Tag Archives: lodging

Peanut Butter Balls from Yamhill Vineyards Bed and Breakfast feature a crunchy peanut butter filling inside a chocolate coating. Incredibly easy to make with just five simple ingredients!
No Bake and makes about 100 Peanut Butter Balls
In a large bowl combine
  • 3 cups of Rice Krispies
  • 1 pound of powdered sugar
  • 2 cups creamy peanut butter – creamy peanut butter like Jif or Skippy. The peanut butter layer may not set up very well with a natural peanut butter that separates.
  • 1⁄4 pound margarine melted
Mix well by hand. Roll into 1-inch balls and place them on a wax paper-lined baking sheet and freeze for 15 minutes.
In a small pan over water melt:
  • 1 12-ounce bag semisweet chocolate chips.
  • In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt chips for 60-75 seconds, stopping to check and stir every 30 seconds.
  • Drop the frozen balls in the melted chocolate one at a time, use a fork to roll around to ensure an even coating. Place back on a wax paper-lined baking sheet.
  • Garnish with additional rice cereal while the chocolate is still warm. Chill until the chocolate has set.

Yamhill Vineyards Bed & Breakfast is a little known gem located in the heart of the Willamette Valley wine country.  The Inn is surrounded by Yamhill Vineyards Bed and Breakfastvineyards, spectacular views and has two large guest rooms.

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: Our inns are following COVID-19 protocol guidance from the Oregon Health Authority. 

Although mask guidelines are lifted:

● Some businesses may choose to still require masks.

● Some people may choose to still wear a mask.

We have all struggled through COVID-19 and could use a little kindness. Please be respectful of local businesses and their workers and most importantly kind to yourself.

Bald Eagles

The Bald Eagles have landed at The Dalles Dam

The 13th annual Eagle Watch will be held at The Dalles Dam Visitor Center on Jan. 21, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The visitor center will be open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in the month of January from 10 a.m. to noon. Hours are subject to change.

Bald eagles migrate south each winter, from as far away as Alaska. in search of food. The Columbia River provides an excellent food source and the trees around the dam provide for a favorite winter vacation spot.

The Dalles Dam Visitor Center is a popular site for visitors to see bald eagles in their natural habitat. Join park rangers for an educational opportunity to learn about raptors and other migratory birds and experience seeing them in the wild!

It’s cold along the river, Dress accordingly. Be prepared for possible snow on the trails that take you down for a closer look at the convocation of Eagles on the water’s edge.

Plan to spend a day in The Dalles

The Columbia Gorge Discovery center offers the inspiring Raptor Program and downtown you’ll find great restaurants, brew pubs, shopping, wineries and of course, the Bald Eagles along the River.

Reserve your stay at Hood River Bed and Breakfast. To expand your Columbia Gorge Birding experience be sure to have maps of the  Oregon Cascade Birding Trails on hand.

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 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.

Hospitality Update: Our inns are following COVID-19 protocol guidance from the Oregon Health Authority. 

Although mask guidelines are lifted:

● Some businesses may choose to still require masks.

● Some people may choose to still wear a mask.

We have all struggled through COVID-19 and could use a little kindness. Please be respectful of local businesses and their workers and most importantly kind to yourself.

National Plan for Vacation Day, January 31

On National Plan for Vacation Day, Tuesday, January 31, Americans are encouraged to pause and plan their vacation days for the whole year at the start of the year. That’s because planning is the key to taking time off and traveling: a new study from Destination Analysts, commissioned by U.S. Travel Association, reveals that Americans who plan out their paid time off take more time off to travel—but one-quarter (24%) of American households don’t take this simple step. As a result, they lose or forfeit these days.

National Plan for Vacation Day January 31, 2023

Burnout might not reset with the new year, but studies show that planning for a trip boosts morale, reduces stress and prevents burnout. #NPVD is the perfect opportunity to plan your time away for the year ahead— because we’re happier when we #PlanForVacation.

