Oregon Lodging Pet Friendly

"...where the beer flows through ice taps."  Now what could entice you more than those few words?...and enticing is just the beginning! 

If you love food, love food from Oregon, love food in Oregon and love the local, fresh and organic mantra we all do our best to cook by, you'll love this week in Corvallis! 

Imagine walking up and down the quaint "hip" town of Corvallis, Oregon sampling not only very cold beer and the perfect Pinot Noir but a smattering of delish grub from some of best of the best restaurants in the region!  This week is "Corvallis Culinary Week" and they are ready to stuff you full as you enjoy each culinary delight from at least ten Corvallis restaurants.

Imagine a cold beer at 101 or the perfect seafood sampler from Aqua where their specialty is Pacific Rim and Hawaiian cuisine.  Visit Cloud 9, the downward dog, Fireworks, Le Bistro, Magenta or Zia's! 

Have we mentioned conveniently that there are at least two local bed and breakfasts near downtown Corvallis that are willing to take you in if you need a place to recuperate after tasting your way through Corvallis all evening?  Well...The Harrison House and The Pfeiffer Cottage Inn, Corvallis and downtown Albany respectivley, are two Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild membership inns that know where the best of the best is when it comes to that perfect culinary experience and that perfect "inn" stay!

cheers!

It's time again for the annual Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Race in Northeastern Oregon!  This race is Oregon's only sled dog race that is a qualifier for both the Alaska Iditarod and the Yukon Quest in Alaska/Canada.

In a recent press release, ECX President Clyde Raymer, Jr., announced that twelve teams are preregistered for the race--8 for the 100 mile race in the Eagle Cap Wilderness of Wallowa County, Oregon, and 4 for the 200 mile race through the Eagle Cap Wilderness to a site near Halfway, Oregon and return.

The event features fun for the whole family, ranging from the veterinary checks for all the sled dogs on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, through the awards banquet and musher's ball on Saturday, January 16, 2010.

If you'd like to attend the race, we have bed & breakfast lodging in Oregon recommendations for you.  There are two Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild members in Joseph, Oregon (the start & finish of the race and location of Race Central):

• Belle Pepper's Bed and Breakfast - Pepper herself is very involved in organizing volunteer for this year's Eagle Cap Extreme.  You'll find three well-appointed guestrooms with private baths awaiting you.
• Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast - Heather & Bill are hosting one of the ECX out-of-town staff members as their contribution to this year's race.  Last year the trail boss stayed with us, giving guests an insider's view to race operations.  We don't know yet who will stay with us for the 2010 race, but we're certain we'll learn more about sled dogs and racing from whoever it is!

Regardless of which bed & breakfast you choose, we'd love to see you "go to the dogs" at an Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild member in January 2010!

Every winter gray whales cruise along the Oregon coast en route from Alaska to Mexico, spouting geyser-like blasts of spray as they go. Thanks to towering coastal bluffs and a string of beaches set aside as state parks, Oregon offers visitors front-row seats for whale watching.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department park rangers are ready at the Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay to answer your questions and help you find whales to watch. Located on U.S. 101 along the seawall in scenic Depoe Bay, the center is a perfect spot for visitors to locate and watch whales as they blow, dive, spyhop and breach.




And what better spot to view this yearly migration than through the telescope in the front room of Pana-Sea-Ah Bed and Breakfast in Depoe Bay.  This beautiful contemporary craftsman-style home was built in 1999 with B&B guests in mind. Each uniquely decorated guest room features panoramic ocean views. Easy beach access is a few steps away. Centrally located between Newport and Lincoln City.

The rooms at Pana-Sea-Ah fill up quickly but there are many more Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member inns on the Oregon Coast.  From Astoria to Port Orford, 21 inspected and approved bed and breakfast inns of the Oregon B&B Guild will provide the ultimate in Oregon Coast Lodging.

And the trained volunteers at 26 "Whale Watching Spoken Here" sites help visitors spot  gray whales during the winter and spring annual migrations. The volunteers are on duty 10 a.m.-1 p.m. to help visitors see the marine animals and offer information about their migration.

Thinking about a quick vacation?  There are plenty of things to see and do in Northeastern Oregon in August--especially in Wallowa County.  Here's a suggestion for the weekend of August 22 and 23:

Wallowa Resources First Annual Barn Dance Fundraiser

• Saturday, August 22, 5:30 pm to 10 pm
• 5:30 pm social hour with wine tasting
• 6:30 pm dinner catered by Beth Gibans of Backyard Gardens featuring plenty of fresh, local ingredients (Oregon culinary tourism at the grass roots)
• Dance to Country Band "Diverse" with Craig Nichols
• Live auction featuring: 2 Scenic Flights over the Wallowa Mountains, Hikers Drop Camp in the Wallowa Mountains, a beautiful Palomino Filly, and a lot more.
• Tickets only $20 per person, available from Wallowa Resources at (541) 426-8053 or through local ticket outlets (see web link above).

