October 5th, 2009 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan
Autumn is by far my favorite season: the crisp, cool air; rust-colored leaves falling from the trees; the bright orange and green hues of the pumpkin patches. Indeed, ’tis the season to get out and explore fall in Washington County, Oregon. On Saturday, my family and I hopped into the car and did just that.
First stop was the Beaverton Farmers’ Market, a cornucopia of fall vegetables, colorful gourds, scrumptious apples and pears, and hearty potatoes and onions, all awaiting shoppers who ventured out on the brisk Saturday morning. Free coffee and fruit samples provided us the energy – and warmth – needed to navigate the market.
With our newly acquired produce in hand, we ventured off to our next stop, the Smith Berry Barn in Hillsboro. Each year, I make the pilgrimage to the Smith Berry Barn to stock up on apples, and this year is no exception. I loaded up my basket with freshly picked Macintosh apples, perfect for making caramel apple treats.
On a whim, we decided to head over to Baggenstos Farms in Sherwood, to check out the corn maze. Growing up in the desert, corn mazes were something I had only seen on television, or in scary movies. In reality it was not scary at all. Granted, it was a bright and sunny mid-afternoon. (However, my ever-adventurous daughter suggested we return and try the maze at night.) About a half hour after we entered, we mastered the maze, which, visible from the sky, is carved to look like Abraham Lincoln.
Before we left, we decided to try our hand at pumpkin bowling. This was a blast. We each had three tries to knock down the pins while throwing a ripe, orange pumpkin down the makeshift lane. On my second round, I threw a spare!
After our day in rural Washington County, we were exhausted; but, it was worth it to spend a memorable and fun day with my family. (And, yes, we will be going back to the corn maze … at night.)
So, don’t miss out on this opportunity to make your own autumn memories this October. The Beaverton Farmers Market, as well as the pumpkin patches and corn mazes at farms throughout the county are open through October 31. And don’t miss this year’s Apple Fest at Smith Berry Barn, Oct. 18. For a list of other autumn-inspired events, check out our event calendar.
Tags: apples, Baggenstos Farms, beaverton, Beaverton farmers market, corn mazes, farmers market, farms, Hillsboro, pumpkin patch, pumpkin patches, pumpkins, Sherwood, Smith Berry Barn, washington county, washington county oregon
Posted in Family Fun, Seasonal Fun | No Comments »
September 16th, 2009 by Sunyi
One great thing about being in the heart of Oregon’s agricultural country is that the country is stunning in the fall, and there is an abundance of fun, family activities throughout the area. From corn mazes, pumpkin patches and hayrides, to festivals and a cornucopia of food, Washington County comes alive with a bountiful spirit each October.
‘Tis the season where the “u-pick” fruit of choice is pumpkin, mazes are crafted from corn and hay fields, and farms throughout the county open their fields to families for harvest-time fun – including Roloff Farm, which is featured on the television reality series, “Little People, Big World,” and is only open to the public in October.
This October, check out the fun, fall offering at these 
Washington County farms:
A Maze in Grace Gardens
Corn maze, hayrides (Late-Sept through Oct)
Baggenstos Farm
Corn maze (Sept-Oct)
Pumpkin patch, hayrides, hay maze, pumpkin bowling
Roloff Farm
Pumpkin patch
Lee Farms
Pumpkin festival, hayrides, pony rides, farm animals
Schlichting Century Farm/Gramma’s Place
Pumpkin patch, hayrides, corn maze, pumpkin cannon
Tags: agriculture, corn maze, Family Fun, farms, pumpkin patch, Washington County farms
Posted in Events, Family Fun, Seasonal Fun | No Comments »
July 14th, 2009 by Heather Anderson
Distilling lavender at Mountainside Lavender Farm
More than 20 lavender farms throughout the state opened their doors during the annual Oregon Lavender Festival. And what a weekend for this annual fest to explore the many lavender farms of Washington County! During the festival you can tour lavender farms, nurseries, and celebrate with a lavender-based Artisan Fair.
First we headed out to Mountainside Lavender Farm in Scholls, which has amazing views of the Cascade Mountains. There was a good-sized crowd at the farm, who were enjoying some live classic folk music while shopping the booths featuring local artisans and lavender products.
The kids really got a kick out of picking their own lavender (“U-pick” farms make for a great distraction for younger ones). The fresh-picked flowers are now proudly displayed on my kitchen counter. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to participate in the various ‘classes’, such as bouquet arrangement, wand and wreath making. We did have time, however, to catch a live demonstration on how lavender is distilled into oil.
Next up, was Helvetia Lavender Farm, in Helvetia, which overlooks the scenic Tualatin Valley. The farm was abundant with activity - people were in the u-pick fields, visiting artisan booths and enjoying tea time on the deck. We made a stop by the kids’ craft area, where we made paper lavender cards. The visit was accentuated with live music from a local country/folk musician singing fun songs that left us in stitches.
The highlight of the day, as the kids will tell you, was the zip-line, where they swung through the tree lines. How cool is that??!!
Great turnout this year, here’s to the next one!
Helvetia Lavender Farm
Helvetia Lavender Farm - Tea Party!
Weeeeeeeeeee!!!
Tags: agriculture, Arts & Culture, Events, Family Fun, farms, Helvetia, Helvetia Lavender Farm, Mountainside Lavender Farm, Scholls, washington county oregon
Posted in Arts & Culture, Events, Seasonal Fun | 2 Comments »
June 22nd, 2009 by Julia Adam
Are you and your kids fans of cute and cuddly baby animals? Come on, who isn’t? For a chance to “ooh” and “ahh” over some particularly adorable characters, visit Alpacas of Oregon now to see their seven new baby alpacas, or crias, in a variety of colors. There are even four more crias on the way, so if you’re lucky you could see a live birth! Visitors are welcome to stop by for a tour, a cuddle with the babies, and to check out the shop filled with beautiful alpaca wool products. So, now that the kids are out of school, what are you waiting for?!
Tags: alpacas, animals, babies, Family Fun, farms, kids, Sherwood, summer fun
Posted in Family Fun, Seasonal Fun | No Comments »
April 22nd, 2009 by Julia Adam
Mt. Hood from a hill.
Mt. St. Helens (left) and Mt. Adams from the route.
Yesterday, in the glorious sunshine, I had the chance to drive our new Vineyard and Valley scenic tour route. It’s a brilliant glimpse into Washington County’s past, present and future. Historical sites include the Old Scotch Church and the Joseph L. Meek land claim historical marker. The plethora of vineyards, nurseries and farms attest to the perseverance of early settlers and demonstrate just how much of a player Oregon has become in the agriculture industry. All of this bucolic splendor has been preserved for the future through fortuitous legislation limiting urban sprawl and ensuring that our open spaces are protected. In these last few days of sunshine, myriad trees and plants have burst into bloom, and it is truly a perfect time to explore the area; if you’re lucky, the mountains might come out for a photo op for you, too!
Tags: agriculture, driving routes, farms, history, itinerary, Nature, nurseries, tour route, Vineyard & Valley scenic tour route, Wineries
Posted in Arts & Culture, Biking, Family Fun, Food & Drink, Shopping, Wineries | 2 Comments »