Sherwood

Day Trips

Begin your day with a cappuccino at a family-run coffeehouse on Sherwood’s Main Street before browsing charming boutiques and antique shops. Stroll past restored Victorian buildings and learn about the town’s origins from informational plaques mounted on lamp posts. The gentle hum of a quiet morning sets the pace for discovering hidden murals tucked into alleyways.

Step into the Sherwood History Center to view rotating exhibits on local pioneers and early settlers. Wander next door to a cozy gallery showcasing works by Pacific Northwest artists and try your hand at a quick watercolor demo. Pause for a light deli lunch under a shady oak tree in the town square.

Reserve a table at a farm-to-table bistro featuring seasonal produce from nearby Tualatin Valley farms. After dinner, wander the lantern-lit streets to discover live acoustic music spilling out of a small pub. End the night with a scoop of artisanal ice cream while watching lanterns flicker in storefront windows.

Arrive early at the Tualatin River launch to meet your guide and learn paddling basics on calm waters. Glide downstream past herons, beavers, and the lush alder-lined banks that define this peaceful corridor. The reflected morning light on the water makes every stroke feel meditative.

Pull ashore for a riverside picnic prepared by a local caterer, featuring cheese from nearby dairies and fresh fruit. Continue paddling toward a hidden side channel where osprey often nest and purple irises bloom along the shoreline. Pause to practice silent drifting, letting the current carry you beneath towering cottonwoods.

Return to Sherwood in time to rinse off at your inn and freshen up. Dine at a waterfront grill that offers panoramic river views and locally brewed ales on tap. As dusk settles, enjoy the sound of frogs calling from marshes just beyond the patio.

Head to the Sherwood Farmers Market to sample heirloom tomatoes, hand-pulled honeycomb, and artisanal breads straight from the ovens of local bakers. Chat with growers about their sustainable farming methods and admire vivid bouquets of dahlias and sunflowers. Sip freshly pressed cider while listening to a folk trio playing in the center of the pavilion.

Cross the street to Cazadero Arts Studio for a guided tour of glassblowing demonstrations and clay wheel lessons. Try your hand at forming a pinch pot or blowing a small glass ornament under expert supervision. Learn about the history of arts in the Pacific Northwest as you sculpt and shape your own keepsake.

Settle into a wood-fired Italian restaurant where the chef sources produce from the very market you visited earlier. Watch as pizza dough is tossed overhead and pies are slid into a roaring brick oven. After dinner, linger over a local dessert wine while chatting with friendly neighbors at communal picnic tables.

Take a scenic drive south through rolling vineyards to reach a boutique winery overlooking misty rows of grapes. Meet the winemaker for a behind-the-scenes tour of barrel rooms and fermentation tanks. Sample a crisp Chardonnay as the morning sun warms the cellars.

Enjoy a gourmet cheese and charcuterie pairing perched on a sunlit terrace with panoramic valley views. Learn about biodynamic practices during a stroll among the vines with the vineyard manager. Try your hand at corking and labeling a bottle to take home as a souvenir.

Return to Sherwood in time for a relaxed dinner at a cozy pub known for its seasonal small plates and local pinot noir selections. Chat with fellow travelers about favorite vintages and swap tales of your winery stops. Cap the evening with a short walk along lantern-lit sidewalks back to your lodgings.

Arrive at the historic Pioneer Playhouse for a backstage tour that reveals century-old stage machinery and original playbills pinned to weathered walls. Try on period costumes and pose for photos under vintage theater lights. The warm wooden seats and hand-painted backdrops bring theater history to life.

Stay for a matinee performance by a local troupe staging classic comedies or family-friendly dramas. Grab a lemonade in the lobby and mingle with actors during the intermission. After the show, join a short improv workshop led by the director to hone your stage presence.

Return to the Playhouse for an evening production featuring live music and interactive storytelling. Savor pre-show hors d’oeuvres in the courtyard under string lights. After curtain call, meet the cast over coffee and pastries to discuss the performance and upcoming season.