Not only is it going to be a lot of fun, you're supporting the good works Wallowa Resources does--

Since its formation in 1996, Wallowa Resources has worked to bring people together in a common goal: to blend the ecological needs of the land with the economic needs of the community. The Organization strives to balance Wallowa County's economic well-being with the stewardship and conservation of its resources, preserving the area's heritage of making a living from the land.

What could be better than that?

And you'll need somewhere to stay before and after the dance.  There's some wonderful lodging in Oregon to be found in Wallowa County: 

Keep your rural weekend theme going by staying at the Barking Mad Farm Bed & Breakfast.  Diana & Hunter will be happy to host you in their much-less-than-rustic guestrooms on their farm overlooking Joseph and Enterprise Oregon.  Just because they're Oregon lodging pet friendly doesn't mean that they've gone to the dogs!

Nearby Alder Slope Bed & Breakfast also gives you the opportunity to bring along your horse for the weekend.  Give Jerry or Barrie a call when you're ready to pull that trailer to some of the most spectacular locations for Oregon trail riding in the Wallowa Mountains.

If city lodging is more your style, both Belle Pepper's Bed & Breakfast and the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast are located in the town of Joseph Oregon.  Enjoy your barn dance, but stay in town for the shops, art galleries and restaurants of this art colony town.
 

Where else can you go for a weekend of fun, food and free family entertainment?  Try downtown Albany, Oregon this weekend if you like pirates, like to act like a pirate or just like saying "aarg!" 

The Brotherhood of Oceanic Mercenaries (BOOM) pirates will be invading The Pfeiffer Cottage Inn and downtown Albany beginning Friday, July 31st.  Calapooia Brewing Co. joins in the downtown fun when the festivities begin with Agility Dog Demo's, a pet parade, an Owner/Pet Look-a-like contest, Army Rock Band Battle of the Bands and Movies By Moonlight playing "The Princess Bride." 

Saturday, August 1st will be a very full day of dancing, costume contests, pie and rib eating contests, pirate shows and preparing for the BBQ cook-off.  Sunday promises to start the day off right by offering Praise in the Park as Larry Boy from Veggie Tales makes a meet and greet appearance. Then the day gets really down and dirty with the opening of the beer gardens and Ray's Food Place KCBS Regional BBQ Cook-off Awards. 

So, our inn is gunna be invaded by pirates but you can still come get bbq sauce all over your face as you act like a pirate and join in the fun and entertainment down by the Willamette River.  Check out our other choices of lovely inn's in the Albany and Corvallis area by going to www.obbg.org. 

See you down by the river in beautiful historic downtown Albany!

Looking for a different start to your Oregon vacation?  How about some great live music in Northestern Oregon every Thursday evening during summer? 

During June, July and August, the Wallowa Valley Music Alliance presents a live music courthouse concert.  This isn't just any old concert series--musicians come in from all around the Pacific Northwest and beyond to this far-away corner of Oregon.  Performances range from early jazz and swing to alt-country-rock to traditional folk to award-winning contemporary songwriters performing their own music.

Who:  Every week is a different group.  You can view the most up-to-date listing on the Music Alliance's website.   Here are the bands coming for the rest of June 2009:

June 18th:  Simon Tucker Group (gut-wrenching original blues)
June 25th:  Jessie Morgan (Wallowa County's own country diva)

Where:  At the gazebo on the Wallowa County Courthouse grounds in Enterprise, Oregon (only 10 minutes from Joseph Oregon and 20 minutes from Wallowa Lake).

When:  Every Thursday evening, June through August, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.  The nearby Farmers Market starts at 4:00 p.m.

Cost:  FREE (although donations are graciously accepted and can be counted as tax-deductible contributions to the Wallowa Valley Music Alliance).

Sponsors: Wallowa Valley Music Alliance, City of Enterprise, Wallowa County Board of Commissioners, Oregon Arts Commission.

What to do: 

• Reserve your room at one of four Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild members in Wallowa County so you'll have somewhere to sleep that evening once the concert's over.
• Bring your lawn chair (and maybe a blanket--it does cool down during the evening around here).  
• Start your romantic getaway Oregon style with an intimate, free, open-air concert surrounded by the beautiful Wallowa Mountains!

