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Posts Tagged ‘Hagg Lake’

The Nominations Are in, and the Nominees Are…

Posted on: April 22nd, 2013 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan No Comments

The nominations are in for our first-ever Oregon’s Washington County People’s Choice Awards, and voting is now open!  Let your voice be heard and vote for your favorites by 3 p.m., Friday, May 3rd.

Favorite Attraction

  • Dawson Creek Park, a popular, scenic park in Hillsboro, was nominated for its proximity to the library, its fountains and 1.17 miles of walking paths and trails.
  • The Friendly Vine wine shop is an eclectic, sommelier-owned wine bar and bottle shop that offers wines by the glass, tasting flights and a retail collection of fine wines from the Willamette Valley.
  • Garden Vineyards is a boutique estate vineyard with beautiful views of the Tualatin Valley described as “like visiting a rich friend’s mansion and enjoying the landscaping.”
  • Hagg Lake is a jewel of Oregon’s Washington County, and was nominated for being “very calm and quiet, with plenty of space to find your own private area, even during the summer months and hot days.”
  • Jenkins Estate features pristine walking trails and beautiful gardens, which garnered this attraction a nomination: “Spring is my favorite time of the year when the trees and rhododendrons are in bloom.”
  • McMenamins Grand Lodge is a not just a hotel, it’s a destination complete with restaurants, bars, movie theater, spa, disc golf course, live entertainment and events and more.
  • Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club is one of Oregon’s premier golf courses and features stunning natural beauty, immaculate conditioning and an array of upscale amenities.
  • Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks & Minerals, a unique museum filled with rocks, gems, fossils, meteorites, petrified woods, and more, was nominated for being  “a world-class treasure, in the middle of the country.”
  • Washington Square is a popular retail center that boasts more than 170 specialty stores, five anchor stores, and an awesome “Shopping & Dining Rewards” coupon book for out-of-area visitors.

Favorite Restaurant

  • Cafe Mingo is a sustainable, Italian restaurant with a “nice atmosphere, good food, good service.”
  • Chennai Masala, a popular Indian restaurant was nominated for its “excellent food.”
  • Cruise In Country Diner, a family-friendly diner located in a rural area of Hillsboro, is nominated for its “wonderful owners and staff. Great burgers and ‘old time’ milkshakes.”
  • Decarli is committed to showcasing Oregon’s bounty of seasonal ingredients through Chef Paul Decarli’s culinary style, which draws on his Swiss-Italian-American roots.
  • Hall St. Grill has been a Beaverton staple since 1976 and has been offering traditional American dishes with a distinctive Northwest flair ever since.
  • Jin Wah‘s Pepper Salted Squid earned this popular Chinese/Vietnamese restaurant in Beaverton a nomination.
  • Reedville Cafe, an American restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, is noted for its “great food, excellent service, good value.”
  • Syun Izakaya is one of the most popular sushi/Japanese restaurants in the Greater Portland region, and can be summed up in one word: “Delicious.”

 

Nominations were open to visitors, residents and stakeholders from March 15, 2013 until April 21, 2013. Quotes were taken directly from the nomination ballets.

Welcome, Spring!

Posted on: March 8th, 2013 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan No Comments

Henry Hagg Lake

Fishing Pier at Henry Hagg Lake (Photo by Paul Loofburrow)

Spring is around the corner in Oregon’s Washington County, and the first hints of spring are popping up like wildflowers. Colorful tulips and bright daffodils dot the landscape and seasonal attractions dust off their “closed for the winter” signs and have opened for the season.

Trout fishing season is now open at Henry Hagg Lake and Scoggins Valley Park, located in western Washington County in Gaston. The lake is a popular fishing, boating and swimming spot, and the park features more than 15 miles of hiking trails, an 18-hole disc golf course and wildlife observation decks. Hagg Lake also is home to various duathlons and triathlons throughout the year, such as the Dirty Du & Dirt Dash (April 14), an epic off-road duathlon with a five-mile trail run and 15-mile bike ride.

Opening for the season March 29th is Tree to Tree Adventure Park, an aerial ropes course and zip-line park. Tackle the obstacle course high in the trees or venture out on a guided six-line, extreme zip-line tour, which features a 1,280-foot-long zip and 40-foot rappel. Plan a visit with a Zip, Sip & Stay Adventure Passport, which includes overnight accommodations, lunch, wine tastings and Tree to Tree adventure passes. Packages start at $245

We can’t think of a better way to explore the wonders of spring in Oregon’s Washington County than a drive along the Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour Route, a 60-mile journey through rural towns and the north Willamette Valley farm and wine country. Families of alpaca and bison, farmlands blooming in preparation for a summer harvest, quaint rural stores, and historic pioneer sites align the countryside along the drive through the lush Tualatin Valley.

Explore these attractions and more this spring, and plan an Oregon’s Washington County getaway today!

Find places to stay. | Create a personalized itinerary. | Find places to eat. | View the digital visitor guide.

What’s a Teen to Do?

