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Posts Tagged ‘Tree to Tree Adventure Park’

Tree to Tree Opens for the Season

Posted on: March 29th, 2013 by Angie Marsh No Comments

This wobbly bridge at Tree to Tree could be your next adventure challenge!

Tree to Tree Adventure Park is now open for its 2013 season, which lasts through mid-November! The aerial ropes courses, zip lines and treetop obstacles make for an invigorating outing, and this picturesque course is located in Gaston, near Hagg Lake–a short drive from Forest Grove.

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. This “playground in the trees” was expanded in 2012 to include the latest zipline tour, “Woody’s Ziptastic Voyage.” This features six extreme ziplines (including one that is 1,280′ long!), a bridge and a 40′ rappel.

The original treetop aerial course has 12 ziplines among its 48 treetop elements and obstacles from platform to platform (tree to tree), including wobbly bridges, tight ropes, tarzan swings and more. New this season are two more aerial ropes courses, bringing the total to 80 elements of adventure!

I overcame my fear of heights by relying on the expertise and encouragement of a Tree to Tree staff member, who coached me from the ground while I stood nervously on a platform. The ziplines were thrilling!

Also available now is the 2013 Zip, Sip & Stay Adventure Passport, which includes overnight accommodations from your choice of four area hotels; lunch options at several area eateries; a choice of six wineries for wine tastings (and a wine purchase voucher); and Tree to Tree adventure passes. Packages start at $249 for two people.

Completing a course (or more!) at Tree to Tree requires a reservation, so call or email in advance. Hours of operation are from 10 a.m. until two hours before dusk. For a birds-eye view of the Tree to Tree experience, watch this Koin Local 6 reporter tackle a course (video courtesy of Koin):

Spring Break: It’s Not Just for Kids

Posted on: March 25th, 2013 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan No Comments

Who says Spring Break is just for kids or college students? It’s time to listen to your inner “Spring Breaker” with these tips for a springtime getaway in Oregon’s Washington County.

Create Your Own Beer & Spirits Tour

It’s no secret that when it comes to craft brews and spirits, Oregon is tops. One of the best-kept secrets, though, is the growing craft beer and distillery scene in Washington County.

To date, there are 10 breweries in the destination, including seven brew pubs and three taprooms where it’s all about the beer, and nothing but the beer (think wine tasting rooms, but for craft brew lovers). Two spirits tasting rooms are located here, including Indio Spirits, which has been producing craft whiskey, vodka and rum for nearly a decade and just opened a new tasting room in Tigard! Every Thursday through Saturday from 2-7 p.m. visitors can sample their wares, as well as tour the distillery.

View the beer and spirits offerings in Washington County. To help you craft your own beer and spirits tour, check out our Saké, Beer & Spirits Trail itinerary.

Play a Round (or Two) of Golf

Pumpkin Ridge’s Ghost Creek is one of 12 golf courses available for play in Oregon’s Washington County. (Photo by Scott Spiker)

With 12 semi-private and public golf courses in Oregon’s Washington County–ranging from nine-hole executive courses to 18 holes and up–there are plenty of tee times awaiting Spring Breakers. Grab the clubs and venture to Washington County for a golfing tour, or add a day of golf to a Spring Break itinerary.

Play one of the first courses built in the Pacific Northwest at the pristine and challenging Forest Hills Golf Course, or walk the same fairways as some of golf’s greatest players at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club or The Reserve Vineyards & Golf Club (both have served as host sites for professional and celebrity tournaments). Don’t have time for a full game? Try the 18-hole putting course at Tualatin Island Greens, with each hole a miniature version of challenging holes from world-famous golf courses.

Have an Adventure

The year-round Banks-Vernonia State Trail remains one of Washington County’s top attractions for outdoor enthusiasts. This 21-mile (one-way) linear multi-use path was Oregon’s first rails-to-trails project, and takes hikers, cyclists and equestrians through forests and over trestles and bridges. Cyclists can rent bikes at Banks Bicycle Repair & Rental, located right at the beginning of the trail at the Banks trailhead.

