Posts Tagged ‘Columbia River Gorge’

Christmas and Holiday Markets near Hood River, Oregon

December 3rd, 2015 by Gorge Lodging

Christmas and Holiday Markets in the Columbia River Gorge

Christmas, Holiday Markets and the Innkeepers of the Columbia Gorge Bed and Breakfast Association invite you to celebrate the season and festivities with us. Some of our innkeepers really deck the halls.  Some have a more subdued style.

Hood River, Oregon, becomes a snow globe, a true old-fashioned small town holiday spot. The historic and beautiful downtown is adorned with holiday lights, bows and cheer.

Mosier Country Christmas Fair is Dec. 5 and 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Over 60 vendors, food and drink and tree sales.  Admission is $2 per person and 1 can of food ( human or pet).  Kids under 12 are free.  Photos with Santa from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  There is also a book and bake sale at the Mosier Library (2 blocks east of the school).

As a hush comes over the crowd, the Mayor and all the children will take a deep breath, then blow on the tree to magically bring it blazing alight.  This is THE community family event of the season in Bingen and White Salmon, so don’t miss enjoying the start of the holiday season with your family, friends, visitors,
and the rest of our community.

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.

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.

Passport Month in the Columbia River Gorge

April 2nd, 2015 by Gorge Lodging

‘A World of Wine in 40 Miles’

That’s the motto for the Columbia Gorge Winegrowers.  Americas’ Most Unique Wine Region is located less than an hour East of Portland, Oregon.  Columbia Gorge Growing Region includes the fertile soils of both sides of the mighty Columbia River.  The Washington and Oregon grapes and wines of this unique region are a spectacular selection of sweet whites and luscious reds.

Passport Month in the Columbia River Gorge

A World of Wine in the Columbia River Gorge

The wineries span the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area through 40 miles of peaceful, open-roads running through double mountain views of Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams.

The 7th Annual Columbia Gorge Wine Passport Month happens the Month of April and events, along with times, vary by winery. Your purchased Passport is your access pass to exclusive offers, incredible discounts and unique experiences at 24 Gorge wineries all April long, including three very special, wine-focused weekend events at participating wineries.Passport holders receive amazing deals at our Oregon and Washington wineries with deep discounts, food pairings, barrel tastings, reserve tastings, and more. Enjoy a relaxing day, memorable weekend, or multiple weekends touring around the wild beauty of the Columbia Gorge.

Rest a spell at a member inn of the Columbia River Gorge Bed and Breakfast Association.  A day can be spent in the Washington wineries, another in our Oregon wineries then complete your time in the Gorge at a downtown tasting Rooms in Hood River.  It’s a wonderful way to spend the month and discover the variety of wines from the Columbia Gorge and Columbia Valley AVAs and Columbia Gorge Bed and Breakfast Association

Hood 2 River Relay ~ Countdown on Events and Activities in the Columbia Gorge

February 22nd, 2015 by Gorge Lodging

Hood2RiverThe Hood 2 River Relay is an exciting spring time event that kicks off the summer recreational season on Mt. Hood and in the Columbia River Gorge. Two to six person teams quickly descend 6000 feet off of Mt Hood to the low lying elevations of the Columbia River Basin near sea level provides a unique opportunity for recreational enthusiast to enjoy a multitude of sports in the same day.  The Hood 2 River Relay consists of six Legs; Alpine ski, nordic ski, mountain bike, road bike, road run, boating (kayak/canoe/SUP) and a 500 meter sprint to the finish line after boating. Saturday, May 30, 2015.  Open to individuals and teams. No better time of the year for this opportunity than the late springtime.

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.

 

Geocaching the Columbia River Gorge and Surrounding National Forests

February 20th, 2015 by Gorge Lodging

‘Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people, from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.  Geocaching.com is the headquarters for the activity”

Did you know that Geocaching started in Oregon?  A little history lesson, the full version can be read on the Geocaching.com history page from where I’ve gotten this information.

“Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.  Geocaching.com is the headquarters for the activity”  On this site you can read the history of Geocaching.

* On May 2, 2000, at approximately midnight, eastern savings time, the great blue switch* controlling selective availability was pressed. Twenty-four satellites around the globe processed their new orders, and instantly the accuracy of GPS technology improved tenfold. Tens of thousands of GPS receivers around the world had an instant upgrade. Now, anyone could “precisely pinpoint their location or the location of items (such as game) left behind for later recovery.” How right they were.

* On May 3 a GPS enthusiast, Dave Ulmer, computer consultant, wanted to test the accuracy by hiding a navigational target in the woods. He called the idea the “Great American GPS Stash Hunt” and posted it in an internet GPS users’ group. The idea was simple: Hide a container out in the woods and note the coordinates with a GPS unit.  On May 3rd he placed his own container, a black bucket, in the woods near Beavercreek, Oregon, near Portland.

* Within three days, two different readers read about his stash on the Internet, used their own GPS receivers to find the container, and shared their experiences online.  Like many new and innovative ideas on the Internet, the concept spread quickly – but this one required leaving your computer to participate.