Where to stay (Oregon Bed and Breakfasts in Wallowa County):

• A Barking Mad Farm Country B&B is a short drive out of Enterprise, or a nice bike riding distance if you bring yours along. (also Oregon lodging pet friendly)
• Alder Slope B&B is not too far from Barking Mad Farm.
• Belle Peppers B&B in Joseph is a 10-minute drive from Enterprise.
• Bronze Antler B&B is two blocks away from Belle Peppers. 

A 7:30am coffee wake-up call was the perfect way to crawl out of a cozy bed and greet the morning.  Last week we enjoyed visiting with our host Jon at Coos Bay Manor, an Oregon coast lodging facility and Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild membership inn.  

The manor boasts five guest rooms, a hearty, healthy breakfast and two sweet dogs that happily greet each and every guest.  This pet friendly inn offers the perfect location for bird watching, dune buggy rides in the sand dunes and many other family fun activities.

A day or two on the coast then we discover hwy 38.  This highway is a must.  I mean you really must drive this highway.  An absolute gorgeous ride with many surprises along the way. Herds of elk, the Umpqua River, the rolling green hills, and oh yeah, all the red barns.  Lots of them, tons of them all along this hwy.  I could have spent an entire day just photographing and looking at the barns...but then I would have missed the butterflies.

Elkton, Oregon, a small historic town, and home to the Butterfly Pavilion, is only about 36 miles from the Pacific Ocean and 60 miles from Eugene.  With a population of 197, this town is fast becoming the "Bass Capital of Oregon".  Go fishing for trout, salmon, steelhead or shad too.  Or, just go see the butterflies.  At the Butterfly Pavilion, you can enjoy espresso and/or Umpqua ice cream while perusing the beautiful gardens that provide the natural attraction for many species of butterflies.  Tour the gardens full of native shrubs and trees, see the Life-cycle display of Oregon butterflies, sponsor a log and help construct or just visit the replica of historic Fort Umpqua. Consider this natural botanical garden for the perfect Oregon wedding site! 

Blueberries, orchards, flowers, gardens, wine grapes and feed crops grace this towns countryside and provides the perfect backdrop for the four wineries found in Elkton.  River's Edge Winery, Brandborg Vineyard & Winery, Anindor Vineyards and Bradley Vineyards are all located nearby.

So, a scenic drive along the Oregon Coast, a comfy night in a Coos Bay, Oregon Bed & Breakfast, an unforgettable ride on highway 38, a nice Pinot Noir from an Elkton, Oregon winery and I think we tapped the perfect trip.  Just a night and a day or two to discover another Oregon treasure...can't wait to go again!

 

 

I checked out for a couple of days.  Our son was visiting from California and we played the tourist, enjoying the cool breezes and warm sunshine in the Columbia River Gorge this past Memorial Weekend.

He arrived on Saturday afternoon and of course the first thing we like to do is walk over to the Elliot Glacier Brew Pub for a pint and to take in the awesome views of Mt Hood from their beer garden.

Then it was UFC 98 on the big screen at our Mt Hood Bed and Breakfast, the Old Parkdale Inn.

Sunday morning we had a wonderful breakfast of Flaxseed-Apple Battered French Toast with Raspberry compote.  I do love when our son visits as he is vegan and I can test new recipes for use when our vegan guests stay with us.  This recipe came from the Millennium Cookbook and it is certainly a keeper.

Then off toward The Dalles to visit nonni.  But first a hike along the Historic Columbia River Highway, outside Mosier, and a stroll through the Twin Tunnels.  (I blogged about this last week)  The views of the Columbia River Gorge are quite amazing, especially this time of year when the hills are quite green and painted with wildflowers.  We even had a great vantage point, looking down into the nest of an Osprey Falcon.  What a room with a view they have!


After visiting Nonni (that's grandma in our Italian family) we crossed the Columbia River and took a little side trip to Horsethief Lake to see the Native American Petroglyphs and Pictographs that were saved from the rising waters behind The Dalles Dam.

We drove back to Hood River via Highway 14 which is on the Washington side of the Columbia, crossing back over on the Steel Bridge just west of Bingen, Washington.  Another great view of Hood River with Mt. Hood rising up in the background.  Our next stop was Full Sail Brewery for a pint and a couple souvenir pint glasses, and of course a sampling of the new LTD 03.  Full Sail is an employer owned brewery celebrating their 21st in Hood River.

