Posts Tagged ‘cycling’
May 6th, 2011 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan
I probably shouldn’t admit this, but it’s been years since I’ve ridden my bike. It’s not because of laziness, or some deep-seeded aversion to riding a bike. The chain is rusty, the seat ripped, and quite frankly, I don’t even know if the brakes work.
This month, however, there is more incentive to get that ol’ bike fixed and road-worthy. Why? May is Bike Month, and we just published a new bike map featuring bike-friendly paths and trails throughout Washington County.
Another incentive to fix up my bike is to ride the Banks-Vernonia State Trail, Oregon’s first rails-to-trails project, which is open to cyclists, hikers and equestrians. While I may not complete the entire 21-mile (one-way!) trail, I will be able to cover more ground on two wheels than by foot.
But who am I kidding? I am the queen of procrastination, and I probably won’t get my bike fixed, or even buy a new one. Instead, I may just rent some wheels and head off into the wild, green yonder that is Oregon’s Washington County.
VIDEO: Biking at L.L. “Stub” Stewart State Park
Tags: Banks, banks bike shop, banks-vernonia state trail, bike map, Bike Month, bike rental, Biking, Buxton, cycling, Forest Grove, L.L. "Stub" Stewart State Park, Olson's bike shop, Oregon, Oregon's Washington County, state parks, washington county, western Washington County
Posted in Biking | 1 Comment »
April 7th, 2011 by WCVA
When it comes to outdoor adventure, Oregon is tops! In Washington County, miles of beautiful countryside are waiting to be explored. From kayaking and cycling to birding and hiking, and so much more in between, the options are endless.
Activities and attractions such as Tree to Tree Adventure Park, the state’s only public aerial ropes course of its kind; Banks-Vernonia State Trail, a 21-mile trail open to hikers, cyclists and equestrians; and the Tualatin River, which is perfect for kayaks and canoes, are just a sample of the dozens of adventures to be discovered in Washington County.
Create your own Washington County journey via the Create Your Adventure Video Series, interactive videos that allow you to choose a couple’s Washington County adventure.
Don’t just sit there! Plan your Washington County Adventurecation today!
Tags: adventure, Adventurecation, banks-vernonia state trail, Biking, birding, camping, contest, cycling, Forest Grove, Gaston, getaway, hiking, Oregon, outdoor recreation, promotion, state park, Stub Stewart, trails, Travel Oregon, tree to tree, trip, video, washington county oregon, zip line
Posted in Biking, Contests and Promotions, Nature, Water Fun | No Comments »
November 5th, 2010 by Terry Goldman
Photo courtesy of Danny Abrego
What does live music, a drum line, a pageant winner, horses, bicycles, students, and a crowd of local dignitaries and community supporters have in common? Put them all together and you have the makings of a celebration.
On Oct. 29th, the community of Banks gathered for a grand opening celebration, marked with proclamations, speeches and ribbon cutting, to commemorate the completion of the final leg of the Banks-Vernonia State Trail.
Managed by Oregon State Parks, and part of the Rails-to-Trails network, the Banks-Vernonia State Trail is a linear 21-mile trail, most of which is paved*, which runs along an old railroad line from Banks, Ore. to Vernonia, Ore. The Banks trailhead marks the final segment of this trail. (*Unpaved sections of the trail are currently under construction, and in early 2011 the 21-mile trail will be completely paved.)
Photo courtesy of Danny Abrego
For two decades, the trail has been a haven for hikers, cyclists and equestrians of all abilities. Part of the trail takes visitors through L.L. “Stub” Stewart State Park, making it a perfect place to make a fuel stop or set up camp. (Equestrians can stay at Hares Camp, Oregon’s only full-service horse camp, also located in the park.)
The trail is open year-round (although segments of the trail may close for maintenance or due to inclement weather). For more information, visit the Oregon State Park’s website.
Read more about the celebration event from The Oregonian.
See more pictures from the grand opening celebration.
