Lodging in Oregon

The Willamette Valley, Oregon's largest AVA (American Vitaculture Area), stretches 150 miles from Portland, Oregon. to south of Salem and consists of six sub-appellations.  200 wineries and 10,000 acres of quality Oregon wine grapes.  The rich, diverse soil and relatively mild climate make for ideal grape growing conditions.  All this combined with warm summer days and cool nights allows the wine grapes to develop their flavor and complexity.

Being "stewards of the land", a large percentage of Oregon's winemakers are certified as sustainable, organic, or biodynamic.  Sustainability is both a priority and lifestyle even for those not certified.

The Willamette Valley region there has numerous Oregon Bed and Breakfast inns, unique amongst themselves yet each providing the consistent high standards of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.  Oregon Wine Country Lodging is a place where visitors can visit the wineries and find great shopping, fine dining and lively art communities.  During the summer months roadside farm stands and farmers markets appear all through the Valley.  Other outdoor adventures include birdwatching, hiking, and nearly 40 public golf courses!  

Get to know our State like a local.  Select a Bed and Breakfast from where to start and end your trip.  Experience romantic getaways, historic treasures, and tucked away rustic retreats. Whether your trip is for a quiet escape to a quaint rural or coastal town, for a World Class City experience or for a new spin on business travel, you can be assured of combining gracious hospitality with ambiance by staying at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

Visit the Willamette Valley in Oregon and experience fine Oregon Wine Country Lodging at the member inns of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.  Salut!

March brings the beginning of the southward movement of many migratory land birds through Oregon and as an avid birder I wanted to share the many birding opportunities that can be found in throughout our state.  The Oregon Cascade Birding Trail (OCBT) is a self-guided auto tour highlighting nearly 200 prime birding destinations designed to showcase the region's birds and spectacular scenery.  This blog will focus on the Mt Hood Loop of the Oregon Cascade Birding Trail.  Let's get settled first before we begin our birding adventure.

There are Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member inns all along the OCBT where you can begin your trek with a belly full of a hearty breakfast and a brain full of local knowledge.

Check into the Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast with magnificent views of Mt. Hood.  Pick the brain of the innkeeper who always has the binoculars ready to view the birds at the backyard feedes.  Located between the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood whose gardens have been recognized as a National Wildlife Backyard Habitat

The Mt. Hood Loop of the OCBT rises from the Columbia River to Mt. Hood, the highest point in Oregon, and combines some of the best of the region's birding with legendary Oregon scenery.  This loop traverses the Columbia River National Scenic Area and the Mt. Hood National Forest and visits 19 birding sites.

Lewis and Clark traveled the Columbia Gorge corridor.  The Lewis' Woodpecker, Clark's Nutcracker and Clark's Grebe were named in their honor.  Many species of waterfowl and raptors including the Bald Eagle inhabit the river and further up the mountain you'll observe woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches and so many more.

One of my favorite hikes, and I have many, is the Tamanawas Falls trail.  The falls are amazing at 100 feet high and 40 feet wide.  The trailhead footbridge is the midpoint of a 8-mile stretch of the East Fork of the Hood Riverhosting nesting Harlequin Ducks.  A riparian habitat and mature mixed-conifer forest surrounds the trail to the falls.

After you've explored the trails on the north side of Mt. Hood head on around to the south and western flanks where the Sandy and Zig Zag Rivers lead you past Trillium Lake and through Wildwood Recreation Area home to the elusive Pileated Woodpecker.

Bring out the hiking boots and binoculars, pack your bags. Get to know our State like a local.  Experience romantic getaways, historic treasures, and tucked away rustic retreats. Whether your trip is for a quiet escape to a quaint rural or coastal town, for a World Class City experience or for a new spin on business travel, you can be assured of combining gracious hospitality with ambiance by staying at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

"Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.  Geocaching.com is the headquarters for the activity"  On this site you can read the history of Geocaching.

