The Bravo team recently made the trip up to the Gorge to meet with current and potential clients, along with the Columbia River Gorge Visitor’s Association to promote the regional expansion of Bravo! The meeting took place at the Brick Haven Bed & Breakfast, a nice place to stay if you’re visiting the Gorge!

While we were in town we toured multiple properties, and found some great locations for weddings, events, honeymoons and weekend getaways! Our first stop was at the Columbia Cliff Villas, where the motto is “easy to get to, hard to leave!” The hotel itself is gorgeous, with hard wood floors and modern amenities (flat screen TV’s and wireless internet in every room!), and with picture windows, the views cannot be beat. If you do find it hard to pack up and leave, the hotel offers ownership options for 18 of their luxury villas! Located right next door to the Cliff Villas is the historic Columbia Gorge Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel that is worth a peak even if you don’t plan to stay the night! Another option is the newly renovated hotel, Best Western Hood River Inn. It is located on the shore of the Columbia River, and they have just added gorgeous suites that overlook the Columbia River—a spectacular nighttime view.

During our time at the Gorge we went to the Cathedral Ridge Winery, where we enjoyed tasting a variety of wines while listening to stories from Rob. He told us about the local climate, and how every grape they use is grown within 25 miles of Cathedral Ridge. Aside from tasting and tours, the winery also is a great location for company parties, social events, and wedding receptions.  Our final stop for the day was Hood River’s newest hidden gem, Mt. Hood Winery. With breathtaking views you will experience 360 degrees of mountain vistas. The winery is available for weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, and corporate events.

We stayed at Skamania Lodge, to which we give rave reviews. The Lodge is amazing, as are the pool and the 18-hole golf course. We ended our day sitting out front watching the gorgeous sunset, a truly amazing experience.

On our way back, we stopped at the Carson Ridge Cabins. This hotel is a great place to hold a retreat or family reunion, as each cabin is private and luxurious. You can spend your time at the in-house spa, drive the Fruit Loop, “a 35-mile, scenic drive through the valley’s orchards, forests, farmlands”, or visit Carson Hot Springs which is less than a mile away!

This trip made us appreciate how truly beautiful Oregon is.  

The Seventh Annual Mt. Adams Country Bicycle Tour (MACBT) promises to be better than ever. It will offer the 11.5 mile Family Fun Ride, the 51 Mile Valley Loop (Trout Lake, BZ, Glenwood, and back to Trout Lake), the 54 Mile Forest Loop and the combined 105 Mile Infinity Ride. The ride is fully
supported with sagwagons, emergency teams, radio coverage, snacks and rest stops, lunch for century riders and dinner for all others.

Please visit www.troutlake.org <http://www.troutlake.org> and click on COUNTRY BICYCLE TOUR for more details.  Let them know that Julee at Mt. Adams Lodge at the Flying L Ranch referred you!  Mt. Adams Lodge at the Flying L Ranch will host the rest stop at the Glenwood Rodeo grounds so stop by and say howdy when you bike up!

Julee and Tim, proprietors
Julee’s Gorge Tours…since 1999 

For more information, click here: http://www.harrahsandharveys.com/m2/09021b/09021b.html

Doug and Julie from Wild Current Catering created a fabulous feast for Sarah & Daniel’s wedding rehearsal dinner (my niece).  The rehearsal dinner was held in the basement of my Mom’s home- this has been my home my entire life!  My brother remodeled and created a Tuscany theme for my little Italian Mother.  Doug and Julie from Wild Current prepared an amazing dinner with lemon chicken, pork, roasted potatoes, salad that was incredible.  My BIG Italian family was very pleased.  The dessert was an amazing chocolate roll!

City Skyline “Guerilla” Projections by Hollywood Lighting Services, with a special thanks to Henry V Events and Really Big Video.

Read about this in Meeting News – “Keep America Meeting (KAM)” is a grassroots campaign designed to promote meetings as an important business practice – especially in light of the recent press on large corporations mishandling their funds. The campaign’s centerpiece is an online petition that individuals and organizations may sign in support of the meetings industry. Petition signatures will be collected by KAM – a collaborative group of meetings, events and incentive travel industry participants and delivered to the US Travel Association and other industry associations, so they may use them in order to advocate on behalf of meetings, events and incentive travel during ongoing discussions about corporate responsibility with the Obama Administration and with Congress.

KAM has attracted a wide group of endorsers, including the Society of Incentive Travel Executives, the Society of Independent Show Organizers, the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau, PGA National Resort & Spa and many others.

Click Here to Sign the Petition.