November 17th, 2010 by Carrie Matsuo, Guest Blogger
As the fall fades into winter, Washington County sports families are getting in the holiday spirit and thinking about gifts for everyone. There are many great gift options that support local businesses and teams! I’ve put together my first WCVA Sports Family Gift Guide:
Les Schwab Invitational 2010
One of the nation’s premier high school basketball tournaments takes place at Liberty High School every year during the holidays: The Les Schwab Invitational, December 26-30. Dozens of high-profile players have played in the LSI and have gone on to major college–and even NBA–careers. Showcasing talent from Oregon and beyond, the LSI is a great way to keep the basketball fans busy during Winter Break. This is a yearly stocking stuffer for my husband and son, and the tickets can be purchased online in advance, making it easy for me! Be sure to check out the inaugural Junior Les Schwab Invitational as well. This basketball tournament is Dec. 11 and 12 for 3rd-8th grade boys and girls youth teams representing all regions of Oregon. Tickets will be $5 for adults and $3 for student/senior per day.
Big Al’s, newly opened in Beaverton, brings new life to the bowling alleys of the past! Bright lights, clean facilities and lots of fun activities make this a great place to hang out with family and friends. In addition to sleek new bowling lanes, there is a sports bar, a very cool party room, and the latest, coolest video games. Kids of all ages will love receiving a Big Al’s Fun Card, which can be used for dining, bowling, pro shop items and in the arcade. For your shopping convenience, fun cards can be purchased online; no need to make an extra stop this busy holiday season.
Washington County is also home to some of the nation’s most beautiful golf courses. We are lucky to have easy access to public and private courses that are both breathtaking and home to major tournaments. The pro shops for these three are open to the public – we often send signature items to our avid golfing relatives in California from these three courses: RedTail (formerly Progress Downs), Pumpkin Ridge, and The Reserve.
Big Al's means big fun for all; bowling, burgers and more!
Any sports fan or outdoor enthusiast will love a gift card from Dick’s Sporting Goods. When Dick’s opened a few years ago, we would visit the Washington Square store frequently just to check out the latest sporting goods and cool shoes. With Dick’s now open in Hillsboro, local families have two places to shop, particularly to support major Washington County companies (Nike and Columbia Sportswear) at the same time. An added bonus is that Dick’s is a strong supporter of local youth leagues and tournaments, providing free equipment and gift cards to help these nonprofits. (I like to support businesses that support local sports!)
And for your year-round outdoor recreation needs, make a quick stop into REI outdoor store, with two Washington County locations: The Streets of Tanasbourne in Hillsboro and near Bridgeport Village in Tigard. You can purchase gear for hiking, camping, snowshoeing, skiing, and other outdoor adventure activities, plus maps, guides and sno-park permits.
I hope this helps busy gift-givers with their holiday lists! Good luck and happy shopping!
Guest blogger Carrie Matsuo is a frequent contributor to youth-sports oriented blogs. In addition to her other blogs, Carrie contributes sports-related posts to What’s the Word, from a mom’s point of view. Carrie grew up in Washington County playing Metro League sports, and she now spends many hours on local bleacher seats for her son’s games, supporting local players and covering tournaments. Visit carriematsuo.com for more information.
Tags: Big Al's Beaverton, Dick's Sporting Goods, les Schwab Invitational, Pumpkin Ridge, RedTail Golf, REI Oregon, Sports, The Reserve, washington county oregon
Posted in Holiday, Seasonal Fun, Shopping, Sports | 1 Comment »
September 21st, 2010 by Carrie Matsuo, Guest Blogger
High school football is in full swing in Washington County. If you are heading out to see a KUIK High School Football Game of the Week, you might have some time for dinner or a quick bite before finding a bleacher seat and hunkering down to enjoy the football, cheerleaders and the band!
Hare Field
Hare Field is located in downtown Hillsboro and close enough to both fast and slow food options that you will be satisfied whether you are in a hurry or able to relax a little before the game.
The Venetian Theatre and Bistro has a great selection of casual dining (pizza, sandwiches, espresso) and full bar and wine list. The Venetian is friendly, comfortable and great for families or the Happy Hour crowd. Parking is easy on the main streets of the downtown area and you can quickly get to Hare Field for the game.
If you are starving and running late on the way to Hare Field, you can’t go wrong with a stop through the Burgerville drive-thru Located at 2401 NE Cornell Road. This local “quick-service” chain restaurant offers more than the typical fast-food burger outlet: seasonal favorites, fish & chips and great shakes. It is easy to please both kids and moms-on-a-diet at Burgerville.
Hillsboro Stadium
The Gordon Faber Recreation Complex is the home of Hillsboro Stadium. Visible from the Sunset Highway just past Cornelius Pass Road, Hillsboro Stadium hosts football and soccer for high schools and Portland State University.