* On May 2, 2000, at approximately midnight, eastern savings time, the great blue switch* controlling selective availability was pressed. Twenty-four satellites around the globe processed their new orders, and instantly the accuracy of GPS technology improved tenfold. Tens of thousands of GPS receivers around the world had an instant upgrade. Now, anyone could "precisely pinpoint their location or the location of items (such as game) left behind for later recovery." How right they were.

* On May 3 a GPS enthusiast, Dave Ulmer, computer consultant, wanted to test the accuracy by hiding a navigational target in the woods. He called the idea the "Great American GPS Stash Hunt" and posted it in an internet GPS users' group. The idea was simple: Hide a container out in the woods and note the coordinates with a GPS unit.  On May 3rd he placed his own container, a black bucket, in the woods near Beavercreek, Oregon, near Portland.

* Within three days, two different readers read about his stash on the Internet, used their own GPS receivers to find the container, and shared their experiences online.  Like many new and innovative ideas on the Internet, the concept spread quickly - but this one required leaving your computer to participate.

* Within the first month, Mike Teague, the first person to find Ulmer's stash, began gathering the online posts of coordinates around the world and documenting them on his personal home page. The "GPS Stash Hunt" mailing list was created to discuss the emerging activity.

* Geocaching.com was released to the stash-hunting community on September 2, 2000. At the time the site was launched there were 75 known caches in the world.  There are now over 1.5 million caches around the world, in only 12 years.'

This is certainly the condensed version.  Visit Geocaching.com history for the full story.  I checked to see if the Original Cache was still available, but alas, it has been archived and the Un-Original Stash placed in it's honor.  The links will take you to their listing on Geocaching.com but if you are not logged in I'm not sure if you will be able to view.  

Geocaching is Eco Friendly Travel at it's best .  Get to know Oregon like a local from the locals, the 100+ hosts of our member inns located in all of Oregon's regions.  Experience romantic getaways, historic treasures, and tucked away rustic retreats.  Whether your trip is for a quiet escape to a quaint rural or coastal town, for a World Class City experience, a geocaching adventure or for a new spin on business travel, you can be assured of combining gracious hospitality with ambiance by staying at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn

Social media.  One either likes it or they don't.  We of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild actually love it.  Today's travelers' are web savvy travelers' who use many different social media sites to make wise travel choices.  Social media listings direct you to us and then our innkeepers take over to make your lodging choice the perfect choice for your Oregon vacation.

The Oregon B&B Guild website ~ new and improved with loads of information, serving as a 'one stop shopping' website:  

• Visit the Target Market page to begin your search for an inn that will fulfill your interests, birding, hiking, biking, wine tasting, historic destinations, etc.
• Weddings and Retreats - many of our innkeepers will host weddings and retreats
• Culinary Tourism - for our food loving guests, that would be all of you! 
• Browse by region, specials, amenities
• Each inn has direct links to their personal on-line reservation systems.  There is also an availability calendar for all regions
• Purchase Lodging Gift Vouchers which are redeemable at all our member inns
• Each inn has a direct link to their on-line reviews.  TripAdvisor, Yelp, BedandBreakfast.com and iLoveInns.  Review before you reserve.

This Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild Blog.  An amazing social media tool.  We post about happenings and events all across Oregon and the lodging options close by.  Search the blog for posts on winery events, bird watching sites, farmers markets and oh, so much more!

facebook - join almost 2000 fans that 'like' the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.  You'll get live updates on specials, events, and state wide happenings. 

twitter - follow us on twitter @oregonbbguild and @ORinnquire for short timely Q&A with innkeepers.  We live here.  We know Oregon like the back of our hands and would love to help you create a memorable visit at our inns and in our regions

Flickr - where our innkeepers have uploaded photos of their inns, events, and scenic shots of Oregon

Pinterest - photos and more photos!  Of our inns, our innkeepers, our food, and of course our Oregon.

There are over 400 bed and breakfasts in Oregon but only ours are inspected and approved by the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild, making them a exceptional lodging choice for your perfect vacation.  Thank you for choosing one, or more, of our member inns as a lodging option on your next Oregon vacation.  You'll be glad you did.

