Archive for the ‘WCVA News’ Category
July 22nd, 2010 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan
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
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.
Tags: Forest Grove, Gaston, Hagg Lake, Willamette Valley
Posted in Family Fun, WCVA News, Water Fun, Wineries | 2 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
Posted in WCVA News | No Comments »
January 13th, 2010 by Angie Marsh
From wine grapes to winding roads, the WCVA received a whopping 272 entries in our Washington County, Oregon, Vineyard & Valley Scenic Tour Route Photo Contest, which showcase the many features of the tour route.
With so many breathtaking and expertly crafted photos, our panel of judges had a tough job of reviewing, critiquing and selecting winners, which were judged on originality, technical excellence, composition, overall impact and artistic merit.
After careful review by the judges (thank you, Citrus), the Grand Prize of $1,000 goes to (insert drumroll here):
“Tiller Curves” by Christopher Pokorny
Additional contest winners in each of the categories are:
* Wine: Including, but not limited to, vineyards, wineries, winemakers and tasting rooms. $500 prizewinner:
“Tualatin Estate” by Cailyn Andreasen
* Agriculture: Including, but not limited to, crops, nurseries, barns, farms, farmstands and livestock. $500 prizewinner:
“Here’s Looking at You” by Sandy Pokorny
* Nature: Including, but not limited to, protected wildlife areas, flora, fauna and vistas. $500 prizewinner:
“Washington County” by Joel Zak
* History: Including, but not limited to, towns, buildings, cemeteries and interpretive markers. $500 prizewinner:
“Grossen” by Christopher Pokorny
All photo entries are housed here on the WCVA website. Photos will also be featured in print and electronic marketing materials produced by Washington County Visitors Association to promote area tourism. Read the contest press release.
Thanks to all who entered photos; you made this a high-caliber photo competition.
Check our website for future photo contests!
Tags: photo contest, Scenic ByWay, Vineyard & Valley Tour Route, washington county oregon
Posted in WCVA News | No Comments »
July 22nd, 2009 by Sunyi
The Grand Hotel - Almost Complete!
There’s a new game in town, and that name is “sustainable luxury”. The Grand Hotel at Bridgeport is an independent, new hotel, offering luxurious, business-class accommodations and amenities. The well-appointed property features 124 rooms, including eight Jacuzzi suites and a “Presidential” suite, an on-site, indoor pool and complimentary chef-prepared breakfast.
However, what sets this hotel apart is its commitment to sustainable practices. In addition to being “EarthWise” certified upon opening, the hotel will share its dedication to earth-friendly, sustainable practices with guests, including:
Using Earth friendly cleaning solutions
Installing earth-friendly drainage systems
Energy Star appliances throughout the hotel
Recycling in guest rooms and public areas
Using compact fluorescent light bulbs throughout the hotel
If sustainable luxury wasn’t enough, the location of The Grand at Bridgeport may be the icing on the cake. Within walking distance of the hotel is Bridgeport Village, the region’s premier shopping, dining and entertainment destination. With more than a dozen restaurants, shops and more located within steps of the hotel, guests’ options are limitless. Plus, wine country is just minutes away, so guests can shop and sip without breaking a sweat – or the bank.
The Grand Hotel at Bridgeport
(Targeted Grand Opening August 2009 – Reservations now being accepted.)
7265 SW Hazel Fern Rd., Tigard; (503)968-5757
www.grandhotelbridgeport.com
Tags: bridgeport village, green hotel, Hotel, sustainable hotel, washington county oregon
Posted in Events, WCVA News | 3 Comments »
June 26th, 2009 by Sunyi
Today we awarded winners from our first ever photo contest! The WCVA awarded prize money for their wonderful shots of the county. It was fun holding a photo contest. It’s not as easy as you might think though, definitely fun but it does require time and management. We plan on adding all the images that were submitted as entries to our photo library which we will in turn use for our many publications and online to promote tourism in Washington County.
Barbara Scoles, Grand Prize - $1,000
We all reap the benefits here. The WCVA gets fabulous pictures and locals and visitors get to enjoy the scenery, contribute to the greater good of our community and tourism.
Congratulation to our photos contest winners!!!
When are you taking some shots? See current photo contest.
From L: Mary Lane Anderson, Kevin Pastores, Bob Wayt, Barbara Scoles, Scott McDonald, Ruthie Reinert,CEO-WCVA (missing-Bob Streicher, Larry Andreasen)
Tags: washington county oregon, WCVA
Posted in WCVA News | No Comments »
June 23rd, 2009 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan
Hikers discover the natural beauty of Cooper Mountain. The site is now home to the new Cooper Mountain Nature Park.
Amid the musical trill of the White-Crowned sparrow was the shrill call of a cicada, a sound I haven’t heard since I left the desert of Southern Nevada for the cooler, greener pastures of Northwestern Oregon. These insects, as naturalist James Davis pointed out, are not common west of the Cascade Range. So these desert dwellers, much like myself, found their way to the new Cooper Mountain Nature Park, which opens to the public June 27.
Washington County’s newest nature spot, located in Beaverton, features three miles of trails with varying difficulty through three distinct habitats – forest, prairie and oak woodlands. Our hour-long walk did not take us through all three miles, but what we didn’t cover trail-wise, we sure earned in newly-acquired knowledge.
Along the trail James pointed out many of the native plants and invasive species that lined the gravel trail. We were educated about the Willamette Valley Ponderosa Pine, which is being reintroduced to the area after virtually disappearing from years of logging and urban growth; spotted poison oak and learned how to identify it in the wild; saw a lone St. John’s Wort plant, which is used as an herbal treatment for depression; and discovered a couple of Bitter Cherry trees, which provide nourishment to various birds and wildlife.