Monday morning we took the kids for a ride to share our playground, Laurance Lake and the Mt Hood National Forest, just minutes from the Old Parkdale Inn.  The views of Mt Hood from this man made last are spectacular and we sat for a few and watched the fisherman fly fish from both boats, no motors, and the shore.  No live bait or hooks allowed.  A very serene setting.

Our son left us for a few hours to tour the Fruit Loop, visiting a few wineries, the Apple Valley Store for some of their wonderful jams and jellies and then to the new Waterfront Park in Hood River to watch the windsurfers and kite boarders on the Columbia River.  We met up with them for a stroll through the downtown, a stop at Gorge Dog for Tilly treats and then dinner at 3 Rivers Grill.



They are packing up now and I will spend the day getting the Old Parkdale Inn cleaned up and ready for our next round of guests.  Hope to see you soon so we can share our favorite spots in the Columbia River Gorge with you.

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 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!

You'll find four Oregon Bed and Breakfasts that are members of the Oregon B&B Guild here in Wallowa County.  All four are dedicated to supporting local agriculture and sustainability of our local farms and ranches:

Barking Mad Farm Country B&B and the Alder Slope Bed and Breakfast are both located between Joseph and Enterprise, Oregon, on the high ground (called Alder Slope) with commanding views of the countryside.  Barking Mad Farm is also an Oregon lodging pet friendly B&B.

In the town of Joseph you'll find both Belle Pepper's Bed & Breakfast and the Bronze Antler B&B.   These two B&B utilize farm-fresh eggs generously produced by 22 laying hens who live at Belle Pepper's Bed & Breakfast.  We even encourage our guests to take home a dozen or two.

As much fun as a stay at the Oregon Coast hotels can be, a trip to Northeastern Oregon is something that can be fun, educational and tasty too.  Ask your innkeeper about Source Tours when planning your Eastern Oregon vacation this year.

In the heart of Oregon wine country in Carlton sits the most perfect little farm where the view is so spectacular it's hard to believe it's real.  The rolling hills of vineyards, grasses, clover, trees and the sweetest and most gentle farm animals grace this piece of heaven at Abbey Road Farm.

About two weeks ago we took a trip to check out the farm and "silo suites".  An hour and a half from Albany and the Corvallis area and an hour and a half South of Portland, sits 82 acres of pure bliss.  John and Judi have created what they call, the "real farm experience" and invite those seeking just that to participate with tasks around the farm such as gardening, managing animal related chores, weeding, stacking hay and even mucking stalls.  (Not sure what the latter is but sounds like it could be interesting and maybe even involve a good pair of boots).

Opened since July 2005, the "Silo Suites" at Abbey Road Farm offer a bed and breakfast stay out of the ordinary with quite a unique experience. The guest rooms are all situated in real grain silos with five guest rooms that include king beds (with one a queen), Jacuzzi tubs, radiant floor heat, towel warmers, air conditioning and music systems.  The "country contemporary" design of the suites according to John and Judy is simply uncluttered and provides for a minimalist approach leaving comfort as the highest priority. 

In the heart of wine country in the midst of the thriving gardens, rolling hills of clover, gentle farm animals, and all the comforts of a real "farm stay", the facility also is the perfect setting for events such as weddings, meetings, and receptions.  Providing a stage for a memorable "farm" experience, and an ultimate "get-a-way", you can choose to "find yourself" or "lose yourself" at the farm while sitting in Mum's or Pop's Garden overlooking the rolling hills of green sipping some of the many nearby wineries world class wines.  

Wine tours, fine dining, wine country balloon rides, museums and the proximity to McMinnville makes this location a perfect spot to experience all the goodies the valley has to offer while providing the "best" in a "farm stay" experience.  

John is happy to guide through on a tour of Abbey Road Farm or you can simply pick up a self-guided tour book from the innkeeper that provides you the opportunity to see for yourself why this farm has been featured in travel publications such as Sunset Magazine and Travel & Leisure. 

Sit back and enjoy the beauty from the gardens and be rest assured knowing a little piece of heaven awaits you on the hillsides in the heart of this wine country.

So, what does putting cowboy boots on, grabbing a wine glass and gettin' on a horse in the Willamette Valley have to do with each other?  A wine tour by horseback!  At Equestrian Wine Tours near Abbey Road Farm in the heart of wine country, you can actually go wine tasting at several wineries on the back of a Tennessee Walking Horse. I have heard of taking a limo and even assigning a dear friend as the "designated driver" while wine tasting but a wine tasting tour by horseback?  A totally different kind of tasting experience.  A good soak in a big hot tub of water in an Oregon Bed & Breakfast would end that kind of day perfectly.

