Best Apple Picking Ideas in Oregon

When the summer starts to draw to a close and the fall months aren’t so far away, the air becomes a little crisper, the leaves on the trees start to change color, and one of America’s favorite pastimes becomes available: apple picking. CDC information for travelers. Hours/availability may have changed.

Best Apple Picking Ideas in Oregon

• Apple Picking Season in Oregon, Photo: ZoomTeam/stock.adobe.com
• Kiyokawa Family Orchards, Photo: Nitr/stock.adobe.com
• Albeke Farms, Photo: yanadjan/stock.adobe.com
• Sherwood Orchards, Photo: Maksim Pasko/stock.adobe.com
• Draper Girls Country Farm, Photo: orlovphoto/stock.adobe.com
• Cover Photo: Kyo46/stock.adobe.com

More Ideas: Portland Japanese Garden

Sapporo, Japan became the sister city of Portland, Oregon in 1958 which spurred an interest in Japanese culture throughout the city. Business leaders in the community and the Mayor of Portland came together to create a traditional Japanese garden to honor their relationship with their Japanese Sister City.

The garden was plotted for the grounds of the old Washington Park Zoo in 1962 and in 1963, the design of the garden was conceived by Takuma Tono, a professor from the Agricultural University of Tokyo. He was the most internationally acclaimed expert on the traditional style of Japanese gardening and spent four years landscaping and cultivating the garden.

Finally, in the summer of 1867, Portland Japanese Garden was open to the public for the first time. There were five separate gardens over 5.5 acres of land for visitors to stroll through or meditate for a while at. The following year the tea house was brought to the garden. This tea house was built in Japan, disassembled and shipped to Portland. Traditional Japanese teas were once frequently had in the tea house.

Ten years later the Portland Japanese Garden added a pavilion in order to host an array of rotating art exhibits. All of the exhibits related to Japanese lifestyle and culture. In 1994 the service center was added on to house the nationally acclaimed garden gift shop. Japanese Ambassadors have visited the garden and remarked at how beautiful and exact the garden was to those that could be found in Japan.

Portland Japanese Gardens is run entirely by volunteers and is a non-profit organization. Over 300,000 visitors explore the gardens every year and in Washington Park.

Portland Japanese Gardens is made up of a series of five distinct styles of Japanese Gardens. Each garden is designed deliberately and in reflection of several traditional Japanese spiritual philosophies such as Buddhism, Shinto, and Taoism. The gardens are also alike in that they incorporate all three elements of a traditional Japanese Garden—stone, water, and plants. Stone is a prominent feature and the most important in the composite of a Japanese Garden. Many of the plots at the Portland gardens feature stone bridges, pathways, benches, basins, and other designs.

The Flat Garden strives to find harmony between the ground and elements of stone and low clipped plants. This design creates a sense of depth with the garden being built around two specific viewing points, the pavilion and the veranda. Sliding Shoji doors frame the garden making the gardens resemble a vivid painting if viewed from the inside.

This garden is particularly unique because of the incorporation of elements represents all four seasons. A Japanese Lace-leaf maple tree that is over a century old represents fall, a cherry tree is spring, and black pines are there for winter. The raked sand gardens resemble waves in the water to represent summer time. The Flat Garden also has many elements of harmony and enlightenment through the use of circle and gourde islands.

The Strolling Pond Garden is meant to be a display of grandeur, representing the wealthy and elite homes that this garden is styled after in Japan. Divided into two parts, the upper and lower ponds are connected by a stream. The upper pond features a large stone bridge while the lower level pond has a bridge that zig zags through beds of Irises. There is also a beautiful waterfall in the lower level.

These types of gardens are specifically meant for strolling through and feature stone paths lined with many different plants, flowers, fountains and other art to see. The Strolling Pond Garden is great for taking a relaxing walk in the shade and feels more like a nature sanctuary than a structured and meticulous garden landscape.

The Tea Garden is more rustic and in set throughout a wooded area. Meticulously placed stepping stones lined with lanterns, wind through the woods to the tea house. This area is meant for quiet contemplation and reflection. The tea house is meant to be a place of tranquility and visitors are encouraged to separate themselves from anything that causes anxiety or stress before entering.

The Tea Garden is divided into an outer and inner garden. Separated using a simple bamboo fence with the tea hour in the center of the inner garden, the garden is two distinct settings. Upon entering the inner garden, visitors are asked to rinse off their hands to symbolically rid themselves of the world outside the garden.

The Tea House is located in the center of the inner plot of The Tea Garden. Built in Japan by master craftsmen, the entire house is made of wood. Not even a nail was used in the construction of this house. Wooden pegs hold the entire thing together such as in traditional Japanese tea houses. Some rooms of the tea house require that guests crawl through a tiny door to enter where they will sit of mats on the floor for their tea ceremony.