On January 31 take time to plan your days off for the year. And if you need some inspiration let the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild assist and inspire your 2023 travel plans.

Watch this space

Here’s a peak at the Oregon Bed and Breakfasts that joined the 2022 Plan for Vacation Day party and might just participate in 2023. Together, we hope to inspire you to Explore Oregon.

Mt Hood Region

Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast

Willamette Valley Region

MaMere’s Guest House
Chehalem Ridge Bed and Breakfast
The DreamGivers
A’Tuscan Estate Bed and Breakfast
Yamhill Vineyards Bed and Breakfast

Southern Oregon Region

Prospect Historic Hotel 

Central Oregon Region

Wilson Ranches Retreat

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: Our inns are following COVID-19 protocol guidance from the Oregon Health Authority. 

Although mask guidelines are lifted:

● Some businesses may choose to still require masks.

● Some people may choose to still wear a mask.

We have all struggled through COVID-19 and could use a little kindness. Please be respectful of local businesses and their workers and most importantly kind to yourself.

Travel trends 2023

Surveys reveal 2023 Travel Trends to Feed Your Wanderlust. 2022 challenged us to rethink every aspect of our lives and new travel trends were bound to emerge. Travelers today are getting outside their comfort zones and finding pleasures in the unknown and we, as innkeepers, have adapted with ingenuity and creativity to create a safe and comfortable lodging experience.

Multiple studies show that travel is steadily picking up and will continue to in 2023. People are thinking big and far away to satisfy their pent-up wanderlust but most will be staying ‘local’.

Travelers will be making up for lost time

Join the Movement and Book Direct

Our Bed and Breakfast offer flexible booking policies knowing many travelers will only feel comfortable with making last-minute reservations. This means as lockdowns come and go travelers will be more responsive to windows of opportunity to become much more spontaneous in 2023.

Book Direct and always have direct access to our innkeeper. As privately owned small businesses we have the power to offer our guest world-class customer service via our staff and our business. To book direct go directly to the selected lodging’s website, book through their online booking platform or give them a call and Book Direct.

The joy of vacation planning will be stronger than ever as travelers spend more time researching 2023 trips.

With travel plans dashed in early 2020, many people have been dreaming about their next big vacation for more than a year, so it’s no surprise that travelers are extra conscious of getting it just right. We encourage you to visit The Oregon B&B Guild website ~ offering ‘one stop shopping’ when planning your Oregon Vacation.

Browse by region, specials, amenities. Inns that use online reservations have direct links to their personal on-line reservation systems and you’ll find direct link to on-line reviews. Review before you reserve.

Read the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild Blog.  An amazing social media tool. We post about happenings and events all across Oregon. Search the blog for posts on winery events, bird watching sites, farmers markets, recipes and oh, so much more!

Social Distance Travel

Travelers will be much more aware of the need to travel to destinations that make it easy to maintain social distancing practices. Here in Oregon we’ve got your social distance travel needs covered.

Visit the Target Market page to begin your search for an inn that will fulfill your interests, birding, hiking, biking, wine tasting, historic destinations, etc.

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: Our inns are following COVID-19 protocol guidance from the Oregon Health Authority. 

Although mask guidelines are lifted:

● Some businesses may choose to still require masks.

● Some people may choose to still wear a mask.

We have all struggled through COVID-19 and could use a little kindness. Please be respectful of local businesses and their workers and most importantly kind to yourself.

Oregon Bird Watching

Oregon Bird Watching in the Willamette Valley

There is an amazing wildlife show at these three Oregon wildlife refuges. Oregon Bird Watching is amazing. Especially this time of year when activity along the major flyways increase.

The Oregon Cascades Birding Trail (OCBT) is a great place to begin your birding adventure. From there you can decide where you’d like to visit. When you have made that decision turn to the website for the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild and I am sure you will find an inn close by.

