Romantic Getaway Oregon

Okay, Mr. or Ms. Procrastinator, here's your chance to make it up.  We have last minute availability for Friday through Sunday nights, September 2, 3 & 4, 2011, in the Mirror Lake Suite here at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast in Joseph Oregon. 

This isn't just any old guestroom.  If you're thinking "romantic getaway Oregon" or perhaps "Wallowa Lake hotel" then you'll definitely want to follow the link and check out this room. 

And since it's so last minute, we'll offer a 10% discount with a complimentary bottle of bubbly for a minimum two-night stay.  Be sure to mention that you read this blog post to qualify.

Enjoy the Wallowa Mountains, take in the Juniper Jam all-day concert festivalon Saturday, visit the local galleries on Joseph Oregon Main Street, or just stay in the suite for the 110-gallon jetted tub, the steam shower and the 47" flat screen with movies.  It's up to you.

Call us (it's too late to book online) at toll-free 866-520-9769 or local 541-432-0230.  You'll definitely accrue some "get out of the doghouse free" points if you bring your honey here for a surprise visit. 

It doesn't happen often but every now and then we get a last minute cancellation.  One person's loss, but another person's gain.  If you need a room in Joseph OR this weekend for Friday & Saturday nights, July 1 and 2, 2011, have we got a room for you!

The Sawtooth Mountain Room is definitely one of our more popular rooms at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast and suitable for a quick Oregon romantic getaway.

Private attached bath, queen-sized bed with luxurious linens, air-conditioning (though you probably won't need it), views of the Wallowa Mountains to the west and Enterprise to the north.  And don't forget the great breakfasts!  We'll even speak German if that makes your stay more comfortable (Heather will, Bill and Madigan won't).

It's all yours.  Too late for you to use our online reservation system.  Give us a call at 866-520-9769 (toll-free) or 541-432-0230 and we'll be happy to start off right your 4th of July Weekend 2011 in Eastern Oregon.

I have to say that I saw the bird before she did.  Here we are in mid-June and we saw our first male Lazuli Bunting at the feeder.  Haven't seen any females yet but they're not as dramatic as the males.

This is our first sighting of this bird since we started keeping track of what birds are coming to the feeder.  He seems to prefer the cracked corn mix to the sunflower seeds.

What a gorgeous blue color against the backdrop of snow on the Wallowa Mountains!

If part of your romantic getaway Oregon style includes birdwatching, swing by and check out this Lazuli Bunting.  Of course, we don't know how often he'll be here, but there are plenty of birds to see in Joseph Oregon and at Wallowa Lake.

It's springtime in Eastern Oregon which means it's time to update the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast wine list and get ready for the summer visitors to Joseph Oregon.

We've added quite a few new wines to our cellar this past year and retired a few as our guests enjoyed them.  In your guestroom now you'll find our newly prepared list, featuring wines from Sokol Blosser, Argyle and Lange Estate Vineyards to name a few from Oregon.  There are also some very nice wines from L'Ecole No. 41 and Zerba Cellars in the Walla Walla, WA area.  And let's not forget Yakima River Winery and Terra Blanca Vineyard west of the Tri-Cities in Washington.  Rounding out the list are a collection of sparkling wines from the Alsace region of France (I just couldn't help it).

Whether you're packing a picnic wine for Wallowa Lake or ordering a fine sparkling for your romantic getaway, we've probably got a wine or two here for you. 

And there are always glasses and wine openers available in all of our guestrooms in case you'd prefer to bring along your favorite. 

One of our favorite Joseph Oregon restaurants opens on April 14, 2011, for the spring/summer season.  Calderas is one of those romantic getaway Oregon style restaurants.  Great wine list, fresh produce from their own farm near Hells Canyon, creative cuisine, tremendous views of the Wallowa Mountains--all wrapped up in one location at the north end of town.