Further evidence of wildlife living in the park included the discovery of mole holes and squirrel nests, while bird enthusiasts on the tour identified the songbirds behind the chorus of musical chirps.
For this desert girl, the guided walk through the park with a group of naturalists provided an eye-opening look into the wonders of nature. Although the loud sound of the cicadas made me a little homesick, the sweet singing of the birds made me realize that this is my home, and I wouldn’t trade it for, well , all the wine in the Willamette Valley.
For those who want to learn more about the wilds of Washington County, Cooper Mountain Nature Park will be hosting guided walks, star parties, garden demonstrations, wildlife talks and more throughout the summer. Check out our event calendar or visit the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District for more information
Tags: Cooper Mountain Nature Park, Tualatin, washington county, washington county oregon, Washington County parks, WCVA
Posted in Events, Nature, WCVA News | 3 Comments »
June 19th, 2009 by Sunyi
Recently, we’ve been promoting our newest Washington County attraction, the ‘Vineyard & Valley Scenic Tour’, which is a driving tour that is part of the Oregon Scenic Byways Program. It’s about 50-miles in length and uncovers a lot of Washington County’s rural areas. There has been a lot of work involved in making this happen, I won’t bore you with the details here. But many community leaders, agencies and committee members have been involved in making this attraction possible not only for out of town visitors but for in town visitors as well. After all, this scenic beauty is in our backyard. We should go explore it. One of the pieces coming to fruition now is crop signs! No, we don’t mean of the extra-terrestrial kind, but the agricultural kind!
The WCVA stirred up such excitement over these crop signs it was quite unbelievable to someone like myself who is unfamiliar with the world of farming and agriculture. The Oregon Agri-Business Council shared in the cost for these crop signs, while WCVA covered the rest. The hope is to have up to 30 crop signs posted by end of 2009. Our local participating farmers couldn’t be happier! Look for them on the Tour Route! More info on Vineyard & Valley Scenic Tour.
Tags: agriculture, Vineyard & Valley Scenic Tour, washington county oregon
Posted in Seasonal Fun, WCVA News | 4 Comments »
June 16th, 2009 by Sunyi
The results are in! The Washington County Visitors Association proudly announces the results of the inaugural photography contest. It was a difficult decision, as the WCVA staff reviewed submissions based on the following criteria:
- Originality
- Technical Excellence
- Composition
- Overall Impact
- Artistic Merit
- Relevance to Tourism
Thanks to all those who submited photos to our contest. And keep an eye out…you may just see one of YOUR Washington County photos in an advertisement or in our next Visitors Guide.
And the winners are (drum roll, please):
Grand prize: Swallow Squabble
Grand Prize Winner ($1,000) by ‘bescoles’, Barbara Scoles
Second Prize (x2): Henry Hagg Lake, Winter Sunrise
Second Prize ($500) by ‘moontan2008’, Bob Streicher
Second Prize: Springhill Rd, Harvest, Gaston
Second Prize ($500) by ‘mlaphoto’, Mary Lane Anderson
Third Prize (x4): Red Carpet
Third Prize ($250) by ‘Bobshots’, Larry Andreasen
Third Prize: Train Bridge
Third Prize ($250) by ‘kevinpastores’, Kevin Pastores
Third Prize: Jenkins-Estate, Cooper Mtn.
Third Prize ($250) by ‘yankeecam’, Bob Wayt
Third Prize: Scotch Church
Third Prize - ($250) 'scott.mcdonald1962', Scott McDonald
Tags: birding, Jenkins-Estate, Scotch Church, tourism, Tualatin, washington county oregon, WCVA
Posted in WCVA News | No Comments »
June 9th, 2009 by Allison George
A tale of your average day at the WCVA? A few weeks ago, a group of fun visitors stopped by our office looking for local hotel information- but that’s not all there is to this story. These weren’t your ordinary leisure travelers- they were engineering graduates from the University of Utah and they were here to race an electric car they’d built to compete in an “Electrathon” event. You won’t believe it by the photo- because they look as fresh as daisies- but they had just pulled an 11 hour overnight road trip after playing a brutal softball game the previous evening in Salt Lake City, Utah! One of them was also going to be interviewing for a job with a company located in the same building as our WCVA office.
The boys from Salt Lake City, UT. Hope they made it back in one piece!
Hopefully, they will see this blog and update us as to how they did on the race track! Thanks for stopping in guys!
Why, this car is aerodynamic….
Tags: Electrathon, Events, Visitors, washington county oregon, WCVA
Posted in Events, WCVA News | 1 Comment »
June 3rd, 2009 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan
The Washington County Visitors Association (WCVA), awarded just under $200,000 in tourism grants to local organizations. The WCVA is a destination marketing organization charged with marketing the county as a tourism destination. Up to $200,000 are allocated to local organizations annually for tourism development.
Selected by the WCVA’s grant committee, which is comprised of members of its board of directors, the seven recipients will receive the funds beginning in July for projects designed to enhance Washington County’s tourism products.
Recipients of the WCVA’s 2009-10 tourism grants are:
Hornings Hideout
The sole purpose of the funds allocated is for the development or promotion of emerging events, activities and other tourism-related attractions in Washington County. To be considered for funding, projects must have the potential to attract and draw tourists from at least 50 miles outside of Washington County and the Portland Metro area, thereby increasing visitor spending in the local economy.
All grant recipients are required to demonstrate how the awarded funds increased visitor spending in Washington County from visitors who traveled from out of the Portland Metro area, as well as report a return on investment on these grants.
Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients!
Tags: Banks, Hornings Hideout, Hulaman Triathlon, LL Stub Stewart State Park, North Willamette Vintners, theater, tourism, Tualatin Riverkeepers, washington county, washington county oregon
Posted in WCVA News | 2 Comments »