Abbey Road Farm is an Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild inn and is probably one of the most unique inns I have read about.  Sitting on 82 acres in Carlton, Oregon, Abbey Road Farm Bed and Breakfast "Silo Suites" offers an Oregon Bed & Breakfast experience like no other with old grain silo's converted in to guest suites.  I have the pleasure of visiting this Oregon lodging facility next week and am looking forward to seeing the suites, the farm, the animals and taking a long walk through the cherry orchard too. 

Wine country here in the Willamette Valley has not only drawn those on horseback or limo but has become thee up and coming wine region in the U.S.  Most of us that are lucky enough to live here know all of this and love knowing that we are in the heart of "the place for pinot."  And, also according to Shermanstravel.com, the Willamette Valley is considered one of the 10 hot spots of 2009.  About an hour from Portland and on the banks of the Willamette River sit well over 200 wineries in the heart of which is soon becoming the next Napa Valley.  Affordability, award winning wine, regional cuisine and culinary experiences, along with tours of working vineyards and local inns, have made for a perfect pairing and who wouldn't want to vacation or staycation here?

A few days at Abbey Road Farms, wine tasting by horseback and a taste of all that is fertile and good in the valley.  Who could ask for a more perfect vacation!

 

Last Saturday, we went on our first "farm tour."  Held in the Willamette Valley in the absolutely gorgeous farming communities of Wilsonville and Sherwood, the sunny warm Oregon day was the perfect backdrop for the huge red barns that graced the valley floor.  Of course it helped that across that valley, Mt. Hood in all it's snowy glory stood showing off it's new "blankets" of snow.  For you skiers, don't put your ski's away any time soon.  But for you farm goers, get your boots let's go on a farm tour. 

There is just something about a big old red barn set on a green hilly stage that takes my breath away.  Maybe I'm a farm girl at heart or just a romantic, but whatever I am, I know I am a barn lover.  There is just something about red barns and there always has been that brings a sense of nature and shelter to the city girl part of me.  In this little red barn, mama sheep and their sweet little lambs are nestled in straw with donkey's, chickens and ducks not too far away. 

An alpaca farm a few miles down the road lets us get an up close view of the little guy in the picture.  A preemie and still a bit behind his cohorts, this baby alpaca is needing a nap after lunch and begins to settle in for just that. 

Horses, alpacas, donkey's, chickens, ducks, sheep and a few other varieties of farm creatures graced us with their presence as we toured each farm.  Handmade jewelery, wine tasting, and a yummy bar-b-que rounded out the day as we pooped out and headed toward Portland to stay an Oregon Bed & Breakfast for the night.

Steve and Dusty at the Lion and The Rose Victorian B & B Inn located in the Irvington Historical District in Portland, Oregon awaited our visit and greeted us as we checked in to one of their six guest rooms.  Each guest room is decorated with period furnishings and each room has a private bath.  What I really loved about this inn is that it was comfortable, clean and oh yeah, the breakfast was quite delightful.  Offering a two course breakfast in their formal dining room, Steve served us a platter of fresh berries, citrus, grapes and melon.  A plate of fruit and a fresh baked blueberry scone and I was pleasantly satisfied.  The second course provided ham medallions, fried breakfast potatoes and a strata that incorporated mango's.  The delish breakfast, the company of Steve and the other lovely guests made me smile as we headed out for the ride home. 

Those of you brides or bridegrooms still looking for a unique and gorgeous place to celebrate your special day, know that the Lion and The Rose host weddings for up to 30 guests in the B & B or outside in their gardens for up to 50 guests.  A perfect venue for a sweet wedding and isn't it romantic that this Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild Inn has also been voted one of the best places to kiss in the Pacific Northwest. 

I don't think I could have asked for a more memorable weekend.  I loved the farm tour, the red barns, the animals and I especially loved the romantic stay at the Lion and The Rose Victorian B & B Inn. 

Are you planning a trip to the Central Oregon Coast?  Need a good place to stay? 

It's so fun to stumble into great resources on the Internet!

There's a wonderful blog called Central Oregon Coast-Things to Do full of practical suggestions of places to go, things to do and what to see all along the Central Oregon Coast.

Rayna is the blogger--a landscape designer with a passion for health and fitness.  And for day hikes in the Central Oregon Coastal area!

