Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild

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.

Here's a special you won't want to miss in the Oregon Wine Country!  

Roselyn, innkeeper of the R. R. Thompson House in Carlton, invites you to enjoy a Spring Break Special.  For the rest of March 2013 and through the month of April 2013 only, you can:

• book one night and get the second night half off;
• book two nights and get the third night free! 

Please call the inn directly to reserve this special rate: (503) 852-6236  

Spring is a special time to visit the Willamette Valley.  The daffodils are in bloom and soon many flowering trees will be at the peak of beauty. 

The R. R. Thompson House is walking distance to nearly 20 wine tasting rooms and a short driving distance to many world-class wineries found in the Oregon Wine Country.  Located only 40 miles from Portland, Oregon, and 60 miles from the Oregon Coast, this inn makes a perfect central location for your Spring Break getaway.

And you'll stay in luxury.  Although the house was originally constructed in 1936, today this authentic Oregon home boasts two spacious suites and three intimate guestrooms, each appointed with marble tiled baths and jetted tubs and either a king or queen-sized pillow top mattress and crisp, luxury linens.

Hungry yet?  Make your Spring Break a culinary vacation too.  The R. R. Thompson House features a bountiful breakfast with specialties like Brie omlettes and house-baked pastries.  You can read more about this wonderful inn from a previous blog post here.

Visit the R. R. Thompson House soon and "like" them on Facebook too!

Roselyn at the R. R. Thompson House is ready and waiting for you!  

Roselyn shares the following information:

The 20^th Annual McMinnville Wine and Food Classic, known as SIP, will be held Friday through Sunday, March 8 – 10, 2013, at the Evergreen Space Museum in McMinnville.  Come enjoy great cuisine and meet the chefs, talk with winemakers about their craft and purchase by the taste, glass or bottle.  View fine art available for purchase. 

The R. R. Thompson House in nearby Carlton still has rooms available for this event.  Check out our website and plan your stay with us. You can read and see more about the R. R. Thompson House in a previous blog post.

(And thanks to the SIP!McMinnville page on Facebook for the image of this year's wine--Kramer Vineyard's 2011 Estate Cuvee is the featured wine for the 20th Anniversary wine label.  This image is courtesy of the SIP!McMinnville page on Facebook.)

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.

A blog written a couple years back,  StillTasty: Your Ultimate Shelf Life Guide, is still relevant today and full of information about food safety.  And with the leftovers associated with the holiday meals following these tips is so very important.

This website, LoveFoodHateWaste.com, is full of great ideas for storing food and cutting down on your waste.  Meal and portion planning, food storage, and using up those leftovers will not only save you dollars on your weekly shopping bill it is also the environmentally friendly thing to do.  A side note: consider Pre-Cycling.  Join a CSA, community supported agriculture, shop local at the farmers market and buy products packaged in recyclable packaging.

The innkeepers prepare culinary delights for their guests and are sharing their recipes on the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild Website.  Check back often as we are adding more all the time.

Trust me.  We innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild will not be serving you leftovers!  Only the freshest and best for our guests!  But we are really people, just like you, with real leftovers from the gatherings with our families and friends.  Always great aromas coming from the kitchens in the bed and breakfasts of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.

Coming to Enterprise or Joseph Oregon and looking to stay at the Best Western Rama Inn in Enterprise? Well, that lodging is closed, but don't despair!  There are a couple of wonderful places to stay nearby!

The 1910 Historic Enterprise House Bed and Breakfast, also called the "Enterprise House," is very close to downtown Enterprise and offers 5 well-appointed guestrooms, each with its own private attached bath.

The Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast is located only 10 minutes away in nearby Joseph, Oregon. This inn offers 4 well-appointed guestrooms, each with its own attached private bath.

Both inns are inspected and approved members of the Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild and are also inspected and approved at the three-diamond level by AAA.

If you're accustomed to the conveniences of staying at a Best Western, you'll find that these two inns cover many of the same featuresand perhaps even throw in a few that you didn't expect.  Plus, each offers a full  breakfast cooked for you in the morning!  Sorry, neither one has a swimming pool (one of the favorite features of the Enterprise Oregon Best Western Rama Inn) but their convenience to Joseph and Enterprise combined with their level of service could more than make up for not being part of a corporate hotel chain.

