Stained Little Fingers

I originally hail from the deserts of the southwest, but I grew up vacationing in Oregon with my family. I remember seeing pictures of myself at three years old during a strawberry picking excursion with my aunt who lived near Eugene. My mom says I ate as many strawberries as she managed to place in her bucket.

Now, thirteen years later, I'm an Oregon local, yet I still haven't gotten used to the reality of wild berries growing abundantly throughout this state! Most locals consider wild blackberry and raspberry bushes a nuisance, but even after living in Oregon 13 years, I  feel as if I've hit the jack pot when I score handfuls of these juicy gems on walks through my neighborhood.

Nearly as mind blowing is the abundance of berry farms around the Portland metro area that offer U-Pick options at an impressively lower cost than your local farmer's market or grocery store.

Living in the suburbs of west Portland, I'm only 10 minutes away -- in good traffic (as if Portland ever has "good traffic") -- to an abundance of U-Pick farms offering the gamut of berries: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, tayberries, marionberries, loganberries...the list goes on. In fact, Smith Berry Farms off Scholls Ferry Road in Hillsboro boasts 20 varieties of berries!

Last month, my kids and I picked strawberries at Hoffman Farms in Beaverton. The weather was perfect in the low 70's with a slight cloud cover. We arrived around 9:30 a.m. (the earlier the better to avoid side stepping fellow gatherers). Before heading to the fields, I let the kids play in the sand box, as well as the unique play structure complete with a tractor out of which children can launch themselves down a slide.

  After a bit of play, we each grabbed a lined bucket available outside the store.* Then we grabbed wagon courtesy of the farm and headed to the fields.





Unlike many other types of berries, strawberries require a good deal of crouching, squatting, and plain ol' sitting on your butt in the dust or mud. The nice thing about Hoffman Farms is that the Hay Fairy lays down hay between the rows of plants allowing you stay a little cleaner. Hay also offers a bit of cushion for sitting or kneeling.

Thank you, Hay Fairy!

The berries were juicy and delicious as was evidenced by my little guy who ate his weight in these tasty morsels.

It took us less than an hour to fill two buckets of strawberries and a bucket of raspberries. The price of an hour's worth of picking made the work worthwhile...as if the promise of pie, jam and syrup wasn't enough!

$1.75/lb. for fresh berries straight from the source!

Rarely, now, will I buy berries at a grocery store or farmer's market. Why bother when I have dirt-cheap options practically right in my back yard?

The shop offers pies made on site, pre-picked berries,
jams, syrups, local  honey and more

A nice lunchtime spot or if you just can't wait to dive into
your berries before heading for home

July's U-Pick season is underway and includes blueberries, blackberries, marionberries, cherries and more. PickYourOwn.org offers a detailed guide for berry picking in Multnomah and eastern neighboring counties, and also designates farms that use minimal chemicals and pesticides, that use natural growing practices, or are certified organic. The same website also provides a calendar of berries available for picking each month.

West Union Gardens also offers some recipes and handy tips for berry care if you're not planning to eat them immediately. 

If you're looking for us, you can find us in the fields!

* Each farm's policy varies regarding whether you can use your own buckets or those provided by the farm. Check with employees before you get started. 

Kid Friendly Winery Fun

As Portland metro parents, we are pretty stinkin' spoiled. Not every city enjoys as many perks as we do when it comes to play date opportunities in our area (think amazing public parks, splash pads around every corner, libraries galore, kid-friendly coffee houses, eateries, pubs, etc.). But atop the list of my favorite kid-friendly Portland activities proudly stands winery play dates.

"Come again?" you ask.

Yes, you read that correctly...winery play dates.

Most people wouldn't consider a winery an ideal spot for child-related activities. But one aspect that makes wine country in the Willamette Valley so special is that many wineries actually welcome children and family gatherings.