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The Natural Garden is the most contemporary of all the Japanese garden designs and also the newest addition to Portland Japanese Gardens. This garden is the only one that allows native species of plants, not traditionally found in Japanese Gardens to coexist. The Vine Maple is a particular indigenous plant to Oregon that is used quite frequently in this space.

This garden was originally named the hillside garden because it has a rougher and steeper terrain that may pose slight walking difficulty for some visitors. The garden is specifically designed to have a restorative energy flow through the use of the water ways and the trees that lean into it to direct the energy.

Sand and Stone Garden is exactly what the name suggests, a raked sand garden and large stones. This style of garden has also been called a Zen garden and relies on the beauty of a blank space to foster tranquility and creativity. The purpose of this garden is to allow visitors to contemplate rather than relax, fill their minds rather than release it.

There are several different events throughout the year that Portland Japanese Gardens presents as well as many educational activities for adults and students alike.

Art in the Garden is a program that welcomes artists to display their Japanese inspired or related art. Currently, the themes of Art in the Garden is Bending Nature. This program introduces several artists who use bamboo in different ways in their art works. There have also been demonstrations on splitting bamboo as part of this series and hands on activities for visitors to learn how to work with the plant themselves. Past events have included the themes of Bonsai, Architecture, ceramic, lacquer and many other traditional Japanese art forms.

Garden Workshops and Seminars are offered throughout the year that aim to teach visitors the basics of Japanese and western gardening styles. The workshops are part lecture, part hands on and participants go home with printed materials for reference. There is a lunch break half way through each workshop.

Lectures are typically held in the gardens and cover a variety of topics from art such as calligraphy and ceramics, to Japanese spirituality, architecture and ancient practices.

Haiku Alive! is a program for students who are part of classrooms that appreciate what harmony between self and nature can have on learning experiences. Students are immersed in the art and beauty of the gardens and learn to translate that experience to paper in the form of Haiku, Japanese poetry. Students will engage in three different lesson plans while at the gardens and also receive a guided tour of the property.

Public guided tours are included in admission to the Portland Japanese Gardens. Throughout the warmer months, these tours are offered all day starting at noon. In winter months one tour per day is offered at noon. Tour typically last an hour but visitors should plan on at least two hours of total visiting time in the gardens for parking, visiting the gift shop, and taking a leisurely stroll through favorite spots.

Private tours are offered for groups of ten or more but must be planned at least three weeks in advance to ensure a dedicated volunteer guide for the group. There are discounts offered for groups that pay in advance with a single payment. Private tours are also offered for school field trips.

The Gift Shop is not only for picking up mementos related to your garden experience, but is a great place for shopping Japanese art, calligraphy, jewelry, sake and tea sets, houseware, chopsticks and many other Japanese inspired gifts and accessories.

Donations are always appreciated, but visitors can also take part in a tiered program of membership which give them exclusive access, guest passes, photography passes, free admission for a year, and many other benefits like discounts at other local attractions. The higher the tier, the better the benefits. There are also several members only events that are planned throughout the year.

Back to: Best Romantic Things to Do in Portland, Oregon

611 SW Kingston Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97205, Phone: 503-223-1321

More Ideas: Portland Children's Museum

The Portland Children's Museum in Portland, OR has a unique premise - they want to encourage learning and discovery. All activities and events revolve around children. The play areas, labs and exploration are meant to help children achieve their greatest potential. It is for children ages 0-12. Adults can visit only if they are accompanied by a child.

Straight ahead through the lobby is the Orientation Hall. A large area divided into twelve stations. Each station has a unique name and purpose.

. Water Works - This station is all things water; how it flows, the currents, defying gravity, flooding, etc. This is self-guided learning at its best with the hopes the child will grasp working with others, taking on a challenge and communication.

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. Grasshopper Grocery& Butterfly Bistro - this station is set up like a real life grocery store and cafe. The children can shop, prepare a meal, serve, work the cash register, and other similar activities. The goal is to help children with communication, critical thinking, and making connections.

Next read: Portland to Eugene and Best Time to Visit Portland, Oregon & Other Travel Tips

. Pet Hospital - Explore everything about medicine and how the body works at this station. Children get to examine their stuffed animals and view actual X-rays. This area encourages communication, critical thinking and making connections.

. Groundwork - Take matters into control; move the earth, dig, shovel, landscape; these are the types of activities one can do at this station. Learning how to take charge and seeing things from another's perspective are the key objections in this area.

. Building Bridgetown - Just as it sounds, this station focuses on building. Tear down, build up; children will work on motor skills and discover what it is like to build using various materials

. Theater - The children get to be the actors and present stories and plays.

