September 23rd, 2009 by Angie Marsh
Get out and enjoy unique events this weekend!
SATURDAY, Sept. 26:
Medieval Market Day
The Beaverton Farmers’ Market hosts a one-day celebration of a time when all markets were open-air markets. So put on your medieval garb and join in the fun, including artisans demonstrating medieval crafts, children’s activities, music, cooking demos and sword tournaments.
This event is held in conjunction with the Washington County Chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism – The shire of Dragon’s Mist, and is from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Oktoberfest at McMenamins Grand Lodge
Join in a free gathering at McMenamins Grand Lodge in Forest Grove, complete with bands, beer, bratwurst and more in celebration of Oktoberfest!
Live music performances begin at 2 p.m.:
o CHERVONA (party troupe) 2 p.m.
o TRANSCENDENTAL BRASS BAND (marching jam band) 4 p.m.
o GYPSY CARAVAN (belly dancers) 5 p.m.
o DEER TICK (rock) 7 p.m.
o JACK McMAHON (folk/blues) 7 p.m.
SUNDAY, Sept. 27:
Tualatin Riverfront Music Festival
Enjoy the unique bluegrass and gospel sounds of the Misty Mamas band at this new annual event in Tualatin’s Browns Ferry Park.
Paddle your boat to the festival or borrow a boat on site from Tualatin Riverkeepers, the beneficiaries of the event.
A special Tualatin River Oktoberfest beer, brewed by Fanno Creek Brew Pub, will be available, along with Oregon pinots, sausages, veggie dogs and dessert.
Cost is $20 for adults; kids are free. The event is from 3 to 7 p.m.
Both SATURDAY & SUNDAY:
Festival Japan
Uwajimaya at 10500 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway in Beaverton, again hosts its annual free two-day festival, which includes Japanese food, music and art for all ages! It ranges from taiko drumming to martial arts. The fest is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tags: beaverton, Beaverton farmers market, live music, mcmenamins, Tualatin, Tualatin Riverkeepers, uwajimaya, washington county oregon
Posted in Arts & Culture, Events, Family Fun, Nature, Water Fun | No Comments »
July 24th, 2009 by Allison George
Putting in at Munger Farm, Tualatin Riverkeepers
Paddling on the Tualatin River is a fun outdoor recreational opportunity during the summer months, and recently some of the WCVA staff and our guests went on a guided canoe trip on the Tualatin River led by the Tualatin Riverkeepers. If you haven’t heard of the Riverkeepers, they are a terrific community-based nonprofit organization working to protect and restore the Tualatin River watershed through education, restoration, advocacy, and facilitating public access to nature.
The paddle trip was also intermingled with a good cause: habitat restoration. Some of my coworkers started the day by helping the Riverkeepers hand-clear some invasive, non-native plant species. Hand pulling weeds may be hard work, but it protects the nearby watershed and wildlife from herbicides and other chemicals, to give native, soil-stabilizing plants a chance to recover.
Pulling invasive species for a good cause.
We all had a great time on the river, and although I personally didn’t catch many glimpses of wildlife during our two hour trip, the little pirates in my canoe claimed sightings of Crocodiles, Chilean Sea Bass, and Harry Potter.
The 'pirates'.
Takin' in some shade before heading back.
After the paddle trip, we hit the South Store Cafe for a delicious lunch, and then headed across the street to shop and pet the goats behind the Smith Berry Barn. *Tip*: remember to bring some quarters for the goat-treat dispensing machine if you head back there. These cute little goats love their treats!
Resources:
The Tualatin Riverkeepers website www.tualatinriverkeepers.org is chalk full of information, including a down-loadable paddler’s map of the Lower Tualatin River with river access points, hazard zones, and estimated paddling times.
Canoe Rentals
The Tualatin Riverkeepers has limited canoes available for participants on their organized paddle trips. Check their website for further information, including their guided trips and events schedule. Other local canoe rental sources include:
Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe 503-285-0464 *Easy Alert*: They offer family friendly paddle-away boat rentals right on the Tualatin River from their location in Browns Ferry Park during the summer months.
