An Oregon Get-Away

If you want a weekend get-away (and still can afford the gas) I cannot say enough good things about the Portland area. Portland itself is a vibrant, beautiful city with many districts and shops to keep one occupied for days. Powell’s Books alone could keep a bibliophile busy for an entire weekend. But if you prefer rural settings I urge tourists to get off the beaten path a bit and check out rural Oregon for it has many diversions. This past weekend I did just that.

Mt. Angel is frequently a destination for me when I head south. A sweet little town named for the Monastery of the same name, it was founded by Swiss immigrants and this tiny berg has a Bavarian feel. Friday night my oldest friend and I dined at the German restaurant Glockenspiel, so named for the giant glockenspiel in the tower above the restaurant. The new apartment/business building was built to add to the Bavarian feel of this tiny town that every fall hosts the Pacific Northwest’s largest Oktoberfest.

Each summer this part of rural Oregon also hosts one of the largest lavender festivals in the NW. This weekend I got to check out the Barn Owl Nursery. Even though the lavender is two months away from being in bloom their large gift shop of all things lavender made for lots of happy shopping for two lavender lovers. I have every intention of returning for the Yamhill festival in July.

If you want a relaxing get-away, check out the many little towns of rural Oregon. There are wineries and fruit and vegetable stands galore here in this NW bread basket. The rich soil lends itself to farming of every sort including organic diaries, free range chickens, and fruit, vegetables and nuts of every sort. In addition, rural Oregon has many crafters’ shops where one can browse antiques and creations made from new and used materials. Girls’ Back Porch is just such a crafters’ mall located at 8030 Wheatland Road North, Keizer, OR, 97303, (503) 856 -8150 in Keizer, OR. The Salem area has many businesses as well as excellent Goodwills.

The many rural towns of Oregon have farmer’s markets and art festivals during the summer. Taking a weekend to tour some of these and enjoy the fresh produce (be sure to bring your cooler with you) can make for a relaxing and valuable get-away. If you want to by-pass Portland on your way to more bucolic areas get off I-5 and on to I-205 until you reach the second Oregon City exit. When you hit Canby, Oregon you will be well on your way to being out in the country. Pull out your map and breath in the fresh air.

Purple Haze, Sunny Days: Go HERE!

I love little discoveries, especially when I travel. So I was particularly delighted to recently find a sweet smelling treasure on the Key Peninsula. Fairview Acres Lavender Farm and Country Store located in Lakebay, Washington specialize in all things lavender: the plants themselves, culinary goods, beauty supplies, and household wonders. They also sell herbs and perennials, other fun gift shop items, knitting and spinning supplies, and even pretty, old fashioned spinning wheels!

Kind, delightful, family-oriented, and knowledgeable owners, Ron and Coni Chaney, have been working their beautiful farm for 15 years. Nearly 20 acres of GORGEOUS farmland are peppered with lush lavender plants, pretty herbs, perennial, and vegetable gardens, a green house, a tidy and lovingly put together country store and home, horse stables and barns, wide expanses of green grass, a small vineyard (they partner with their friends at Trillium Creek Winery, another Key Peninsula must see), and a glorious view of the water. The farm had horses (including miniatures), steer, and a large gaggle of geese.

Inside the country store was wonderful in just the lavender smell alone. Dried lavender bunches hung ornamentally from the ceiling and the lavender sachets were flowing from baskets and bins. I was intrigued by the culinary delights, all organic and infused with lavender. I saw syrups, jams, jellies, honey, teas, vinegars, sugars, and even lavender pepper! However, what caught my eye were the homemade beauty products. I purchased lavender soap, shampoo, conditioner, hand lotion, and a room and linen spray to try. With great prices and a variety of goods available, you can’t help but walk away with fun gifts for others and/or little treats just for you. I am not a knitter or spinner, but for those that are, you’d be in absolute heaven at the assortment of supplies.

When I returned home from my weekend trip, I tried all of my products. I was impressed. The room and linen spray got absolute RAVES from other family members and the beauty products not only smelled terrific, but they were gentle, fresh, and worked well.

For more information on the farm, their products, address, and hours, please visit their website by clicking here or visiting http://www.fairviewcountrystore.com/. To note, if you can’t make it to the farm, you can order from them online at their online store. As far as driving directions, if you are a first time visitor, I’d recommend plugging in their physical address (noted on the website) into Google Maps and Mapquest.

Kim Thompson, Gritty City Woman Local Traveler