* Within the first month, Mike Teague, the first person to find Ulmer’s stash, began gathering the online posts of coordinates around the world and documenting them on his personal home page. The “GPS Stash Hunt” mailing list was created to discuss the emerging activity.

* Geocaching.com was released to the stash-hunting community on September 2, 2000. At the time the site was launched there were 75 known caches in the world.  There are now over 1.5 million caches around the world, in only 12 years.’

This is certainly the condensed version.  Visit Geocaching.com history for the full story.  I checked to see if the Original Cache was still available, but alas, it has been archived and the Un-Original Stash placed in it’s honor.  The links will take you to their listing on Geocaching.com but if you are not logged in I’m not sure if you will be able to view.

Geocaching is Eco Friendly Travel at it’s best.  Choose a member inn of the Columbia River Gorge Bed and Breakfast Association for your home base when Caching the Gorge

Travel Oregon’s New Bike Friendly Business promotion

March 15th, 2014 by Gorge Lodging

Oregon is becoming a top destination for cyclists, both off road and road biking, touring or simply day trippers.

Travel Oregon, the states leader in tourism, had created a program, Bike Friendly Business, to go along with the State’s Ride Oregon campaign.  When cycling through and around Oregon Bike Friendly Businesses are committed to welcoming cyclists, offer amenities riders may need and have officially been recognized by the state.

Travel-Oregon-Bike-Friendly-graphic-no-iconsBike the Columbia River Gorge, the Mt. Hood Scenic Byway, the Willamette Valley and have a comfy bed and and hearty breakfast at an 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.  You determine how far you want to go in one day.  The whole adventure is about 200 miles and you’ll discover why those arriving in Oregon on the Oregon Trail called this place “paradise”.  Our inn the Old Parkdale Inn B&B is recognized as a BFB and is the halfway point for this tour.  Don’t necessarily want to tour?  No problem.  We invite you to explore the many backroads of the Hood River Valley.

As a participating business we need to adhere to program requirements and recommendations.
~ as a lodging partner we must provide a secure area to store bikes
~ serve up a hearty hi-carb breakfast with larger than life servings of fruits and vegetables
~ be able to share local knowledge about where visitors can find bike shops, bike maps, good places to ride, and where to pick up a bike rental
~ our guest rooms have oulets and power strips to plug in and re-charge phone and laptops safely and we have free WiFi connection in the house and out in the garden ~ provide laundry service ~ assist in shipping home any treasures you might find while touring the Hood River Valley on the Fruit Loop

Oregon Grown Wool Center Stage at Olympics

February 8th, 2014 by Gorge Lodging

Did you watch the Opening Ceremony last night for the Olympics?  Did you see the sweaters being worn by Team USA!!  American made from start to finish but I will focus on where it all started.

The Imperial Stock Ranch in Central Oregon is a family owned and operated ranch located on more than 30,000 acres of Oregon’s beautiful high desert.  The only privately held ranch in Oregon recognized as a National Historic District, the Hinton/Ward family has been working the ranch since 1871.

Team USA in American Made Sweaters with wool from OregonOnce a year the Ranch harvests the soft, versatile wool from their flock of Columbia sheep and transform this renewable resource into fiber and yarn.  About 15 months ago the ranch was contacted by Ralph Lauren and the production of the sweaters began.

A diverse state with diverse growing regions, Oregon farmers and ranchers also produce award winning wines, berries, nuts, and fruit.  The dairy farms produce high quality milk for delectable dairy products.  These products are supplied to the restaurants, wineries and artisan food markets around the state so for a Northwest Culinary Adventure plan your trip through Oregon and experience the sights, sounds, and tastes it has to offer.

Digging a little deeper I found these Columbia Gorge businesses that retail the fine products of Imperial Stock Ranch: for fiber and yarn, Knot Another Hat and dining Three Rivers Grill in Hood River and Everybody’s Brewing in White Salmon, Washington.

Stay, Play and Ski in Hood River Oregon

December 10th, 2013 by Gorge Lodging

Stay, Play and Ski in Hood River, Oregon

Stay, Play and Ski in Hood River, Oregon

Stay Play and Ski in Hood River.  These member inns of the Columbia River Gorge/Hood River Bed and Breakfast Association offer discounted lift tickets for skiing and snowboarding at Mt Hood Meadows Ski Resort and some have tempting packages in place:

Brookside Bed and Breakfast
Hood River BnB
Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast
Panorama Lodge
Villa Columbia Bed and Breakfast
VineyardView

$99 3-Out-of-5-Day Ski Lift Ticket to Mt. Hood Meadows
$99 3 day Learn to ski or snowboard pass at Mt Hood Meadows
$49 Single Day ~ All Day, Open to Close, Adult Lift Ticket to Mt Hood Meadows ($74 value)
$30 Single Day ~ All Day, Open to Close, Jr Lift Ticket to Mt Hood Meadows ($39 value, 7-14)

Visit Hood River and the Columbia River Gorge.   Enjoy snow sports, great food, wine and craft beers, unique shopping, art and culture in one of the most beautiful places in the world

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