Tags: Canoeing, Tualatin River, Tualatin Riverkeepers, vounteering
Posted in Events, Family Fun, Nature, Seasonal Fun, Water Fun | 3 Comments »
June 25th, 2008 by Rhiannon
My in-laws visit the Portland area often from Bend, always seeking the right mix of city and outdoors when here. Though we get along wonderfully and our guest room remodel is complete, they always stay in a hotel and always stay in Washington County. A recent visit ended up being the ideal outdoor weekend for us.
After picking them up Saturday morning, we started the weekend by paddling the Tualatin River in kayaks. Right in Tualatin rentals are available at Alder Creek, in Browns Ferry Park. It was my mother-in-law’s first time in a kayak, and the Tualatin River’s smooth water was perfect for letting her quickly become proficient. We paddled up and down the river, looking for fish and enjoying the lush green landscape along the banks. Around was a buzz of activity by birds of all types, including a momma mallard and six small ducks who disinterestedly watched us paddle by at one point.
Wanting to see more wildlife, we decided to visit the nearby Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge after our kayaking. Great walking trails, wetland views and lots of birds – including the heron that landed not far from us After lingering over coffee near the fountain in Tualatin Commons later that afternoon, we pondered dinner. And we also made plans for a couple of music shows – one jazz, one salsa – in the Commons later this summer.
We decided on a favorite for dinner – Hayden’s Lakefront Grill in Tualatin. They use local ingredients and we love their Northwest chowder, which is made with smoked Chinook salmon. Later, we enjoyed some Dungeness Crab Louis salads and a zesty Pizza Arrabbiata. Fully satisfied, we called it a day.
On Sunday morning, we once again set out – this time with our bike rack fully loaded. We first fueled up at Maggie’s Buns in Forest Grove with some of the best cinnamon buns and lattes to be had anywhere. We then headed off to western Washington County – Banks – to ride the Banks-Vernonia State Trail. It was one of Oregon’s first rails-to-trails projects. Along with incredible views of the Coast Range, we were taken with dozens of colorful wildflowers and a towering train trestle along the trail. The trestle apparently once supported rail cars loaded with freshly cut timber, and we almost felt we could still hear the trains rolling by. We pedaled through the woods for miles, really working up an appetite.
On the way back to the hotel, we eagerly stopped for dinner at the Rogue Pub in North Plains. Smoke-free and family-friendly, the place has live blues on Friday nights. And the building has loads of history, we learned – it has housed a saloon-pool hall nearly uninterrupted since 1915. Legend has it that it was a favorite stop of lumberjacks. After my wife volunteered to be designated driver, the rest of us cooled down with chilled bottles of our favorite Rogue beers – mocha porter and chocolate stout. We each quickly devoured our veggie burgers, nicely grilled and served with great fries.
We laughed upon saying good-bye later on that that we were as full as the weekend had been! Fabulous kayaking and biking, wonderful food, loads of family fun and no hassles. We’ll be back to Washington County for more very soon.
Posted in Seasonal Fun, Water Fun | No Comments »
June 13th, 2008 by Rhiannon
We start off our day with our complimentary deluxe full breakfast in Hayden’s Lakefront Grill, there is nothing better than enjoying the early morning sun lakeside with a yummy warm breakfast. After breakfast we pack up and head out to Meyer Airpark for a Pacific Peaks hot air balloon adventure. We signed up for the family fun package, which means we will be cruising the sky’s over Washington county on the most beautiful clear day imagined. The kids get a cool flight certificate and photo souvenir, and we all toast together with our post flight celebration beverages! The kids’ stomachs are starting to grumble and whining has commenced so it is a dash to some good grub. We stop at McMenamins Cedar Hills and the kids pick from some great choices off the kids menu and I grab a tasty, yet hearty salad. After our fantastic morning it is warming up and the kids are getting restless so we head to the Somerset Swim Center for an afternoon swim in the open session offered. The kids are able to swim around, play with the water cannon and cool off, while I lay out and get some much needed sun from the long increasingly white skinned winter. From there it is time to head home, it is so sad that our fun weekend cruised by so fast….let the countdown begin only five more days until the next Washington County Weekend!
Posted in Food & Drink, Seasonal Fun, Water Fun | No Comments »