If you missed the tulip festival you can perhaps make the Dahlias Show at the Swan Island Dahlias, the largest Dahlia grower in America.  This family owned business began in 1927 and now grows over 40 acres featuring over 350 varieties of dahlias!  They plant over 30,000 seedlings each year and hybridize their own new varieties.  It takes about 4 years to introduce a new seedling for sale.  Each season they introduce anywhere from 5 to 15 new varieties.

Dahlia bulbs are called tubers and are planted in the spring and produce loads of blooms the first year and all summer long.

The Dahlia Festival has indoor displays and has the fields open.  There is free admission, free parking, it is handicap accessible and a perfect way to spend a weekend.  The Festival runs the end of August and the first weekend in September but to find more information on this cot to www.dahlias.com and read the updates.

There will be over 400 floral arrangements of dahlias in the two indoor display rooms varying in size from teacup to floor to ceiling extravaganzas.  Come and enjoy this largest display of any one grower in the USA.  There are demonstrations on arrangements and care each day of the festival (check the their site for more detailed information).  There will be food booths and refreshments at the farm during the event.

If you can’t make the festival then come and see the beauty of the fields which are open from August 1^st through September, 7 days a week from 8 – 8.

Location: 995 NW 22^nd Ave., Canby, Oregon 97013

Phone: 800-410-6540 or 503-266-7711

Canby Ferry – Canby, Oregon

Have you ever taken a ferry across a river?  There is a new Canby Ferry, known as the M.J. Lee, just like its predecessors, which carry vehicles across the Willamette River but north of Canby.  The ferry is an electric powered ferry which runs between 6:45 a.m. and 9:15 p.m. daily.  The fees are reasonable such as motorcycles pay 50 cents per trip, cars and pickups are $1.25, and larger vehicles are $2.50 and up per trip. 

There has been a ferry traversing the river between Canby and the Stafford area near Wilsonville since 1914.

The ferry is the only crossing of the Willamette River between the bridge at Oregon City and the Interstate 5 bridge at Wilsonville.  High water can periodically close the ferry.  Canby Oregon is about 8 miles south of Oregon City . Oregon City is about 6 miles south of Portland on the east side of the Willamette River. 8 miles south of the US 99E underpass (going under the railroad) at the south end of Oregon City you will come to a road the has a sign saying "Canby Ferry" Turn right and go about 3 miles you will come to the Canby Ferry. On the west side the road goes to Interstate 5 and I- 205.

Taking the ferry will give you a totally different view of the area than if you are driving across one of the bridges, it’s an experience the family will truly enjoy!

For operation updates and other information call 503-650-3030.

Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm Tour – Woodburn, Oregon

Is there anything as lovely as a full garden of tulips in full bloom?  The Iverson Family of Woodburn have been growing tulips in the area for 32 years with the last 21 being open to the public with their Tulip Festivals.  The first 11 years the tulips were shared with only a few friends and relatives.

With the love of tulips being so widespread the Iverson’s invite you to come and walk through their fields and get the feel for what a whole lot of tulips look like!

Each year the Iverson’s host a Tulip Festival in the spring (in 2008 it was March 20 – April 27^th) with over 40 acres of tulips and daffodils.  Every year the varieties are arranged differently in a new pattern of color as they rotate their fields to new locations.  There are activities along with the beautiful fields so you will have a full day at the farm.

On the weekends they have the gardens for everyone to see and they have a crafters market place, pony rides, wine tasting, Dutch sausage, Mexican food, wooden shoe making, steam tractors and entertainment.  The festival runs from 9 – 6.

The Gift shop is open daily from March – May 15^th from 10 – 5 and during the Festival from 9 – 6.  In the fall they are open September 18 – October 18, 10 – 5.

Location: 33814 S. Meridian Rd., Woodburn, OR 97071

Phone: 503-634-2243 or 800-711-2006.

They are 45 minutes from Portland and 30 minutes from Salem.

Directions: From the North:

Main Route – I-5 South to Wilsonville-Hubbard Highway.  Turn east on Arndt Rd., turn south on Barlow Rd, turn west on Ore 211, turn south on Meridian Rd to Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm.

Direct Route – I-5 south to the exit 271/Woodburn interchange. Turn east on Ore 211.  Turn south onto Meridian Rd. to Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm.

From the South:

Main Route – I-5 to I-5/Chemawa Rd. interchange and turn east.  Turn North on Ore 99E and turn East on Ore 211. Turn South onto Meridian Rd. to Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm.

Direct Route – I-5 North to the exit 271/Woodburn Interchange.  Turn east onto Ore 211.  Turn south onto Meridian Rd. to Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm.

Pacific Hazelnut Candy Factory Tour – Aurora, Oregon

If you are someone that loves candy and you are a fan of nuts then this tour will be something you certainly shouldn’t miss!

