Calling All Amateur Chamber Music Players (Strings, that is): 4th Annual Springs Strings in the Wallowas, April 23-26, 2010 in Northeastern Oregon!

Sunday, February 28, 2010 by Heather Tyreman
Wallowa Valley Music Alliance Spring Strings in the Wallowas at Oregon bed and breakfasts in Enterprise and Joseph Oregon
Are you a classical string musician?  Play violin, viola or cello?  We want you for the 4th Annual Springs Strings in the Wallowas!

This event, co-hosted by the Wallowa Valley Music Alliance and Wallowa County Oregon bed and breakfasts, is definitely an authentic Oregon experience.   Chamber music was designed to be played in salons and homes.   Every Friday to Monday of the last weekend in April, the bed and breakfast accommodations in Wallowa County welcome string musicians into their parlors and other public rooms for a weekend of musical cameraderie.

The event is an Oregon culinary vacation as well, featuring delicious catered meals prepared with local ingredients by local chefs.

Here's how it works:
1.  Visit the Wallowa Valley Music Alliance website's page for Spring Strings in the Wallowas and register online or print down your registration form and mail it in.
2.  Select the bed & breakfast of your choice and make your reservation.  Each B&B in Wallowa County is a unique bed and breakfast experience, so you'll want to visit the websites to choose the one that's right for you.
3.  Pack your instrument, stand, all that chamber music, and drive or carpool out to Northeastern Oregon for an interactive weekend of chamber music fun!

Professional violinists Lisa Robertson and Daniel Perry are returning as this year's player-coaches.

Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild member inns Belle Pepper's Bed & Breakfast and the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast are two of the many B&Bs available for this event.  Make you plans and give a call--we're all waiting to hear from you and look forward to seeing you in our parlors!

An Outdoor Soaking Tub and A Feather Bed...heaven in Oregon!

Monday, February 8, 2010 by Debbie Lusk
Our last trip to the Hood River region of Oregon, took us home on the South side of Mt. Hood.  A change of scenery from the absolute breathtaking gorge and Columbia River, we chose to drive "the other side" of the mountain! 

Driving past Timberline, on through Government Camp and then to our quick stop over to visit Brightwood Guest House B & B!  A unique bed and breakfast and often heard of, I was dying to see their outdoor soaking tubs in person.  Ahhh...if only I was a guest here!  Someday soon hopefully...I will be.

Two acres of serene beauty, you can see the forest from these outdoor tubs.  Yeah those trees are nice, the flowers are pretty, the plants and vegetable gardens are sweet but I couldn't take my eyes off these tubs.  The finest craftsmanship, these tubs were specially made for this unique bed and breakfast set in Brightwood, Oregon.  Perfect for two wanting to enjoy a hot soak, a bottle of wine surrounded by trees listening to the large stream without a care in the world.  How romantic, how relaxing and what a great way to surprise someone you love. 

The cabin on this property is close by and exudes home with that clean mountain feeling all the way upstairs to the sleeping loft where the feather bed is comfortably waiting for you.  At this romantic bed and breakfast, expect your hearty hot breakfast served to you in your cabin.  Coffee, tea, juice, the newspaper...or not and a hot breakfast.  Sounds quite heavenly!

The nearby activities such as skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, backpacking, climbing, fishing, golfing and nearby great restaurants makes this get away quite the perfect spot.  Play if you want, soak all day in the outdoor tubs or just cuddle up in that feather bed with your honey.  No matter how you go...just go and enjoy Brightwood Guest House B & B!

What to do for Valentine's Day in Portland, OR

Sunday, February 7, 2010 by Heather Tyreman
Now here's a real insider's view of what to do for Valentine's Day in Portland Oregon.  "Travel Geek" works at the Oregon Welcome Center at the Portland International Airport.  She's lived in Portland for 30 years, so she knows her way around!

