Oregon's Best Bed and Breakfasts

As usual, the innkeepers of Bybee's Historic Inn just outside of Jacksonville in Southern Oregon are planning something guaranteed to pique your interest.

February is the month of Love and Fun!

Join us for a weekend of chocolate! Our Chocolate Lovers Getaway weekend February 10th through the 12th includes a two night stay (second night 1/2 off) and a chocolate lovers dinner on February 11th.   Upon arrival you will be indulged with champagne and chocolate dipped strawberries in your room.  The two night lodging and dinner is offered at great package price of $282.50 to $340.00 depending on the room choice.

February 20th is Mardi Gras night at Bybee's Historic Inn.  We will celebrate the the traditions of Mardi Gras with a New Orleans Style dinner and festive atmosphere.  We encourage costumes, masks, and the official Mardi Gras colors of Purple, Green and Gold!  Lodging with dinner package is $190.00 to $235.00 depending on room choice.

Both dinners are catered by Chef William Prahl and each dinner course will be paired with wine or Dry Soda.

We hope to see you!

Bybee's Historic Inn appreciates Oregon Slow Food and often hosts wine pairing dinners at their authentic Oregon property.  Take advantage of their February special events and happy eating!

Enjoy local historic characters that 'come alive' sharing their lives as it was in the 1800's while being captivated by a demonstration of how whiskey was made in a log still.

 When:     Monday January 16th  

                 6:30 - 10:00 pm

 Cost:        $55.00 per person for dinner and wine

                 $45.00 per person for dinner and Dry Soda

 How:       541-899-0106

LODGING & DINNER:      Luxurious room, dinner and gourmet breakfast for two.  $210.00 - 235.00 (depending on room choice).  To help us preserve the integrity of our vintage wood floors we ask that you please do not wear "high heels"on the porches or inside the home. Thank You!  

 Please check our website for more information. www.bybeeshistoricinn.com

When you own and operate an Oregon bed and breakfast and you're also one of the popular Oregon wedding sites, you need to plan your improvements accordingly.  Vicki and Tina Marie at Bybee's Historic Inn in Jacksonville, OR, are doing just that.  Here's a little note about their latest improvement.  Vicki writes:

"As our 2011 summer season comes to an end, we are working on new amenities for the 2012 season.  Tina has always envisioned an outdoor fireplace in the north yard and this fall it became a reality.  She designed it and we built it ourselves.  It is framed with cinder blocks, lined with clay firebricks and finished on the outside with river rock and brick. 

It is a beautiful addition to one of our wedding areas as well as a fun place for our guests to relax under the stars gazing at the fire."

Bed and breakfasts are such wonderful places.  And bed and breakfast owners are special people interested in the properties they transform into B&Bs.  Many inns are located in historically significant homes and the owners do what they can to maintain the character of the house and its surroundings.

It's been said that B&B owners have done more for the preservation of older and/or historic homes in the United States through their preservation efforts than have the preservation societies (perhaps a topic for another discussion).

Here's a story submitted by Vikki Lynn and Tina Marie of Bybee's Historic Inn near Jacksonville in Southern Oregon.

We recently were forced to cut down an old maple tree that we figure to be over 154 years old.  He graced our sidewalk and shaded our porch.  We adorned this beautiful tree with flowers at its base along with a “gnome door” and a face to help bring out his character. 

We did everything possible over the last 5 years to save this beautiful friend so it was very devastating to think of losing his graceful presence.....so we decided to keep his stump at 8’ so that his face could still shine and then we gave him a “top hat”.   His hat also provides a home for beautiful flowering plants.   He gives us a lot of pleasure every time we look at him and we hope it brings a smile to everyone who sees him.

It could just be off thought, but I'll bet dollars to doughnuts that Mr. Maple is about to start his new life as an Oregon wedding guest or perhaps as a wedding party participant.  Can't you see the bridal party posing with this fine fellow?  Check out Oregon wedding sites five years from now and I'll bet he shows up in quite a few photos!

If you're looking for Oregon wedding sites, keep Bybee's Historic Inn under consideration.  On 3 1/2 acres with plenty of gazebos and verandas, there's room for 150 wedding guests.  And I'm thinking that Mr. Maple would be proud to stand for your wedding photos!

The latest word from Vikki at Bybee's Historic Inn is complimentary transportation to/from the Britt Festival in Jacksonville, OR!  Join Vikki and Tina Marie at their authentic Oregon bed and breakfast for a night or two, or a week, while attending the Britt Festival!

Vikki writes:  The Classical Festival at the Britt has started and will continue through the month of August. 

Founded in 1963, the Britt Classical Festival features a professional orchestra of 90 musicians who come from all over the United States for a three-week stay in Southern Oregon. Internationally renowned guest artists such as Emanuel Ax, Pinchas Zukerman, Midori, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Christopher Parkening, Lynn Harrell, Samuel Ramey and Frederica von Stade join the orchestra each August to present a series of extraordinary concerts under a canopy of stars.
 
Prior to each concert, there are informal pre-concert conversations, in the lower garden area at 7 p.m. for those who want to learn a little more about the music and composers. The talks are hosted by Jefferson Public Radio, and often feature conversations with the guest artists, giving the listener a little added insight for in the concert.