. Twilight Trail - The kids can walk through the delightful forest and explore light and dark; shadows and color. They will learn how to take on challenges and communication.

. Vroom Room - This station has a large track laid out with cars, trucks, ambulance, bus, etc. and the kids get to "get behind the wheel" and try their skills at navigating. Key concepts are critical thinking, communication, seeing other perspectives and self control.

. Maker Studio - This studio allows a child to create something from recycled materials. Some of the life skills learned is self-directed learning, focus, self control, critical thinking and communications.

. Clay Studio- Does your child like to get their hands messy? The Clay Studio may be the place for them where they can squish and squeeze clay to make their own personal creation. If one wants to have their piece fired there is a small fee starting at $3. Glazing is also another option; fees also start at $3.

. Treehouse Adventure - Explore a cozy nook while you read a book. This is self-directed learning in a quiet environment.

. Field Station - Placed just before the Outdoor Adventure, this space acts as a transition to get kids ready to go out. Also incorporates many outdoor/nature items to explore.

. Outdoor Adventure - Outdoor spaces with over an acre of area to run, play, and explore. The kids will experience rocks, water, forts, insects, frogs, trees, meadows and much more.

The Counter @ the Museum is the local cafe which opens when the museum is open. The cafe serves up deliciousness for breakfast and lunch; also great snacks. The Counter has gluten-free; dairy-free; and vegan options from which to choose. Soups, salads and sandwiches are all options on the menu. For breakfast try a bacon egg wrap, a bagel or yogurt and granola. Kid's meals are also on the menu including PBJ sandwiches, grilled cheese sandwiches, hot dogs, and cheese quesadilla. With a great variety of options, you can plan to stay all day and eat breakfast or lunch in between stations and adventures.

Store

The store has a broad range of items including toys and gifts, books, t-shirts and professional development curriculum. Perfect for visitors, teachers, staff, and families to find that perfect something they can't find anywhere else.

Opal School

Also a part of the museum is the Opal School. This is a preschool for children ages 3-5 and a charter elementary school for grades K-5. The goal of the school is to encourage creativity and imagination. The preschool, called the Beginning School, is tuition based.There are four learning structures within the school: exploration, studio, story workshop, outdoor time and math and reading workshop. Enrollment is based on a balanced classroom including gender, diversity and age. Class sizes are small with two teachers per class.

The charter elementary school is for kids in grades K-5. This is a public school and enrollment is conducted via a lottery. All applicants must live within the Portland School District. The education is based on the premise that each of us get to shape our own lives and decide how we will contribute to the community in which we live and the world beyond.

Camps and Classes

Planned to stimulate creativity, critical thinking and design, the classes and camps at the museum are also fun adventures. With names such as Tiger Zoom, Artistic Authors, Creative Inventors, Outdoor Detectives, Inspired Artists, and Creative Inventors who wouldn't want to attend? The website details all the options and the registration information.

Birthday Parties

Are you ready for a celebration? Host your next birthday party at the Portland Children's Museum. The party packages include space for up to 33 guests, admission to the museum and all the exhibits, and one can adds a craft to the party.

The Portland Children's Museum is an exciting place to visit, learn, explore and create. Built especially for children, the museum has the facilities, know-how and staffs to carry out fabulous programs that will help your child develop into a well rounded individual. Learning how to take charge, communicate, build networks, see other's perspectives, solve problems, use critical thinking, and be responsible are all qualities we look for in others who we work with, live with and play with. This museum is very popular and it is recommended you make reservations well in advance for any special programs, classes or camps.

Portland Children's Museum has more to offer than what was presented here. Check out their website for all the details. Or, better yet, plan a trip to visit the museum and take in all the exciting activities in person. Connect with your child and make some lasting memories.

The museum offers residencies for professional artists who desire to work with children and help them understand and create using a variety of mediums. There is a current call for artists during the 2016-2017 school year.

To get to the museum, take exit 72 off on US Hwy. 76 (Southwest Sunset Hwy.) on to Southwest Canyon Road. The destination will be on your left. The museum is divided into different sections - each having their own purpose. On approaching the building there is some fantastical child-friendly sculptures; a great opportunity for some fun photos. Before entering the building, there is an exciting maze to challenge kids on their problem solving skills while having fun. As one enters the lobby you will find a cafe on the left with restrooms and locker space to the extreme left beyond the cafe. The lockers are available to store personal items and leave strollers behind. On the right one will find the store and a first aid station and small art gallery beyond the shop.

Back to: Portland, Oregon Points of Interest: 15 Best Things to Do in with Kids

4015 SW Canyon Rd, Portland, OR 97221, Phone: 503-223-6500

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