Posted on: August 31st, 2011 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan No Comments

Tree to Tree Adventure Park is one of several attractions in Oregon's Washington County that your teen will enjoy.

Traveling with teens can be a frustrating experience. Attractions that adults may find inviting, such as museums and art galleries, may be boring to the average American teenager. And kid-friendly spots can be too “babyish” for the finicky teen. As a parent to a teen, here is a handy guide of places that are fun for adults and are teen-friendly, too. (Although they will never acknowledge that they’re having fun, you know they are and will.)

For the Teen with a Sense of Adventure

Hands-down, Tree to Tree Adventure Park remains on the top of the list for teens when it comes to outdoor adventure. The thrill and excitement of playing in the trees while navigating a course of obstacles can bring out childlike enthusiasm in even the most jaded teenager.

Kayaking and canoeing is also a good pastime for teenagers, whether it’s a leisurely ride along the slow-moving Tualatin River, or a family race to an imaginary finish line. Boat rentals are available from the Tualatin Riverkeepers or Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe.

 

Bonding Time

Hagg Lake, located at Scoggins Valley Park, is one of several fishing spots perfect for a day of parent and teen bonding. Horning’s Fishing and Picnic Hideout also is another popular fishing hole, stocked with rainbow trout. As an added bonus, after a day of angling, try a game of disc golf at each of these locations.

For many, myself included, a great deal of bonding happens while shopping; however, we parents of teens know that this often creates some short-lived drama, so shop ’til you drop at your own risk.

 

Friendly Family Games

Washington County is chock-full of teen- and family-friendly hands-on activities: laser tag at Laserport, bowling at Big Al’s, outdoor go-kart racing at Malibu Raceway or indoor go-karting at Sykart Indoor Racing Center. For less competitive sports, try trampolining at Sky High Sports or rock climbing at Stoneworks Climbing Gym. (Some attractions are open during evening hours, which will keep your teen happy after the sun goes down.)

 

Teen-Friendly Dining

So you’ve hiked, biked and climbed your way to an appetite, and you ask, “Where can we go for dinner that has food my teenager will like?”  Here are some local places that teens will enjoy, for the food, and the ambiance:

For the complete list of restaurants in Oregon’s Washington County, visit our dining page.

 

So, there you have it, a quick quide to exploring Oregon’s Washington County with teenagers. My own teenager helped me compile this list, so it has an unofficial stamp of approval. There are hundreds of other things to do and see while here, more than what’s on this list. Whatever you choose to do while visiting, we’re sure you (and your teen) will have a blast.

 

 

Forest Grove Named One of ‘America’s Summer Lake Towns’ for 2010

Posted on: July 22nd, 2010 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan 2 Comments
Boating is just one of many water activities available at Hagg Lake

Boating is just one of many water activities available at Hagg Lake

Locals have known for years that Forest Grove, Ore., is a hidden gem in Oregon’s wine country, and now this quaint diamond in the rough is getting its time in the spotlight.

The city of Forest Grove, Ore., recently was named as one of America’s Top Summer Lake Towns of 2010 by Budget Travel magazine. Noted for being “laid-back and outdoorsy with a healthy dose of quirk,” the small city with a population of approximately 20,000 was recognized for its historic downtown, classic ice cream shop, unique lodging, and, of course, its  proximity to Hagg Lake, which is in the neighboring town of Gaston. Hagg Lake, located nine miles from Forest Grove’s city center, is locally recognized as a spot for “serious fishermen,” and for its water activities, such as kayaking and waterskiing.

“It’s quite an honor for Forest Grove and Hagg Lake to earn recognition from such an influential publication,” said Teri Koerner, executive director of the Forest Grove Chamber of Commerce. “Hagg Lake provides a wide array of outdoor recreational opportunities for all ages, for visitors and local residents alike, and it helps make Western Washington County a great place to live and play!”

David Hill Vineyard and Winery, situated on a hill in Forest Grove, provides grand views of the Tualatin Valley

David Hill Vineyard and Winery, situated on a hill in Forest Grove, provides grand views of the Tualatin Valley

Forest Grove, approximately 45 minutes west of downtown Portland, boasts a growing wine industry. This area, part of the famed Willamette Valley wine region, includes some of Oregon’s most revered wineries:  Apolloni Vineyards, Montinore Estate, David Hill Vineyard and Winery, Purple Cow Vineyards, Shafer Vineyard Cellars, Tualatin Estate, and SakéOne, the world’s only American-owned and operated saké brewery.

A short drive down Highway 47 leads visitors to Gaston, where four wineries —Elk Cove Vineyards, Patton Valley Vineyards and Plum Hill Vineyards—and the new Tree to Tree Adventure Park are located.

Budget Travel’s list also included the lake towns of Chelan, Wash.; Grand Marais, Minn.; Dillon, Colo.; Rangeley, Maine; Leland, Mich.; Truckee, Calif.; and Oakland, Md. Read more about Budget Travel’s Top Summer Lake Towns.