Forks in Our Road: Honeymoon: Chehalem Ridge Bed and Breakfast

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Honeymoon: Chehalem Ridge Bed and Breakfast

Tuesday April 30, Newberg OR

Chehalem Ridge Bed and Breakfast

After tasting at first Elk Cove Winery and then at WillaKenzie Winery, we made our way to our resting spot for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights, the Chehalem Ridge Bed and Breakfast, situated on the ridgeline above and with spectacular views of Newberg. Although it was only about six or seven minutes out of downtown, it seemed miles and miles away, and that's a good thing.

I wish I could say that I took this photo and the next one, but truth be told, I ripped them off from the B&B. There were a bunch of numbskull painters working on the house when we were there and there really wasn't a time when I could get a good shot of the house, which is worth looking at. Photos just don't do the million-dollar view justice. You can't get a sense of perspective in the photos and you can't feel the breeze in your face while looking out at the valley below from hundreds and hundreds of feet up.

And when I say it was about six or seven minutes out of downtown, well, it doesn't have to be. If you ignore the directions that innkeeper Kristin Fintel sends and you follow the GPS, well, you are going to find yourself on a hugely tortuous route up past Rex Hill Winery and Artisanal Wine Cellars twisting and turning along seemingly the whole length of Chehalem Ridge, finally twenty minutes later arriving at the B&B with its stunning views of Newberg and the valley surrounding the town. But that is only if you ignore the directions, as we did. Why would you ignore the directions, you ask? Well, if your wife might have failed to tell you that the innkeeper sent directions, you might not know any better! ;)

The Rose Garden Room

Quickly being admonished as knuckleheads by Kristin for not following her directions (I liked her already), we got the grand tour of the small but stunning house, comfortably decorated and not wanting for anything. And then Kristin took us to our bedroom called the Rose Garden room at the southwest corner of the second floor with a balcony giving out on to the scenic views you'll see below. Ann picked this room for us: the view is always important for her!

The other rooms are thematically named as well—Oregon Coast, Wine Country, and Oregon trail—and each is decorated in that theme. And a lot of the décor is hand- and home-made: one look at the headboard of our bed and it was clear that somebody went to Home Depot and scored some wooden fencing. And sure enough, glancing through the scrapbook downstairs confirmed this. But how appropriate for a room called "Rose Garden?" I'm impressed at the craftiness on display throughout the house.

Kristin, aside from being a laid back and convivial host, is a great cook and we'll get more into that with breakfast each day as I continue to write these posts. But for now, enjoy the photos of the gorgeous views from the B&B and know that if you go to Oregon wine country, you could stay in a different place, but not a better. I felt as at home in this B&B as in any I have ever stayed in and I never felt unwelcome or out of place. It was just very comfortable.