Some evenings feature additional special events on the Britt hill such as a catered champagne picnic accompanied by live music.

Please check out the lineup at the Britt website  http://www.brittfest.org/performances  . There is nothing sweeter than classical music under the stars and the August weather is perfect for an evening outdoors.  As a guest of Bybee’s Historic Inn, we provide a free VIP shuttle to and from the Britt.

Villa Columbia Bed and Breakfast in Hood River, Oregon, was recently featured on Mike's Road Trip.  In the same class as the Columbia River Gorge hotels (really more in the boutique hotel category), Villa Columbia B&B gives you good access to the scenic Columbia Gorge year round and access to Mt. Hood in the winter for skiing.

An excerpt from Mike's blog post:

Breakfast at the Villa Columbia is scrumptious and served in thee-courses.  Local ingredients are often used to create a unique experience that reminded me of being in Europe.  Each morning of my stay I enjoyed a fresh fruit berry parfait with vanilla yogurt.  Some of the other items/dished included:

• Whole wheat blueberry scone
• Ham & cheese breakfast calzone
• Twice baked croissant with cherry compote and chicken sausage
• Spinach quiche with sliced cantaloupe accompanied with sausage in puff pastry

Throughout the day refreshments are available, from stocked mini-fridges with soda and water, to cookies, fruit (like a fresh bowl of cherries while I was there) and a number of candy dishes…all the comforts of home.

Ready for another authentic Oregon experience?  Learn the history of Jacksonville's Pioneer Cemetery, Section by Section, on a guided tour through this beautiful 150 year old treasure. On the Second Saturday of each month a different Section will be toured and discussed with background information on the religious or fraternal orders that make up the various Sections of the cemetery.  Meet some of the more interesting and colorful Pioneers who rest under the Madrones and hear about the contributions they made to the community.  Learn about Victorian Mourning Customs and cemetery symbolism as well as the different styles of headstones and monuments.

This type of tour may not be suitable for the very young.

Advance registration is not required.  Meet your Guides at the Sexton's Tool House, top of the cemetery road near the flag pole. Dress for the weather and be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. 

After touring the cemetery come back to Bybee’s Historic Inn for a glass of wine while relaxing under the majestic trees or on one of the porches or patios of this 154 year old historic home.  There's a subtle, romantic side to visiting an historic cemetery.  Combine that with a stay at an historic Oregon bed and breakfast and you have the making for romantic weekend getaways.

A suggested donation of $5 goes to restoration and preservation projects in the cemetery. 

Wheelchair accessible by arrangement

For more information, call 541 826-9939 or email info@friendsjvillecemetery.org

• Eastern Oregon lodging:
  • 1910 Historic Enterprise House (valid February 1 to May 1)
• Oregon Coast lodging:
  • Brey House Ocean View B&B Inn in Lincoln City (not on Saturdays in July or August);
  • Lake House Bed and Breakfast in Otis (valid for Lakeside Room or Lakeside Suite on Sunday - Thursday, Oct 1 to April 30)
• Oregon Wine Country lodging:
  • Chehalem Ridge Bed & Breakfast in Newberg (valid November 1 to April 30 except Thanksgiving weekend);
  • Yamhill Vineyards Bed and Breakfast in Yamhill (valid June - November Monday-Wednesday only or December - May anytime, special events and holidays excluded)
• Willamette Valley lodging:
  • C'est la Vie Inn in Eugene (valid Sunday to Thursday during 12/4/2011 to 4/26/2012 or 12/2/2012 to 4/25/2013);
  • McKenzie River Inn B&B and Cabins (valid September 1 to June 1)

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

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

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

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

Forest Springs Bed and Breakfast along with The Gresham Historic Downtown Boosters are proud to announce our city's 10^th Annual Gresham Art Walk!

During the Gresham Art Walk, more than 140 artists from Oregon and Southwest Washington will sell their original works along scenic Main Avenue between First and Fifth streets. The family event also includes live music, free children’s arts and crafts, and unique shops and restaurants in the downtown core. Art for sale includes garden art, pottery, photography, jewelry, watercolors, textiles, glass, wood, oil paintings and much more. Plus you can always meet the artists behind the work!

Always the third Saturday in July. . .this year it's July 16th, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Historic Downtown Gresham

If you're traveling to the Portland Oregon area for this event, consider staying close by at Forest Springs Bed and Breakfast.  This inn is one of the founding members of the Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild's Green Lodging Certification program and is an eco friendly travel option (not to mention a gorgeous setting and great food too).

See you at the Gresham Art Walk!

Innkeeper Jody Runge offers the following about her Portland Oregon lodging:  "Located in vibrant, hip Northeast Portland, A Painted Lady Inn offers a calm oasis in the heart of the city. Just steps from wonderful shops and fine restaurants, A Painted Lady will be your Portland home-away-from-home."

The secret?  Great public transportation via the Portland Max Line and the Portland Trolley will take you to anywhere in Portland Oregon's downtown core.  Visit the Portland Art Museum, the Portland Children's Museum and the Oregon Historical Society's Museum all from the comfort of the MAX line or the Portland Trolley.

And when the day is done, hit Portland's funky restaurant scene for a little bit of culinary tourism on your way home to A Painted Lady.  And vote for the inn in Pamela Lanier's 2012 Guests' Greatest Picks competition!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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