Travel Geek offers a complete Portlander's guide for Valentine's Day with ideas for "Events that Inspire Romance" plus "Places that Fill You with Love" (a Northwest Culinary experience in itself) and "More Pragmatic, Less Romantic (and still fun).  She's taken the time and effort to include extensive links and phone numbers for all her favorites.  This is a must read blog post and you'll find it here

Garden Suite at the Britannia at Terwilliger Vista in Portland Oregon.  You don't need to travel far to find a romantic bed and breakfast!If you'd like to round out your Valentine's Day experience, how about skipping on the hotels and trying out a Portland Oregon bed and breakfast?  You'll get an authentic Oregon lodging experience--even if you live in Portland.  You can have a vacation without leaving town! Most innkeepers live in their bed and breakfast and can give you as much (or as little) attention as you'd like. 

In the Portland area you'll find 14 unique inns that are members of the Oregon B&B Guild.  All of them--from the Sandes of Time Bed and Breakfast in Milwaukie or the Rose Cottage B&B in SW Portland,  to the Blue Plum Inn or the Lion & the Rose Victorian B&B in the Irvington District of downtown--and 10 other wonderful Portland Oregon bed and breakfast inns--await your call.

Take Travel Geek's advice and find that Portland Valentine's Day event you want to share with your lovey.  Then put a little icing on the cake with a stay at one of Portland Oregon's best bed and breakfasts!

Presidents Day Weekend getaway to Eastern Oregon: Snow and a movie

Thursday, February 4, 2010 by Heather Tyreman

 
Still wondering what to do for Presidents Day Weekend?  How about enjoying the Wallowa Mountains and the great snow we have here in Eastern Oregon?  And while you're at it, start the weekend really early, support a good cause, and see a spectacular film. (That's the teaser from the 2008 movie "The Fine Line" posted above and one of the movies that'll be shown at the event)

The Wallowa Avalanche Center Fundraiser is scheduled for Thursday, February 11, 2010.  Here are the details:

Who: Wallowa Avalanche Center
What:  Fundraiser featuring "entertaining & educational" avalanche films.  Terminal Gravity beer and Embers Brewhouse pizza.  Drawings for some great raffle prizes.
When:  Thursday night, February 11, 2010, starts at 6 pm.
Where:  OK Theater on Main Street in Enterprise, OR
Why:  Teach & entertain about ways to be safe in the snow, plus raise funds for a group dedicated for this purpose.
Price:  $5 per person (such a deal!)  Kids 6 and under are free.

And here's a preview of some of the raffle prizes:
  • Backcountry Safety Package worth ~$700 from BackCountryAcccess: (New backpack, shovel, probe, and Tracker Transceiver)
  • Black Diamond 165 Kilowatt Skis from Wallowa Alpine Huts
  • 2 nights/2 skiers at Wing Ridge Ski Tours Huts from Wing Ridge Ski Tours
  • And, of course, more prizes too numerous to mention
Need a place to stay for the weekend?  Check out two unique inns offered by the Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild and combine your love of snow with an Oregon culinary experience.  Both are located in Joseph, OR--only a 6-mile drive from the fundraiser.

Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast is known for (among other things), incredibly rich brownies that will melt in your mouth.  Heather bakes these from scratch, using Guittard chocolate and farm fresh eggs.  If you're looking for a romantic bed and breakfast, consider making the Bronze Antler B&B your choice.

Belle Pepper's Bed & Breakfast serves those same farm fresh eggs, because they come from Pepper's flock of laying hens!   Belle Pepper's B&B also carries green lodging certification and is recognized by Sustainable Travel International, the Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild Green Lodging Program and the Green Hotels Association.

Both unique inns are ready for you for Presidents Day Weekend 2010.  Check room availability  for either bed and breakfast.  For more details, visit each inn's website.

Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge ~ A Favorite Oregon Geotourism Site

Monday, February 1, 2010 by Mary Pellegrini

From nearly every viewpoint on the Oregon coast, colossal rocks can be seen jutting out of the Pacific Ocean creating postcard images.  
 
Tufted Puffin on the Oregon CoastEach of these rocks is protected as part of Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge includes 1,853 small islands, rocks, and reefs plus two headlands, totaling 371 acres spanning 320 miles of Oregon's coastline from the Oregon–California border to Tillamook Head.

This is a place where eight of America's most beautiful wild and scenic rivers tumble down through towering forests of Douglas fir, Port Orford cedar,myrtlewood and redwoods creating tidal estuaries, long sandy beaches and coastal islands.  The Siulsaw National Forest has 4 major rivers flowing through onto the Pacific Ocean.  It also provides many Oregon coast B&B lodging options.  More about that in a minute.