Starting Thursday, April 14th, Calderas is open Thursday through Saturday 11 am to 8 pm.  Once June arrives, the hours are Wednesday through Monday, 11 am to 9 pm.

We like sending our guests to Calderas because we're confident they'll have great food and great service in a very unusual atmosphere.  And the second floor balcony has a nice little gift shop featuring owner Nancy Lincoln's glass art.

Think Parisian Art Nouveau bistro with an art gallery twist.   And don't miss the bathrooms if you like glass art!

Let us know you'd like a reservation for dinner at Calderas when you arrange your stay at our Joseph Oregon lodging.  Reservations aren't required but are highly recommended, especially on busy Friday and Saturday nights.

If you're still looking for a romantic getaway Oregon style for Valentine's Day 2011, our Joseph Oregon bed and breakfast might be what you seek.  Joseph Oregon is only 4 hours from Spokane and Boise, 6 hours from Portland, and less than 2 hours from LaGrande, Oregon.   Ir's a great getaway location but not too far from civilization.

Our three second-floor guestrooms are available with great views of the Wallowa Mountains.   Just imagine being tucked into a warm, sleepy bed with a morning cup of coffee and a view of the snow-covered Wallowas.

If you'd like a few extras for your romantic weekend, we're happy to arrange flowers for your beloved.  Or perhaps a small package of delicately hand-dipped rich artisnal chocolates from Arrowhead Chocolates?

One of our favorites for a romantic dinner, Calderas Restaurant here in Joseph Oregon will be open for Valentine's Day dinner by reservation on Sunday night, February 13th and Monday night, February 14th.    You can give them a call at 541-432-0585 and leave a message (they're currently closed but returning calls).  Better yet, book your reservation with us and let us do the calling for you!

We love reading guest comments from the room journals at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast.  Here's one from a couple who lives less than two hours away from Joseph Oregon.  They stayed with us for New Year's Eve, wanting to take a quick Eastern Oregon vacation not far away so they wouldn't have to deal with winter travel on the roads.

What a treat!! My wife & I were long overdue for a little R&R.  The Mirror Lake Suite was everything we could have hoped for & more.  Heather & Bill do an outstanding job of feeding & facilitating their guests.  What a fantastic way to ring in the New Year!  If we continue to live in Eastern Oregon I guarantee we will be guests here again (hopefully after we have hiked & fished our way through the Eagle Caps).  Thanks again & again!

Our guests were looking for a spa style romantic getaway Oregon style not far from home.  They certainly found it here with us!

The Mirror Lake Suite is an exceptional value in winter and provides a variety of amenities including: underfloor heating, propane direct-vent stove, down comforter, cozy robes and slippers, and stellar views of the snow-covered Wallowa Mountains.  Check our website or give us a call about availability!

Here's something to do in Joseph Oregon in the wintertime besides snowboarding at Fergi or backcountry skiing.  How about a nice walk to the Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site?  The park is about 10 minutes straight south of the Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast at the southern end of Joseph Oregon Main Street.

I was up there last week and captured this little bit of video:

Looking for a romantic getaway Oregon style?  In honor of our wonderful summer season and the great autumn weather, we are offering all rooms at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast at a 10% discount for the month of October 2010.

You can look for a Wallowa Lake hotel or for the Joseph Oregon hotels, but you'll find a very comfortable stay at our Joseph Oregon bed and breakfast.

And take a look at our new bocce court in the north yard before the snow flies!

Looking for a last minute romantic getaway Oregon style for a few days?  Come to Joseph Oregon!  We've had a cancellation here at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast and the Chief Joseph Mountain Room is now available for Sunday through Tuesday nights this week (July 18-20, 2010).   Of our three guest rooms and the Mirror Lake Suite, I'm inclined to say that views of the Wallowa Mountains from this room are lovely.  Especially from bed over a cup of early morning Mulligan's organic coffee.

As a bonus, there's still some snow on the Wallowa Mountains here in late July this year, making them all the more attractive!

