Arlington's River Rock Inn

I actually started a blog several months ago about unique wedding venues in Washington state.  It was a nice little blog with pictures and links and information, but I just wasn’t “sold” on the content so it never got published.  I really did not have any experience in wedding planning. That was the problem.

A Hidden Haven

Well, all that has changed!  My daughter is getting married in January, 2012 and I am the wedding planner, mother of the bride, host, creative consultant, errand “boy”, official cake taster (really liking this part)  and, best of all, budget and finance director.    Since we are fairly early in the process, I am not even sure what new responsibility will turn up next.   Consider all of the above and then add to that, that the bride and groom live in Dallas, TX and the wedding is here, in our present home town, Charleston, SC.  So, not only am I the

Shafer Baillie Mansion

executive director of the biggest event in my daughter’s life (at least up to this point) but we are having a long distance “wedding planning relationship”.    After only a few days of internet surfing, driving around in circles, emails, phone calls and lunches with friends, I have come to a conclusion:

• This is stressful
• I want to be less stressed
• I need to find someone to help.

A Cottage Creek

So, back to my original blog about inns and bed and breakfasts that do weddings.  I do believe I am going to take my own advice. That blog that never got published outlined some pretty good reasons for choosing a bed and breakfast or inn for your wedding venue.  Now is the time to share my thoughts…since I am becoming more experienced by the hour.

There are a number of reasons to choose a bed and breakfast inn for your venue.

Camano Island Inn

1.  Location.  Most BnBs are situated in beautiful areas with spectacular views, ample privacy and real authentic charm.  Forget expensive decorations or creative lighting.  Enjoy the natural beauty of the setting as well as the ambiance already created by a thoughtful innkeeper.

Pine River Ranch

2. Excellent lodging.  Whether you need rooms for the wedding party, the mother of the bride, or your grandparents from Boise….you will be guaranteed great accommodations and personalized service.  If you are the mother of the bride, or even the bride, you do not have time to personally care for every out of town guest…let the innkeeper do it…they are pros at this stuff and they genuinely want to do it.

Roberts Mansion

3.  Someone to help with your special day.  Most BnBs that do weddings have guidelines, just like all other venues.  When you choose a BnB, you are choosing that innkeeper to help you organize your day and keep things on track.  Most will sit down with you, discuss exactly how you want your day to go and then will assist you.  If a BnB does weddings, then they want to do “perfect” weddings…that is just how innkeepers are.

The Swantown Inn

4.  Package it up and tie it in a nice little bow.  Many inns have wedding packages.  This helps you organize your day, set your vision and stay within your budget.  Packages can include flowers, wedding cake, decorations, officiant, as well as spa packages for the bride/groom or wedding party, receptions catered in house and overnight accommodations.  A BnB can become your “one stop shop” for your big event.  Think stress free planning here!

The Fairgate

5.  Your innkeeper really is information central.  Innkeepers know their area.  Innkeepers who do weddings know what makes a great wedding at their property.  Let them suggest the most talented florist,  the most trusted caterer, the most creative bakery. Need music?  They know someone.  Need more rooms for your wedding party?  They will suggest the best additional accommodations in the area.  Need a perfect place for that bachelor party…I suspect they will have a suggestion for that too.

Charles Nelson Guesthouse

There are a number of inns and bed and breakfast in Washington that would love to welcome you and your wedding party.   Discover Washington and search for that special place for your big event…..one romantic inn at a time.

Carson Ridge

Groveland Cottage

Cameo Heights Mansion

The Abel House

Doveshire Bed and Breakfast

Harrison House Suites

Sleeping Bulldog Bed and Breakfast, located in the Jackson Place neighborhood is known for more than just gracious accommodations and excellent service.  These innkeepers decided to be as “green” as possible when they began planning this new venture.  Along with all the eco-friendly things guests in the Pacific Northwest have come to expect like recycling, buying local and encouraging public transportation, they made the decision to invest in
green energy as well.  After purchasing the property, they replaced the roof and added solar panels.  Even with all the overcast, rainy days in Seattle, they are just about “off the grid” in power/electric usage.  They say the rain is a bonus…it keeps the panels clean so they actually work more efficiently.