The Willamette Valley is known for its unique Bed and Breakfasts, fertile land with orchards, vineyards and rolling grass fields.  Nestled between the snow-capped volcanic peaks of the Cascade Mountains and the forests of the Coast Range it’s no wonder the valley offers an abundance of birds and bird habitats and the Willamette Valley Birding Trail will take you there.

Willamette Valley National Wildlife Complex

Willamette Valley National Wildlife Complex provides protection for historically abundant oak savanna, native prairie, riparian forest and wetland habitats. In these three protected places, endangered plant populations grow, summer songbirds nest, and wintering waterfowl find sanctuary in vast wetlands.

A hungry flock of Canada Geese soar high and then land to munch the grass across deep lush pastures at the Baskett Slough Wildlife Refuge near Dallas, Oregon. They arrive at Baskett Slough from far off arctic nesting grounds and have come to this U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge for the habitat.

Located near the confluence of the Willamette and Santiam Rivers, Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge. Established in 1965, the refuge provides wetlands and riparian woodland sanctuary for migratory and resident wildlife which range from the tiny Pacific chorus frog to the black-tailed deer.

Established in 1964, the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge’s primary management goal is to provide wintering habitat for dusky Canada geese. Driving through the 5,325 acres of the refuge and the 341 acres of its Snag Boat Bend Unit, is like taking a step back into the natural history of the Willamette Valley.

The State of Oregon is a bird watcher’s paradise.

There are extensive reserves and habitats that serve as excellent nesting and brood rearing areas for waterfowl and colonial nesting birds including American white pelican and several heron species. Many of our Member Inns have habitats on their grounds or are located near land ideal for birding. Grab your binoculars, choose an inn, and set out on your bird watching adventure.

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 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.

Hospitality Update: Our inns are following COVID-19 protocol guidance from the Oregon Health Authority. 

Although mask guidelines are lifted:

● Some businesses may choose to still require masks.

● Some people may choose to still wear a mask.

We have all struggled through COVID-19 and could use a little kindness. Please be respectful of local businesses and their workers and most importantly kind to yourself.

Shop Small Online for lodging in Southern Oregon

While winter birding in Southern Oregon witness the noisy, large flocks of snow geese as they settle to rest in the tule marshes of the Klamath Basin.  Welcome to the Klamath Basin Birding Trail.

Bald Eagles in the Klamath Basin

And it’s not too late to visit and see the largest concentration of bald eagles in the continental U.S., according to the Klamath Basin Audubon Society. The birds tend to hang around between late November and early March, with the largest numbers, over 500 birds, showing up in January and February.The Basin also hosts Oregon’s highest concentration of the elusive Yellow Rail.

Save the Dates for the 2023 Winter Wings Festival – Feb. 17 – 20

We invite birders and photographers of all levels and other nature enthusiasts to join us. This will be our 43rd annual Festival and we hope to have 500 visitors/locals attending.

Located just 28 miles from Crater Lake National Park, The Prospect Historic Hotel-Motel and Dinner House can be the perfect home base when winter birding in southern Oregon on the Crater Lake Loop of the Oregon Cascades Birding Trail.  

The Prospect Historic Hotel-Motel and Dinner House

The skeleton of the mighty Mt. Mazama exists today as Crater Lake National Park. The lake itself is a true American treasure that invites Bald Eagle, Osprey, and Double-crested Cormorant and holds the seventh deepest lake in the world.

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.

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 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.

Hospitality Update: Our inns are following COVID-19 protocol guidance from the Oregon Health Authority. 

Although mask guidelines are lifted:

● Some businesses may choose to still require masks.

● Some people may choose to still wear a mask.

We have all struggled through COVID-19 and could use a little kindness. Please be respectful of local businesses and their workers and most importantly kind to yourself.

Aebleskiver

The Aebleskiver is a traditional Danish dessert kind of like doughnut holes only sweeter.

