Enjoy an Oregon Winter Wonderland in Baker City

By Scott Catron from Sandy, Utah, USA (Baker City Oregon Downtown  Uploaded by Zaui) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Living in Oregon we have easy access to many types of recreation all year long. Now that we are in the throes of winter and have made it past the Holiday Season, how about planning a fun long weekend in one of Oregon’s Winter Wonderlands? For those of us who live in the Portland-Metro area we have easy accessibility to Mt Hood. But Oregon has so many other great locations for winter recreation, each one offering its own uniqueness as a destination. Baker City is located in the North Eastern corner of the state, off 1-84 as you approach Idaho. It is part of the Snake River, Oregon Trail and Hells Canyon National Scenic Byway, making for an ideal stop on any road trip, cycle across Oregon journey or as a destination of its own.

If you have ever dreamed of experiencing a country winter holiday reminiscent of times gone by, this is a place you need to visit. Baker City offers a vibrant, historic downtown center which will take you back to the 19^th century, yet keep you in modern comfort as well. The Geiser Grand Hotel was built in 1889 and is the iconic landmark of the city’s old west feel. During the winter months you can take a guided tour of Baker City in a most unusual way, by horse drawn sleigh. The owners of the Geirser Grand Hotel offer sleigh ride tours to show you the historic highlights of the town. These tours end with a spectacular winter bon-fire to warm you inside and out. Baker City has been able to retain its historic architecture so well, there are over 100 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. You will see firsthand places such as a cathedral made from volcanic tuff (volcanic ash compacted into hard rock), the Carnegie Library of Baker City and the courthouse where there burns an eternal flame to honor residents lost in World War I. If you are a history buff, Baker City is one place that should be on your bucket list. 

By Ian Poellet (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Beyond the historic feel of Baker City there are award winning brews and restaurants, including Barley Brown's Brew Pub, drawing visitors from around the world on culinary and brew tours. The great food and drink experience doesn't end there however, anyone who visits Baker City is sure to delight in the taste sensations of the Peterson Gallery & Chocolatier, combining the finest in European chocolate recipes and fine art. Local, organic menus will make your mouth water and wines from around the world will quench your thirst. There is an international scope to the restaurants in Baker City, you can enjoy an incredible steak alongside tiramisu or sake if you like. 

If you are up for a ski run or two, Anthony Lakes is nearby and offers amazing winter recreation experiences.  Situated in the foothills of the Elkhorn Mountains, the base elevation of Anthony Lakes is 7,100, and as the highest in Oregon and provides the best powder skiing in the state. The average snow fall is 300 inches per year. Anthony Lakes has 21 ski runs within  1,100 acres of mountain terrain. Not only can you ski and snowboard, there is also cross country skiing, or better yet rent some snowshoes for your winter hike. Planning a vacation to Baker City and Anthony Lakes is easy as you can split your stay between the Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort for several days of mountain fun before or after your stay in Baker City. 

If you are an Oregonian and have yet to experience a winter vacation in Eastern Oregon, or if you are planning a trip to our beautiful and varied state, we encourage you to spend some time  in our Winter Wonderland of Baker City, the snow is there and waiting for you.

By Ian Poellet (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Experience Fire and Ice on an Oregon Road Trip to Winterfest

If you live in the Northwest, you know there is always something fun and exciting to experience no matter the season. This includes winter with all the incredible cold weather recreation activities that abound across the state. If you are a visitor here during the winter, you are for a great time no matter where you choose to go or what you choose to do. Festivals are a great way to connect with a destination, meet the local people and enjoy a slice of life experience. The world is full of festivals and Oregon is no exception. We have our very own winter celebration in Bend, Oregon every February, and it is one you won’t want to miss. Being held February 12^th -14^th, Winterfest is a community festival full of big ice, big fire, big entertainment and big art. This is one festival that sure to chase away any winter blues and makes for an excellent long weekend getaway. 