Not only have they made the solar investment, they also added a tankless water heater which has allowed them to save even more energy….and money.

If you are wondering if solar panels are for you, spend a night at Sleeping Bulldog and ask the innkeepers about their experience going “green” with solar.

Many of our Washington inns are going green and finding unique ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.    Now is the time to discover Washington and learn how we make a difference….one inn at a time.

Innkeepers, generally are happy people.  Innkeepers in Washington state are happy and thankful people!  Below are 8 reasons why.  (listed in no particular order)

1.  Washington state is a diverse, beautiful place.  From mountain to sound, farmland to islands, vineyards to forest, Seattle to Spokane…Washington is just a beautiful place to live and visit.  Lots of people from all over the world choose to vacation here.  We are just plain thankful that we get to live here….and share it with you.

2. Salmon.  No whimpy  Atlantic East coast salmon here…This is rich, beautiful salmon country.  With names like Chinook, Sockeye and Coho, the salmon here is some of the best in the world.  Guests love it and innkeepers can find it year around.  Thinking about salmon makes us thankful….and hungry.

3.  Seattle.  People from all over the world visit Seattle.  With Pike Place Market, trendy restaurants and a vibrant music scene, Seattle offers something for everyone and we have inns to satisfy the needs of any traveler.  Thank you to all who make up the fabric of this fascinating city.

4.  Cruise Ships.  We especially like cruise ships.  Don’t be surprised.  Innkeepers do not consider those floating hotels competition.  People come from all over the U.S. to cruise from Seattle to Alaska.  Wise travelers spend 2 or 3 days before and after their Alaskan cruise exploring Seattle and the surrounding area.  We like cruise ships and are thankful for all those people who stop by to visit us.

5.  The Washington State Ferry System.  Yes, the ferry system offers a dependable affordable way to travel from urban Seattle to the islands in the sound, but really, innkeepers are also thankful just because riding on a ferry is just so cool…and everyone wants to do it.

6.  Bill Gates and Microsoft  That’s it, Bill Gates and Microsoft.  We are thankful.  Enough said…

7.  Starbucks.  People who live in Seattle  like to think that the coffee culture started here.  This could be true.  The climate and coffee compliment each other.   Generally, innkeepers are thankful for Starbucks.  Starbucks made coffee cool…from Seattle to Miami, people need their daily fix.  With the expansion of a coffee culture, competition ensued.  In Washington state you can find some of the finest purveyors of coffee in the world, and our innkeepers take advantage of that every morning…and so can you.

8.  Lewis and Clark  Seriously, these guys took quite a trip!  Thanks to them, we have an appreciation for the discovery of the Columbia River Gorge.  You can trace their steps all the way to Illwaco and learn about their incredible journey at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. We are thankful not only for their willingness to journey across the country, but also for the wonderful written history they left behind. ( Travel in Washington is infinitely easier now, and thanks to our innkeepers, no tents, bed rolls or sleeping in the rain for you!)

These are just some of the reasons our Washington innkeepers are happy.  Watch for another Thanksgiving blog this month and discover more things that make us thankful.

Do you really need more reasons to visit a BnB today?  Reserve a room in a local Washington bed and breakfast and meet some of the nicest and most thankful people around!

Discover Washington and some very thankful innkeepers….one inn at a time.