The Aebleskiver is cooked in a cast iron pan that resembles an egg poacher. A symbol of community and hospitality, they are very popular at Scandinavian charity and open-air events.  And well received at the Old Parkdale Inn breakfast table, located in one of the largest apple and pear grower regions in Oregon.

Æbleskiver Ingredients

  • 2 egg white
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 Tbs white sugar
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 4 Tbs melted butter
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • Butter for frying

In a clean glass or metal bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until they can hold a stiff peak. Set aside.

Mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, sugar, egg yolks, melted butter and buttermilk at one time and beat until smooth. Gently fold in the egg whites last.

AebleskiverPlace the Aebleskiver pan on your stove top. Turn on the heat. The innkeeper brushes each cup with some melted butter and gets it nice and hot. Pour about a tablespoon of the batter into each cup. Here’s where you can add a dab of jam, apple butter, chocolate chips, finely chopped apples, maybe a banana slice. Use your imagination. Cover the filling with about another tablespoon of batter and as soon as they get bubbly around the edge turn them quickly. A fork or chopsticks work good for this. Once the second side has cooked she rolls them in the cup to keep it from burning.

Dust with Powdered Sugar or glaze and serve with maple syrup and jam.

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. The complete privacy of the inn and the serene gardens are perfect for romantic and restful getaways.

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: Our inns are following COVID-19 protocol guidance from the Oregon Health Authority. 

Although mask guidelines are lifted:

● Some businesses may choose to still require masks.

● Some people may choose to still wear a mask.

We have all struggled through COVID-19 and could use a little kindness. Please be respectful of local businesses and their workers and most importantly kind to yourself.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies have a rich and fudgy center with a crisp powdered sugar outer layer. Enjoy this recipe submitted by the Old Parkdale Inn

Thanks MaMere’s Guest House for featuring this cookie during your 12 Days of Christmas Cookies extravaganza. Yours are much prettier than mine

Ingredients

  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup confectioners’ sugar

Directions

Mix sugar, cocoa, and oil together in a medium bowl. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until combined. Stir in vanilla.

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in another bowl. Gradually stir dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until thoroughly mixed. Cover dough and refrigerator for at least 4 hours.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Roll or scoop chilled dough into 1-inch balls. Coat each ball in confectioners’ sugar and place 1 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheets.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Let stand on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool.

Repeat Steps 4 and 5 to make remaining batches.

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: Our inns are following COVID-19 protocol guidance from the Oregon Health Authority. 

Although mask guidelines are lifted:

● Some businesses may choose to still require masks.

● Some people may choose to still wear a mask.

We have all struggled through COVID-19 and could use a little kindness. Please be respectful of local businesses and their workers and most importantly kind to yourself.

Oregon Only Slightly Exaggerated

Don’t Pass Snow Plows on the Right. Makes sense, right?

The snow is settling in almost everywhere in Oregon, through the Coast Range to the top of Mt Hood, Oregon’s tallest peak and well east into the Wallowas.

And to top that Winter Storm Warnings have been issued across the state. Starting Wednesday, a wind advisory is in effect, strongest winds will be felt in the Portlands Hills and in the Columbia River Gorge. Combined with freezing temperatures, these winds will create a wind-chill effect that will produce subzero-like temperatures.An official wind chill advisory will go into effect at 4 a.m. on Thursday. The icy winds are expected to cause power outages, property damage and hazardous driving conditions.

Snow plows are clearing the roads, pushing, or blowing, the snow off to the road shoulder and beyond. Putting down de-icer. Get the picture? A couple years back someone tacked this added message below the warning sign that really states the obvious. Be prepared when exploring Oregon during the winter months. Watch for snow plows and other maintenance equipment. And don’t always rely on that GPS. Many forest roads, while beautiful alternatives from the main highways and freeways during the snow free months, are not maintained during the winter.

Travelers should be aware that even a few inches of snow can obscure icy roads and soft shoulders where vehicles can become stuck.  Winter storms can trigger unexpected rock slides, and falling limbs and trees; they can quickly change driving conditions on forest roads from passable to impassable in a matter of minutes.

