Summer is an ideal time to plan a weekend in Tualatin Valley. Plan a getaway and explore the summer delights of the region.
Friday
It’s Wine O’Clock
Most wineries in the Willamette Valley close around 5 p.m., but at Hawks View Winery, they keep the doors open until 7 p.m. every day (final pour is 6:30 p.m.). Hawks View’s sustainably farmed wines pair nicely with the breathtaking views of Mt. Hood. Reservations are recommended.
Mangia!
Mason – Vecchio Ristorante Mondo is one of Tualatin Valley’s best-kept secrets. Located in the heart of Old Town Sherwood, Mason features a menu of Italian specialties and a robust list of wines from Italy.
Saturday
From the Farm to the Market
Hit the Beaverton Farmers Market, one of the largest–if not the largest–farmers’ markets in the state. Sample home-grown produce and purchase jars of jam, local honey, wine and spirits, and other locally produced food items to take home.
Savor the Sips of Tualatin Valley
- Set atop a Northwest facing Chehalem Mountains slope, Ponzi Vineyards is a state-of-the-art winery and modern tasting room surrounded by vineyards. Founded in 1970 by the Ponzi family, this winery is internationally acclaimed for producing some of the world’s finest Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and more. Reservations are recommended.
- Raptor Ridge Winery is one of Oregon’s esteemed producers of quality Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and more. Founded in 1995, owners Scott and Annie Shull have established wonderful wines and a memorable wine tasting experience. Taste from the winery’s array of single-vineyard Pinot Noirs and hand-crafted cuvees. While tasting, you may see a native raptor gliding across your view. Reservations are required
From the Market to the Farm
Explore the countryside in the small community of Scholls. Smith Berry Barn is a quaint u-pick farm and country store. Here you can pick up honey and berry jams and syrups prepared from berries harvested from the farm. Hoffman Farms is a berry u-pick farm, and also offers “ready-picked” berries at its farm store.
Time for Retail Therapy
Oregon does not charge a sales tax, which means a visit to Tualatin Valley is the perfect excuse to get that high-ticket item you’ve been wanting. Head over to Washington Square and Bridgeport Village and say “yes” to no sales tax. Both shopping centers also have a variety of acclaimed restaurants, including the popular Din Tai Fung at Washington Square and local Italian eatery Pastini Pastaria at Bridgeport Village.
Sunday
Get Out Into Nature
Start your Sunday communing with nature at Cooper Mountain Nature Park, Overlooking the Tualatin Valley, the 230-acre Cooper Mountain Nature Park offers visitors grand views of the Chehalem Mountains and features 3½ miles of trails of varying difficulty) that traverse the park and pass through a mosaic of distinct habitats: oak and madrone woodlands, native prairies, and conifer forests. (Dogs are not permitted.)
Grab a Pint and a Slice
Stickmen Brewing Co. is one of Tualatin Valley’s favorite breweries. Stickmen boasts a very impressive slate of brews, ranging from smooth ales to lip-puckering sours and bitter double IPAs. Equally as impressive are the 15-plus different varieties of wood-fired pizzas. For kicks, try the Diavola, a fiery pizza with red peppers and Calabrian chilis.