Our innkeepers are so very talented and creative.  Not only do they provide unique bed and breakfast accommodations, delightful breakfasts and all the amenities to present a unique lodging experience, we also spend time exploring our regions so as to have the very best local information for our guests.  Where to watch the best sunset, see a magnificent waterfall, the best stroll on the beach or hike in our forest.  We've been here and done that!  That's what makes staying at a member inn of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild the perfect getaway.  Whether it be only for a night or an extended weekend.  

This video was created by Diane Emineth, Innkeeper of the Sandlake Country Inn, to be shared with her guests and with her permission, to all of you.  Located just 10 minutes north of Pacific City, is this secret hideaway nestled on the scenic Oregon coast. The historic farmhouse built from shipwrecked bridge timbers in 1894, is located in a country setting approximately 1 mile from the Pacific Ocean coastline.

Enjoy the video and thanks, Diane.
 

The innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild on the Oregon Coast are ready to assist you in planning your getaway.  Any time of year is a beautiful time to visit the Coast.

Historic Columbia River Highway

Traversing between Hood River and Mosier, the five mile section of the Historic Columbia River Highway passes through the Twin Tunnels and two climate zones and being closed to auto traffic is an amazing trail for hikers, bikers, rollerbladers, anyone human powered. Starting at the east Mark O. Hatfield Trailhead near Mosier, the trail leads through semi-arid terrain dotted with ponderosa pine for about a mile until you reach the Twin Tunnels. Spectacular geologic formations tell the story of the gorge's creation.

After passing through the tunnels, you'll emerge into a forest of fir trees and other common western Oregon plants and stunning views of the Columbia River Gorge.  Viewpoints along the 3.5 mile segment from the tunnels to the west Mark O. Hatfield Trailhead overlook the river.  Consider a stay at an inspected and approved B&B in the Mt Hood and The Columbia River Gorge Region, just minutes from the Historic Mosier Tunnels 

Get to know Oregon like a local from the locals, the 100+ hosts of our member inns located in all of Oregon's regions. Experience romantic getaways, historic treasures, and tucked away rustic retreats.  Whether your trip is for a quiet escape to a quaint rural or coastal town, for a World Class City experience or for a new spin on business travel, you can be assured of combining gracious hospitality with ambiance by staying at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

Guest Blogger Barb Mitchell
Feller House Bed and Breakfast
Aurora, Oregon

When you think Willamette Valley Oregon, the first thing that comes to mind are the acres and acres of wine grapes, the wineries and the Oregon Wine Country.  But did you know that the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm has over 40 acres of Tulips, Daffodils and other cut flowers in full bloom from now through April?  And this time every year they open their fields and expand their operations to include taking bulb orders, cut flowers, potted tulips, a gift shop, other plants, and all sorts of food and activities on weekends.

'Spring is here and a beautiful time to plan a trip to the Willamette Valley.

Plan to come and enjoy the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival , which opens on March 30th and runs through April 30th.  Enjoy over 40 acres of tulips and daffodils along with variety of activities each day and special events on the weekends.  Activities and  events are planned for all ages.

Order your bulbs for fall planting, buy cut flowers, visit the gift shop and even enjoy  good food while you’re there.

http://www.woodenshoe.com/tulip-fest/'

Every time another storm comes through the Columbia River Gorge and into the Mt Hood National Forest we say, "This has got to be the last one".  And then comes another.  Seems like Winter and Spring are playing a bit of tug-a-war and we are hoping winter holds on a bit longer.  
  
The ski resort on Oregon's tallest peak, Mt Hood, have received about 15 inches of new snow in the last 24 hours.  All this is making for some awesome spring conditions on Mt Hood and in the Mt Hood National Forest. Take advantage of these longer, warmer days of Winter and the substantial snow pack to explore the back-country side of Mt. Hood, just minutes from Hood River Oregon and the member inns there of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.  No Sno-Park passes needed after April 15 and you'll find no crowds, the trails less traveled, great spring snow adventures and an Oregon Bed and Breakfast Inn.  What more do you need?