Here's just a sampling of what you'll find in Rayna's blog.  And she doesn't just tell you about the place, but gives you the inside scoop on building a little itinerary around it:

• South Beach State Park (Newport)
• Taft Park in Lincoln City
• Otter Crest Loop

The next piece, especially if you're not from the Central Oregon Coast, is finding a good place to stay.  There are some fine alternatives to Oregon coast hotels all up and down the coast--member inns of the Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild.  You'll find a full list of them on the regional page of the Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild website. 

There are two easy ways to find them:

1. If you're not familiar with locations on the Oregon Coast, start at the OBBG homepage and click on the Oregon Coast area of the interactive map.  The map will open up and show you the towns along the Oregon Coast where you can find member inns.
2. If you know where you want to stay, you can use the pages for individual cities and towns, or use the Oregon Coast page.  There are a total of NINETEEN B&Bs on the Oregon Coast that are inspected and approved by the Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild.  We're sure you'll find one or more to your liking.

Some of these properties are pet friendly lodging, some cater to families with kids, some are Oregon wedding sites, but all of them are inspected and approved. 

Enjoy your visit to the Oregon Coast.  And drop a comment to Rayna thanking her for her great blog posts if you get a chance!

Looking for something fun to do this weekend in the Willamette Valley?  We hear that our weekend here is going to be warm and sunny.  So, we are going on a farm tour!  This Friday, Saturday and Sunday, there will be several farms that will be open to the public for touring.  Go to Favorite5CountryFarms.blogspot.com for maps and directions to the farms.  This 10 mile tour between Wilsonville and Sherwood offers Oregon wines, garden tips and grape vineyard growing techniques.  Miniature donkeys, Arabian horses, sheep, lambs, llamas and alpacas will greet you as you take in all the garden decor, hand crafted jewelery, nuts, fruits, trees, herbs and plants as well as the local wines.  No need to pack a picnic because Rolling Rock Farm will serve bar-b-qued hamburgers and Frog Pond Alpacas will serve hot dogs.

Trying to keep up with what's new in the travel industry, we have learned that "farm stays" are the new rave.  Many Oregon Bed and Breakfasts offer some type of "farm stay" right here in the Willamette Valley.  This type of lodging typically has guest rooms within a large farm house or cottages on the property that easily accommodate larger groups or families.  These stays offer a get-a-way unlike any other experience by letting you get in on some of the farms chores like collecting hen eggs, feeding baby lambs, brushing and feeding horses.  For a family vacation, a "farm stay" could be just the thing to bring a little nature, a little nurture and a lot of down to earth fun.

Newberg, Oregon is only about 15 miles from the farm tour near Wilsonville and offers a unique Oregon Bed & Breakfast.  Springbrook Hazelnut Farm Bed and Breakfast in tucked neatly into the heart of the Willamette Valley wine country.  This Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild inn is surrounded by hazelnut orchards and vineyards.  Jim Prosser founder of JK Carriere Wines has been making wine in the historic barn on this property since 2001.  Voted one of best places to kiss in the Pacific Northwest, this farm spans 10 acres with a one acre pond and two very warm and welcoming Springer Spaniels, Ghilly and Duffy.

Spending a splendid Spring day on a farm in the Willamette Valley then enjoying a kiss with my hunny at an Oregon Bed & Breakfast sounds like the perfect start to the perfect Spring season. 

Watch my blog next week and I will share with you how our farm tour went.  Maybe I can muster a recipe or two to share with you as well.






 

Greetings from Atlanta and the 2009 PAII Conference!  Today's pre-conference activity included the Association Leaders Meeting.  Twenty-five innkeeper-leaders from across the United States and Canada assembled for a full day of idea gathering, presentations and collective thinking.  Of course, a tasty salmon filet lunch didn't hurt either.

Roll the tape! (The session was recorded.)

The meeting started off with a local presentation by Janet Cochran, the Northwest Georgia Historic High Country Regional Tourism Representative for the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GA's home for state level tourism).  GA divides its state into 9 marketing regions with a representative for each.  Janet gave us an overview what the state office does to promote travel in the state.  One particularly notable fact--any lodging entity in Georgia can be listed on the state's website at no charge!

Jeff Logan from InsideOut Solutions continued the morning with a detailed presentation, "Effective Internet Marketing Tactics for B&B Association Websites."  Very interesting and definitely useful.  Jeff touched on the importance of incorporating blogging, Google maps and photos into bed and breakfast association websites.  He encouraged associations to post specials and events to provide more fresh content.  Using free products such as Google docs and Google analytics are also good ideas.  Jeff provided some interesting, limited statistics about association websites.  On an annual basis:

• 74,000 visitors per year (202 per day)
• normal visit length is 5:15 minutes
• 55% of site visitors originate from within the site's home state

Lastly, Jeff spoke extensively about effective search engine optimization (SEO) and marketing tactics for associations.  He wrapped up with things to watch for when launching a new site and pitfalls to avoid.  All in all, a thorough presentation from an industry professional.