Add some high-flying adventure to your Spring Break. Tree to Tree Adventure Park, an aerial ropes course and zip-line park, opens for the season on March 29th. Challenge yourself on the aerial ropes course: four courses of increasing difficulty, complete with 10 obstacles each to complete before zipping back to the ground.

Check off Birds on Your “Life List”

Spring marks migration season, and now through May, birders can get a sight of these magnificent migratory birds right here in Washington County. Several locations of nature parks and wildlife preserves offer fantastic bird watching opportunities. Updated attractions this season include the renovation of Fernhill Wetlands, with new amenities, including a Japanese garden, picnic shelter and restrooms.

Whether it’s for a weekend or a full week, plan your Spring Break getaway to Oregon’s Washington County. Create your own unique itinerary with our Trip Planner or view our sample itineraries.

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

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.

2012 in Washington County: Highlights

Posted on: December 20th, 2012 by Angie Marsh No Comments

The year 2012 contained many highlights in Washington County–particularly new offerings and features. Here’s our account of what you may have missed here, and in many cases, can plan for in 2013:

Photo by Chris Glawe

This new zipline at Tree to Tree Adventure Park was a big highlight of 2012!

Tree to Tree Adventure Park expanded its “playground in the trees” to include a new zipline tour, “Woody’s Ziptastic Voyage.” This features six extreme ziplines (including one that is 1,280′ long!), a bridge and a 40′ rappel. The original treetop aerial course has 12 ziplines among its 48 treetop elements and obstacles from platform to platform (tree to tree), including wobbly bridges, tight ropes, tarzan swings and more.

Also in the area’s great outdoors, we were home to more organized runs than ever. New this year was the Bald Peak Half Marathon in Hillsboro, as well as the 5K Foam Fest in Sherwood and the Terrain Mud Run in Sherwood. We heard positive feedback about each of these scenic and challenging races!

Kayaking the Tualatin River became simpler with a new “no reservations required” option. Just dropping by the Tualatin River on summer weekends meant a paddle trip was possible.

Local golf course The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club in Aloha was the new setting for a three-day exhibition-style golf tournament in August, the Umpqua Bank Challenge. This top-notch golf tournament featured a pro-am and a a best-ball tournament featuring PGA TOUR and Champions Tour professionals.

The “Wheels to Wine“/Wheels in Motion to cure Cystic Fibrosis cycling event was in and around Forest Grove.

A new event soared: In May Friends of Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge offered guided workshops, field trips and seminars during the new three-day event, “Focus on Nature: A Weekend of Learning About Wildlife through Your Camera Lens,” which was part of the Tualatin River Bird Festival. Presenters included well-known nature photographers, optics specialists and local birding experts; options included nine fee-based classes and two free workshops.

The retail store House of Reptiles expanded  to open a “Venomous Reptile Museum” within its Tigard store, featuring 20 to 30 species on display, such as a 14-foot King Cobra, Mexican Bearded Lizard, the White-Lipped Pitviper, and the Banded Rock Rattlesnake, among others. The store itself specializes in reptiles, amphibians and quality products for their care.

The Joy Theater in Tigard underwent a facelift under the new owner, and became the Joy Cinema & Pub, specializing in out-of-the-ordinary movie offerings for a discounted admission price.

During Labor Day weekend, wineries in the Chehalem Mountains American Viticultural Area (AVA) of the Willamette Valley featured the annual Explore, Tour & Taste event, with lesser-known Washington County wineries open, including: Anam Cara Cellars, Beckham Estate Vineyard and Gresser Vineyard.

Likewise, a new winery opened in the Fall: Ruby Vineyard. Also in Hillsboro, Big Bottom Whiskey opened a tasting room with regular Saturday hours.

In addition to alcohol, gourmet, high-end farm-fresh dinners were featured here in the sunnier months. “Feast on the Farm” offered elaborate white tablecloth meals amid picturesque backdrops of farms in Hillsboro and Forest Grove, with the mantra, “Local food, prepared locally.”