In the Hood River Valley 15,000+ acres pears, apples, cherries and other fruit, will burst into blossom this month.  It is a true sign of sping as we dust the snow off our back steps. 

Blossom Festival celebrates the arrival of spring with a full plate of events from BBQs, to arts and craft shows, to antique sales. 

You won't want to miss the Blossom Fest Quilt Show with some 80-100 beautiful handmade quilts will be on display, many for sale.  Another can't miss event is the Dessert Party at the Apple Valley Country Store.  A variety of desserts, jams and jellies, all made with fresh local fruit, will be available.

Start your day at one of the many Oregon Bed and Breakfasts near Mt. Hood and the Columbia Gorge with a breakfast prepared from fresh local products.  Ginger baked pears, fresh Blueberry Scones, Apple Quiche, we're talking Northwest Culinary breakfasts!

With Nine Unique Inns in OBBG's Mt Hood Region to choose from this will only be one of the hard choices you'll face on a weekend of events for all the senses.

Take the scenic 35 mile Fruit Loop through the valley's orchards, forests, farmlands, and friendly communities.

Just want to sit back and relax?  The Mt Hood Railroad travels through thousands of acres of orchards in blossom and has a layover in Parkdale and the Art and Music Festival.  Enjoy live music and art in the park while taking in stunning views of Mt. Hood.

Visit us in the Hood River Valley at an Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member inn and prove to yourself that spring has definitely arrived!!

Guest blogger Karen Wickman, owner of the Prospect Historic Hotel, lodging near Crater Lake, Oregon, wants you to know!  She writes:

Prospect is a sleepy little town on the side of the road off of Highway 62 in Southern Oregon. It’s right on the way to Crater Lake National Park and is nestled in the middle of the Rogue River National Forest.  It is surrounded by astonishing natural wonders that you would never know were there if you didn’t do a little exploring. Within a half a mile of the Prospect Historic Hotel Bed and Breakfast Inn, you can find yourself in a pristine medieval forest cut through by the Rogue River and riddled with streams, waterfalls and mysterious trails to follow.

This image of me at the Avenue of Boulders gives you an idea of the wonderful hiking destinations that are close by.  Fred (my doting husband and fellow innkeeper) and I have wonderful free hand drawn maps to assist you on your explorations.

When you’ve explored enough to work up an appetite, you can walk back up the trail to our National Register of Historic Places-listed hotel and step back into time to an authentic Oregon Victorian-styled Dinner House. There, you will enjoy some of the finest food you will find anywhere on your travels. Pair your meal with a local Southern Oregon wine or microbrew to complete a wonderful day.

When you wake up in the morning, you’ll think it was all a dream. But you can go back out again and continue exploring for days and still not see the same thing twice. You’ll never forget where to find the Prospect Hotel.

Karen and Fred Wickman know about Oregon geotourism.  Crater Lake National Park is a popular destination in Southern Oregon, but there's more than just the lake to visit.  Make the Prospect Historic Hotel your home base for exploring the best eco friendly travel that Southern Oregon can offer.  Thanks, Karen!

The Old Parkdale Inn is are located in the beautiful Hood River Valley.  After a rejuvenating night at the inn and a hearty Northwest breakfast you'll be ready to head up to Mt Hood Meadows for awesome spring skiing conditions.  Or perhaps some cross country or snowshoeing in the morning before the sun warms the snow?  Come back to the inn, grab a bite of lunch, change gear, then head on down to the Gorge as the afternoon winds pick up for some ideal windsurfing conditions on the Columbia River.

Or bring your bikes for a grand afternoon bike tour along the Fruit Loop.  The combination of sports is certainly flexible and we are sure you can have it all!!  Get to know Oregon like a local from the locals, the 100+ hosts of our member inns located in all of Oregon's regions. Experience romantic getaways, historic treasures, and tucked away rustic retreats.  Whether your trip is for a quiet escape to a quaint rural or coastal town, for a World Class City experience or for a new spin on business travel, you can be assured of combining gracious hospitality with ambiance by staying at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

It’s that time of year for Eagle Rock Lodge's annual wooden boat festival. Saturday, April 27th from 10:00 to 5:00.  New and historic McKenzie drift boats will be on display along with casting demonstrations, fly tying workshop.  Food and beer will be available for purchase with proceeds funding the Life Jacket program. Join us for a delightful day of boats and beautiful views of the McKenzie River. 

