Posted by Nancy D. Brown

If you find yourself in Oregon and you enjoy personalized service, wine tasting and fine dining, you may want to check out lodging availability at the Winchester Country Inn.  I recently wrote about the Ashland-based inn for Uptake.com and would happily recommend this location.

From one family to another, an Oregon tradition began in the 1980’s for Laura and Ernie Winslow. The Lafayette, California couple discovered the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Ashland’s Winchester Country Inn and have been returning to both locations several times a year.

“Ernie and I like the tradition of going back to a certain place,” reflects Laura Winslow. They also enjoy the Winchester’s convenient location to downtown and the many theaters.

The Winslows have been returning to the Inn since 1980 and now travel with their grandchildren to Ashland. “We’ve enjoyed the relationship with the Gibb family,” Laura Winslow notes.

The former schoolteacher met innkeepers Laurie and Michael Gibb when their children were small. “I think we’ve stayed in every room,” Laura says. “Our favorite rooms are the Garden Room and the Courtyard Suite. The Gibbs provide us such wonderful service.”

“We’ve been privileged to have some of the same guests for 25 years,” reflects Laura Gibb. “We came to Ashland at a particular time when we were the eight B&B and now there are over 80.”

I was fortunate to have stayed at the Winchester Inn for a night on May 16, 2008. I stayed in the Courtyard Suite, and like the Winslow family, I was welcomed into the Gibb family home. While the Gibb’s don’t actually live on property, they are very visible at the Inn. Michael Gibb greeted me at check-in, son Drew offered some menu selections at the evening dinner and Laura stopped by at breakfast to touch base with me and graciously chatted with other guests in the morning.

 General Manager Drew Gibb seems well suited to take over the Inn when his parents decide to taper off their innkeeper duties. He recommended the wild salmon with blueberry corn salsa for a dinner selection. The fish dish, prepared by Chef Shane Hardin,was bursting with flavor.

“We are absolutely thrilled with what he does. Fun, non-traditional, haute cuisine. We want to offer something that is fine dining, but won’t break the bank,” adds Drew.

If you are still undecided about your holiday plans and are looking for a unique experience, consider the Winchester Inn’s Dickens Feast, December 17-19, 2008. The Winchester offers a three-hour, six course dinner based on an old English feast. Singers dressed in period costume entertain, as well as a visit from jolly ol’ Saint Nick.

Rates: From $185-$280 with special packages available.  For more information: (800) 972-4991

Do you have a favorite Inn recommendation?  You may have noticed the new Uptake Travel Editor badge on this website.  I look forward to hearing about your lodging favorites.  Keep me posted.