Tag Archives: columbia river gorge

Oregon Trail

The Historic Oregon Trail turns 177 in 2020. Time for you to hit the highway, inspire your own pioneer spirit, stand in the actual wagon ruts pioneers left behind, and visit the numerous interpretive sites, monuments and cultural centers along the way.

The Oregon Trail traversed 2,170 miles of what today is Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon. Travel the Oregon National Historic Trail through Oregon, from Idaho, along the Columbia River and around Mt Hood.

There are several trail sights from the Idaho border to Baker City, the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center offers living history demonstrations, interpretive programs, exhibits, multi-media presentations, special events, and more than four miles of interpretive trails.  From the top of Flagstaff Hill you can still see the trail running out across the plains.

This last week we traveled the Old Emigrant Hill Road, just north of La Grande, caching over 25 hides along the way while visiting some Oregon Trail sites. The cemeteries along the route toward Portland reveal so many Oregon Trail stories: where the emigrants came from, how they lived, and died, as they headed for Oregon and the awaited promises.

The last hurdle for emigrants on the Oregon Trail was the Cascade Range. Early pioneers either had to barge down the treacherous Columbia River, make their home in The Dalles, or travel the Barlow Road through the Cascades along the south side of Mt Hood. Lodging option on Mt Hood: Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast 

The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum reveals the cataclysmic floods that helped shape the Columbia River Gorge. Here also you’ll experience interactive exhibits of the Lewis and Clark expedition, The Oregon Trail and 10,000 years of Native American life in the Gorge.  Lodging: Hood River Bed and Breakfasts

At the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center and Historic Site in Oregon City, visitors can learn about the journey, discover what it was like to be a pioneer and what life was like for those who reached Oregon Territory.  Lodging options: Willamette Valley Bed and Breakfasts

“On such a journey as this, there is much to interest and amuse one who is fond of picturesque scenery, and of wild life.” – Randolph Marcy, 1859

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.

National Apple Strudel Day

National Apple Strudel Day is June 17

National Apple Strudel Day is June 17 but the innkeeper of the Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast makes this easy Strudel year round, mixing up the filling with available fruits.

Ingredients•

•  1 Egg
•  1 tbsp water
•  2 tbsp granulated sugar
•  1 tbsp all-purpose flour
•  ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
•  2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
•  2 tbsps raisins

•  1 sheet of Puff Pastry, thawed

•  1 tbsp. confectioners’ sugar (optional)

Heat the oven to 375°F. Beat the egg and water in a small bowl with a fork. Stir the granulated sugar, flour and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Add the apples and raisins and toss to coat.  Make sure to toss the apples and raisins until they’re evenly coated with the flour mixture. The flour helps to thicken the juices released by the apples as they cook.

Sprinkle additional flour on the work surface.  Unfold the pastry sheet on the work surface.  Roll the pastry sheet into a 14×12-inch rectangle.  Place the pastry onto the baking sheet.  Spoon the apple mixture lengthwise down the center of the pastry.  Cut slits 1 inch apart from the 2 sides of the pastry rectangle to within 1/2 inch of the peach mixture.  Starting at one end, fold the pastry strips over the peach mixture, alternating sides, to cover the apple mixture.

Bake for 35 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Let the pastry cool on the baking sheet on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with the confectioners’ sugar, if desired.

For some nutty crunch, ¼ cup sliced almonds may be added with the apples and raisins.  For a tasty spring strudel try using fresh peaches or fresh berries.  In the fall you can substitute Bosc pears and dried cranberries for a Pear and Cranberry Strudel.  Unfortunately, we didn’t get a photo of the apple strudel so we substitute with one of a Peach Strudel.

The Old Parkdale Inn has three guest rooms, each with amenities including a private bath, flat-screen satellite TV and DVD player, microwave, coffee maker, refrigerator, and Free wireless Internet.

Located on the famous Hood River County Fruit Loop,  the Inn is perfectly situated to tour the area’s gorgeous farms, wineries and orchards.

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.

National Strawberry Shortcake

National Strawberry Shortcake Day

National Strawberry Shortcake Day is, today, June 14 and the innkeeper of the Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast shares a guest favorite

Shortcakes ~ this recipe will make 8 shortcakes.  The innkeeper stretches it a little, making 6 slightly larger cakes, making room for more whipped cream and berries, and perfect for the 6 guests that the Old Parkdale Inn can accommodate.

