The McKenzie River

They also have a Fireplace Suite, with a woodburning fireplace and deluxe tub room with views of the McKenzie River and the Willamette National Forest.

The lodge also offers a helicopter service if you need a quick lift too. Not too many inns offer that kind of service but what a ride that would be.

June weddings outdoors are always perfect in Oregon. The 2009 Barrel Tour sounds like a wonderful way to spend a Saturday too. And I could see myself sitting by a camp fire with chocolate and marshmellow on my face. Soaking in a huge luxurious tub at Eagle Rock Lodge doesn't sound like a bad way to end a perfect day either. Think I can handle it.