Stop the tape!  (Everything from here on is committed to memory.)


The afternoon was an off-the-record, animated, interactive session led by Jay Karen, PAII's CEO.  Jay started off by noting that there's a Twitter feed live on his blog to capture conference tweets.

Of course, I can't reveal everything that came from this session, but can reveal a few details:

• PAII mails out over 16,000 copies of the Innkeeping Quarterly magazine to both members and nonmembers.  What a great source of information!
• PAII staff members are available to speak on a variety of subjects.  They're a good resource if you're planning a local conference.
• The industry study of finance and operations is soon to wrap up.  If you haven't sent in your data, please do so soon.  More data makes for more robust study results.
• Key Connections, PAII's new newsletter targeting communication between PAII and state associations and other allied leadership groups, is on the street.
• Lastly, we were given a sneak preview of PAII's new website and asked for constructive criticism.  You know a room full of innkeepers, especially leaders, aren't short on opinions!

All in all, it was a very successful, eye-opening day.  It was enjoyable meeting so many innkeeper leaders and talking about what's happening in their states and provinces.  Geez, it's worth taking a spin on the Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild board of directors just to have the opportunity to attend!

There are 26 "Whale Watching Spoken Here" sites along the Oregon Coast, manned by trained volunteers during the spring and winter migration.  The volunteers are on duty to answer your questions about the migrating animals and assist in spotting.   The Whale Watching Center reports seeing good numbers of whales traveling past the Oregon coast and keeps a running tab on the sightings.

People come from far and wide to learn about the whales that migrate past the Oregon Coast each year.  And the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild can provide a unique Oregon Coast Lodging experience from Astoria to Coos Bay.

The Oregon Coast is a awesome seascape sculpted by wind and wave, and offers spectacular sites for whale watching.  Ask your Oregon B&B innkeeper for their favorite location.
                                                                     

Looking for somewhere to get out of Dodge for Mother's Day Weekend 2009?  We've got just the thing in Eastern Oregon to knock her socks off--a gallery art walk event in just about the farthest place you can get away from Portland and still be in Oregon. . .and some great Oregon Bed and Breakfasts where you can show her how much you appreciate her!

We're revving up for spring out out here in Eastern Oregon. . .Eight galleries in Joseph Oregon are throwing their 3rd Annual Gallery Art Walk on Saturday of Mother's Day Weekend (May 9, 2009) from 3 pm to 7 pm.

It's a lot of fun! 

New work by gallery artists will be on display. 

Artist demonstrations at various galleries.

Fantastic hors d'oeuvres and complimentary beverages.

And all you have to do is show up!

Call Catherine at Indigo Gallery  (541) 432-5202 and she'll give you the details.

And where to show her how much you appreciate her?  In one of four Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild members located in or near Joseph!

Catch a beautiful sunrise from your guestroom at the Alder Slope Bed & Breakfast high above town.  With a little luck, you might even come across a mule deer in velvet--a harbinger of Spring in these parts.

Another favorite bed and breakfast for mule deer--and just a few blocks from the Gallery Art Walk--is the Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast.   You'll find plenty of fine wines and sparkling wines in their cellar to toast the woman in your life.

If you're looking for a cozy out of town retreat, then the Barking Mad Farm Bed and Breakfast is for you.  Don't be put off by the name--this Oregon lodging pet friendly is the lap of luxury for you, your sweetie, and the dog too!

Belle Pepper's Bed & Breakfast is one block off Main Street in Joseph Oregon and close in to the Gallery Art Walk.  The B&B might already be full for Mother's Day weekend, but keep it on your list--there might just be a cancellation!

See you on May 9th at the Joseph Gallery Art Walk!

 

Guest blogger Pepper McColgan from Belle Pepper's Bed and Breakfast in Joseph, Oregon shares what's going on in her little piece of the world:

Spring is coming! You can tell by the little things.  There is more ground showing than snow, the trees have tiny buds that are thinking of swelling up, and the air is just a bit warmer.  We do have to keep in mind that we are not through with winter’s cold and snow but it’s time to look toward spring.

My garden planning is in full swing.  Note I said planning.  At 4100 feet in northeast Oregon planning is all we’re doing.  Seed choices have been made and ordered and seed starting equipment has been located and cleaned for a new season.  Looking back on last year’s garden has provided hints for changes.  There are always changes. New veggies to try, different places to put them and new methods of growing them.