Foodie: A person that spends a keen amount of attention and energy on knowing the ingredients of food, the proper preparation of food, and finds great enjoyment in top-notch ingredients and exemplary preparation. Urban Dictionary

Innkeepers are foodies.  I know, most people don’t think of breakfast as a culinary experience.  In fact, most renowned chefs would never darken the door of a kitchen before 10:00am.  Breakfast is eggs and cheese and milk…sausage, and muffins or scones.  Breakfast is the realm of pastry chefs and short order cooks.                                                    If you believe that, then you have never had breakfast at an inn or bnb.                                                                                                                                             Innkeepers are absolutely obsessed with breakfast.  They buy cookbooks and watch the Food Network to learn how to make the fluffiest eggs or the perfect scone.  They cook, bake, poach and saute and serve up gourmet breakfasts to friends and soon to be friends a like.  They take a simple recipe, scour the local farmers market for fresh organic ingredients and then they lovingly create a dish that would impress even the most discerning food snob.  They study vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, sugar free, no dairy recipes the same way a stock broker would study the Wall Street Journal.                        How d0 I know this?  Some of my best friends are innkeepers…and since I love food, especially good food, this works really well for me!  Sit in the room and have coffee with a couple of innkeepers and after the initial pleasantries, things like “How is business? Did you buy a new commercial dishwasher?  How do you get your sheets so soft?”  the discussion turns to food.   Recipes are shared. Ingredients are analyzed and stories are told.

A typical afternoon goes something like this…

“My guests just LOVE my poached pears!  They are organic.  I add just a touch of fresh squeezed orange juice, you know.”

“Seriously, you use orange juice? Try splitting one vanilla bean and using just a touch of cinnamon, but make sure it is Korintje cassia.”

“Well, I found the best organic greek yogurt.  Just add a little lavender honey from that great little farm in Sequim and top it with some organic berries from the Skagit valley.”

“Does anyone else add a drop of truffle oil to their veggie scramble?  The scent wafting from the kitchen is delightful and it certainly enhances the flavor of the organic veggies and blends well with the goats cheese.”

“My Bosch Grain Mill broke and I actually had to BUY wheat flour…can you imagine.  They simply can’t ship me a new one soon enough.”

These are people who know food, love food and believe in sharing that love with their guests.                                                                                                                                              Here are just a few examples.                                                                                                            Try the versatile Fruit Pasta Salad from The Shepherd’s Inn in Volcano Country within easy driving distance of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams and Mt. St Helens.                                   Start your day with Eggs Florentine featured at The Blue Goose Inn in located in charming Coupeville or relax in Aberdeen at The Harbor View Inn and enjoy their specialty,Apple Cinnamon Tart Souffle.

Need more?  Just visit our website to learn how to create a breakfast fit for a king…or a guest.

So next time you consider a getaway, visit a BnB.  Not only do they have comfy beds, soft, elegant, sheets and friendly innkeepers, they also serve a breakfast perfect for the foodie in all of us.

Book you next getaway today and discover Washington, one delicious breakfast and one delightful inn at a time.

In the Evergreen state we like to embrace living green. Eco friendly living can be many things, but should always include being a good environmental steward, sustainability and reducing your carbon footprint. Members of the Washington Bed and Breakfast Guild have made the commitment to live green and provide eco friendly lodging for all guests. Every green inn has an individual personality that is represented in their green activities. You will discover a whole new level of recycling, composting, organic gardening, water conservation, energy saving appliances, environmentally friendly soaps and shampoos. When you sit down to your multi-course breakfast you can enjoy the free-range eggs and organic produce from the local farmer and the herbs grown in the innkeepers garden. Relax during your stay at any green Washington bed and breakfast.  Checkout the Washington Bed and Breakfast Guild member who won the Green Leaf award for environmental stewardship, Hillside House in Friday Harbor. If you drive green, make a reservation at the Blue Goose Inn in Coupeville, where hybrid vehicles enjoy special treatment. Discover Washington the Evergreen state…One Inn at a Time.

