Summertime U-Pick Farms, Lavender Festivals and Country Shops in Newberg, Oregon
The rolling hills and blooming rows of lavender throughout the Willamette Valley of Oregon beckon nature lovers, far and wide, to stop and smell the flowers. Whether you are a city dweller looking for a fun summer outdoor activity or someone who just loves to forage for things, picking lavender from a farm or from a cute country herb shop is a great way to enjoy nature’s bounty. Just 25 minutes southwest of Portland, in the town of Newberg, you’ll find plenty of lavender adventures to delight your senses during the summer months. And as a Bed & Breakfast in the heart of Newberg, the innkeepers of Chehalem Ridge B&B are happy to share the best places to find lavender in the Willamette Valley.
From Farm to Fest
Walking distance from our wine country B&B, Chehalem Ridge Bed & Breakfast in Newberg, sits the picturesque U-Pick lavender farm, Wayward Winds. July through mid-August, 10am – 5pm daily, guests can meander through rows of fragrant Angustifolia (English) lavender and a variety of Intermedia lavender, plus a cleverly landscaped lavender maze. Along with their U-Pick offerings, the dedicated team at Wayward Winds also makes a diverse selection of lavender household goods, personal care products and culinary treats. Don’t miss their award-winning lavender essential oil or delicious lavender syrups. They have eight(!) different variations of syrup including inventive flavors like Lavender Pear and Lavender Ginger Peach. The farm also offers lavender wreath-making classes and lavender 101 classes. Check out their online events calendar for class times.
The fun doesn’t stop there! A ten minute drive down the mountain from Wayward Winds will drop you in downtown Newberg at the Willamette Valley Lavender Festival and Plein Art Show. The town’s Chehalem Cultural Center hosts the annual community event the second weekend of July. This festival for the senses showcases arts and crafts, culinary treats with food trucks offering lavender infused food & beverages and will have 150 Plein Air painters showcasing this year’s lavender-inspired pieces.
Market, to Market
Another stop along the lavender trail is Chehalem Flats Farm Market, open Friday & Saturday 10 – 5, where you’ll find a darling Willamette Valley country store carrying all sorts of lavender infused sundries, hand-crafted kitchenware, pottery, artisan goods and delectable snacks. Outside the store, you’ll find an array of plants and herbs including beautifully landscaped fields of lavender. Newberg residents Matt and Randi Way brought their family out one rainy June afternoon and their youngest, Ellie, in her yellow rain jacket, loved sniffing all the different colored lavender. Randi raved, “It’s an inexpensive way to get outdoors with the family”. At $5 a bundle and stocked with other potted plants and veggie starts at affordable prices, it is a nice alternative to visiting the gardening section at Home Depot.
Owner Jan Ellings loves providing a farm for folks to get out of the house (or busy city life) and enjoy the beauty of nature. Keep an eye out for fun new additions to the store and for wreath-making classes on their facebook page and, in the meantime, get out to visit between now and mid-December. Once lavender season is over they also have U-Pick Figs in July and fresh veggies through the Fall.
Purple Pauses Between Tastings
If you want a purple break amidst wine adventures to our southwest (for example, tasting at Anderson Family Wines), we suggest stopping in at the farm of Little Lavender Shop. Owner and farmer Pam Baker makes bouquets and wreaths of fresh cut stems as well as her soaps, lip balms, salve and fresh and dried bouquets. She has lovely gift packs ready to make a friend’s day relaxing and soothing. The farm is open Thursday – Sunday, 9-1.
If you are headed southeast of us for your tasting (say, to Beckham Estate), you’ll find yourself near Carriage House Lavender Farm with acres of lavender set with a restored carriage house as a backdrop and a charming gazebo. With a park-like setting, guests are welcome to bring a picnic (we have picnic backpacks at the B&B for borrowing) or order from a local deli for delivery of your picnic. U-Cut and pre-cut lavender is available, as is a variety of lavender products at their farm store. They are open daily June-August, 10am to 7pm.
But wait, there’s more Lavender across the Willamette Valley!
Miss Hannah’s Popcorn in Newberg has seasonal lavender-y flavors to their standard popcorns, including Honey lavender and White Chocolate Lavender, throughout the month.
Lemon and Olive, Newberg’s casual Mediterranean restaurant, is serving refreshing lavender lemonade and Lavender Olive Oil Cakes.
Brixeur Spirits, the liquor arm of Trisateum Winery, is tasting their gin made with locally farmed lavender from Chehalem Flats, and end lavender-themed cocktail.
Cream Northwest in Newberg homemade ice cream with lavender flavors.
Lavender Vale Farms, a bit further of a drive out past McMinnville, has the traditional fields of lavender… WITH GOATS! Open Saturdays & Sundays 9am-4pm starting June 14.
Thistle & Bloom, farm with U-Cut available, open daily June-July 10-6
Durant at Red Ridge, wine and olive oil aren’t the only farming going on here. They have lavender, too!
Stay Local to your Adventures along the Newberg Lavender Trail
Keep in mind all you foragers and nature lovers: before the apple orchards, pumpkin patches and Christmas tree farms of fall and winter there is this heavenly season of fragrant, vibrant blooms brought out by Oregon’s summer splendor. The idyllic scenery and the aromatic surroundings that a lavender-hunting road trip offers may be just what you need in your life right now. Add our Lavender Refresh Package, which includes lavender lemonade, lavender shortbread cookies and a lavender bath tea bag, to your relaxing stay at our wine country Bed & Breakfast, and you have yourself a perfect weekend getaway. Come experience Newberg. We’d love to host you and be your guide to all things lavender. Give us a call at 503-538-3474 or check us out at www.chehalemridge.com.
Lavender Refresh
Enjoy the peaceful, soothing calm of lavender from the region.
Available during the month of July, this package includes:
- Lavender Lemonade
- Lavender Shortbread Cookies
- Lavender Bath Tea Bag