This year for the first time we have baby goats to look forward to.  Our milk goat Ginny is big with kid(s).  Goats often have twins or triplets.  I’m not entirely sure how many babies I really want, but the reality is I have no control over this particular event.  Whether the birth goes smoothly or we get multiple kids is a mystery.  We are certainly looking forward to fresh sweet milk again.  It’s been a couple of long months with out it.  Our guests can only enjoy the goats themselves and have to forgo the milk and cheese.

Our beautiful chickens provide fresh tasty eggs that our guests do enjoy.  It’s perfect that when we have the most guests the chickens are laying generous amounts of eggs.  It is great fun to watch the “girls” when they get the kitchen scraps.  They get really excited and can polish of large amounts of goodies quickly.

This time of year is great for enjoying the excitement of spring and savoring the pleasures of winter as well.  The snowshoeing and cross country skiing are still wonderful fun.  Some days you can be snowshoeing in radiant sunshine.  It is beautiful.  The next day you can be getting the barn ready for new babies.  How great is that?

Belle Pepper's Bed & Breakfast is a great choice for lodging in Oregon if you'd like to slow down and enjoy nature's rhythms.  Tucked away in the far corner of Northeastern Oregon, this is one of the Oregon bed and breakfasts where you can wander the extensive property, talk to the farm animals, pull a weed or two in the garden. . .perhaps even collect the eggs before your morning's breakfast.  Bring the kids too--they'd love meeting Ginny and her new babies.

The historic inn features three well-appointed guest rooms, all with private baths and summertime air-conditioning.  Give Pepper a call today at 1-866-432-0490 and start planning your own Eastern Oregon vacation.

Only one year ago, my husband and I took the train from Albany, Oregon and spent a lovely couple of days in Portland, Oregon.  We had only driven through the area and never stopped to see or enjoy the city.  Well, now Portland has become one of our most favorite destinations.  I still am in awe of my husband when I follow him like a puppy dog as we get on the MAX, get off the MAX, get on a street car, well you know where this is going.  I really don't but I am always game for a ride and we always end up somewhere fun.

Two Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild inns come to mind when I think of location, luxury, and relaxation in the Rose City.  The first Oregon Bed & Breakfast is The Fulton House B & B.  It is located in the heart of Portland and minutes from city center and just a block from the Willametter River.  This inn has quite a history.  It was built in the late 19th century and was originally a floating bordello and around 1910, it was moved to its present location on logs by teams of horses.  The inn offers two guest rooms with private baths, a beautiful outdoor patio and a hot tub.

The second Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild inn, The Lion and The Rose Victorian Bed and Breakfast is on the National Register of Historic Places.  Built in 1906, this Queen Anne and is decorated with period furnishings and offers a two course breakfast, is near restaurants, shops and the downtown area.  It was also listed as one of the Best Places to Kiss in Oregon. 

When we go to Portland our goal is to do something new, something we have never done before.  However, we are kinda hooked on the Deschutes Brewery in the Pearl District in Portland.  It's an easy step off the streetcar right across from the Armory and you will not be dissapointed!  The brewery originally began in Bend, Oregon and this new brewery was opened in 2008.  They specialize in a "Northwest style that brings a taste of Central Oregon to the heart of Portland."  And of course their brewery offerings are as spectacular as their surroundings.  Using a collection of large salvaged timber beams to build the bar and tables, they also boast a beautiful collection of carvings that bring a natural feeling to the setting while you dine, drink and enjoy your burger with house made pickles. 

Hopefully you won't see too many "pink elephants" while you are in Portland after hitting the breweries when you go to the Portland Zoo for the "Elephantastic" celebration on April 18,2009.  This event features a party for "Packy" who is a resident elephant turning 47 years old.  The Portland Zoo is the world leader in Asian elephant care and is planning to offer special training sessions and other fun birthday activites for Packy at the party.

Wow!  It looks like Portland has something for everyone in the family.  We covered Portland, Oregon lodging, elephants and beer.  So, all we have left is quilts!  Quilting is a craft that many people have taken up recently.  Many cities in Oregon actually celebrate quilting by offering quilt shows that draw thousands of crafters from all over the region.  Portland, Oregon will celebrate with "A Festival of Quilts", March 26th to March 28th, 2009.  This 35th annual show will offer over 400 quilts to be viewed along with vendors and supplies to be purchased. 

It kinda looks like someones "Spring Break" is all planned out for them.  A trip the whole family can enjoy!