This is also the week leading into Chief Joseph Days Rodeo.  If you'd like to see all of Joseph's shops and boutiques and restaurants at their height of summer, getting ready for rodeo, then this is the time for you.  And you'll be gone before the big crowds start on Wednesday afternoon!

Give us a call toll-free at 866-520-9769 and Bill or I would be happy to book your reservation.  We'll even throw in a bottle of champagne for your spur-of-the-moment stay.  See you for your romantic getaway Oregon style!

We've something new to offer to your romantic getaway Oregon style--Arrowhead Chocolates.   Don't try looking for their website or a Facebook page just yet (they don't have either), but the chocolates are extraordinary.

Erica's making artisinal truffles and other delectables up on Alder Slope, the high ground between Enterprise and Joseph Oregon.  Dark chocolate?  Milk chocolate?  She's got both and developing new flavors regularly.  Dipped caramel or ginger pieces, hazelnut clusters, mocha truffles. . .the list is ever growing.

Just recently we hosted guests at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast that requested specialty chocolates.  He'd been fishing all day.  He wanted to give his wife really, really good milk chocolates as part of his thank you.  At prices over $20/pound these chocolates aren't inexpensive, but she was very appreciative. 

If you're planning your romantic getaway Oregon style and want to add a little extra, talk to us about Arrowhead Chocolates.  We'll be happy to have them in your guest room and awaiting your check in.  And Erica will thank you too!

We just love setting the scene for couples to reconnect.  These days with so much input coming from all directions, it's nice to step away with the one you love and just be yourselves. 

Another romantic getaway Oregon style recently occurred here at our Joseph bed and breakfast.   Our guests this time live only about two hours away, so a 2-day trip to Joseph Oregon was not a major investment of time and money, nor did they endure hours upon hours in the car to arrive at a picture perfect gorgeous place--Wallowa County with the Wallowa Mountains as the scenic backdrop.

Here's what they wrote in the Mirror Lake Suite's room journal:

"Bill & Heather,
Thank you so much for giving us probably the most relaxing and enjoyable weekend we have had in a very long time.  Not only did you take care of all our needs, you treated us like extended family!  The room was even more wonderful than we expected and every time we entered the bathroom it was like a little adventure.  I am sure we will be back in the future."

I guess they're referring to the steam shower, or maybe the pipeless jetted tub, or perhaps even the Neorest toilet/bidet with its remote control.  Who knows?  Regardless, they enjoyed their stay here with us and we certainly enjoyed facilitating their together time.

If you're thinking about a reconnecting weekend or stealing a couple of days midweek from your busy schedule, give us a call toll-free at 866-520-9769 and we can help figure out which of our guestrooms would be best for you.  We're also happy to make dinner reservations, order flowers, chill a bottle of cider or champagne, or whatever else you'd like to set the scene for a relaxing romantic getaway Oregon style!

We know it's getting on to Spring in Wallowa County when some of the restaurants come out of their winter hibernation and announce their new operating hours.  Calderas, one of our favorite Joseph Oregon restaurants, will open starting March 18, 2010.

(Calderas was open for a packed house on Valentine's Day.  All four couples staying at the Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast on February 14th enjoyed a romantic getaway Oregon style dinner at Calderas.  Yum!)

Nancy Lincoln informed us that Calderas will be open:

• March 18th to May 18th, Thursday through Saturday, 10 am to 9 pm
• May 19th to September 13th, Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am to 10 pm

And Calderas is more than just fantastic food.  Nancy and her son are both glass artists.  You'll find their pieces for sale at Calderas, along with antiques, jewelry and other gifts.  Dinner this year features tapas (small plates) along with classic cocktails, desserts, wine and expresso.  And during the day you'll find sweets and savory pastries.

When you're wandering the Internet looking for a Wallowa Lake hotel or Joseph Oregon hotels (as some of our guests tell us they use these terms when they start their searches), hopefully you'll bump into other aspects of Joseph Oregon like Calderas and the Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast!

