Tag Archives: bed and breakfast

Oregon Birding

It’s that Time of Year again:  Time to follow the Spring Bird Migration

With the Spring Bird Migration about to begin it’s time to book your room, pack your binoculars and set out on your bird watching adventure to 7 superb Oregon Birding locations.  The state’s diverse and spectacular landscape provide varied habitats ranging from sandy beaches to verdant forests, from desert playas to alpine meadows. More than 500 species of birds call Oregon home year round or migrate through, sometimes stopping to nest.

The Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild has over 40 quality assured inns scattered throughout the state, each near a unique birding opportunity.  Our innkeepers know the most favorable viewing areas and after providing a comfy bed, hearty breakfast and useful information, will send you off on an extraordinary birding adventure.  The Guild recognizes this popular activity and has dedicated a page to Birdwatching that includes inns where innkeepers can share the best observation sites and what you might expect to see.

1. Watch surfbirds and black oystercatchers scramble over rocky headlands along the Oregon Coast.

2. Explore the alpine meadows, picturesque lakes, mountain streams, and dense conifer forests of the Cascades in search of Lewis’s woodpecker and Clark’s nutcracker.  Listen to the song of hermit warblers among majestic pines framing the snowy volcanic peaks. Mt. Jefferson, Oregon’s second highest peak.

3/4. The murmur of thousands of snow geese will mesmerize as they settle to rest in the tule marshes of the Klamath Basin and Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

5. Salem, is a leader in urban forestry, with tree-lined streets and 40 city parks and is located in the heart of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River so no wonder there are many birding sites in its backyard.

6. Supporting one of the highest concentrations of breeding hawks and eagles in North America, the Zumwalt Prairie in Eastern Oregon, is also home to falcons making this a haven for birds of prey and 17 species of grassland songbirds. The nearby Wallowa Lake has a wide variation in habitat and terrain drawing a large number of species.

7. The Mt. Hood Loop of the OCBT rises from the Columbia River to Mt. Hood and combines some of the best of the region’s birding with legendary Oregon scenery.  This loop traverses the Columbia River National Scenic Area and the Mt. Hood National Forest and visits 19 birding sites.

When your journey ends, your bags are unpacked, and you’re scrolling through your vacation photos you will reminisce on memories of great accommodations, food, conversation and of course birding in Oregon.

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.

C'est la Vie Inn bed and breakfast

C’est La Vie Inn in Eugene, Oregon, offers a quiet urban oasis for the traveler with discriminating taste. Located in the Jefferson Westside neighborhood, walking distance to the Lane County fairgrounds, the food, brewery, and distillery scene in the Whiteaker neighborhood, and the Downtown/Market District with music and restaurants.

The Inn is just an hour from the coast or an hour to the mountains, with unlimited scenic walking, biking, hiking, and sightseeing opportunities along the local paved paths, rivers, lakes and Oregon coast. Relax and enjoy our lush gardens or sit by the babbling pond.

Why stay somewhere ordinary? Enjoy period antiques and upscale appointments in this fully restored example of American Queen Anne architecture. The Frank and Ida Chambers House, built in 1891, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and recognized by the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office for its architectural style.

C’est La Vie Inn proudly offers four rooms to choose from, each with its own distinctive charm and luxurious amenities.

Eugene, home to University of Oregon, offers the high energy and stimulation of a vibrant college town along with great restaurants, places where you’re comfortable to walk around at night and where there are tons of outdoor recreation options.

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.

Victorian on 10th

Victorian on 10th in Oregon’s Wine Country

Victorian on 10th is a pet friendly inn that has been lovingly restored to its original 1896 Queen Anne Victorian beauty and offers a “home away from home” quality.  Located just a few blocks from McMinnville Oregon’s 3rd street, voted the “Best Main Street in America” by Parade Magazine in 2014, the historic building is a 2,600 square foot Victorian in the heart of the Willamette Valley Wine Country.

