Category Archives: Oregon Experience

Wilson Ranches Retreat

Welcome, Partner, to Wilson Ranches Retreat

At Wilson Ranches Retreat, your hosts are fifth generation Oregonians, whose families homesteaded in Wheeler and Gilliam Counties over 100 years ago. A 9,000 acre working cattle and dude ranch takes you off the beaten track to a rustic hideout, located in the beautiful Butte Creek Valley three miles West of Fossil, Oregon off Highway 19.

Although the ranch has been running for over 100 years the Wilson’s opened the farmhouse to B&B guests 15 years ago.  Breakfast with the Wilson’s is about much more than just good food and nourishment, it is truly a unique dining experience.  The Wilson Family loves to sit down with the guests and share about ranch life, local history, and the funny and serious sides of rural living. Whatever the topic at the breakfast table, expect the conversation to be intelligent, informed and often humorous. You are likely to have a large helping of fun and laughter with Phil’s stories.

Let your inner Cowboy or Cowgirl out!  Visit Wilson Ranches Retreat for an authentic Ranch experience. Not the riding type?  Not a problem. Sit under the cottonwoods, sipping lemonade while the rest of your party is out ‘working’! But you might want to join in.There may be an inner cowhand you’ve never even met!

This incredible, secluded scenic Oregon Lodging Ranch with spectacular sunsets and brilliant star-studded nights will captivate you.  Enjoy horseback riding in a geologically and historically rich area with a magnificent view of the Cascade Mountain Range or a quiet hike to view the wildlife and diverse flora and fauna on Wilson Ranches Dude Ranch. Wheeler County is home of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument and has the richest find of prehistoric fossils in the world.

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn. Hospitality Update: Oregon is one of the top states where it looks like social distancing is working. Our inns have been proactively doing everything in our power to keep you safe, welcome you back, as travel restrictions are being lifted. Not sure if your favorite inn is open? Give them a call as they just might be. We’re all looking to that day when this pandemic is behind us.

McKenzie River Koosah Falls

Expedia released, in November, its 2020 Trends in Travel report, an analysis of U.S. traveler data in 2019 that highlighted the rise of natural wonders and college towns as tourism destinations and top-selling experiences and attractions for the year ahead.

2020 Travel Trends waiting for you

Travelers were chasing waterfalls in 2019: According to Wiki are at least 238 accessible waterfalls in Oregon. A search for Oregon waterfalls on Northwest Waterfall survey resulted in 1591! Wouldn’t it be grand to witness the beauty of every one of them?

Silver Falls State Park is the largest state park in Oregon and only 20 miles southeast of Salem, our state capital with 9,000+ acres that includes more than 24 miles of walking trails, 14 miles of horse trails, and a 4-mile bike path. And 18 waterfalls! The 8.7-mile Trail of Ten Falls runs along the banks of Silver Creek and has 4 walk behind falls.

Hidden beaches up and down the Oregon Coast: Make your visit to the Oregon coast memorable and special with a stay in one of our member bed and breakfasts along “The Peoples Coast, one of 7 Wonders of Oregon

Natural wonders? Yep, we have quite a few. We invite you to not just see Oregon’s 7 Wonders, but experience them. And there are so many more than just Seven. They aren’t just for taking pictures. You really need to get out of the car, hike down from the scenic vista and feel them beneath your feet.

Small college towns near outdoor attractions like hiking and biking trails grew in popularity in 2019. The type of places where there’s energy and stimulation, great restaurants, where you can walk around at night and where there are tons of outdoor recreation options. Here are the best college towns in Oregon for 2019 highlighting those that have member inns of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild:

Activities and attractions are often the top considerations when travelers are choosing where to go and where to stay. Oregon is a beautiful state with stunning natural and architectural wonders. If you are planning a trip anywhere this year, take a few minutes to consider these places to visit in Oregon.

Oregon Truffle

Oregon Truffle season is fast approaching.  In Eugene, Oregon, the festival kicks off the with the Joriad Truffle Dog Championship on January 23. Then on January 24-26, 2020, the weekend offers a variety of special truffle packages for weekend-long immersions, including two new packages for 2020.

With hands-on cooking classes, truffle dog training, truffle hunts and workshops, learning opportunities abound at the Eugene weekend. Decadent truffle breakfasts, lunches, dinners and the Oregon Fresh Truffle Marketplace are offered as part of weekend packages and a limited number of experiences are sold à la carte.
Events selling out fast
Suggested lodging: C’est la Vie Inn

The events come to Yamhill County February 14-16. There are opportunities to have dinner in one of five Yamhill Valley restaurants, each featuring a prix fixe menu featuring Oregon black and white truffles.  And the option to just attend the Oregon Truffle Marketplace which will have cooking classes, chef demos, wine tasting, artisan food samples, fresh Oregon truffles for sale and a truffle dog demonstration.