There are some great dining choices around Hillsboro Stadium, but you can never go wrong with Cornelius Pass Roadhouse and Imbrie Hall (pictured, left). The Roadhouse is classic McMenamins’ fare and suitable for all ages. They offer specials and a seasonal beer rotation.
The Sunset Fred Meyer shopping center is a close neighbor to Hillsboro Stadium and its shopping center is filled with typical fast food establishments. We like “Chicken Bar” for grilled chicken over salad, pasta, rice or in soup. It is a healthy alternative to fried foods and will be a quick stop on the way to the Stadium. With Fred Meyer two doors down, you can run in for the sweatshirt you left at home or but you won’t need to grab an umbrella, as the main bleacher section at Hillsboro Stadium is covered.
Liberty High School
Directly across Highway 26 from Hillsboro Stadium, Liberty High School is also close to McMenamins and the Fred Meyer shopping center. However, being north of 26 and with some extra time, you can enjoy the county’s more remote and legendary Helvetia Tavern (pictured, right). Famous and huge cheeseburgers are served with potato chips on a plastic tray and seating can be family style if one of the very few smaller tables is open. Helvetia Tavern has a 21-and-over bar, plus a restaurant side that welcomes families.
Forest Grove High School
While passing through the quaint downtown Forest Grove area, you can make a quick stop at Pizza Schmizza right next to the Pacific University campus. If you have some time before the football game at the high school, you will enjoy a visit to The Grand Lodge, another McMenamins property on a rolling “campus” with several restaurants, bars and a hotel. You can grab burgers and pints in the Yardhouse Pub (“A Neighborhood Place for Family and Friends”) before the game and stop on the way home for dessert and the French press coffee service at the Ironwork Grill.
Whether traveling to an away game as a parent or catching the recent version of your old high school team, Washington County has its own spin on Friday Night Lights!
Guest blogger Carrie Matsuo is a frequent contributor to youth-sports oriented blogs. In addition to her other blogs, Carrie will contribute sports-related posts to What’s the Word, from a mom’s point of view. Carrie grew up in Washington County playing Metro League sports, and she now spends many hours on local bleacher seats for her son’s games, supporting local players and covering tournaments. Visit carriematsuo.com for more information.
Tags: beer, burgers, Burgerville, dessert, dining, families, family dining, fields, Forest Grove, Gordon Faber, Grand Lodge, Helvetia Tavern, Hillsboro, Hillsboro Stadium, mcmenamins, Oregon, recreation, sporting, sporting events, Sports, sports facilities, sports tournaments, THPRD, tournaments, traveling with kids, Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District, Venetian Theatre and Bistro, washington county, washington county oregon, youth sports
Posted in Sports, Uncategorized | No Comments »
May 11th, 2009 by Julia Adam
On Saturday, May 16th, Shilo Inn Beaverton will be holding an event to welcome the new Oregon Waves International Basketball League team to Beaverton!
Prizes and Oregon Waves tickets will be given away every fifteen minutes from 2pm – 6pm in the main lobby, and players will be on hand for a meet-and-greet.
Bring the family out for some fun and score free tickets to see the Waves! All home games will be held at The Hoop YMCA in Beaverton.
Tags: basketball, Events, Family Fun, hotels, Sports
Posted in Events, Family Fun, Sports | 1 Comment »
May 6th, 2009 by Sunyi
Here’s a little bit of what the WCVA has been up to for promoting the county that we live and work in and come to visit and play in. Well, you get the picture.
Last week our Sports Sales Manager, Laura Garratt, returned from one of the largest sports related tradeshow and conferences re-energized and full of new ways, not to mention several new contacts, that will bring more visitors and sporting events to our county.
The 2009 NASC (National Association of Sport Commissions – Sports Event Symposium) was held at the Hyatt Regency in Denver, Colorado, the home of the Broncos NFL franchise.
With 600+ attendees, Laura schmoozed with fellow CVB’s sport commissions and most importantly event owners representing a wide range of sports while proudly talking up our state-of-the-art facilities, local attractions and the Northwest flavor in Oregon. Education sessions, certification courses, and several networking receptions combined with the hundreds of die-hard sports enthusiasts made for one awesome and unforgettable conference!
Highpoint – punting on the turf at Invesco Field, Bronco’s territory and high-fiving ‘Miles’ the mascot.
Lowpoint – being harassed at 4:30 AM! by an airline that shall remain nameless about the bottles (yes, several bottles of fine Washington County wine) she was taking as ‘gifts’.
Tags: Events, Sports, sports events, washington county oregon
Posted in Events, Sports | No Comments »