All of the island acreage is designated National Wilderness, with the exception of 1-acre Tillamook Rock and Lighthouse, so public access is restricted but there are spectacular viewing opportunities at numerous locations along the coast.

WildSpring Guest Habitat for Green Lodging on the Oregon CoastThe Oregon Coast Birding Trail website includes a birding checklist that shows 250 birds most likely to be seen along the scenic seascapes of the Central and South Oregon Coast.  It also includes trail guides with maps and site descriptions for over 50 sites. 

Central Oregon coast lodging options are plenty from Lincoln City, to Depoe Bay, to Newport and then to FlorenceA room at the Tyee Lodge in Newport Oregon   South Coast lodging options include the unique inns of Coos Bay and Port Orford.

You'll find that you can bird-watch on the Oregon Coast for days and hop from one Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild  member inn to another from Astoria to Port Orford.
 
Sea watches on the Pacific Coast are best conducted in the morning with the sun at your back.
 


A True Oregon Culinary Experience ~ Truffles and C'est La Vie Bed and Breakfast

Thursday, January 28, 2010 by Mary Pellegrini

"Truffle Hunting" - Photo from the Oregon Truffle Festival WebsiteThe Oregon Truffle Festival, held over three brisk winter days in the Oregon wine country near Eugene, Oregon, from January 29-31, 2010, celebrates the magnificent Oregon truffles as they reach the peak of ripeness in their native soil. It is the first festival of its kind in North America, dedicated to sharing the experience of the chefs, foragers and fans of Oregon's wild truffles, from their hidden source in the forest to their glory on the table.

Oregon truffles are emerging among the world's great delicacies, taking their richly-deserved place next to their legendary European cousins. In recognition of it's fifth Anniversary, the festival is celebrating their arrival at the international table by inviting the French!  Experience the lore of the old world and the lure of the new and savor the flavors of French and Oregon truffles at the height of their season. 
The Oregon Truffle Festival offers a multitude of exciting ways to participate, for a few hours or a full weekend



Take this true Oregon Culinary experience one step further, stay at C'est La Vie Bed and Breakfast in Eugene.  The innkeeper, Anne-Marie, is true French and presents her unique inn through her French eyes.  She is offering an Oregon Truffle Festival Special.  You will enjoy two nights lodging, Euphoria Chocolates, a bottle of Oregon wine, a four hour winery tour, and a gourmet lunch basket


Dine in true French style at C'est La Vie Bed and Breakfast in Eugene, OrgonFor a unique Oregon Wine Country Lodging experience visit C'est La Vie Bed and Breakfast in Eugene, Oregon.  An inspected and approved inn of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.
 


Abbey Road Farms Bed and Breakfast, The AgriVino Center and Wine-Inspired Dinners in the Oregon Wine Country

Monday, December 28, 2009 by Mary Pellegrini
Set among the rolling hills of the Willamette Valley wine country Abbey Road Farms is a truly unique bed and breakfast inn with luxurious accommodations.  The old grain silos on the property have been converted into the unique Abbey Road Farm Bed & Breakfast "Silo For Oregon Wine Country Lodging choose Abbey Road Farms Bed and BreakfastSuites".  Each room has a spectacular view of the valley, wetlands, pastures and/or gardens. And although this is a working farm, the accommodations are more like what one would find at a resort with fabulous views, a location in the country yet accessible to nearby cities, and a place surrounded by nature and featuring nothing but the freshest food.  And being located in the Oregon Wine Country is a real bonus.
 
The AgriVino Event Center at Abbey Road Farm lies in the very heart of Oregon's Wine Country. Currently some 18 wineries call the little town of Carlton home and these are just a fraction of the more than 200 that are within a half hour's drive time from the farm, centrally located in the Willamette Valley.

We invite you to reserve your room at Abbey Road Farm Bed and Breakfast, a unique, inspected and approved member inn of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.  And consider attending an exciting, new dining and wine experience in Yamhill County. 