At the Eagle Rock Lodge in Vida guests can enjoy over four acres of country garden and old growth timber, or fish one of the best holes on the McKenzie River right off the Lodge's front lawn.  A wide range of amenities and personal services are available, from weddings to special packages.

Member inns of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild are the only inspected and approved Bed and Breakfast Inns in Oregon.  Our mission is to assure travelers of consistently high standards in a variety of accommodations.  We are proud to have Eagle Rock Lodge in the Guild. 

The Lobenhaus Bed and Breakfast, an Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member, has been selected as one of the Top 10 Vineyard Inns by Bed and Breakfast.com.

Located in a peaceful, rural 28-acre setting, the Lobenhaus offers lodging and hospitality with distinction. Each of the six well appointed rooms in this tri-level, lodge-style B&B has a private bathroom, individual heating/air conditioning, additional outside door to a deck with territorial views of Millican Creek, our woods and vineyards.

"A B&B is the perfect place to stay on a wine vacation", writes Bed and Breakfast.com.  "Take an exciting getaway to the center of Oregon’s wine country. This lodge-style inn sits on 27 acres of vineyards, woods, and a creek. When you have downtime, unwind on the expansive decks overlooking the inn’s eight acres of vineyards. Guests get a free vineyard tour with the resident viticulturist, who can teach you how the grapes are grown and the importance of soils. If you visit during the summer, you can taste the grapes as they are maturing. Their certified-sustainable vineyard grows Pommard clones of Pinot Gris, White Riesling, Müller-Thurgau and Pinot Noir. Wine tasting at Rex Hill, the winery that purchases the Lobenhaus grapes, is a free amenity all guests can enjoy. Guests also receive tasting certificates to select wineries.”

Member inns of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild are the only inspected and approved Bed and Breakfast Inns in Oregon.  Our mission is to assure travelers of consistently high standards in a variety of accommodations.  We are proud to have Lobenhaus Bed and Breakfast in the Guild.  We are sure you will enjoy the calm, quiet setting this inn provides to visitors to Oregon's Willamette Valley.

It's that time of year again.  Time to start planning that Oregon Road Trip.  Oregon has more designated scenic byways and tour routes than any other state.  The Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is the only State B&B Association and a welcoming inn awaits you as you travel the backroads.  I am presenting a series of blogs to assist you in creating create amazing getaways and tours in Oregon.  Thanks Travel Oregon and the Oregon Department of Transportation for sharing this information.

'A Mile-Deep Gorge and Two-Mile-High Mountains. Oregon's northeast corner has always been wild and untamed. From the unfathomable depths of Hells Canyon to the 10,000-foot peaks of the Wallowas, much of it remains inaccessible. The middle of this incredible drive is usually closed by snow from October through May. And it has just reopened after a damaging mudslide. Wild and untamed as ever.'

Tucked away in Northeastern Oregon, the towns of Joseph and Enterprise are premier small towns for art and culture and are home to member inns of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild, art galleries, unique shops and interesting restaurants.

Winter and spring guests will enjoy unencumbered snowmobiling, snowshoeing and backcountry skiing opportunities.  But if it's the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway you'd like to travel now's the time to start planning your summer trip.   A reminder:  The center section of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway is seasonal - it usually closes in early November and doesn't open again until May or June depending on the snowpack.  If you're plannind to drive thie entire Byway, check in with the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Office at (541)426-4978 or 426-5546 or by visiting their website.

