A perfect family outing is going to a local farm. Away from the bustling city and further from the stretches of homes in suburbia, paying a visit to a farm is a perfect reset.
When shopping at grocery stores or dining at restaurants, it is common to seek local ingredients. While the now more than decade-old farm-to-table mantra is more of a marketing gimmick, plenty of us still prefer local products. Visiting a nearby farm is a way to go directly to the source and keep your money in the local economy. Fortunately for all of us, living in the Pacific Northwest means we are spoiled for choice.
With the weather now right at the beginning of shifting from dampness to sunny warmth, we are excited to take more trips to farms as a family. Spring in Oregon is a grand time of year.
The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is quickly approaching, and this farm should definitely be on your list. They first started growing tulips in 1975 and, in 1984, opened their fields to the public. From there, the Tulip Festival has become a major destination every year. Like many parts of nature, flowers are delicate, so there is no exact opening date. However, the tentative start date for this year is March 20, with an end date around April 26.
The anticipated timeframe for the best colorful overlap of these precious gems is mid-April. That being said, anytime after opening is a great time to visit.
Seeing pictures of this festival online is quite impressive, but witnessing it in person is a whole other type of experience. As long as your allergies do not act up too horrendously, it will be a positive activity you will always remember.
This farm is filled with 40 acres of dazzling tulips, leaving you feeling like you are in another world of pure, wondrous magic. Plus, tulip bulbs and already-sprouted tulips are for sale so that you can bring a piece of this natural beauty home with you. The adults operate their own estate-grown wine, which is worth trying. They also have a gift shop and a coffee counter.
There is also a plethora of food and artisanal vendors at the farm. For this, it is important to note that more vendors are available on weekends. There are also super fun standing cut-out boards for visitors to take silly photographs with, as well as an entire children’s play area. This section has rubber duck races, sandboxes, cow wagons, and a hay tent.
For guests who are colorblind, the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival offers EnChroma Color Blind Sunglasses to help them see the vibrancy of these remarkable flowers.
There are many more awesome activities going on here as well. One of these is that the farm will offer hot-air balloon rides on Thursdays through Sundays, weather permitting. This will not only be a really cool activity, but it will also allow you to see all the tulips from an aerial view.
If you have been following my writing, you will surely be aware that I care a good deal about the parking situation at any event. Well, I am happy to report that not only is parking free, but a complimentary shuttle service is also provided for anyone who wants it.
Entry tickets are only available online. While there are several options, it is generally $19 for ages 13 and older and $14 for seniors. Plus, children ages 12 and under get in for free. This is yet another perfect reason to take the family out there for this experience.
Oregon is an incredible state with amazing people. The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is just one of many examples that blend the state’s natural beauty with the vision and hard work of the people who cultivate it. This festival could easily have brought all this together and called it a day. However, they are hosting additional community-focused events such as a Relay Rally for the American Cancer Society and an Alzheimer’s Weekend to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association. There will also be a 5K, 10K, and half-marathon Tulip Trail Run, as well as The Shutterbug Wooden Shoe Tulip Field Masterclass.
This festival is something the whole family will enjoy. Taking pictures with your little ones with these beautiful tulips in the background will also be frame-worthy. So make sure to check out your local farm, and maybe start with the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival.
Alex is a devoted husband and father born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He is a professional artist, author, and advisor for both Yale and Harvard University’s arts departments. His books, ‘Selling Leonardo: The Art World’s Greatest Scandal’ and ‘Holy Ghost: Decoding Leonardo da Vinci’s Final Painting’ are available wherever books are sold.
