Kerbyville Inn : Bed, Breakfast and Beyond in Cave Junction, Oregon

We'd never stayed at a Bed and Breakfast Inn before, partly because I'd always assumed that it would be way too expensive, and partly because we usually travel with our little dog. Though Seena, our min-pin mix, is well-mannered, I doubted she would be welcomed at a place that featured in-room spas and lots of extras that we never see in "economy" lodging.

It turned out that the Kerbyville Inn, in the tiny community of Kerby Oregon, knocked both of my excuses out the window.

The inn was less expensive than the room we had originally booked (then canceled) and it was 35 miles closer to the family event we were attending. It was also quieter, more private and had much more charm than any chain motel.

Our dog was welcome to stay with us, and was much less restless than she sometimes is when there are dozens of people coming and going at all hours.

The innkeeper said she would bring us a " little something" in the morning and asked us what time we would like to have it delivered.

The "little something" was wonderful individual spinach, cheese and mushroom quiche, a homemade muffin, juice, and fresh sliced fruit. We already had provision for coffee and tea in the room.

This very delicious breakfast, saved us at least $20 --plus the time and effort to find a breakfast place, if we had gone out seeking our own. So the Inn was not just a place to stay, it was also probably the best breakfast place in the area. Perfect.

In fact, when you are traveling in areas with small towns, a B & B could be your best bet.

The inn, itself, is really a collection of small buildings. The property gives the impression of being a modest country home with a few outbuildings. If we had not known what we were looking for, we could have easily passed by.

New newest part has two suites converted from a small restaurant. It has a large wooden deck covered with a canopy of grapevines, which is appropriate since the owners also have a winery and all of their suites are named for wine grape varieties

From the outside, some of the structures look like they could use a little TLC, but inside they are very comfortable, clean and nicely decorated with many special touches.

All suites have a private entrance, so the guests have a sense of seclusion and quiet.

The room we stayed in was part of a duplex. Though it was the smallest, it still had more room than a typical motel room and included a refrigerator, TV, coffee maker, chairs and breakfast table. There was a roomy closet adjacent to the bath. It was convenient, colorful and comfortably decorated. Linens were fresh and clean.

All of the other rooms and suites have a large spa bathtub and some have a kitchenette. Some have a patio and barbeque. A couple of them are big enough to accommodate a large family or a small group, still at relatively moderate prices.

The grounds, again, are not impressive. Landscaping is a work in progress, but seems to be part of the casual atmosphere of modest but comfortable country home.

Kerby, Oregon is a town of a few hundred people  in Southern Oregon between Grant's Pass and Cave Junction. It is on Highway 199 also known as The Redwood Highway.

Originally a gold mining town, the later residents made a living in the logging and lumber industry. It has been known as Kerby, Kerbey, Kerbyville and Napoleon, but is now officially Kerby.

The B & B is named after Kerbyville, which seems like a better choice than "Napoleon Inn".

Kerbyville Museum gives visitors an interesting glimpse of Southern Oregon's pioneer days of mining and logging.

Hampton Rock Shop has beads and gemstones arranged neatly in boxes and baskets as well as attractive displays of geological samples.

Geodes, crystals and stones in a wide variety are nicely presented for viewing and for sale. The knowledgeable owners are both jewelry makers who are glad to talk to you about rocks, minerals and jewelry.

"It's a Burl Gallery", with its gardens and "Burl-esque" studio has an amazing collection of wood sculpture that includes furniture, bowls, walking sticks and benches of Maple, Buckeye, Curly Redwood, Myrtlewood , Black Walnut and Madrone.


Burl wood is a somewhat rare, and interesting material made attractive by the deformation of the wood grain which produces attractive patterns and designs.

Sometimes a rounded outgrowth on a tree results from a tree healing over some effect of stress. It may be caused by the overgrowth of damage from storms insects or mold attacks.

They also have decorative pieces of Stoneware pottery and hand blown glass by local artists. The outdoor gardens are full of seasonal flowers and plants.

A yard full of unfinished hardwood pieces for sale, are just waiting to be made into your own creative objects.

Just a few miles south on The Redwood Highway is Cave Junction. As the name implies, this is where the main highway to Oregon Caves National Monument comes in. The caves are an interesting and worthwhile visit, but it is a good idea to check the schedule for tours and the suggestions for visitors before going.

Another CJ Attraction is Great Cats World Park where trainers interact with the predators. It is home to a large varied collection of exotic wild cats with more than 14 species. Many of the wild felines from all over the world have worked in the movie industry.

So there are reasons to spend some time in this area, and when you get hungry there are some tasty choices.

Some Cave Junction Eateries: Some small tasty choices that aren't chains or fast food.

Pietro's Italian Restaurant-- the chef really knows the meaning of al' Dente'. The pasta is tender but not mushy and the sauces are superb. He uses a lot of his father's recipes straight from Italy.

Taylor's Sausage Factory and Deli-- A great lunch stop that makes great sandwiches, and a delicious variety of 'hot dogs' with many different link sausages.

They started out as a Taylor's Sausage Factory and makes several varieties of sausage and luncheon meat from scratch.One taste will tell you this is not the fatty, salty processed meat that comes from a large commercial factory. You might want to buy some to take with you.

They also have a fresh meat counter with beautiful cuts of beef, pork seafood and more-- if you are planning to stage your own barbeque.

Dos Gringos (formerly called Nacho Mama's Taqueria)-- This is a tiny Mexican restaurant with absolutely wonderful food. Great fish tacos and often other seafood specialties with a Mexican accent.

All of the usual specialties from south of the border are served with a personal touch. The outdoor patio has been enclosed to seat more diners, and has a full bar.

Kerby and Cave Junction are located between two mountain ranges.

The typical Oregon winter storms often skip right over the valley, giving it a more temperate climate than the surrounding areas.

It is sometimes referred to as the "banana belt" of Oregon. The valley is also home to many vineyards and wineries.

So if you are planning to explore the southern part of this state, to enjoy the beautiful Redwood forests, the spectacular Oregon coast, and the many natural attractions, you might want to consider some of the possibilities in Kerby and Cave Junction.

(Photos above by R. Frank)