Meet Oregon’s Tualatin Valley

Located just minutes from downtown Portland, the Tualatin Valley is an escape from the ordinary

Located in the northern Willamette Valley, Oregon’s Tualatin Valley is scenically situated between downtown Portland and the Oregon Coast, and has 12 incorporated cities and towns, including the cities of Beaverton, Hillsboro, Forest Grove, Tigard and Sherwood. This is a thriving destination where urban and rural cities and towns intersect, creating a distinctive destination with a diverse selection of attractions and amenities for leisure and group travelers.

A travel destination for all seasons, Tualatin Valley is home to outdoor recreation, golf courses, renowned wineries, hands-on agricultural experiences and scenic driving and bicycling routes, acclaimed restaurants and tax-free shopping.

Outdoor Recreation

The Tualatin Valley excels as an outdoor adventure destination, complete with activities ranging from bird watching to zip-lining. Protected wetlands and nature parks are popular birding and wildlife watching sites, while water recreation spots and paddling sites, offer a serene experience along the Tualatin Valley’s calm waterways.

Oregon is one of the top destinations for bicyclists in the Pacific Northwest, and Tualatin Valley has helped to solidify that ranking. Explore nature and take a leisurely ride through the country along one or more of the region’s scenic and rural bike-friendly trails, such the car-free Banks-Vernonia State Trail.  The 50-mile Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway is a great way to view the wonders of Tualatin Valley’s rural farmlands by bicycle.

Plenty of the Tualatin Valley’s attractions can test the limits of one’s fear of heights. Pumpkin Ridge Zip Tour and Tree to Tree Adventure Park, “a playground in the trees” complete with tree-top obstacles and zip-lines, offer thrilling adventures high in the trees. Flights by glider plane and helicopter rides by Oregon Helicopters provide bird’s-eye views of the Tualatin Valley. iFly Indoor Skydiving gives guests the sensation of jumping out of a plane, without ever having to take-off.

Estate Wineries & Wine Tasting

Oregon’s famed Willamette Valley has become synonymous for its exquisite Pinot Noir. Wine Enthusiast magazine named the region “Wine Region of the Year” for 2016. The Tualatin Valley, located in the northern end of this growing region, boasts a collection of well-known and up-and-coming wineries–more than 30 vineyard estate wineries in all (and most with regular tasting room hours).

In 2020, two American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) were designated in Tualatin Valley, each nested in the overall Willamette Valley wine region:

• The 33,600-acre Laurelwood District AVA covers the northern slopes of the Chehalem Mountains AVA, including Cornelius, Scholls and Sherwood. This AVA is differentiated by its Laurelwood soils, iron-rich Missoula Flood loess soil contributing to the unique flavor of the wines.
• The 144,000-acre Tualatin Hills AVA aligns with the watershed of the Tualatin River and is north of the Chehalem Mountains AVA. Tualatin Valley also is defined by its Laurelwood soil. However, unlike its neighboring Laurelwood District AVA, the Tualatin Hills has slightly higher temperatures.

Experience more than Pinot Noir at these acclaimed wineries, which are also known for white varieties, such as Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay and Rosé, as well as the emergence other varieties in the valley, such as Albariño and Auxerrois. Tasting rooms are welcoming, and during warmer months many wineries play host to live music, theatre productions and special wine events.

Craft Breweries

Tualatin Valley also is known for its outstanding beer, cider and saké.

Located in Forest Grove, the region has the world’s first American owned-and-operated, premium-grade, large-production saké brewery, SakéOne, which offers saké tastings and free tours daily. Also in Forest Grove, Bull Run Cider produces a variety of craft ciders made with fruit from its own orchard.

More than 20 breweries make their home in the Tualatin Valley. From refreshing ales to hearty IPAs, Tualatin Valley’s craft breweries showcase the artisanal spirit of Oregon. With three new spots announced to open in 2021, the Tualatin Valley craft beer scene continues to grow at a steady pace.

