NOVEMBER 2009 | vol 3.1
THIS ISSUE:
FIREPLACE IDEAS
Handmade Holidays Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge Home Design Comes Down to Earth
MaxAvenue Homeowners Club
OREGON’S FRUIT LOOP THE COLUMBIA RIVER ORCHARDS AND VINEYARDS by Leila Kalmbach
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THE LUSH HILLS SURROUNDING THE COLUMBIA RIVER SEEM TO HAVE SPRUNG LEAKS. YEARROUND, BUT ESPECIALLY IN THE RAINY SEASON, LITTLE WATERFALLS AND RIVULETS ARE EVERYWHERE ON THE SCENIC DRIVE ALONG THE HISTORIC COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY THAT FOLLOWS THE RIVER WEST TOWARD THE PACIFIC OCEAN. In the national scenic area known as the Columbia River Gorge, the river cuts through the Cascade Mountain Range and offers some beautiful views of the intersection of land, water and sky. On one side of the river, you can see snow-topped Mount Hood to the south; on the other, Mount St. Helens rises up in the distance. In nice weather, the river teams with kiteboarders, windsurfers, kayakers and whitewater rafters, and the hills overlooking the river are full of hikers searching out the many waterfalls the area is known for. The best-known, Multnomah Falls, cascades 620 feet and is the second-tallest year-round waterfall in the nation. In the fall, northern Oregon is a muted palette of grays and dark greens, with a rainbow of fall foliage adding color to the hills. A cool, light rain mists you just enough that a cup of hot, fresh apple cider tastes like paradise. In this color range, the majestic views of the mountains and river are perfect for calm reflection. An Oregon vineyard in the morning mist
The views alone would make the Columbia River Gorge worth a visit, but the area is also home to a wide variety of some of the freshest produce and best-tasting wines in the country. Near the town of Hood River, about an hour’s drive northeast of Portland, you’ll find the aptly named Hood River Fruit Loop. The Fruit Loop is a 35-mile drive through the fertile valley that takes you on a loop of 34 farms, orchards, wineries and country stores. Years of eruptions by Mount Hood have left Hood River with extremely fertile volcanic soil, perfect for growing fruit. The weather is ideal for pears and apples, which thrive in cool, crisp fall days. Fall in the Gorge brings pumpkins, gourds, chestnuts, pears and as many types of apples as you can imagine. Here you can buy freshly picked, seasonal produce year-round, or, in some cases, pick your own. LOCALE
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Stop at the Kiyokawa Family Orchards & Fruit Stand, which grows over 80 varieties of apples and pears. In the fall and early winter, they become a self-service fruit stand running on the honor system. Nutquacker Farms features fresh-roasted Colossal Chestnuts from October through mid-November. They also ship nationwide, so you can enjoy their chestnuts even if you can’t make it to the farm. For something sweet, try the Apple Valley Country Store and Bakery for pies, jams and jellies. Take a break from fruit at the Cascade Alpacas and Foothills Yarn & Fiber shop, where you can see the alpacas that provide the yarn, then get inspired to knit something of your own. The shop sells yarn, equipment and books to help get you started and keep you going throughout your project. The wineries’ tasting rooms provide much-needed respite from the damp, cool weather outside. While not as well-known for wine production as California, Oregon has been quietly gaining a reputation for itself as a producer of high-quality wines, particularly pinot noir, pinot gris, Syrah and Riesling. Hood River Vineyards showcases the best that locally grown grapes have to offer. This is the Gorge’s oldest winery, and all of its wines are produced from grapes grown on its on-site vineyard. They have a wide variety of reds, whites and fruit wines. Cathedral Ridge Winery was named the 2007 Oregon Winery of the Year by Wine Press Northwest. This winery offers tours and special events, has a wine club, and overlooks some beautiful views of Mount Adams and Mount Hood. For more information on the Fruit Loop and individual member locations, visit www.hoodriverfruitloop.com. A map of the Fruit Loop is available from the Hood River Visitor’s Center and at Fruit Loop locations.
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An orchard below Mount Hood. The volcanic soil has the perfect Ph balance for fruit trees.
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