2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup sugar
1 Tbs Grated lemon rind
1 Tbs baking powder
¼ teas salt
¼ cup chilled butter, cut into small pieces
¾ cup half and half
melted butter
2 teas sugar

Preheat oven to 450°
Shortcakes:  Whisk flour, sugar, lemon rind, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.  Cut in the chilled butter with a pastry blender until the mixture is a coarse meal.  Add half and half and stir just until moist. Don’t overwork the dough if you’re looking for tender shortcakes. Drop by large spoonfuls onto a baking sheet. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 15 minutes or until brown

You’ll want to mix your berries with 3 tablespoons sugar and a splash of lemon juice then refrigerate while juices develop, at least 30 minutes.  In Oregon and the Hood River Valley we are blessed with an abundance of berries: Oregon’s child the marionberries, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries being just a few.  Use the freshest ones you can find, mix it up.

Try adding a drop of almond extract to the bowl as you whip up some fresh cream.  Slice the Shortcake in half horizontally, spoon the berries with their juice onto each shortcake bottom. Top with a generous dollop of whipped cream and then the shortcake top.  Garnish with slivered and whole mint leaves, a little more whipped cream and a few more berries.

The Old Parkdale Inn is located in the Upper Hood River Valley on the north slope of Oregon’s tallest peak, Mt. Hood, in the quaint town of Parkdale.  Outdoor adventure, farms, wineries and fine dining are nearby. Three well appointed rooms with private baths offer complete privacy and the serene gardens are perfect for romantic and restful getaways.

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.

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.

National Donut Day

National Donut Day is the First Friday in June – June 5, 2020

National Donut Day is the first Friday in June, June 5, 2020.  We hope you have a chance to try this delicious baked donut recipe shared by the innkeeper at the Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast.  Clean up is easier than with a fried version not to mention a bit less guilt-inducing!

Baked Pumpkin Donut

  • 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 tbs. vegetable oil
  • 2 tbs. butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 tsp. maple extract
  • 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare your donut shaped baking pan with non-stick cooking spray
  • In a mixing bowl, add in the pumpkin puree, vegetable oil, melted butter, granulated and brown sugars. Mix on medium until combined.
  • Add in both of the eggs and maple extract. Mix on medium until incorporated.
  • Add in the pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, salt and flour. Mix until just combined.

Use a piping bag, or spoon, to fill each donut cup about 3/4 full, making sure the center post is clear.  Innkeeper uses a 9 cavity donut silicone baking mold.  Bake until the donuts are a light golden brown and spring back when touched, 6-10 minutes.  Let cool slightly, flip pan over, glaze or roll in cinnamon sugar

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.

WildSpring Guest Habitat

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. According to an ongoing survey taken by the U.S. Travel Association Americans Feel Safer In Their Cars and they’ll be traveling up to 300 miles. If you live in Oregon, or Southern Washington, Northern California, Idaho, you need not drive even that far for a much deserved get-away.

Here’s a idea for you: A staycation at an Oregon Bed and Breakfast

Sensational Staycation Ideas for a break from the household grind and the fretful health warnings surrounding us. When you’re on a real vacation, you don’t cook, clean, do chores or fret. Do as much as you want. As little as you want

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.

Want to support struggling local businesses while limiting social contact? Now’s a great time to purchase Gift Certificates from the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild. They can be redeemed at every Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild member inn across the state

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’re sure, after months of quarantine you’re starting the feel the travel bug. We’re doing everything in our power to make sure you don’t catch The Bad Travel Bugs. 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.

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.

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.

National Apple Pie Day is May 13

National Apple Pie Day doesn’t necessarily have to be celebrated with an apple pie, right.  Why not Apple Pie Cookies?  The innkeeper at the Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast put a little spin on the classic apple pie and the results were amazing.

Like most lodging properties across America we’ve been shuttered for over two months now. The Old Parkdale Inn was honored to be featured in Forbes Magazine article celebrating National Apple Pie Day. Nearly four dozen of these elegant and charming properties are reaching out to their guests, past and future, with digital postcards featuring their own apple dessert recipes and a cinnamon-sweet “Wish You Were Here” sentiment for virtual reconnection during this time of extended social distancing. They are one of the top 12 recipes and properties in the country

For quicker, easier assembly she used refrigerated pie crusts

Apple Pie Cookies

  • 6 green apples
  • 1 package refrigerated pie crust (2 crusts)
  • 5 ounces caramel sauce
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • Ground cinnamon

1) Preheat the oven to 350 Fahrenheit. Line a cookie sheet with parchment and non stick spray;  set aside.

2) Remove pie crusts from refrigerator so they warm up slightly. This will make them easier to work with.

3) Peel the skin off the green apples, compost.  Continue peeling so you have bunch of fleshy, white peels of apple in your bowl.

4) Dust work area with flour and slightly roll out crusts. From one pie crust, cut out circles for the cookies.  Cut the second pie crust into 1/2″ strips.

5) Place round pie crusts on cookie sheet. Spread a thin layer of caramel sauce on each cookie, followed by a pile of white apple peels. Using the 1/2” strips, create a tic-tac-toe lattice pattern over each cookie.