Agricultural Experiences 

Farms are abundant in the area, providing visitors with hands-on experience at dozens of “u- pick” farms with crops ranging from berries and fruits to nuts and flowers. Farmers’ markets are extremely popular in this region, and one can be found nearly every day of the week during market season (May through October).

Explore and savor the tastes, scents and sounds of the Tualatin Valley countryside. One of the best ways to truly experience farm life here is with a relaxing drive via the Vineyard & Valley Scenic Tour Route. Or take a drive along the Quilt Barn Trail of Washington County, a ride through the Tualatin Valley’s farm country and featuring 40 barns decorated with artistic quilt pattern blocks.

Golf

With 12 public and semi-private golf clubs—many in rural, agricultural areas, including the prestigious Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club and The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club—the Tualatin Valley features some of the best golf courses in the state. These two courses have hosted some of the best names in professional golf. One of the area’s newest attractions, Topgolf Hillsboro, is a fun, state-of-the-art entertainment center featuring a fun-for-all point-scoring electronic golf game.

Arts, Culture & History

The Tualatin Valley has a burgeoning theater community, and is home to three premier professional theatre companies: the famed Broadway Rose Theatre Company, which stages musical theatre productions, and Bag&Baggage Productions, known for its provocative take on classic plays, and the Experience Theatre Project, known for its interactive productions.  These companies produce acclaimed, award-winning productions in the Tualatin Valley.

The Smithsonian-affiliated Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals  houses gemstones, geodes and rocks, fossils, petrified wood and more. The museum boasts the largest collection of its kind in the United States’ Pacific Northwest.

Dining & Shopping

While Portland’s dining scene has earned huge buzz, Washington County has laid claim to some of the region’s best global cuisine. Restaurants such as Syun Izakaya, Nak Won and Chennai Masala, have been recognized among the best restaurants in the Greater Portland region for their authentic and innovative menus.

Tax-Free Shopping, plus the diversity of shopping experiences, makes Tualatin Valley an ideal shopping location. Find antiques and locally-owned boutiques, plus big-box stores, and a variety of artisan, gourmet food and wine shops. Two of Oregon’s most beloved shopping destinations—Washington Square and Bridgeport Village—are located in Tualatin Valley.

Annual Signature Events*

Each year, Tualatin Valley plays host to hundreds of events. The following are some of the more popular events that attract a fair number of out-of-area visitors:

Valentine’s Wine Loop (February) – Romance-themed self-guided winery tour featuring wines, chocolates and live music

Tigard Festival of Balloons (June) – Hot-air balloon festival with carnival rides and live entertainment

Concours d’Elegance (July) – Annual car show featuring more than 300 classic cars from the dawn of the automobile age

Washington County Fair (July/August) – Annual fair featuring live entertainment, carnival rides and livestock demonstrations

Canines Uncorked (August) – Self-guided winery tour where dog owners are encouraged to bring their pets for a day of wine tasting and activities for pet owners and their dogs

Oregon International Air Show (Summer) — Annual air show featuring national touring aviation teams, including military performance aviation teams and demonstrations

Harvest Century Ride (September) – Autumn ride (options include 3-, 45-, 75- or 100-mile routes) through Oregon’s Washington County, culminating in a catered meal and live music for participants

West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta (October) – Festival and race featuring boats crafted from giant pumpkins

For a complete list of events, please visit tualatinvalley.org/events-festivals.

About Oregon’s Tualatin Valley

Tualatin Valley is scenically situated between Portland and the Oregon Coast. The destination is home to world-class golf courses, award-winning wineries, an array of outdoor recreation opportunities, lush, natural and scenic wetlands and wildlife preserves, superb dining, and tax-free shopping centers and boutiques.

Tualatin Valley covers 727 square miles and includes the growing communities of Banks, Beaverton, Cornelius, Forest Grove, Gaston, Hillsboro, King City, North Plains, Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin and Wilsonville. Learn more at tualatinvalley.org

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