There are two key themes to Winterfest which make this a festival like no other in the world. Fire and Ice. We love the winter and the ice that the cold brings, but what can you do with it at a festival? Make art of course! On Sunday the annual Ice Carving competition is on. This is a competition you can watch and anticipate as ice sculptors will gather and create their magnificent, temporary art right before your eyes. Winter would not be as fun if you couldn’t get warm, that is where fire comes in. Winterfest is full of fire. You can keep warm throughout the festival at one of several different Fire Pit sculptures. These

fire pits combine fine crafted metal art with flame, providing one-of-a-kind ways to enjoy an outdoor fire. The competition is fierce and the fire burns hot! And if that is not enough fire for you, there are hands on demonstrations in the arts of metal and glass forging.

Connecting all these fun and exciting activities together is the Ice Queen and Fire King. Each year a couple plays host to Winterfest, helping ensure all have a wonderful time, handing out souvenirs and taking photos with festival guests. The royal couple enter the festival on horseback and hold court at a specially made throne. The Ice Queen and Fire King have been known to show up all over Bend, so keep an eye for them when you are there, you may just get a special treat!

Winterfest is also a music festival showcasing a variety of excellent bands and musicians. You will hear the sounds of musicians such as Colorado’s Bluegrass favorites, Honey Don’t, Emmy nominated Gangstagrass combining banjos and rap in unexpected ways, or local Bend burlesque band, The Grand Company, and other amazing bands on the Main Stage throughout Winterfest. 

 Wine aficionados can enjoy a unique Bend experience with the Wine Walk around the Old Mill District, where wine tastings await you along the banks for the Deschutes River.

On the thrilling side of things, Winterfest brings you Metal Mulisha, an acrobatic bike show, full of stunts you should never try at home, but will be in awe to watch. You and the kids can get in on the action with the Kids Cocoa Run and the Royal Run. The Cocoa Run is a fun way for the kids to make their own sweet cup of hot chocolate by running from station to station for sweet treat ingredients. Once they cross the finish line, they get drink their own concoction. The Royal Run is an exciting run along the Deschutes River and through the Winterfest grounds. There will be some obstacle challenges on the way and the entire run is made more fun for those that wear a costume, though not required, they are highly encouraged.

Other kid activities include the OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science & Industry) science tent, bounce houses and Slackline Tricks to entertain with cool acrobatic tricks on a springy rope suspended above the ground. All weekend long you can visit the Marketplace to search for that irresistible, one of a kind piece art you simply must have. You can also taste culinary delights with the specialty foods and drinks available with all the food carts at the festival.

All this and so much more is waiting at Winterfest. And the best part of all is tickets are only $10.00 for the entire weekend. Some events do cost additional, if you register for the wine Walk, Cocoa Run or Royal Run, your entrance to Winterfest is included in the fee. This is one long weekend getaway that you can easily plan for. Within Bend there are some great places to stay as well. For a hotel with its own great brews and amazing art, there is the McMenamin’s Old St Francis School. McMenamin’s pubs and hotels are Oregon icons of a laid back, comfortable lifestyle surrounded by great local food and brews. Anyone who visits Oregon is highly encouraged to explore any one of the many McMenamin’s establishments to get a feel that unique Oregon character, and the Old St. Francis School is no exception. If you want to stay some place a little more refined and opulent, The Oxford Hotel in Bend’s downtown could be just the place for you. With Mt. Bachelor so close to Bend, a bit of skiing may be on your weekend agenda, and if so, the Seventh Mountain Inn Resort may be just the place to give you easy access to the mountain and Winterfest. There are also several bed & breakfast establishments in the area. With a B&B you get the comfort of home for a reasonable cost, and often the owners are locals with some of the best insights on what to do beyond the Winterfest celebration.

Winterfest has something for everyone and will make an adventurous and fun weekend getaway. C.P. Trips can help set up the ideal accommodation for you and plan your activities so you don’t need to wait in line or worry about something selling out. If you are traveling from outside Oregon we can also help with your flight and any other planning of your Oregon vacation. Call us today and for a small fee we can get you on your way to the Winter wonderland in Bend, Oregon.