Hidden Treasures of Washington County
January 27th, 2009 by Rhiannon
Last Friday, I gave a colleague who is new to the area a tour of Washington County, which I touted as a “Hidden Gems of Washington County” tour. The purpose of this tour was to show-off parts of the region that, for one reason or another, seem to be overlooked.
What I didn’t expect was that I was going to be amazed by this tour. I discovered new things about the places I’ve been talking about for more than a year. Because I have a child-like enthusiasm for things, I will share these discoveries with you.
Did you know that Tigard, Ore. based Stash Tea (yes, the same Stash Tea you find in your local supermarket) has more than 200 loose-leaf teas in its retail shop located near Bridgeport Village? There you can taste the three selected teas of the day. Also, the tea company has a personal relationship with the farmers from whom it gets the tea leaves, rather than purchasing the leaves in bulk from a wholesaler. In addition, Stash Tea doesn’t use any artificial ingredients in the teas, so I can sip my cup of “Double Bergamot Earl Grey” tea with a clear conscience.
The “hidden gems” tour also included a stop at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. This sanctuary for migrating and indigenous birds, waterfowl and mammals is operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. I enjoyed the interpretive center, which opened nearly a year ago. The display gave a nice overview of the U.S. refuge system and the history of birds and mammals in the Portland area and how the development of the area by humans has affected many indigenous species. And, because I love to shop, I didn’t leave the gift shop without purchasing a couple of books about the birds of Oregon.
For lunch, we stopped in the Lavender Tea House in Sherwood, Ore. This quaint tea house, located in the heart of Old Town, is a renovated home and serves traditional “high tea” staples, such as scones, tea sandwiches, and, of course, tea. However, what makes this place unique is its new baker program.
The concept allows entrepreneurial bakers to use the Lavender Tea House’s new industrial kitchen – for a fee – and showcase their creations at the tea house’s bakery. So far, a handful of stay-at-home mothers have signed up for the program. More information about this program is available on the Lavender Tea House website.
The day of exploring ended with a wine tasting at the new Barron-Wahl winery, also in Sherwood. Owned by Gordon Barron and Bill Wahl, with the wine created by renowned Oregon winemaker Joe Dobbs, Barron-Wahl’s pinot noir is one to keep your eye on.
Don’t just take my word for it, come explore for yourself. Or, better yet, tell us about your hidden treasures of Washington County.
Tags: bakery, Barron-Wahl, Lavender Tea House, new wineries, Stash Tea, tea, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Wineries
Posted in Family Fun, Food & Drink, Shopping, Wineries | 1 Comment »