Located in Aurora this factory grew out of the desire to provide quality candy with the hazelnuts that are grown in the area.  The first hazelnut (filbert) tree was planted in Scottsburg, Oregon around 1857.  Then in 1876 David Genot, a Frenchman, ordered seeds from France that he planted and raised these first 50 plants in a hedgerow in the old country tradition.

With knowledge and science  the original nut has been developed through the years to fit the Pacific Northwest climate and cultivation.  With the development and understanding of the needs of the trees the area became the largest producer of hazel nuts grown in the United States, in fact, 98% of all hazel nuts come from the Willamette Valley in Western Oregon.

You can take the factory tour and see how the candies are made, whether they are roasted and seasoned or coated in chocolate.  You can also get almonds, walnuts, prunes and pretzels.  Their hazelnut toffee was developed in their own kitchen and something you will certainly want to taste.

The tour will show you the roasting of the nuts, then how the husks are removed.  Into the vats for the first coating of chocolate by being sprayed as they tumble in the drum, the second coat is applied while they move through on a conveyor type belt.  Once the chocolate is applied the candy goes to the cooler and then placed in the appropriate packages. 

You will get to see them make the Hazelnut Toffee which is cooked in copper kettles.  Once it is cooked to the right degree it is poured onto a cooling table where it stays until it is the right temperature for scoring.  Following the cooling process a little longer allows the candy to be cut into chunks and then broken into bite sized pieces.  Once this is done it is lined up for a wonderful chocolate bath!  Finally it is cooled and packaged to be delivered to you or a store near you.  You can buy the candies in the gift shop as well as at home!

For those that can’t have, or don’t want, sugar the factory also has sugar free varieties.

Hours: Monday – Friday 9 – 5 and Saturday 10 – 4

Location: 14673 Ottaway Ave., Aurora, Oregon 97002

Phone: 800-634-7344 or 503-678-2755

Aurora National Historic District, The Old Aurora Colony Museum – Aurora, Oregon

This community was founded in 1856 with the leadership stating that “Every man and woman must be a brother or sister to every other man or women in our family under the father hood of God – EVERYDAY.”

The community is an outgrowth of the settlement of Bethel, Missouri which was settled by Keil and his followers.  He bought the land known as George White donation land claim on the Pudding River, a good location to travel to Oregon City along the route that would eventually become the Territorial Highway.  The area already had a saw and grist mill which came from the previous owner.

By the end of 1867 the last wagon train from Bethel arrived which brought the number of citizens to 600.  These pioneers built their own homes, shops and mills on the 18,000 acres of land that Keil had acquired with communal funds.  The citizens were independent, self sustaining and content.  There was always good music, delicious food and community spirit made the founding a solid base for the community to grow.

]Colony Orchards soon made Aurora one of the principal fruit-growing regions of the Northwest along with Colony lumber, shoes, textiles, furniture, tin-ware and baskets were also manufactured in the area.

Although some of the original buildings are gone due to many different situations there are still a number of them for you to see.  In 1974 20 sites were placed on the National Register of Historic places which made Aurora the first historic district in Oregon to be nominated such status by the state.

The Old Aurora Colony Museum is located in a building constructed in 1859 or 1860.  The building has been an ox barn, horse barn, trucking depot, store and home before becoming the museum.

The Hours of the museum: Tuesday – Saturday 11 – 4, Sunday, Noon – 4.

Admission: Adults $6; Seniors 60+ & AAA Members $5; Students $2; Children under 5 Free.

Open: February 1 – December 31.  Closed January.  Closed Major Holidays

Address: Corner of Second and Liberty Streets, Aurora, Oregon 97002

Phone: 503-678-5754

Email: info@auroracolonymuseum.com

Do a quick search for train trips on the web and you’ll get plenty of specials shoved in your face. Train companies are offering the public, vacation deals. You can spend around 1000 dollars and receive an eight day trip to all sorts of fun locations. These getaway deals typically include the train ride, your lodging, and some of your meals. Not too shabby, but maybe not as classy as you expect either. The first time I decided to take a train ride was about five years ago. I traveled on Amtrak from Oregon to Iowa. This was a train trip quite different from what I assumed. To be completely frank, it was nothing special. I had always wanted to make this trip by train, as opposed to the routine commercial flights I was used to. Well, all I have to say now is NEVER again. Naturally the train ride was longer than I would have spent on an airplane. Furthermore, it was too crowded to enjoy. I thought it was pathetic to see how filthy the train windows were as well. There’s no doubt that some great scenery is a plus to train trips, but who can see through nasty, clouded windows? If you can’t tell, I won’t be taking anymore Amtrak train trips.

You may have to save for a while if you want the dream. I imagine the ideal train trip is one where you have your own personal room/car to lounge in with your loved one. This would make a world of difference in my opinion. Sadly it’s not so easy to come by these days. So the next time you’re considering a train trip, be sure to investigate the process fully before forking out the dough.