The Willamette Valley is a lush 150-mile long valley in the heart of Oregon from Portland down to Cottage Grove. With fall foliage just nearing its peak and harvest season in full swing, now is a great time to visit for…
Author Archives: Tournesol Adventures
Great Family Excursions on the Oregon Coast
This past year has thrown a lot of curveballs to all of us, globally, and in the West. Catastrophic wildfires, a worldwide pandemic, and a megadrought have been part of the ‘new normal’ we are navigating while planning fun and safe experiences for our families. For us, one place has been a steady refuge throughout it all…
5 More Fun Outings on Central and North Whidbey Island
There are so many fun things to do on Whidbey Island that even former locals like myself continue to discover new outings worth sharing. Growing up on the island, I spent most of my time on the south end with occasional trips off the island, and didn’t often head north to explore. This past year, I decided to do something about that…
My Top 10 Things To Do in Seattle With Kids
Although I’ve lived and traveled elsewhere, Seattle remains one of my favorite cities to explore with and without my kids, because it is a manageable size while still offering top-notch cuisine and culture. Read on for a few of my favorite…
8 Spectacular Outdoor Excursions and Hikes in Central Oregon
We’re lucky to have family in Central Oregon, and have been visiting the Redmond/Bend area every year for more than 20 years. This post features our favorite hand-picked excursions and hikes…
Northwest Berry Guide: Growing, U-Pick and Foraging Tips in Oregon and Washington
Here in the Northwest, we have the perfect climate for growing a variety of berries, which begin to ripen as early as May with the first strawberries. Growing your own berries, visiting a U-pick farm, and foraging for wild berries are…
10 Budget Travel Tips for Adventurous Families
Dreaming of traveling again? Me too. With vaccinations picking up and restrictions being eased in parts of the world such as Europe, I wanted to share a few tips that have helped our family travel on a budget…
A Beautiful Spring Day Trip to My Brothers’ Farm in the Southern Willamette Valley
One idyllic spring day, with my nine-year-old son in tow, we headed out to My Brothers’ Farm in Creswell, Oregon to learn about organic hazelnut production. What we experienced was so much more: a bustling first-generation family farm realizing a beautiful vision of land stewardship, sustainability, partnership, and farm-to-table ethos…
7 Fun Things To Do in Family-Friendly Newport, Oregon This Spring (or Anytime)
In my recent post about Cannon Beach, I shared a few of our favorite things to do in this beautiful town along the Oregon coast, and Newport is another much-loved coastal destination that we have enjoyed every season of the year…
Take a Mini-Vacation in Stunning Cannon Beach, Oregon
I’m a big fan of the mini vacation. Getting away for three or four nights by car is just enough time to recharge and explore an area, but not so long that you will be derailed from bigger travel savings goals. We have taken many trips like this along the West Coast, including two to Cannon Beach, and…
Tournesol Adventures 