We look forward to many more exciting developments in Oregon’s Washington County throughout 2013 — which we’ll be blogging about!

Last-Minute Labor Day Weekend Getaway

Posted on: August 24th, 2012 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan No Comments

Squeeze out the last days of summer with a weekend getaway to Oregon’s Washington County. Temperatures are cooling down with an average high of 80 degrees, but the fun is just heating up.

All Trails Lead to Nature

Banks-Vernonia State Trail

With cooler temperatures, why spend a day indoors when Washington County has myriad outdoor activities that are perfect for a summer day. Rent a bike (or bring your own) and ride along the 21-mile Banks-Vernonia State Trail (it’s 42 miles if you make it a round-trip ride). This gorgeous trail, along an abandoned railway, takes riders, hikers and equestrians down a relatively easy path through lush forests and along trestles and through L.L. “Stub” Stewart State Park.

Head for the tranquil waters of the Tualatin River with a leisurely kayak or canoe ride. Rent a kayak or canoe or take part in a group paddle and the enjoy the natural surroundings, birds and wildlife.

For high-flying adventures, head over to Tree to Tree Adventure Park, an aerial ropes course and zip-line park. Explore the challenging aerial obstacle course, which features a total of 48  tree-top elements and 12 zip lines, or check out the new Woody’s Ziptastic Voyage Zip Line Tour, featuring six “extreme” zip-lines, a bridge and a rappel.  Adult prices start at $45 for the aerial ropes course; $75 for the Zip Line Tour.

Back by popular demand is the Zip, Sip & Stay passport, which includes a one-night stay in a deluxe suite, gourmet lunch, passes to Tree to Tree Adventure Park, wine tasting and a $29 wine voucher, and dining specials at local restaurants. Passports for two start at $245; family and combo passports also are available.

Sip Your Way Through Oregon’s Washington County

During Labor Day weekend, wineries in the Chehalem Mountains American Viticultural Area (AVA), located in the Willamette Valley, will open their doors for the annual Explore, Tour & Taste event (September 1-3).  Several Washington County wineries will be hosting open houses, featuring special tastings, pre-harvest presentations and much more. Participating wineries include:  Alloro Vineyard, Anam Cara Cellars, Beckham Estate Vineyard, A Blooming Hill Vineyard and Winery, Cooper Mountain Vineyards, Freja Cellars, Gresser Vineyards and Ponzi Vineyards, and Raptor Ridge.  Tasting fees, times and details vary.

Or you can explore Washington County’s wine country with a self-guided tour. Visit our website for a list of wineries in the area and to plan your own excursion.

Shop ‘Til You Drop, Then Shop Some More

Shopping in Oregon’s Washington County is always a treat because it’s TAX FREE! Labor Day weekend is the perfect time to save even more with sales at popular local retail centers, such as Washington Square, Bridgeport Village and The Streets of Tanasbourne. Get a jump-start on your holiday shopping at Sleighbells Farm & Gift, a year-round holiday store specializing in Christmas and holiday decor and collectibles, or Miki’s Christmas Shop, an Old-World inspired shop featuring a large variety of German holiday collectibles.

Plan Your Last-Minute Labor Day Getaway Today

Visit our website and plan your itinerary, or peruse our digital visitor guide for inspiration.

Adults Spring Break: Ideas

Posted on: March 9th, 2012 by Angie Marsh 1 Comment

In all the talk about how to entertain kids during spring break, there’s one thing adults will need: a break from spring break. Luckily, in Oregon’s Washington County, March is the time for some exciting events and destinations where there’s not a video arcade in sight:

Live Music at the Grand Lodge – Forest Grove

Enjoy live bluegrass for free by the Northwest band Polecat on Saturday, March 24 at 7 p.m. The five-person band blend also blends the styles of country, celtic, rock, and world music into their sound. If you really need time away, stay the night at the Grand Lodge as well. More.

