Hillsboro

The majestic trees that grace the grounds of the Washington County Courthouse were planted in 1880 as three year old seedlings by pioneer nurseryman John R. Porter. The Porter family came west to Oregon, from Ohio, in 1847. John Porter developed an interest in trees and started a nursery on his farm. When word of the California Gold Strike reached Oregon, he rushed there to seek his fortune. On his way to California, he was awe struck by a Sequoia forest in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

James Withycombe served as Oregon's governor from 1914 until his death in 1919. He was one of only two foreign-born Oregon governors. Born in Tavistock, England, he came to Oregon with his parents in 1871 at 17 years of age. He purchased a farm two years later and married Isabel Carpenter on June 5, 1875. He planted this redwood on their wedding day. Gov. Withycombe was known for his vision and commitment to making Oregon one of the country's greatest agricultural states.

There are many people I know that have avoided Earth Science classes, equating it with a class in trigonometry.

I have to be honest and say that when tasked with writing about the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks & Minerals, I was less than enthused. After all, I get to travel around the state and see any number of exciting attractions, rocks and minerals seems like a step down from carousels, Sea Lion Caves and historic theaters.

Sitting behind some large trees, between Newberg and Hillsboro is a farm-themed store that is as authentic as it is special.

Smith Berry Barn Farm and Garden Market is the quintessential agri-tourism stop for those visiting Oregon. Washington County , while known for being the “silicon forest,” has a number of excellent family farms with stores, hay rides, tours and the like. Smith Berry Barn, however, feels less like a farm trying to be a retail outlet, and more like a family enterprise that wants to give people the best, local products possible.