Experience a new type of Bed and Breakfast at Victorian on 10th.  The homestay inn has 2 fully equipped apartments each featuring an extra large queen bed bedroom, a separate large sitting room, and a bathroom with antique porcelain fixtures.   Farm to table and local specialties, artisan pastries, fruit, fresh dairy, juice, and premium coffee and teas. are made available in your apartment’s fully equipped kitchen to be enjoyed at your leisure while staying in this historic building.

Victorian on 10th is the perfect retreat for food and wine enthusiasts, those visiting family and friends, and travelers looking for dog friendly options in the Willamette Valley, Oregon.

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.

The Rogue - Umpqua Scenic Byway

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The Rogue – Umpqua Scenic Byway in the Southern Oregon Cascades

Oregon has more designated scenic byways and tour routes than any other state.  The Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is the only State B&B Association and a welcoming inn awaits you as you travel the backroads. Thanks Travel Oregon for sharing this information, inspiring our traveling spirits.

‘Two Raging Rivers Run Through It.   From Gold Hill on the Rogue River in Southern Oregon or from Roseburg on the Umpqua River 85 miles north, you’re only moments from enjoying this spectacular route. Follow the “Wild and Scenic” Umpqua and Rogue rivers through enchanting recreation areas in the heart of the southern Cascades. Commonly known as the ‘highway of waterfalls’ we hiked to and found 7 along the Umpqua River, Hwy 138 from Roseburg toward Diamond Lake. There’s more. We ran out of time and steam!  This spring we did the second half from Gold Hill to Diamond lake.  Watch for that blog post.  ‘The Rogue – Umpqua Scenic Byway ascends from I-5 into the southern Cascades, tracking two of Oregon’s most storied rivers.’ The drive itself is only 172 miles, an easy day trip, but with all the waterfalls, hikes, and scenic visits, you may want to schedule a couple of days as we did.

C.H. Bailey House in Roseburg is an historic, luxurious “green” full service bed & breakfast set in rural Umpqua Valley, close to Crater Lake and the Umpqua River. It’s unique, private, air-conditioned, one-bedroom bungalow will be a perfect starting point if you decide to tour the scenic byway clockwise.

Prospect Historic Hotel and Dinner House is Crater Lake’s closest full service town and would be a perfect spot to refuel the body and soul while exploring Crater Lake and the Rogue – Umpqua Scenic Byway.  Built in 1888 as a stagecoach stop half-way between the Rogue Valley and Crater Lake, this Nationally Registered Historic Hotel has been restored to all of its glory. After a hearty breakfast set off to enjoy this breathtaking tour through the thickly forested southern Cascades.

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.

Club Crawl

The DreamGiver’s Inn was designed with guests’ comfort, enjoyment and relaxation in mind.

The DreamGiver’s Inn is a beautiful Oregon Bed & Breakfast situated on 10 acres with views of Mt. Hood, vineyards and the Southern Valley, just 7 miles from the I-5 Freeway.

The Inn features four distinct and specially appointed rooms, all with private baths, a bluetooth radio to stream music, spa robes, hypo-allergenic comforters and pillows, and a comfortable window seat that overlooks vineyards and the southern valley.  Enjoy several common areas inside and out!  Early risers are greeted with freshly brewed coffee and breads, then later to enjoy a full breakfast with others. Bottled water, coffee/tea, packaged snacks, wireless internet and wine tasting cards are complimentary throughout your entire stay. The Inn is conveniently located minutes from wineries, shopping and golf, and a perfect place for a memorable and romantic getaway.

Featured in the main common area is an oversized wood fireplace that warms the Inn on cold nights, and where guests can enjoy a glass of wine or read a great book.  And with our oversized front and back decks, along with our ten acres of grounds, guests will find many places to relax and unwind to enjoy the views, even Portland’s fabulous Mount Hood!