Looking for where to celebrate an anniversary in Oregon?  Our little Eastern Oregon bed and breakfast seems to be a popular choice.  This last weekend alone we hosted two couples celebrating their anniversaries.  Here's what they had to say (as quoted from the room journal):

"We had a most memorable and delightful anniversary celebration in this wonderful suite.  A truly pampering and romantic time. . ." B&L

"We join the enthusiastic ranks of Anniversary-observers who have enjoyed this elegant suite.  Thanks. . ."  L&C

Both couples planned their romantic getaway Oregon style to our little town in Eastern Oregon.  Both couples live within a 2-hour drive of Joseph Oregon, making our location an easy drive.  And both couples had plenty of time to explore the town before heading home.

Even if you don't opt to have a nice bottle of sparkling wine from Argyle Winery awaiting you in your guest room, or even if you don't ask us to order in a bouquet of flowers for your sweetie, chances are good you'll have a very nice stay for your anniversary celebration.  But if you'd like to opt for sparkling wine (or cider) and flowers, we'll be happy to take care of the details!

We've been steadily blogging about the Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast since November 2008.  I stopped to count the number of posts recently and we're now at 212 posts!

If you search this blog (see the Search This Blog field at the right?)  --->
you'll find information about subjects like:

• Joseph Oregon and what to do in Joseph Oregon
• Wallowa Lake and what to do at Wallowa Lake
• Joseph Oregon and Wallowa County events
• Planning an Eastern Oregon Vacation
• Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, Highway 39 and Hells Canyon Lodging
• Recipes from our Joseph Oregon bed and breakfast
• Guest rooms at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast
• Planning a romantic getaway Oregon style at our B&B

You can also click on the various "Categories" (again, to the right on the template) and move right into specific areas like Joseph Oregon Hotels (there aren't any, but we'll tell you about it).

Or you can just wander through the blog and learn probably more about us, our bed and breakfast, and Joseph Oregon than you thought you'd ever know!

Madigan, Bill, Joanna, Elizabeth, Tiffany and I hope you enjoy reading our blog.  If you have some suggestions about what we can do to improve it, you know we're all ears!

My goodness!  Only one room left for Valentine's Day at our Eastern Oregon lodging!  If you're planning a romantic getaway Oregon style to Joseph Oregon, our Sawtooth Mountain Room is still available for Valentine's Day and President's Day Weekend 2010.

Here's a little about the Sawtooth Mountain Room at the Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast. 

This guest room lodging accommodations at any fine hotel.   Highlights include:

• Queen-sized bed with Simmons Beautyrest mattress, topped with a Sensus latex dense foam topper (very comfortable!), fine linens, down comforter and lots of pillows.
• West-facing views of the Wallowa Mountains.  The mountains are a little farther away so there's more of a sweeping panoramic view looking out these windows.
• Attached ensuite bathroom, complete with deeper style soaking tub and bidet.  Oversized microfiber bathrobes and slippers.  A two-sided, wall-mounted adjustable lighted makeup mirror (our guests love this).  North-facing window over the Wallowa Valley
• Free Wi-fi access and a combination clock radio/CD player/environmental sound machine.  CDs in the drawer.
• Art Nouveau period artwork and decor.  My favorite item is the Ecole Nancy parlor stove we brought home from France that now serves as a tabletop.
• Warm burnt orange walls adorned with hand-painted Arts & Crafts period stencils painted by decorative art professional Amy Miller.
• Full bed and breakfast service including sherry upon arrival, chilled water, restaurant menus (and our recommendations), wine cellar selections, concierge services, activity planning, maps and reservations.

Still no television or fitness center on premises at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast.  But with views like these and the Wallowa Mountains at your doorstep, who needs TV or a treadmill?