I first learned this fun fact several years ago when I brought my in-laws wine tasting at Cooper Mountain Vineyard. My plan was to keep Fiona, who was around 4 at the time, busy outside while my husband and in-laws enjoyed a flight inside. 

To my great surprise, the employee who poured flights for the wine tasters inside sent my husband out to invite my daughter and me to join the group inside the tasting room. She even shared snacks with Fiona while the adults wine tasted. She explained that Cooper Mountain is a family-friendly winery and they enjoy kids just as much as I do. 

In fact, it turns out Cooper Mountain hosts Neighbors Night every summer, for families and neighbors to enjoy a picnic and live music on their grounds. Children are most welcome if accompanied by an adult over 21 years of age.

Two years ago, my husband and I organized a birthday picnic at Ponzi Historic Estate with my (then) five year old, two couples and their small children. It was a nice day, and we knew we would be able to keep the children active outside. I double checked inside with the winery staff first to make sure that having children and a picnic outside was acceptable. The employee assured me that children are welcome, reiterating how fun it is to see children enjoying the estate with their parents.

Since then, I have picnicked at a number of wineries for birthday celebrations and play dates with friends and family. Some of these wineries include Sokol Blosser, Duck Pond, and - most recently - Stoller Vineyards.

While only visitors 21 and over are permitted inside the tasting room at Stoller, the tasting room opens up to panoramic views of rolling hills and fields of grapevines where minors are permitted.

Cars and trucks: the equivalent of a wine-tasting good times to a 2 year old.

The tasting room opens up to a multitude of tables and chairs

Tables and chairs are set up on the patio just outside the tasting room. Just below the patio, Adirondack chairs provide front row seating overlooking glorious views.

My kind of play date

The best part of all is the tire swing attached to a tree just like when we were kids to keep the wee ones happy.

It kept the mommies happy, too.

Some things to keep in mind about winery play dates: 

- While many wineries are kid-friendly, don't assume they all are. It's wise to call ahead to double check. In my research, I came across Emily Grosvenor's article "Sip and Play: Oregon's Wine Country with Kids." She offers a great list of Willamatte Valley Wineries that welcome families. 

- Some wineries might be okay with children on the premises, but they are not allowed in the tasting room. Planning a flight tasting at a patio table or buying a bottle to enjoy with a picnic outside might be best. 

- Dogs are allowed at many wineries, but it's best to call ahead to make sure that they'll accept your furry children.

- Respect your fellow wine enthusiasts who are there to wine taste in peace and harmony. Keep your children in check and situate yourselves away from other wine tasters if possible. I take toys, bubbles, snacks, and other things to keep my kiddos busy and happy. 

- Know your limits. Don't plan a flight if you know you're better with a half glass of wine. 

So, there you have it: oeniphilia and play dates truly DO go hand-in-hand. 

The beginning of an adventure

Hi. I'm Kathleen. 

Last November, my husband and I sold our house in Beaverton, OR and joined the multitude of new and "used" Portlanders searching for a home in this wild housing market. According to CNN, Oregon has been the #1 state for newcomers for the last three years. In fact, my realtor recently shared that nearly 1,000 people move to this region every month! That's a lot of new Portlanders, and a lot of new Portland families. 

Around the same time, I was mulling over my crazy busy life as a wife, mom, and part-time writing teacher, and realized how little time I spend on two things I am most passionate about: writing and travelling. Don't get me wrong -- I am passionate about my little family. But, like many parents, the activities that quicken my heartbeat and add a lift to my step have been put aside as doctor appointments, play dates, gymnastics practice, and diaper changing have taken over. 

Then my "aha" moment occurred. What if I could carve out more time doing the things I love -- writing and adventuring with my family -- while providing information to Portland residents who would like to learn about places to explore with their little (or not-so little) ones?  

And voila! An idea was born. 

Because my kids are 2 and 7, much of this site will be related to day trip destinations for parents with small and school-age kids. But I hope it will also provide helpful information for parents of older children, as well. 

It's nice meeting you. Let's go places!