Meet Venessa Eck

In Forest Grove, you’ll find some of Oregon’s oldest wineries, locally-produced produced beer and kombucha, and the region’s only saké brewery.

Located at the base of the Tillamook State Forest, there are nearby hiking trails, including the Banks-Vernonia State Trail, and bird-watching at Fernhill Wetlands Park.

With a small-town vibe, Forest Grove hosts several annual events, including a medieval-themed Faire in the Grove and the Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival.

Home to some of technology’s biggest names, including Intel, Hillsboro boasts a state-of-the-art sports complex for its Hillsboro Hops baseball team.

With several popular craft breweries, Hillsboro offers plenty of outdoor recreation, including the Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve, Roloff Farms, and nearby Bald Peak State Park.

Hillsboro is also home to the Rice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals, the Washington County Fairgrounds, and the Oregon International Air Show at the Hillsboro Airport.

Tucked into rolling hills, McMinnville is home to gorgeous landscapes, sprawling vineyards, and romantic bed and breakfasts. It’s also home to the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, which houses the Spruce Goose, the largest wooden airplane ever constructed, and the Wings and Waves Waterpark.

In downtown McMinnville, bookshops, cutes cafes, and local restaurants abound. Nearby, there’s the Erratic Rock State Natural Site, a state park featuring a 40-ton glacial erratic from the Missoula Floods.

Steeped in tradition, Sherwood hosts several popular annual events, including the Cruisin’ Sherwood car show, the Sherwood Robin Hood Festival, and a bird festival at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge.

With some of the region’s finest wineries, Sherwood shows off with historic architecture and quaint bakeries, cafes, and wine bars.

The Magness Memorial Tree Farm, an 80-acre property operated by the World Forestry Center, educates about forest management and silviculture. Sherwood is also home to Sleighbells, a year-round Christmas shop.