Tags: accessible, Banks, banks-vernonia state trail, Biking, cycling, family, hiking, horse, horseback riding, Nature, Oregon, outdoor recreation, vernonia, walks
Posted in Biking, Family Fun, Nature | No Comments »
March 23rd, 2010 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan
Video Series is First of its Kind to be Used to Promote Tourism
With an innovative, bold new Web video campaign, Washington County, Oregon, is now allowing visitors to create their own vacation adventures with an unprecedented series of videos on the popular video sharing website YouTube.
These “Create Your Adventure” videos allow viewers to discover the many gems of Washington County. Adventurers are given the choice of three tracks, which viewers can tailor to their own interests. Each series ends with a scenic drive along the Vineyard & Valley Scenic Tour Route, which highlights Washington County’s rolling backcountry roads, farm stands and wineries.
Golf is one of several relaxing pursuits on the Create Your Adventure journey.
Each track offers nine adventures, with a total of 27 possible vacation itineraries:
- Relax: highlighting attractions such as shopping, golf, hiking, a day at the spa, and a night out on the town, among other activities
- Escape: highlighting pursuits such as disc golf, hot air balloon rides, a visit to a farmers’ market and saké tasting, among other activities
- Explore: highlighting outdoorsy attractions, such as bird watching, hiking, biking and kayaking, among other activities
“Washington County truly is a hidden gem,” said Ruthie Reinert, president and CEO of the Washington County Visitors Association (WCVA). “As a destination marketing organization, we saw a need to create a tool that provided a sample of all the ways a visitor can have an authentic travel experience in Washington County.”
Birding is one of the adventures explorers can choose
The videos were modeled after the popular “Choose Your Own Adventure” books, which were popular among school-aged children in the 1980s and ‘90s, and allowed readers to choose what happened next in the story.
“Destinations typically tell you what to do and where to go,” said Martin Stoll, CEO of Portland-based GoSeeTell Network, the production company behind the interactive “Create Your Adventure” videos. “Washington County is letting its visitors choose their own destiny. Visitors drive the story and decide where they’ll go and what they’ll do. It’s an exciting breakthrough in the often pre-packaged tourism marketing industry.”
The interactive video project, which was a joint partnership between the WCVA and the GoSeeTell Network, is the first of its kind in the tourism industry. It uses a YouTube technology, which links multiple video clips with an interactivity button that causes the next video to play. This is the first time this Web video technology is being used for tourism.
Tags: Biking, birding, Create your own Adventure, cycling, escape, explore, Golf, hiking, Interactive videos, kayaking, Nature, Oregon, outdoor, relax, sake, sport, videos, vineyard and valley, washington county, washington county oregon, wine tasting, YouTube
Posted in WCVA News | No Comments »
July 22nd, 2009 by Sunyi
On July 25, Saturday, thousands of cyclists will ride through scenic Washington County – including stretches of the new Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour Route – for the annual Tour de Cure, the American Diabetes Association’s nationwide fundraising event.
This is the first time the annual ride comes to Washington County. In previous years, the event, formerly titled “Summit to Surf,” has taken place in the Mt. Hood Territory. “We are thrilled to have this year’s Tour de Cure in Washington County,” said Ruthie Reinert, president and CEO of the Washington County Visitors Association. “The Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour Route is an exceptional complement to the event, and will give riders a variety of scenic views and terrains unlike any other.”
While you’re out riding and supporting the American Diabetes Association, take some pictures and enter our Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour Route photo contest. There are nice prizes to be won.
To participate, riders must raise a minimum of $150, plus submit a registration fee. Proceeds will benefit the American Diabetes Association’s mission to “prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.” All monies raised will be used for research, information, advocacy and local programs. Come one – come all! Riders of all levels are welcome, there’s something for everyone.
Tour de Cure website and registration. >
Tags: Biking, cycling, Events, Hillsboro, Tour de Cure, washington county oregon
Posted in Biking, Events, Family Fun, Sports | 2 Comments »