It was the second weekend of May and we needed comic relief (apparently!). Some folks think we’re sort of picky about what we serve for breakfast at Boreas Bed and Breakfast Inn. This picture tells you everything! I told our guests that weekend about our dear guest, Tosh, who many years ago visited Boreas Inn with her husband for the International Kite Festival week. When confronted with the apparently, ominous, three-course breakfast we were about to serve her, she asked for cereal. (I’m certain that I looked surprised!) Always aiming to please our guests at whatever personal sacrifice, I had a box of Crispix cereal at our house, so I ran over and got it and served her a bowl of cereal with fresh raspberries. The next day, she got the Crispix and one course of our breakfast, and the third day, she tossed in the towel and denied herself the Crispix altogether and ate the entire breakfast with gusto and continued to enjoy the feasts for the balance of the week.
Hearing the story that fun weekend in May, guests Steve and Amy Hughes and returning guest Karen Carpenter(always with a mischievous glint in her eye) and her daughter, Lori Anne, teamed up to prank Bill and me the next morning. We arrived to cook breakfast and on everyone’s plate was a box of cereal. On our cooktop was a box of Crispix. I swear that our laughter woke everyone up that morning. (Not a bad way to wake up!) We have always said that on April Fools Day, we’re going to get a McDonald’s bag and fill it with goodies and serve it as a first course. But, again, we’re just too picky about what we serve for breakfast at Boreas Inn! The morning of the prank, I went to our house and guess what I had for breakfast! That little box of Crispix!
The Hughes and the Carpenters Prank Susie and Bill
Thank you for picking Boreas Inn on KING 5 TV’s Northwest Best Escapes as one of the “Top 5″ Bed and Breakfasts! We are thrilled to be among the winning group and know that without our guests’ wonderful reviews and votes, that we would not be named with such worthy inns. This is a great reward and knowing that we are appreciated is truly the best thanks we could have, other than a fully occupied inn! Come visit and help us celebrate being a Long Beach, Washington Best Escape! Adding to the KING 5 “Northwest Best Escapes” awards, Long Beach was voted “BEST BEACH” and the Boardwalk in Long Beach was voted “Best Place to Kiss”. The North Head Lighthouse was voted #2 “Best Lighthouse” and the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse was voted #3 “Best Lighthouse”. So in summary, Boreas is on the Best Beach and five blocks from the “Best Place to Kiss” and 10 minutes from two of the best lighthouses! How cool is that? Thank you to KING 5!
When driving on Hwy 101 N. after crossing the Astoria Megler Bridge or from Highway 4, you find yourself driving up the most spectacular piece of highway bordering the Columbia River heading northwest towards Long Beach, Washington. You will encounter Fort Columbia State Park, 2 miles west of the bridge, right after you drive through the tunnel. Lots of people miss the grand entrance to this park. This beautiful photo that I found on Flickr is of the restored Officer’s Quarters at Fort Columbia.
Fort Columbia State Park is almost 600 acres of historical parkland with 6,400 feet of freshwater shoreline right on the Columbia River. As State Parks puts it, “The park celebrates a military site that constituted the harbor defense of the Columbia River from 1896 to 1947. The fort was fully manned and operational through three wars. The area was also home for the Chinook Indians and their famed Chief Comcomly.” It was chosen as a key military defense site because of the unobstructed views of the Columbia River. The town of Astoria, Oregon glimmers across the expanse of water. There is an interpretive center, five mile of hiking trails and picnic tables… This is a great spot for a wedding or family reunion or a quiet time for exploring and imagining the time when the mighty Chinook Indians lived on the land.
The State of Washington currently plans to close around 25% of their state parks. They plan to “mothball” Fort Columbia because it is one of the lowest income producing parks in the system. Mothballing means that the gates will be chained and the park closed. This is a tragedy for the State of Washington, for our visitors and for the residents who love this park. The historic significance of Fort Columbia is important–and the vista’s from the park are simply beautiful. Perhaps there will be a reprieve. When you come stay at Boreas Inn, you should visit Fort Columbia and revel in it’s beauty and hike on it’s trails. You will never forget it!
Northern Departure, a new bluegrass band based out of Seattle, is composed of four extremely talented young men who play with their hearts. Their intricate banjo, guitar and fiddle music will make you HAPPY. It’s hard to believe they haven’t played together for years! I listened to their music on YouTube and was blown away by their talent. So come stay at Boreas Inn March 27, 28, 29th and attend the 5th annual Long Beach Blue Grass Festival. Along with Northern Departure, Charlie Sizemore, Lee Highway, the Cascade Mountain Boys, Old Circle, Ferm Hill, Runway Train and a couple of other banjo picking, fiddling, singing, guitar playing geniuses will be lining up to entertain you. There will be 20 45- minute sets, workshops, jams and a band scramble. Sunday morning is all gospel. The entire festival is within a mile of the Inn, so if you play or sing, bring your voice, your instrument and your sweetheart and have a ball. We will take care of making your dinner reservations! This will be a weekend to remember–you will forget your troubles and tap your toes until they hurt. Eat the finest breakfast around after you snuggle down and sleep in your lofty featherbed at Boreas Inn. This event is just one of many festivals on the Long Beach Washington Peninsula. There is always something happening here! Reserve early!! Mention this blog and you will receive $25 per night discount on a two night minimum stay!
So it started hailing/sleeting/snowing before dark last night and left just a sprinkling of white stuff on the ground and roof tops this morning. The ice crystals were intermingled with darting snow flakes last evening. It was beautiful, like little itty bitty fighter kites darting here and there–but they were snow flakes with very independent minds. Today dawned crystal clear and overall, it was a beautiful day today in the 50′s. Bill saw a whale out in front, heading south, last weekend–probably a gray whale. There are reportedly bait fish and early spring Chinook at the Mouth of the Columbia and it’s rumored that J, K and L pods of Orca’s may be coming from the Puget Sound for brunch. (We haven’t seen Orca’s so far–but perhaps the cruiser Bill saw last weekend was an Orca!) So this might be an interesting whale watching weekend. But who can ever tell what the “big ones” are planning. The Long Beach Peninsula is full of wonder and delight. Here’s an early afternoon shot of the sky and the ocean in front of the inn. Come visit!
These beautiful bi-valves will light up your taste buds if you come to Long Beach, WA to dig them on October 17-19. The first clam tide of autumn coincides with Boreas Inn’s Wild Mushroom Celebration Weekend. Indulge in mushrooms and razor clams, two of our favorite things to eat, all in one weekend! Yum!
