Not Difficult To Find Great B&B; In Langley
Q: We will make a trip to Langley, Wash., this fall and want to stay at a bed and breakfast. Can you suggest some locations? - F.G., Sandpoint.
A: Langley touts itself as the B&B capital of Puget Sound because it has 40 B&B establishments. The Chamber of Commerce can provide a complete list upon request. Here are three properties I personally have visited. They are noted for their romantic/retreat ambience.
Galittoire (360-221-0548) is a contemporary guest house. Its design uses lots of sky lighting and complements a natural forest setting. Common areas include an entertainment room with large-screen TV and video library, reading library, weight room and whirlpool. Guests are served hor d’oeuvres with drinks in the early evening. Breakfast is truly a gourmet delight. Dinner service also is available. No children under 14 accepted. Double occupancy rates at this deluxe B&B range from $175 to $245.
Twickenham House Inn (360-221-2334) is decorated with antique French Canadian and European ranch furnishings and tools. Common areas include a day room with fireplace and wet bar. A three-course country breakfast is served. A popular conversation subject of guests is vintage car racing because both owners (Maureen and Ray Cooke) are still active race car drivers. Double occupancy rates are $85 to $120.
The Inn at Langley (360-221-3033) is an upscale, non-smoking B&B with each room having a waterfront view, private outdoor porch, fireplace, refrigerator and full bath with a whirlpool tub. Guests gather for breakfast in a spacious countrystyle kitchen with an exposed cooking area.
Breakfast fare is billed as Northern European-style (juice, local jellies and jams, fresh fruit, homemade muffins and mueslix cereal). No children under age 12 accepted. Double occupancy room rates start at $169; suites at $289.
Information sources:
Langley Chamber and Visitor Information Center (360-221-6765) offers a descriptive directory of its bed and breakfast properties.
Washington State Ferries (800-84 FERRY, in-state) provides service to Langley. A free schedule brochure is available upon request. For recorded schedule service updates, call (206) 464-6400.
Q: We will be vacationing in central British Columbia this fall and have heard about an annual wine festival in the Okanagan Valley region. Please let us know how we can find out more about this and other fall festivals in the province. - A.L., Deer Park.
A: The 15th annual Okanagan Wine Festival will be held Sept. 22 - Oct. 1 in South-central British Columbia. Local winemakers, restaurateurs and food producers team up to showcase the region’s wines and agricultural products. There are dinners, tours, tastings and judgings. Some events take place at vineyards and hotels; others at convention centers.
Highlights of the 10-day festival include the Wine Masters Banquet on Sept. 29 and consumer tasting on Sept. 30 at the Penticton Trade and Convention Center. A pamphlet listing the events, places and costs is available on request.
Information sources:
Wine Festival Office in Kelowna for festival information: (604) 861-6654.
Okanagan Reservations for lodging information: (800) 663-1900.
Okanagan-Similkameen Tourism Association for regional information on attractions, festivals and recreational opportunities: (604) 860-5999.
Q: I want to take my children to a place where they can see and learn about a true, old-fashioned farm. It would be a nostalgic trip for me. I am not interested in a place with set-up displays that would be classed as a “tourist attraction.” Is there any farm in Washington that lets the public visit? G.R., Liberty Lake.
A: I am familiar with only one fully operational farm in Washington that is tailored to public visits. The Pomeroy Living History Farm (360-686-3537) near the small rural town of Yacolt (northeast of Vancouver) is a working family farm that was established in 1910 and still authentically represents the pre-electric time period. Farm spokesman Bob Brink says, “Our farm conserves a part of the agriculture experience that our ancestors did. We’re a grandma and grandpa farm that most folks don’t have access to anymore.”
The Pomeroy Farm is a non-profit educational museum that specializes in school field trips, but it also offers five public weekend events each year. The Weekend at the Farm in the Fall event will be Oct. 7 and 8. The whole farm will be open to the public.
The farm is at 20902 NE Lucia Road and can be difficult to find; call ahead for more information and directions.
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