Treetop & Zipline Exploration at Tree to Tree Adventure Park – Gaston

Tree to Tree is a playground in the trees featuring aerial ropes courses, zip lines and tree top obstacles–and it opens for the season on Friday, March 23. Experience the thrills of moving from platform to platform (tree to tree) via wobbly bridges, tightropes, ziplines and more. Tree to Tree is located adjacent to Hagg Lake, and there are area picnic spots and nature trails. Open every day through November; reservations are required and can be made by emailing or calling the park. More.

Science Pub Event – Hillsboro

The OMSI-sponsored Science Pub has an interesting topic for the Monday, March 26 event at the Venetian Theatre: “I Dig Your Bones – Adventures in Forensic Anthropology.” Featured speaker Dr. Veronica “Nici” Vance is a Forensic Scientist for the Oregon State Police Forensic Laboratory, and will explain how skeletal remains are discovered, recovered and analyzed for identification purposes. There’s a $5 cover at the door; talk starts at 7 p.m. More.

More Live Bluegrass Music – Hillsboro

Grammy-winning bluegrass duo Jay Ungar and Molly Mason return to the Walters Cultural Arts Center for a show Friday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $18 in advance. Food and wine are sold pre-show and during intermission by local restaurant Earth Oven Pizza. More.

North Willamette Wine Trail Weekend – throughout Washington County

Learn about pruning a trellis while sampling wine at A Blooming Hill Vineyard during the Wine Trail Weekend.

Plan now to explore 24 neighboring wineries on both Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1, as part of the annual North Willamette Wine Trail Weekend. Guests are treated to complimentary wine tastings, pairings, entertainment and activities at all of the participating wineries. Taste a new release, reserve label or a barrel tastings while enjoying specially paired samples. Each Wine Trail visitor will receive a complimentary logo wine glass, a reusable canvas wine tote (for all your purchases) and coupons and discounts for partner restaurants, hotels and wineries. Even the designate driver will receive a gift.
Activities include:

• Enjoy stainless tank tastings while learning about pruning a Henry Trellis at A Blooming Hill Vineyard

• Side-by-side comparative tastings of Wine and Sake with the same food pairings at SakeOne with Abbey Creek Vineyard

• Picnic-style new release tastings at ADEA Wine Company

• Super-tuscan style blending trials at Apolloni Vineyards with focaccia tastings by Sundial Specialty Baking

• Taste from Gresser Vineyard and Provincial Vineyards at Smith Berry Barn

• Explore the world of Pinot Gris at Kramer Vineyards and compare a sparkling, barrel fermented and no oak Pinot Gris

• Graft your own grape vine to take home at Plum Hill Vineyards

These are a sample of what the weekend includes. Advance tickets are required; single-day tickets are available for Sunday. More.

Conquer Your Fears in Oregon’s Washington County

Posted on: February 6th, 2012 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan No Comments

Do you have dendrophobia? Or oenophobia? Phasmophobia? If you do (and even if you don’t), we have a contest that is right up your alley!

We are proud to announce the Conquer Your Fears contest, a two-night getaway to Oregon’s Washington County, where you will participate in activities that may be thrilling to some, chilling to others.

Face that fear of trees (dendrophobia) or heights (acrophobia) at Tree to Tree Adventure Park. Walk on a wire tightrope tens of feet in the air, while navigating obstacles of varying difficulty, moving from tree to tree and zipping back to the ground on a zipline.

Face that fear of trying new things (cenophobia) with a dinner filled with exotic foods at Beaverton’s hottest Korean restaurant, Du Kuh Bee.

Spend two nights at McMenamins Grand Lodge, a “haunted” hotel, to face your fear of ghosts (phasmophobia). And don’t forget to sign the “ghost log” when you check-out.

Conquer you oenophobia (fear of wine) with tastings at select wineries in Oregon’s Washington County wine country in the northern Willamette Valley.

Ready to face and conquer your fears?

Enter the Conquer Your Fears Contest Today!

Contest ends March 9, 2012. Must be 21 years of age or older to enter.  Winner will be announced the week of March 12, 2012.

You can also enter via Twitter or Facebook.

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