A full breakfast is included each morning and early morning risers are greeted with freshly brewed coffee and breads, then later join others for a hearty and full breakfast.  We use local farm fresh eggs and herbs, and serve wonderful Oregon berries in season. We also feature Oregon teas, jams and honey year-round.  We are able to accommodate your special meals or dietary restrictions–gluten free, vegan, vegetarian–just let us know!

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.

Crater Lake Lodging

Crater Lake Lodging along with Birdwatching on the Crater Lake Loop

Located just 28 miles from Crater Lake National Park, The Prospect Historic Hotel-Motel and Dinner House can be the perfect home base when birding on the Crater Lake Loop of the Oregon Cascades Birding Trail.   The Rogue River is minutes away with mature riparian habitat surrounded by mixed conifer forests.  Peregrine Falcon, Calliope and Rufus Hummingbirds nest in these forests.  Diamond Lake supports high concentrations of diving birds.  The rich, diverse habitats on the Crater Lake Loop provide home for a large variety of birds.  Crawford Creek Meadows is home to at least eight species of nesting owls.

The Propsect Historic Hotel Bed and Breakfast,  built in the late 1800’s, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The magnificent stage house sits on five acres with grounds great for strolling or just relaxing after a long day’s hike.

Nestled in the woods behind the main house, the 14 motel units offer exceptional privacy and convenience.  The motel is accommodating to travelers with large groups.

Spend a few days at the Prospect Hotel, visit Crater Lake and the birding sites along the Crater Lake Loop, then head south to the Mt. McLoughlin Loop of the Oregon Cascades Birding Trail.  This loop will take you along the north-western flanks of the Upper Klamath Basin and possibly the most ecologically diverse section on the entire route.  With over 50 inns, The Guild makes it easy to explore Oregon, traveling through scenic and diverse landscapes and knowing a comfortable Bed and Breakfast awaits your arrival. 

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.

The Fulton House

The Fulton House Bed and Breakfast, minutes from Downtown Portland

The Fulton House Bed and Breakfast, located in Southwest Portland and one block from Willamette Park and the Willamette River and the Willamette Greenway.

Built in the late 19th century The Fulton House was originally a bordello situated on a log raft in the Willamette River.  A century ago the house was lifted, placed on round logs and dragged by a team of to its present location.  The Fulton House, derives from the small town of Fulton, which was annexed into Portland many decades ago.

With mass transportation nearby you can set out to explore Portland or visit the famous medical facilities at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) via the Portland Aerial Tram up “Pill Hill.”

The Fulton House offers four guest rooms, each offers private baths, cable TV, free local and long distance telephone service, high speed wireless internet, and a refrigerator stocked with bottled water, pop and a bottle of wine, all complimentary.

As is with all members of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild, The Fulton House serves a delicious full breakfast that might be french toast, quiche, waffles, blueberry pancakes or Fulton House eggs & potatoes, accompanied by a variety of fresh fruits, scones or muffins, granola, yogurts, juices and beverages. Each afternoon, a special treat of cake or cookies plus beverage are available for your added pleasure.

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.

Lavender Daze

Contemplating travel right now is confusing and frankly quite frightening. Peruse the web and you’ll oodles of advice from experts on how to navigate the changing landscape.

It’s obvious the innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild work in the travel industry and cleanliness has always been a high priority for our guests, our innkeepers and our employees. Our inns are inspected regularly by the State Health Departments and we inspect ourselves to make sure we’re following the guidelines presented by them. Food handler cards are a must and we’ve always taken pride in our cleanliness. Most all of us have instituted some new protocols in our inns, going above the practices we have in place:

One inn has replaced community cookie jars with individual jars in each guest room. Another added a little sanitation center at the front door with wipes and some bottled water. One tried to buy some jars of hand sanitizers but, of course, they were sold out so she made her own. Placed them in the rooms and guests are loving them. Used these wipes to wipe down every surface, keys, remotes, etc., and the rooms smell wonderful! Individually plated meals instead of family style. Some have brought in extra cleaning detail workers and are disinfecting surfaces continually.