Keys to safe winter driving: Plan for the unexpected. Keep in mind that cell phones may not work in remote areas. Check the latest road and weather conditions at TripCheck.com or dial 511 before heading out. Always tell someone where you’re going and stick to that plan.   Carry an emergency kit in your vehicle. Travelers should be prepared to spend long periods of time in the car. Blankets or sleeping bags, warm clothes, a snow shovel, water, food and other necessities are recommended as part of a complete vehicle emergency kit. Always fuel up at the beginning of the trip.

Weather can change quickly, particularly in higher elevations. Good snow tires, a 4-wheel drive vehicle, and chains are advised or often required, when driving in winter conditions. As a general rule, always adjust your speed to current conditions and drive at speeds that allow you to stop in half of the visible road distance ahead of you.

ODOT and the County Maintenance Crews do an amazing job keeping our Highways and Interstates passable. They plow, they de-ice and sand but it is our job to use a little common sense, stay on roads maintained during the winter months, and drive cautiously to make sure we reach our destination safely.

The Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild offers a wide variety of inns, from a small guest cottage or two-room bed and breakfast to a larger country inn or small historic hotel.

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: Our inns are following COVID-19 protocol guidance from the Oregon Health Authority. 

Although mask guidelines are lifted:

● Some businesses may choose to still require masks.

● Some people may choose to still wear a mask.

We have all struggled through COVID-19 and could use a little kindness. Please be respectful of local businesses and their workers and most importantly kind to yourself.

Be on the lookout for the colorful glimmer of hand-blown glass floats when exploring our Oregon Coast beaches. Finders Keepers! Discover glass treasures in Lincoln City, Oregon every day of the year!

These inspected B&B inns offer luxury accommodations and easy access to the highlights of the Lincoln City area of the central Oregon Coast including Finders Keepers

Baywood Shores: Relax and rejuvenate in your private suite with a king-size bed and 2-person Jacuzzi. Just south of the Taft District of Lincoln City, Oregon, on the bank of Siletz Bay, sits Baywood Shores Bed and Breakfast. Here you will be mesmerized by the ebb and flow of the salty water along the Oregon coast and amazed by the stunning, panoramic view of the ever-changing sky above Lincoln City and the Pacific Ocean.

Baywood Shores Bed and Breakfast

Brey House Bed and Breakfast: Brey House is located just across the street from the Pacific Ocean. Rooms have an ocean view and easy beach access from our Inn, just about 100 feet to the stairs down to the beach.

Brey House Oceanview
SOME BASIC RULES OF THE HUNT
  • Floats are placed on the beach during daylight hours only.
  • Floats are hidden throughout the day, not just at one time.
  • Floats are out there every day rain or shine.
  • Be mindful of the environment when hunting. Be kind to the Coast.
  • One float per person, per year. Spread the love!
A Few Tips and Words of Advice
  • We use the term “hide” loosely; we want our treasures to be found!
  • Start your hunt at public beach access points.
  • Our Float Fairies hide floats at random times and locations…not even we know.

Discover random acts of findness and view more rules and tips on the Explore Lincoln City website. Over 3,000 glass treasures are hidden along our seven miles of sandy beach, made by local artisans. If you find a float, it’s all yours.

Finders Keepers announced their 2023 schedule which includes 15 more “special drops”. There’s still floats to be found as we close out 2022, too. Contact either Baywood Shores or Brey House, book a stay, then head out to the Oregon Coast in search of the hand-blown glass floats on our Oregon Coast beaches.

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: Our inns are following COVID-19 protocol guidance from the Oregon Health Authority. 

Although mask guidelines are lifted:

● Some businesses may choose to still require masks.

● Some people may choose to still wear a mask.

We have all struggled through COVID-19 and could use a little kindness. Please be respectful of local businesses and their workers and most importantly kind to yourself.