6) Beat egg in bowl and add sugar and nutmeg until well blended. Brush cookies with egg wash.

7) Sprinkle cookies with cinnamon.  Use more or less cinnamon depending on your preference.

8) Bake for 20 – 25 minutes, or until cookies are a golden brown. Remove from oven, allow to cool for 5 minutes, serve and enjoy!

The Old Parkdale Inn is located in the Upper Hood River Valley, a renowned growing region for pears and apples.   Located in the quaint town of Parkdale, Oregon with Oregon’s tallest peak, Mt. Hood, as a backdrop.  Outdoor adventure, farms, wineries and fine dining are nearby.  The complete privacy of the inn and the serene gardens are perfect for romantic and restful getaways.

You’re sure to enjoy sweet treats such as these at the inns of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild. Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is proactively taking steps to welcome you back when traveling restrictions have been lifted. Our member inns have always engaged in exemplary cleaning practices, and typically we hold ourselves to even higher standards than the guidelines provided by our health agencies. We’re taking it up a notch so as to provide the very safest environments for you, our employees and ourselves. We’re 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

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.

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.

Book Direct

The Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is excited to announce the launch of our Book > Direct platform where you, the traveler, while visiting our association site, can book directly with our inns, no middle man. Just put in your dates and select other filters. You’ll see our member properties that have availability on those dates including rates. Select an inn and go directly to the inn’s booking engine to complete your booking.

There are many great reasons why booking direct is beneficial for both the innkeeper and the guest.

  • You usually are guaranteed the lowest pricing available. An OTA (online travel agent) may be able to influence the price to get you to book but there is little they can do to improve your stay. Support your local businesses and #bookdirect!  You save on your getaway, receive personalized service and the business saves on steep commissions – it’s a win win
  • The truth is, these booking sites charge at least 15% of each booking to the small business owner and sometimes charge you a ‘service fee’  The independent innkeeper really appreciates it when you book directly with them through their website
  • You work directly with the property in case of changes, delays, or cancellations
  • You typically will not have to pay additional booking, change, or cancellation fees.
  • You will enjoy exclusive benefits and can take advantage of special deals, amenities, and packages
  • Innkeepers know their properties and the area better than anyone. If you have a specific need or wants more detailed information about a property, you’ll be able to communicate with our hosts directly who are well acquainted and who are well-equipped to address your needs.

Another great reason to book direct is because you will always have direct access to our innkeepers. There is no middle man. If a guest has a specific need or wants more detailed information about a property, you’ll be able to communicate with our hosts directly who are well acquainted with our locations and who are well-equipped to address your needs. As a privately owned small business we have the power to offer our guest world-class customer service via our staff and our business.

When you commit to Book>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!

As small business owners our innkeepers truly appreciate your direct bookings. This not only allows you a more specialized experience as you interact directly with us, you also benefit the local economy. How can you, the traveler Join the Movement and make sure you’re always booking direct?

Always verify you are on the bed and breakfast’s website before you book. When in doubt, call the Inn for assistance. Be careful using the blue Book a Room button in Google. It NEVER goes directly to the hotel website. It ALWAYS goes to an online travel agency such as Booking.com or Expedia, or one of their downstream booking partners

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.

Three Sleeps

Three Sleeps Vineyards Bed and Breakfast

Three Sleeps Vineyards B&B has two beautiful rooms that overlook their mountain vineyard and the little valley in Mosier full of cherry trees and a Mt. Adams view.  Only 15 mins from the heart of the Columbia River Gorge and Hood River you’ll feel like you are miles from anywhere. Both rooms have private baths and patios and their own entrances.

When the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery Expedition traveled through the area in 1805 they asked the local Native Americans how far it was to the Great Pacific ocean.  The answer, as you’ve guessed, was “Three Sleeps”.  The Three Sleeps Vineyard is the source of Dominio IV’s Tempranillo, Syrah and Viognier grapes and is farmed organically and biodynamically.

Each well appointed room at Three Sleeps B&B has a private entrance, bath and cozy seating area.  Relax on your patio and enjoy the view of the vineyard, the world famous cherry orchards and Mt. Adams in the background.  Both rooms also feature satellite TV with HBO, a DVD and wireless internet. Fresh coffee, tea and hot chocolate are available around the clock just outside your door.  Start each day with a hardy breakfast complemented by local eggs and seasonal fresh fruits.

Anyone who knows the Columbia River Gorge knows that it offers an extraordinary range of activities throughout the year, including wind surfing, kite boarding and other water sports, skiing and snowboarding, hiking, fishing, birding and many others. And the Wines: ‘A World of Wine in 40 miles’ is the motto of the Columbia Gorge Winegrowers. Three Sleeps is located in Mosier,  just 5 miles east of Hood River.

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.