Get to know our State like a local.  Experience romantic getaways, historic treasures, and tucked away rustic retreats. Whether your trip is for a quiet escape to a quaint rural or coastal town, for a World Class City experience or for a new spin on business travel, you can be assured of combining gracious hospitality with ambiance by staying at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

Here at the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild we encourage guests who've stayed with any of our member inns to tell us their story.  You can do that by visiting our blog and clicking on the "Stayed at an OBBG member inn?" button on the right side of the blog page.  

What do we do for you? Remove your personal information from your blog post, but keep it so we can enter you in a drawing for $100 of OBBG lodging gift vouchers.  Tell everyone what you did--go for a bike ride?  Birdwatching?  Geocaching? A great dinner downtown?  

We know our inspected and approved member inns are great.  We want to know what YOU did while you were there.  Give us your authentic Oregon experience and we'll share it for others to plan their getaway vacations.

Here's a post from inn guests Barry & Kaye:

Another enjoyable stay at Bybee’s, our 6th visit. You’ll step back in history at this historic inn dating to 1857. It the perfect place to relax and get off the beaten track, while being a short distance to downtown Jacksonville. Charming Hostesses Tina Marie and Vikki Lynn make you feel very welcome and you’ll love the whole place. Tina’s gourmet breakfasts and other treats (the cookies are great!) are superb. You’ll surely come back again and again after your first visit!

Aurora in Marion County, Oregon, just south of Portland.  Peacefully established in the mid-1800's and located near the Oregon Wine Country, Aurora has a rich past and charming atmosphere.  It was founded as a religious commune in 1856 by Dr. William Keil who named it after his daughter.  The secret is out on this quaint village known as 'Oregon's antique capital'.

The 1860 farmhouse that is now the Feller House Bed and Breakfast is located in a beautiful country setting, minutes from Aurora.  Enjoy time away at this historic inn, built on Oregon's famous French Prairie where hops became a cash crop in the 1860's and still are today.  Conveniently located near the I-5 interstateand half way between Salem and Portland, you'll find a warm and inviting atmosphere, two delightful guest rooms, a wholesome breakfast, and personal attention awaits you at the Feller House. 
 

Old Aurora Colony Museum
The centerpiece of this National Historic District formed in 1974, their missions is to promote interactive lifelong learning by inspiring curiosity about the heritage of the Aurora Colony (1856-1883).  Visit the five-building complex of the 1862 Ox Barn, 1875 Steinbach Cabin, Summer Kitchen, 1864 Kraus House, and Tie Shed reproduction.  All furnished as they would have been during the colony period.  Artifacts include furniture, tools, music instruments, clothing, textiles, spinning wheels, photos, samplers, quilts, and much more.  Learn the story of this German communal society and their travel from Missouri to the Oregon Territory to find a new Eden.

Member innsof the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild's are the only inspected and approved Bed and Breakfast Inns in Oregon.  Our mission is to assure travelers of consistently high standards in a variety of accommodations.  Our member inns are inspected and approved and all meet or surpass our guidelines.  We are proud to have Feller House Bed and Breakfast in the Guild.  We are sure you will enjoy the calm, quiet setting this inn provides in the vast Willamette Valley of Oregon, perfect Oregon Wine Country Lodging.

Tyee Lodge offers gracious Oregon Coast lodging for travelers in a picturesque beachfront setting. Spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and the incomparable Oregon coastline can be seen from every window. All rooms have private baths.

Close to Newport, Oregon, Tyee Lodge is also close to other Central Oregon Coast attractions including the Bayfront, historic Nye Beach, ocean tour cruises and fishing, two lighthouses, the Oregon Coast Aquarium, and fantastic restaurants. We are here to help you discover why guests return again and again to Tyee Lodge.

Our Native American themed rooms have queen size beds with cozy chairs for reading, whale watching, or enjoying a storm. The rear gardens are made for catching fresh sea air and enjoying relaxing views of the mighty Pacific and Sitka Spruce. It's the perfect spot for bird watching. A short private path leads to miles of incomparable Oregon beach and tidepools.

It's the most romantic bed & breakfasts that invite lovers to relax and enjoy quality time with each other and the Tyee Lodge Oceanfront Bed and Breakfast, an Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member, is just one of these.