So Keep Calm and Stay with Us!  And here, I’ll put in a little jingle about Book Direct. As small business owners we are already starting to feel the ripple effect of this health scare. Our innkeepers truly appreciate your direct bookings. When you commit to booking direct, you will enjoy many perks and amenities that you would not have access to when booking through a travel agency. Not to mention, you will almost always pay less and stay in some very sanitized inns.

We can’t guarantee you’ll not catch a travel bug but we’re doing everything in our power to make sure you don’t catch anything from us. Thank you for your trust in the inns of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild. We will continue to provide the relaxing, comfortable, and immaculately clean solitude our guests expect and appreciate.

Historic Columbia River Highway and State Trail

Welcome to “The King of the Roads”

Bike the Columbia River Gorge and stay in luxury along the way. A bike tour through one of the Seven Wonders of Oregon will spark your sense of adventure and invigorate your spirit. Let the innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild nourish your body for the journey with a restful night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast. You can start your journey at a Portland inn and end in Hood River. Our innkeepers can arrange for your personals to be shuttled to your next destinations. And if you’re so inclined you can bike your way back to Portland on the Mt Hood Scenic Byway

In 2014, over 130 people, many with their bicycles, gathered to dedicate a key piece in the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. The segment of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail system, between Lindsay Creek and Starvation Creek near Hood River was dedicated in September of 2016 and will only be accessible to cyclists and walkers. The segment connecting Wyeth and Lindsey Creek is now open. Sixty-five of the original 73 miles of the Historic Columbia River Highway are now open to travel either by motor vehicle on the Historic Highway or connecting county roads or by foot and bicycle, the State Trail.

In July, 2015, the Oregon Department of Transportation debuted six short films at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland. The films were developed to highlight the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail and the benefits of connecting the final 10 miles of Historic Highway State Trail into Hood River.

Bike the Columbia River Gorge, have a comfy bed and and hearty breakfast at a bed and breakfast along the way. A Bed and Breakfast offers so much more than a hotel. Oregon innkeepers know the best back roads, the best places to eat, the scenic attractions you won’t want to miss.

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.

Mt Hood Region

Mt Hood Region Birdwatching

March brings the southward movement of many migratory land birds. The Oregon Cascades Birding Trail, (OCBT) is a self-guided tour highlighting nearly 200 prime birding destinations designed to showcase Oregon’s birds and spectacular scenery.  This blog will focus on the Mt Hood Loop of the Oregon Cascade Birding Trail.  Let’s get settled first before we begin our birding adventure.  There are Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member inns near many an OCBT trailheads where you can begin your day with a northwest culinary breakfast and the knowledge our innkeepers have to share.

The Mt. Hood Loop of the OCBT rises from the Columbia River to Mt. Hood, the highest point in Oregon, and combines some of the best of the region’s birding with legendary Oregon scenery.  This loop traverses the Columbia River National Scenic Area and the Mt. Hood National Forest and visits 19 birding sites.

Lewis and Clark traveled the Columbia Gorge corridor.  The Lewis’ Woodpecker, Clark’s Nutcracker and Clark’s Grebe were named in their honor. Many species of waterfowl and raptors including the Bald Eagle inhabit the river and further up the mountain you’ll observe woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches and so many more.

When asked, as innkeeper of the Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast, for a good birding hike, I suggest the Tamanawas Falls trail.  The falls are amazing at 100 feet high and 40 feet wide.  The trailhead footbridge is the midpoint of a 8-mile stretch of the East Fork of the Hood River hosting nesting Harlequin Ducks.  A riparian habitat and mature mixed-conifer forest surrounds the trail to the falls.  American Dipper and Belted Kingfisher are common along the river.  Songbirds such as Yellow-rumped and Townsend’s Warbler, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet migrate through river corridor.

Bring out the hiking boots and binoculars, pack your bags and begin your Oregon Birdwatching adventure.  The member inns in the Mt Hood and the Gorge Region of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild are here to accommodate you.

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.