Drive out to Tollgate Farm to wander lush demonstration gardens showcasing heirloom vegetables, fragrant herbs, and heirloom roses. Join a guided tour to learn about farm-to-table practices and organic composting techniques. Sample fresh berries straight from the patch as sunlight filters through maple leaves.

Participate in a seasonal cooking workshop in the farm’s rustic kitchen, turning garden harvests into savory vegetable tarts and herb-infused breads. Sit down for your homemade creations paired with fresh-pressed cider in a long communal table setting. Chat with other food enthusiasts about sustainable gardening tips.

Return to Sherwood for an al fresco dinner at a riverside café that features produce from Tollgate Farm. Enjoy a relaxing riverside stroll afterward, listening to water trickle over stones in the early evening glow. Wrap up the night with a light dessert and a warm cup of chai by a crackling fire pit.

Arrive at the Rice Northwest Museum to marvel at dazzling mineral specimens, oversized geodes, and glittering fossil displays. Join a guided tour to learn about the geology of the Pacific Northwest and the formation of Oregon’s volcanic landscapes. Try your hand at identifying minerals with a geologist’s loupe at an interactive station.

Head outside to the museum’s lapidary studio for a hands-on workshop in polishing stones and cutting geodes. Create your own cabochon to set later as a pendant or keepsake. Then, explore the surrounding gardens dotted with native wildflowers and interpretive geology markers.

Return to town for dinner at a gastropub themed around natural history, where cocktails are served in test-tube glasses and appetizers are presented on slate trays. Watch an evening lecture or short documentary screening about meteorite hunting. Cap the night with a stargazing session in the museum’s telescopic observatory if available.

Tee off at Langdon Farms Golf Club under a blanket of early-morning fog and dew-covered fairways. Enjoy panoramic views of the Coast Range as you navigate tree-lined holes and water hazards. The crisp air and gentle clinks of clubs set a serene sporting pace.

Swap your clubs for a bike and explore the Tualatin River Greenway Trail, weaving past wetlands and bird sanctuaries. Stop for a riverside picnic beneath cedar canopies and watch kingfishers dart above the water. Continue to the community park for a leisurely paddleboard lesson among lily pads.

Return to Sherwood for a sunset barbecue at a riverside pavilion, grilling local salmon and seasonal vegetables. Toast with craft beer from a neighboring brewery that features live bluegrass music on weekends. As twilight falls, gather by a fire pit to share outdoor adventure stories under a star-filled sky.

Start with an early visit to a specialty coffee roastery for a tasting flight of single-origin beans and a demonstration on artisanal roasting methods. Sip a rich espresso while chatting with the roaster about flavor profiles and bean sourcing. Pick up a bag of freshly roasted beans to brew later at home.

Embark on a self-guided tasting tour of Sherwood’s boutique breweries and cider houses, sampling hop-forward IPAs, crisp session ales, and sparkling fruit ciders. Pair each drink with gourmet food cart bites, from Korean-style tacos to gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. Learn about the fermentation process at one brewery offering behind-the-scenes tours.

Dine at a trendy gastropub where the chef collaborates with brewers to create beer-infused dishes and seasonal brews. Watch the brewer create small-batch releases in the open-concept taproom. End your evening with a flight of dessert stouts while enjoying an outdoor fire pit lounge.

Time your visit to coincide with Sherwood’s seasonal festival, arriving early to beat the crowds and snag the best market finds. Explore artisan booths selling handmade pottery, jewelry, and local preserves under colorful festival tents. Savor a maple-glazed donut drizzled with local honey.

Catch live music on the main stage featuring folk ensembles and acoustic singer-songwriters. Participate in traditional craft demonstrations, from broom making to quilt quilting, led by longtime Sherwood artisans. Refuel with regional street food favorites like Belgian waffles and gourmet pretzels.

As the festival lights glow against the evening sky, gather around a bonfire for storytelling and sing-alongs. Enjoy a farewell dinner at a riverside bistro offering a special festival prix-fixe menu showcasing local ingredients. Conclude your Sherwood journey with a lantern-lit stroll along Main Street, reflecting on ten days of discovery.