We often are asked about what to do in winter in Joseph Oregon.  The Frostbite Film Festival is an annual fundraising event for our local ice rink, the Nordic Club and the Ferguson Ridge Ski area.

Here are the details for this year's event:

What:  Frostbite Film Festival
Where:  Joseph Community Center (2 blocks from our Joseph Oregon bed and breakfast)
When: Friday, January 22, 2010, 5:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Price: $15/adult, $25/couple, $5 for 5-12 year old children; under 5 years is free
Ticket locations: The Bookloft or Central Copy in Enterprise and The Sports Corral in Joseph (of course, if you reserve a room with us, we'll pick up your tickets in advance)

Included:
--Dinner with beer or wine furnished by our own Terminal Gravity Brewing in Enterprise
--Fantastic live and silent auction items
--Live music by Tom Kruger and Bart Latta
--Premier showing of the DVD of the film "Crossing the Wallowas", originally a 1950s 16mm film by Walter Klages.  And Walter will be here to narrate the film!

More information:
Ferguson Ridge Ski area website at SkiFergi.com

Bill & I saw the original 16mm version of "Crossing the Wallowas" a couple of years ago at the Frostbite Film Festival--what a trip!  Even if you're not a backcountry ski enthusiast, you'll appreciate the efforts these men went through to make this film.  Cameras were a lot heavier in the 1950s!

Currently the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast is completely open for Friday night, January 22nd.  Plan a quick romantic getaway Oregon style to Joseph and include an evening of great food, dancing and a film.  Top it off with a cozy bed and breakfast the next morning before you start your own winter adventures!

Are you planning ahead for Valentine's Day 2010?  If so, you might already have noticed that Valentine's Day falls on Sunday of President's Day Weekend 2010.  That means a 3-day weekend for folks that get the federal holiday!

How about a romantic getaway Oregon style to a luscious little Joseph Oregon bed and breakfast?  Currently, two of our three guestrooms AND the Mirror Lake Suite are available (one lucky couple's already snagged one of our guestrooms).

Joseph Oregon isn't that far of a drive, especially for a 3-day weekend.  We can promise you snow (in town and in the mountains), a cozy place to come home to after a day of snowshoeing and cross country skiing, or a very comfortable place to nap for the bed slugs.  Champagne is available from our cellar.  We can order in flowers for you if you like.  Just let us know!

For a short time in December, the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast staff will become innkeepers searching for Minnie & Mickey.  We're going to Orlando for a family reunion and get a dose of grandkids like the two pictured here.

Madigan's staying home, but she not very fond of cooking breakfast for guests, so we decided to give her some time off too.  We just don't think she'd do complete justice to our Joseph Oregon bed and breakfast.  Tuna in the morning can be difficult to stomach!

If you're planning your romantic getaway Oregon style to the far reaches of northeastern Oregon, hold that thought until the week between Christmas and New Years!

Time for another Mutiny Brewing Company update.   Bill & I ate dinner at Mutiny Brewing Company last night.  Our server, John, was right on top of the entire dining room and hustling to keep all the tables taken care of.

The special?  Pad Thai with either shrimp or chicken.  Delicious.  We had one of each.  If you have access to Facebook, Mutiny Brewing Company has a fan page on Facebook where they post the daily specials.  Worth the look--if only I'd seen the catfish with con cakes and collards!  You just can't find food like this in the local region outside of Joseph Oregon.

Of course we had to ask about the status of Kari's beer brewing.  The target date now seems to be December 19, 2009.  Mutiny Brewing's had some fits and starts getting the beer making off the ground--needing parts for equipment, scheduling inspectors into this far corner of Eastern Oregon--but we've got our fingers crossed for before the end of the year!

If you're thinking about a quick little romantic getaway Oregon style, then our Joseph Oregon bed and breakfast, along with a casual dinner at Mutiny Brewing Company here in Joseph Oregon, might be just the thing.  And check the specials on their page on Facebook!