 

Lawyers Who Wine and the AgriVino Event Center in Carlton, Oregon have joined to present an amazing array of boutique winemakers, talented chefs and outstanding caterers. Beginning with the January 30, 2010 initial wine-inspired dinner, ongoing events at AgriVino will be offered to discerning subscribers such as yourself.

This joint collaboration will focus on the the pairing of fresh, local produce and succulent entree provisions with locally crafted wines chosen to showcase your delicious meal. Your entertainment and wine education will include introductions to, and presentations by, boutique Oregon winemakers at these events. For selected dates, we will add an opportunity for you to meet a new or renowned local artist or farmer.

Veteran Winemaker Robert Brittan, who left Stags' Leap Winery in Napa after 16 years as Winemaker and Estate Manager to fulfill his dream of making Pinot Noir and Syrah from unique sites in cooler climates, will be our January 30 presenting winemaker! Robert has made wines for Far Niente, Saint Andrews and Stags' Leap Winery and is a rock star! Brittan's 2007 Gestalt Block Pinot Noir release was ranked as one of the top 30 wines in Oregon by Portland Monthly magazine.

With over 30 years of experience growing grapes and making wine, Robert brings a wealth of viticultural and winemaking knowledge. With his depth of experience and his passion for Pinot Noir, he brings a new voice to the McMinnville AVA, and will help form the style and definition of Pinot Noir from this recently designated region. Robert is also the winemaker for Winderlea Vineyards & Winery and Ayoub Vineyards, both in the prestigious Dundee hills. You will be served BOTH Brittan and Winderlea wines.

Ellen Brittan has spent the last dozen years in the wine industry, most recently as GM of Rudd Vineyards & Winery in Oakville. Prior to the wine industry, she spent 20 years in Financial Services. She grew up in Seattle, studying French and Spanish Language and Literature at the U of Washington. Ellen is in charge of sales and marketing at Brittan, possesses an amazing array of information about wine and has an excellent palate.

Our goal is for AgriVino Event Center to be recognized as the source of a distinctive selection of fresh and flavorful cuisines, superb wines you may not readily discover, professional and responsive staff and a warm and inviting gathering place to enjoy the love of food and wine.

The details:
Date: Saturday, January 30, 2010
Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Cost: $150 per person
VISA, MC, AMX or advance check
Contact: Abbey Road Farm at (503) 852-6278
or email: info@abbeyroadfarm.com

Or Contact: Linda Green Pierce at (503) 706-0856
or email: linda@lawyerswhowine.com

to reserve your place

Also available: Subscriptions for six (6) dinners on a pre-paid per person basis at 10% discount. ($810 instead of $900) Subscribers will receive preferred seating and free entrance/tasting fee to a summer 2010 AgriVino (non-dinner) event. Dinners under subscription to be completed by end of year 2010. December 2010 wine-inspired dinner, priced at $165 per person, is included in the possible six (6) dinner date choices -- another $15 saving per diner!

2010 wine-inspired dinners calendared are:
(No February Dinner) March 20 (Saturday), April 10 (Saturday), May 8 (Saturday), June 10 (Thursday), July 8 (Thursday), August 5 (Thursday), September 16 (Thursday), October 15 (Friday), November 12 (Friday), December 4 (Saturday.) We anticipate adding more dates and more seating to the summer outside dinner schedule.

Christmas Murder at the Prospect Hotel

Monday, November 23, 2009 by Mary Pellegrini

The Prospect Historic Hotel and Dinner House near Crater Lake Lodging
The Prospect Hotel B&B - Motel and Dinner House is Crater Lake National Parks closest Historic Hotel Bed and Breakfast - Motel and Dinner House Restaurant. It is located in the small rural community of Prospect (pop.500) in the Upper Rogue River region of Southern Oregon.

Experience the thrill as you become one of the cast.  Will you be the victim?  Or perhaps the killer?  Or an innocent bystander caught in a deadly tragedy?



Murder Mystery Dinner

Saturday the 12th of December

Champagne Reception at 5:30pm
Dinner at 6:00pm

Taking place in a contemporary Law firm, this Christmas Party involves politicians, Lawyers and lovely ladies.  Play and Stay Packages are available and is definitely the best way to enjoy the party.  Enjoy the great entertainment of the Murder Mystery, a superb dinner, a night's stay and a fabulous breakfast the morning after.