You’ll want to make your reservations early at one of 17 Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member inns in the Willamette Valley.

The innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild are ready to share Oregon, its environment, culture, and heritage with you.  Get to know our State like a local. Whether you’re looking for a quiet escape, a world class city experience, or a new spin on business travel,  you can be assured of combining gracious hospitality with ambiance when staying at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

5 Reasons We Love Geocaching in Oregon

Geocaching in Oregon is nothing new as the game started here.  On May 3, 2020, this game, once known as the “Great American GPS Stash Hunt’, celebrates its 20th birthday with now over 3 million hides world wide.  A little history lesson here, the full version can be read on the Geocaching.com website where I pulled this information.

  1. You’ll find that discovery, exploration and adventure still exist in the real-world. It gets you out and about!
  2.  It’s a great way to stay healthy while having fun
  3.  Many of our innkeepers are cachers so you’ll experience new places from a local
  4.  Discover places you never knew existed
  5. You can learn fun facts about Planet Earth

And 5 reasons to Geocache as the Seasons change

  1. Trails are less traveled
  2. There may be more affordable travel options
  3. Enjoy the View: As the seasons transition temperatures can vary and lead to some stunning landscapes
  4. The changing weather means that you may have a sneak peek of summer sunshine in spring, or could indulge in ski or snowshoe caching in autumn!
  5.  A chance to get some lower elevation caches

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

Did you know that Oregon has the only Scenic Bikeway Program in the Nation?  And that many of these have been created by locals and have been ridden and reviewed to provide inspiration for planning a two-wheeled Oregon Cycling Vacation?   And that there is an Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member inn on, or near, almost every one of them that you can use as your base camp?  Or perhaps plan an Inn-to-Inn Ride.

The Sisters to Smith Rock Scenic Bikeway features varied terrain, generally downhill from Sisters, less than 37 miles, which most cyclists will find most enjoyable.  You could start your ride in Sisters and spend the night at Long Hollow Ranch.  Or after a restful night’s sleep and hearty breakfast at The Ranch, you could take off from there and you’re almost half way to Smith Rock!  The Historic Farmhouse has five attractive, clean rooms, each with their own bath and plenty of room for your cycling group.  Long Hollow Ranch is a working cattle ranch offering trail rides and fly fishing so you might consider adding another day or two to your cycling adventure.

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

A special thanks to Travel Oregon for the work they do to promote Oregon Tourism and for providing this video

Joseph Railriders

Joseph Railriders is a relaxing way to explore Eastern Oregon through the stunning Wallowa Valley.

‘Six of us discovered a great way to explore some beautiful country last fall as we peddled two by two on the semi recumbent railriders on the old Joseph Branch railroad track no longer used by trains.  We were not avid cyclists, so we chose the 12 mile ride from Joseph to Enterprise, instead of the 20 mile option.  Our ride was about two hours and very comfortable and doable with beautiful scenery to enjoy along the way.

‘The railrider units have four wheels and adjustable seats and can be propelled at your own chosen speed with either one or two peddlers.  A guide is along with a motorized unit to aid if riders tire on the way back.

‘The venue has been so popular that the owners have opened Oregon Coast Railriders from Bay City to Tillamook and back, a two hour trip as well.’

After you’ve reserved your excursion on the Joseph Railriders you’ll want to book your room at either the Bronze Antler, or Belle Peppers B&B in Joseph, Oregon.

We’re sure you’ll enjoy your trip so much you’ll want to give it a go on the other side of the state.  Reserve your excursion with Oregon Coast Railriders and choose an Oregon Coast Bed and Breakfast near Tillamook for a restful evening.

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

4T

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4T and some B&Bs

I really am a country girl. That’s why my inn is in the country, in a little town about 10 blocks square, near the Mt Hood National Forest where I can hike to my hearts content and enjoy quiet quiet nights.  But every once in awhile I like to go into the city.  Take in the hustle and bustle, visit shops and coffee houses, enjoy culinary surprises, ride mass transit.  I love it.  So when I overheard my Portland guests suggesting to our Portland bound Minnesota guests the 4T Trail I was all ears.  We had to go into Portland so after a bit of research on the trail we headed out Monday morning.  Plan:  Drive the hour and a half into Portland, do the 4T Trail then run errands, mixing adventure with necessity.

