Archive for November, 2015

Little Multnomah Falls and Waterfall Wednesday

November 11th, 2015 by Gorge Lodging

Little Multnomah Falls is just upstream from its bigger, and slightly more famous, sibling Multnomah Falls but stunning in its simple beauty.

Multnomah Creek traverses a flat shelf to create 15 foot Little Multnomah Falls, seen from the viewing platform above Multnomah Falls, before leveling off and plunging over the basalt edge into the Columbia River Gorge.  Travel upstream and chase 3 more waterfalls.  Make the 6 mile loop and discover 7 waterfalls total.

And thus start a series of blog posts, Chasing Waterfalls and Waterfall Wednesday.  According to Wiki there are at least 238 waterfalls in Oregon!  I’m guessing even more than that.  Wouldn’t it be grand to witness the beauty of every one of them?  With 77 waterfalls on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge alone, we’ve set out to find them all plus those in the nearby Mt Hood National Forest, Washington and beyond. And when we do we’ll share our finds with you, our guests, so you too can set out to Chase Waterfalls.

The innkeepers of the Columbia River Gorge Bed and Breakfast Association are eager to share their favorite spots and events for adventure and exploration in the Hood River Valley, Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area, Mt Adams and Mt Hood.

Apple Valley BBQ competes in World Food Championships

November 8th, 2015 by Gorge Lodging

We are so darn proud, and lucky, to have the famous Apple Valley BBQ in the Hood River Valley.

On any giving day the smoke from the cherry wood smokers drifts across the valley.  Not an overwhelming smoke, just enough to entice you down for dinner or lunch.  Local cherry wood is delivered weekly from our neighbors,  Mt View Orchards and local pears from Kiyokawa Family Orchards goes into their coleslaw.  The chef, Jason, uses as much local produce as possible and breads and pies are made from scratch.  I need to write another blog post for the desserts alone!  Apple Valley BBQ provides mouthwatering quality and attention to detail with their cherry wood smoked BBQ pulled pork, ribs and chicken and a variety of nine side dishes including pear coleslaw, spicy green beans, and corn bread salad to name a few.  The place really is amazing!

And now they’ve upped their game by placing 6th in the World Food Championships, dubbed ‘the highest stakes food competition in the world’, held this past week in Kissimmee, Florida.  Their final dish was red snapper pan seared in bacon fat on top of a bacon,goat cheese and chive potato hash cake with pork belly greens and a roasted garlic and bacon beurre blanc with bacon fat poached purple asparagus wrapped in a prosciutto chive knot.  Yeah, I know, that’s a lot of bacon!  But I can’t wait for this dish to make it onto their weekly specials menu.

When you reserve your room at the Old Parkdale Inn we’ll be glad to make lunch or dinner reservations for you at Apple Valley BBQ.  Just add your seating time to the Special Accommodations box on our reservation form and we’ll be sure you are treated to some of the best BBQ in the valley.  Heck, now in The World! Congratulations Justin and amazing staff!!  Safe travels home.

Tundra Swans Return to Mirror Lake in the Columbia River Gorge

November 7th, 2015 by Gorge Lodging

For me the return of the Tundra Swans to Mirror Lake in the Columbia River Gorge, marks the beginning of Winter.

Mirror Lake is at the foot of Crown Point, visible from Interstate 84 just west of the Rooster Rock exit. The Lake can host upwards of 100 Tundra Swans, although as of yesterday only a few had arrived from their Arctic tundra nesting grounds.  The Scenic Colombia River Gorge is just one of Oregon’s 7 Wonders near the Old Parkdale Inn.  The other being majestic Mt Hood.

Tundra Swans dine on plant material, slugs, snails, insects and crayfish, and typically weigh from 10 to 18 pounds, averaging about 53 inches in length.  They mate for life and travel in family groups in roundtrip migrations of up to 3,725 miles.

Tundra Swans winter here and share space with Hooded Merganser, Mallards, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Bufflehead, Song Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Steller’s Jay, Black-capped Chickadee.

Look closely at the photo for Mallards, a Great Blue Heron and a Hooded Merganser.

The innkeepers of the Columbia River Gorge Bed and Breakfast Association are eager to share their favorite spots and events for adventure and exploration in the Hood River Valley, Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area, Mt Adams and Mt Hood.

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