The kids are finally back in school. No more sandy sneakers, wet beach towels, sunscreen, bug repellant and campfire marshmallows stuck in your hair. It’s time for you to sit back and relax. Grab a few of your girlfriends and pick the perfect bed and breakfast to pamper you, while you catch up on sleep and girlfriend time. Head to the coast to walk on the beach or enjoy the splendor of a beautiful garden. Wine tasting in Wine Country is always a favorite. After all the running around this summer you may want to sit back and enjoy the view and maybe an old movie. Delicious food is always the highlight of any girlfriend getaway and a Washington Bed and Breakfast will always provide a high quality, multi-course breakfast–and they do the dishes! Your innkeeper will be delighted to tell you all the best restaurants in the area and of course the best places to shop. It’s time to enjoy some “me” time, so call your girlfriends and escape to a Washington Bed and Breakfast. Members of the Washington Bed and Breakfast Guild are independently inspected and approved to assure each guest receives the highest standard of hospitality and cleanliness.

As natives of Washington we love summer but we don’t always enjoy the heat. Escape the heat and relax at a local bed and breakfast. Washington state has so much to offer with a weekend trip to the Islands, Coast, Mountains, City, Peninsula or east to wine country. Cool off with some air conditioning or cool ocean breezes. Enjoy a stroll in the garden and take in all the summer beauty. The best way for me to relax is with a cool drink, fresh baked cookie and a book curled up on the front porch. Eating well and relaxing are the perfect refresher after a long week. Plan your next weekend at a Washington Bed and Breakfast. All members of the Washington Bed and Breakfast Guild are independently inspected and approved to assure guests will receive the highest level of cleanliness and hospitality. Discover Washington…One Inn At A Time.

It’s that time of year again and you don’t have a bed for Aunt Martha  and Cousin Herb had to sleep in the coat closet last year. Take away your stress and plan your family reunion at a Washington Bed and Breakfast. Washington Bed and Breakfast Guild innkeepers will look after Aunt Martha with a comfy king-size bed and Cousin Herb can have a room to himself. Everyone will be delighted with a hearty multi-course breakfast and no dirty dishes to clean-up. Play board games in the common room and go for a walk on the beach in the afternoon or take your sister antiquing. Go through Grandma’s old photo albums in the sun room with some tea and cookies and play charades in the backyard. WBBG innkeepers can help you plan the perfect family reunion with outdoor excursions and time to enjoy each other. The best part will be laughing, remembering and relaxing. Find the picture perfect bed and breakfast at wbbg.com.

Does your Dad like to fish, kayak, hike, bike? He can do all of this and more when he stays at any of Washington’s top-rated Bed and Breakfasts. Innkeepers from the Washington Bed and Breakfast Guild will help Dad find his little piece of heaven whether it’s on the water or in the woods. While Dad’s on his adventure you can be assured that he will also be well taken care of with a comfortable bed, clean room and delicious hearty  breakfast. You can also tell Dad–no limits on the cookie jar! Let Dad choose his adventure desitination with a WBBG Gift Certificate. All Washington Bed and Breakfast Guild member inns are independently inspected and approved to meet the highest levels of hospitality and cleanliness.

The bride and groom have said their “I do’s”, cut cake, smiled for pictures and danced the night away. After all the fun and celebration they are ready to rest, relax and revel in their new Mr. and Mrs. titles. They need a place where they can escape from the world, be romantic, live in luxury, be completely pampered and eat deliciously fresh food made with love. Washington state offers many bed and breakfasts that provide the perfect setting for a romantic getaway. A bed and breakfast stay includes an innkeeper who can help plan the perfect escape, whether it’s hiking, biking, kayaking, walks on the beach or mountain trails, snuggling by the fire, antiquing, watching old movies, fine dining or wine tasting. Washington Bed and Breakfast Guild innkeeper knows how to customize the perfect getaway. A romantic getaway would not be complete without a two-person tub, king-size bed, plush linens, bath salts, flowers and handcrafted chocolates. Wrap up the gift of romance with a bow when you purchase a Washington Bed and Breakfast Guild gift certificate. WBBG gift certificates can be purchased in any demonination and are accepted at all WBBG member inns. All WBBG member inns are independently inspected and approved to provide an exceptional experience. Purchase the perfect wedding gift at www.wbbg.com.