Posts Tagged ‘hiking’
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 »
March 17th, 2011 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan
Enjoying Washington County without Breaking the Bank
Several miles of biking and hiking trails are open year-round throughout Washington County
Let’s face it, we often think the sky’s the limit when on vacation, and when we return home, we have to face the sticker shock. The good news is that a vacation doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, Washington County, Oregon, is an affordable vacation getaway–and with plenty of things to see and do that are free (or close to it), it’s an ideal destination for families, couples and solo travelers alike.
Visit protected wetlands and wildlife habitats
Washington County boasts several wetland areas that offer walking trails, as well as great viewing spots for birdwatchers and photographers. The Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Cooper Mountain Nature Park and the Tualatin Hills Nature Park are just some of the locations to spot native plants, wildlife and migratory birds, sans admission fees (donations are accepted).
Tiptoe through the tulips
The tulips, or rather, rhododendrons, are a sight to behold at The Lloyd Baron Rhododendron Garden, located at Rood Bridge Park in Hillsboro. Colorful, seasonal rhododendrons and scenic woodlands, plus waterfalls and a pond, provide visitors with a serene, calm place to reflect. The garden doesn’t charge admission; donations are accepted.
Hike there
Don your hiking boots and set off on trails situated in the verdant countryside. With miles of trails to discover, including the 21-mile Banks-Vernonia State Trail, adventurers can explore for hours, without paying a dime. (Bike rentals available for a fee at the Banks trailhead.) Got a bike? Venture out along the the dozens of trails open to cyclists throughout Washington County.
Taste the varietals
Most of Washington County’s wineries, located in the lush northern Willamette Valley, have tasting fees under $10; however, one winery still offers complimentary tastings to guests. Shafer Vineyard Cellars, established in 1978, pours a selection of varietals, plus offers complimentary cheese, crackers and coffee. (While there, check out Miki’s Christmas Shop, which has an impressive collection of German smokers and other “Old World” holiday items.)
These are just a sampling of the fun things to see and do in Oregon’s Washington County. To learn more about the myriad attractions and activities, visit our website or peruse the digital edition of the official Washington County, Oregon, Visitor Guide.
Sylke Neal-Finnegan is the director of marketing and communications for the Washington County Visitors Association. During her free time, she explores many of the riches of Washington County, Oregon, and shares her experiences throughout the destination.
Tags: Biking, free things to do, gardens, hiking, parks, preservers, trails, wetlands, wildlife viewing, wine, wine tasting, Wineries
Posted in Biking, Family Fun, Food & Drink, Nature | 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 »
May 5th, 2010 by Sunyi
Get ready for some outdoor fun! Here are some great ideas from our partners that represent one of the greatest assets in Washington County: nature (and everything in it).
This summer, the Tualatin Riverkeepers is offering a bounty of scheduled events for kids and adults of all ages, including parent-child hikes and paddle trips along the Tualatin River. For kids from ages 4-13, there are six summer sessions of nature day-camps, a series of daylong camps with different themes to encourage awareness of and love for the natural world. See details.
For more information, read the Riverkeepers’ informative quarterly newsletter, “The Green Herald”.
The Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge also has plenty of summertime activities for the entire family, such as guided ‘Night Creature Walks’, where explorers can experience the mysteries of the Refuge after the sun goes down.
While visiting the Refuge, don’t forget to borrow a Nature Discovery Pack, a backpack full of activities, binoculars, field guides and nature journals. The packs are loaned to guests, free of charge, during visitor center hours.
Get the family excited for a trip to the Refuge, thanks to the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Department of Fish & Wildlife’s recently launched website (recommended for children, ages 5+). This interactive site features learning sessions, quizzes, and a chance to earn a free tree to plant in your own backyard. (Supplies are limited.)
Tags: hiking, Nature, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Tualatin Riverkeepers, wildlife, wildlife habitats
Posted in Events, Family Fun, Nature, Seasonal Fun | 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
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June 2nd, 2009 by Julia Adam
This Saturday, June 6, is Oregon State Parks Day. Stub Stewart State Park is offering a full slate of events to get kids of all ages outside to celebrate; activities range from guided mountain bike rides and trail hikes to disc golf demonstrations and bike safely checks.
You can get a guided tour of the upcoming single track biking trail, and a preview of the location for the park’s Gold Tee Disc Golf Course, to be built this summer. The park is also hosting a hot dog lunch from 11:30-1:30, so don’t miss out!
•Stub Stewart Activities •State Parks Day Flyer
Oregon State Parks are also offering FREE day-use and overnight camping (in traditional campsites only).
To reserve your campsite for June 6, call 800-452-5687 today!
Tags: disc golf, Events, family activities, Family Fun, hiking, mountain biking, outdoors, parks, state parks, Stub Stewart, trails
Posted in Biking, Events, Family Fun, Food & Drink, Seasonal Fun, Sports | No Comments »