Reservations are required for this spectacular "Who Done It" so call 541-560-3664 and make yours today.   For a truly memorable experience plan to stay the night at this unique bed and breakfast member inn of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild
 

World of Wine Festival and Southern Oregon Lodging Options

Saturday, August 22, 2009 by Mary Pellegrini

World of Wine Festival Southern Oregon
The annual World of Wine Festival, showcasing wines made from grapes grown in Southern Oregon is coming up Saturday, Aug. 29, from 5 to 9 p.m. The place: once again at Del Rio Vineyards & Winery, just west of Gold Hill.  At latest count, 41 wineries have signed on to pour samples of their wines. Most are in Jackson, Josephine or Douglas counties, but not all. Wineries elsewhere in the state can qualify to take part if the wine they're pouring was made from Southern Oregon grapes. Ashland Oregon Lodging at the Oak Hill Bed and Breakfast

Stop by this event as you explore Southern Oregon.  You have many Ashland Oregon Lodging options and we suggest choosing an inn of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.  From the Rogue Forest Bed and Breakfast within the National Wild and Scenic Corridor of the Rogue River to the Oak Hill B&B, only two blocks from the world renowned Shakespeare Festival, the Guild has 9 unique inns to choose from when visiting Southern Oregon.

Take a Step Back in Time at the WAAAM Museum in Hood River Oregon

Wednesday, June 3, 2009 by Mary Pellegrini
Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 Seaplane - 1940Nestled in the Hood River valley along the Columbia River Gorge you will find the opportunity to step back in time and see life as it was in the era of early flight and transportation. The Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum (WAAAM) is a living museum dedicated to preserving transportation's golden past. WAAAM honors the memory of early aviators from the first and second war, barnstormers, air mail and early transportation.
Aeronca LC - 1937
WAAAM is proud to have the largest known collection of flying 3 cylinder radial engine aircraft. Within the next year we hope to have the largest collection of flying OX-5 Aircraft. We currently have 5 flying with one more being restored in the next year. One of our OX-5 flying aircraft is a very rare and very original 1917 Curtiss JN4D Jenny. This museum fleet includes many other flying antique aircraft making it one of the largest flying in the world today. This museum also brings a unique and rare collection of other Aircraft, Automobiles, Propellers, Aircraft Engines, Aircraft Instruments, Military Jeeps, Tools of War and other interesting artifacts.

While visiting the Columbia River Gorge choose an Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member inn, The Flying Jenny, for Hood River Oregon lodging.

The Flying Jenny Bed and Breakfast for Hood River Lodging.Located within two miles of the new WAAAM museum, The Flying Jenny Bed and Breakfast provides a calm repast for the weary pilot. This unique Bed and Breakfast serves up a generous portion of aviation History along with comfortable rooms and a personalized breakfast. Pilots can reminisce in their choice of the Piper Cub Room, The Robin's Nest, The Waco Room, or the Glenn Curtiss Special.

Don't miss WAAAM's biggest event of the year.  The 3rd annual WAAAM Fly-in will be held September 11-13 at the Hood River Ken Jernstedt Airfield.  Many of the museum planes are flown around the Hood River Valley.  Plane rides, Food, Activities and more.

Cowboy Boots, A Wine Glass, And A Horse?

Thursday, April 23, 2009 by Debbie Lusk
Horseback Wine Tasting in The Willamette ValleySo, 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 guestVineyards in The Willamette Valley Near An Oregon Lodging Facility 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!

 





Hood River Blossom Festival and Oregon Bed and Breakfast Inns

Tuesday, April 7, 2009 by Mary Pellegrini
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.  We got just a dusting last night and the spring bulbs have finally emerged.
Mt Hood, blooming orchards and beehives near a Mt Hood Bed and Breakfast - photo by Mary Pellegrini
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 gourmet breakfasts!

Breakfast is served at the Old Parkdale Inn an Oregon Bed and BreakfastWith 11 unique inns 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.Rows and Rows of Pear Blossoms near a Mt Hood Bed and Breakfast, the Old Parkdale Inn



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 and prove to yourself that spring has definitely arrived!!