We started at the parking lot of the Washington Park Max Station at the Oregon Zoo.  The Trail section takes you through the thick forests of the West Hills, to Portland’s highest point, Council Crest, and on into OHSU.  Oregon Health and Science University has a campus on the hills overlooking Portland and the Cascade Range.  A few years ago a Tram was built to connect OSHU and the Waterfront and it has become quite a tourist destination.  Take the tram down to the waterfront, disembark and walk about 50 steps and catch the Portland Trolley to downtown. Then the Train (Max) back to your car.  There you have the 4 Ts

One can begin the loop at any point and the trail is marked numerous places, even downtown. Since we hiked the trail first, we arrived downtown in time for lunch and a gelato, with plenty of time to stroll, before heading taking the Train back to our car.

This is one of many urban hikes in Portland.  Combine one of these with an Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member in either the Portland or Willamette Valley region and take the short drive to the Washington Park Max Station.

The innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild are ready to share Oregon, its environment, culture, and heritage with you.  Get to know our State like a local. Whether you’re looking for a quiet escape, a world class city experience, or a new spin on business travel,  you can be assured of combining gracious hospitality with ambiance when staying at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

Willamette Stone

The Willamette Stone was a small stone obelisk originally installed by the Department of Interior in 1885

The Willamette Stone Heritage Site is located in the west hills of Portland, Oregon.  The surveys completed from this location promoted settlement of the Northwest and began the transfer of land from government ownership to private ownership.  The first marker, placed in 1851, a simple cedar stake, was replaced with a small stone obelisk in 1885.  In 1945 the property was purchased to preserve and protect the origin point of the land survey system for Oregon and Washington.  A stainless-steel marker, set into the original obelisk, was rededicated in 1988.  The Willamette Meridian is one of 37 principal meridians in the United States.  All land surveys and property descriptions in the states of Oregon and Washington are referenced at this point.  The Willamette meridian runs north-south, and the Willamette baseline runs east-west through the marker.

The Willamette Valley marks the end of the Oregon Trail and the history of that migration can be discovered at heritage sites, museums, and cemeteries across the region.  Known for its premium wines, craft breweries, cideries, meaderies and distilleries the Willamette Valley is also home to unique, one-of-a-kind Bed and Breakfasts awaiting your visit.

The innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild are ready to share with you their version of Oregon Culinary Tourism and Geotourism.  Get to know our State like a local; stay with one of our nearly 100 hosts in any one of our many regions. Experience romantic getaways, historic treasures, and tucked away rustic retreats.  Whether your trip is for a quiet escape to a quaint rural or coastal town, taking in Oregon Geotourism, 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.

Blossom Festival

Hood River Blossom Festival celebrates spring

In the Hood River Valley 15,000+ acres of pears, apples, cherries and other fruits, that’s over 2 million trees, will burst into blossom in April and May.  It is a true sign of spring as we dust the snow off our back steps.

Blossom Festival, celebrated the Month of April, welcomes the arrival of spring with a full plate of events from BBQs, to arts and craft shows, to antique sales.  You won’t want to miss the Blossom Fest Quilt Show with some 80-100 beautiful handmade quilts will be on display, many for sale.  Another can’t miss event is the Dessert Party at the Apple Valley Country Store.  A variety of desserts, jams and jellies, all made with fresh local fruit, will be available.

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

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

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

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

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

The innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild are ready to share Oregon, it’s environment, culture, and heritage with you. Get to know our State like a local; stay with one of our nearly 100 hosts in any one of our many regions. Experience romantic getaways, historic treasures, and tucked away rustic retreats.  Whether your trip is for a quiet escape to a quaint rural or coastal town, taking in Oregon Geotourism, 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.

Tulips, Daffodils, Iris soon to bloom in the Willamette Valley

Tulips, Daffodils and other cut flowers will soon be in full bloom from now through April in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.  Spring is just around the corner and a beautiful time to plan a trip to the Willamette Valley and the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival,  which opens March 23 and runs through April 30.   Enjoy the flowers along with a variety of activities each day and special events on the weekends.  This time every year they open their fields and expand their operations to include taking bulb orders, cut flowers, potted tulips, a gift shop, other plants, and all sorts of food and activities on weekends.

Are you a painter or a photographer?  Whether amatuer or professional I would imagine this would be an amazing place to spend some time.  After a day in the fields, just up the road from Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm rest your head at the Willamette Valley member inn of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.

A field report from Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm:  “The bloom in the field is behind schedule due to the cold weather.  The tulips are changing daily but we will open with very little color.  We will keep you posted on our bloom status.  Right now, the second week of April on should be a good time to plan your visit.”

‘Giant rabbits jumping over tulip fields?  Okay, the giant rabbits might Only be Slightly Exaggerated in Travel Oregon’s whimsical marketing campaign.

The innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild are ready to share Oregon, its environment, culture, and heritage with you.  Get to know our State like a local. Whether you’re looking for a quiet escape, a world class city experience, or a new spin on business travel,  you can be assured of combining gracious hospitality with ambiance when staying at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.