Give the innkeepers a call: Judy & Jack at the Enterprise House (541-426-4238) or Heather & Bill at the Bronze Antler (541-432-0230).  They'll be happy to accommodate you, feed you well and extend to you some of Wallowa County's finest hospitality!

A couple years back someone tacked this added message below the warning sign that really states the obvious.  Be prepared when exploring Oregon during the winter months.  And don't always rely on that GPS.  Many forest roads, while beautiful alternatives from the main highways and freeways during the snow free months, are not maintained during the winter.   

Travelers should be aware that even a few inches of snow can obscure icy roads and soft shoulders where vehicles can become stuck.  Winter storms can trigger unexpected rock slides, and falling limbs and trees; they can quickly change driving conditions on forest roads from passable to impassable in a matter of minutes.

Keys to safe winter driving: Plan for the unexpected.  Keep in mind that cell phones may not work in remote areas.  Check the latest road and weather conditions at TripCheck.com or dial 511 before heading out.  Always tell someone where you're going and stick to that plan.   Carry an emergency kit in your vehicle.  Travelers should be prepared to spend long periods of time in the car.  Blankets or sleeping bags, warm clothes, a snow shovel, water, food and other necessities are recommended as part of a complete vehicle emergency kit.  Always fuel up at the beginning of the trip. 

Weather can change quickly, particularly in higher elevations. Good snow tires, a 4-wheel drive vehicle, and chains are advised or often required, when driving in winter conditions.  As a general rule, always adjust your speed to current conditions and drive at speeds that allow you to stop in half of the visible road distance ahead of you.

Helpful information about planning a trip to a national forest during the winter months can be found on the Know Before You Go webpage at go.usa.gov/Cmq.  

ODOT and the County Maintenance Crews do an amazing job keeping our Highways and Interstates passable.  They plow, they de-ice and sand but it is our job to use a little common sense, stay on roads maintained during the winter months, and drive cautiously to make sure we reach our destination safely.
 

We always like it when venerable travel writer Gerry Frank picks an Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member to include in his articles.  On November 18, 2012, Gerry picked the Oval Door Bed & Breakfast in Eugene as one of his favorites.  You can read the full article from the Oregonian here.

"Mornings start out right with locally roasted coffee delivered to the guest rooms. Follow the aroma of just-out-of-the-oven baked goods to the dining room for a full gourmet breakfast. Main dishes feature a choice of two entrees made with seasonal ingredients (including a healthier option) such as corn fritters, eggnog French toast and Dungeness crab hash. Fruit and breakfast meats complement the superb main dishes."

Nothing like adding a little culinary tourism to your Eugene Oregon stay!  If you're a business traveler, thinking about relocating to Eugene, or parents of a University of Oregon college student looking for a more home-like environment for your time in Eugene, the Oval Door Bed and Breakfast could be your pick too.

Call Melissa or Nicole at 541-683-3160 or visit their comprehensive website to review their rooms and make your reservation.  Lodging in downtown Eugene Oregon can't be more complete than a stay at the Oval Door.  

And thanks, Gerry Frank, for picking an Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild member!

There's more to Oregon Coast lodging than Oregon coast hotels and the folks that run the Oregon bed and breakfasts there are creative in what they do.  tInnkeepers are known for doing more than just running a bed and breakfast.  Eileen Obteshka, innkeeper of the Grand Victorian B&B and Vintage Cottage Rental supplied this photo from a High Tea event she recently catered for a ladies church group.

Don't they look precious in their hats?

High Tea is available 7 days per week by arrangement at the Grand Victorian Bed & Breakfast, but Eileen will also cater your event in other locations too.  If you're thinking about a high tea event or other party in the Newport, Oregon, area, Eileen will also bring the event to your office, your church or your home. You can call her at 541-265-4490 to discuss your events needs.  Who better than an innkeeper to make yummy scones and other high tea delights? Reserve your Grand Victoria tea party today!

I just spent two days in Central Oregon on an Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild Lady Innkeepers Getaway.  Yes, we were able to escape our everyday innkeeping duties and relax with like minded gals of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.  This year we journeyed to Wilson Ranches Retreat in Fossil, Oregon, a member of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.  Perfect accommodations when traveling the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway, the Ranch offers up true Oregon hospitality and an Old West Experience.

The journey from my inn in the Hood River Valley to Fossil, Oregon, took me on a section of the 'Journey Through Time Scenic Byway.  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 for sharing this information

'Uncommonly rich in history, this Byway reveals tales of pioneers, towns boonmed and busted, and creatures that wandered this terrain millions of years ago. The Journey Through Time Scenic Byway stretches 266 miles through north central to eastern Oregon.  Beginning in the community of Biggs and ending in Baker City, this Byway meaders through ghost towns and small farming communities that bring the Old West to life.  The 'Wild and Scenic' John Day River-North America's second longest undammed river-parallels muh of the routh, offering excellant rafting, fishing and camping.  Geology buffs-and anyone who's curious about fossils-will take great pleasure in the interpretive trails at the John Day Fossil Beds National Moument'

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.

We have three plum trees in the gardens of the Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast, an alternative to a Hood River Oregon hotel.  The harvest has been Oregon Bounty style and the trees are loaded with fruit.  We've been making cakes and pastries as they come off the tree for the couple of weeks.  This Upside Down Cake has been well received by our guests at the breakfast table of the Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast, a member of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.

Old Parkdale Inn Plum Upside Down Buttermilk Cake

Place 1/4 cup butter in 8" round baking pan and place in an oven preheating to 400º until melted.  While it heats prepare about 10 plums by slicing them into wedges, getting about 8-10 wedges per plum.  When the butter has melted swirl it around the pan.  I use a pastry brush to make sure the sides are buttered too.  Add 1/2 cup brown sugar, mix it well into the butter then arrange the plum wedges in rays around the pan.

Buttermilk Cake Batter:
1 cup flour
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ stick of butter, softened
¾ cup sugar
½ cup buttermilk
1 egg
½ tsp vanilla extract

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, and set aside.  In another bowl, cream the butter and ¾ cup of sugar together, then add the vanilla extract, egg and buttermilk and whisk till smooth.  Add to flour mixture.  Stir until just combined.  Scrape the buttermilk cake batter onto the plum slices and smooth.  Bake for around 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

Cool for 5 minutes, then carefully invert onto serving platter.  We've been serving this Oregon Culinary Delight slightly warm with a dab of Greek yogurt and some sliced fresh plums as garnish

The Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast is mid way between Hood River, the Columbia River Gorge and Mt Hood and is a unique inn of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.  The inn, with Pacific Northwest decor, is at the foot of majestic Mt. Hood in the bountiful Hood River Valley, Parkdale, Oregon.  The perfect base for outdoor adventure or a quiet retreat.

Ah, the fall in Southern Oregon!  Vikki, innkeeper at Bybee's Historic Inn, a romantic bed and breakfast in Jacksonville, has a few tips about things to see and do in Jacksonville.  

What better way to enjoy autumn than visiting Historic Jacksonville? The town gardens are still brimming with flowers while the cool nights begin to tint the trees with color. The trolley is still touring about and our quaint streets beckon you to wander through town admiring our historic buildings. The Woodlands trails offer you the opportunity to crunch leaves underfoot, breathe in crisp fresh air, and admire the changing colors; every image you conjure up with thoughts of autumn is yours to experience in Jacksonville. The shops are brimming with great new products and restaurants are serving the bounty of the harvest. And who can resist harvest time in the vineyards? There is no more perfect season to visit the wineries. Plan a day driving through the now colorful vineyards, sipping wine, and munching on a perfect fall picnic full of goodies you picked up in town!

So many things await your visit; step into Jacksonville and discover another world.  "Meet the Pioneers" October 12th and 13th where Pioneer spirits in costumes share their stories of life in and around Jacksonville and the Rogue Valley www.friendsjvillecemetery.org. Ticket price is $12.00 for adults, children under 12 are $5.00 and the Family Pack (2 adults and up to 3 children) is $29.00, contact the Chamber office at 541-899-8118 or email  chamber@jacksonvilleoregon.org

And you'll need a place to stay in Jacksonville.  Bybee's Historic Inn, an authentic Oregon lodging on the outskirts of town, offers romantic weekend getaways for your time in Southern Oregon.  Get on out there while the autumn weather lasts!