Just when you think it can’t get any prettier here, it does.
Fall is the perfect time to get out to enjoy all the colors and Benton County's seasonal harvest. You can take a walk or a bike ride down on the riverfront, where the trees will stun you with their vibrant colors, or visit the local farmers market on Wednesdays and Saturdays to gather fresh fruit and veggies for delicious meals at home.
If you want a more “country” experience, there are plenty of options to get out and explore. Benton County’s diverse economy is based largely on agriculture, growing products that include Christmas trees, wine grapes, seed crops, dairy, sheep, produce and more. There are a variety ways to connect with our local farmers and gardeners.
Starting out from downtown Corvallis head up 2nd Street, which becomes Highway 20, and you will quickly find yourself surrounded by a number of wonderful small farms with tons of opportunity to get out of your car and explore.
First stop is the Melon Shack, which offers a corn maze, a haunted corn maze and plenty of pumpkins in October, and plenty of melons and produce the rest of the time, to bring home and enjoy. Just a bit north make sure and stop at Davis Family Farms, where you will find fruits and veggies from spring and all summer. During October they offer pumpkin patch hay rides that are a hoot and just might become your favorite memory from this fall.
Further up on the same highway, make sure to stop at Garland Nursery. Family-owned for four generations, this nursery is a Willamette Valley destination. They have over six acres of trees, shrubs, houseplants, bonsai and garden supplies. Their gift shop is stocked full of unusual decorative items and practical accessories, making this nursery a top pick year round.
Just a bit farther north you'll encounter Midway Farms, which hosts all kinds of fun events, including cider pressing, farm experience days camps for kids, farm-to-table dinners, Halloween and harvest fun, and more.
Just to the west of Corvallis off Highway 34 lies Philomath. There are several not-to-be-missed spots, beginning with Gathering Together Farm, an organic farm growing a wide array of organic produce, along with a store and a seasonal restaurant. On your way out there is another gardeners’ paradise, Shonnard’s Nursery. Also a family-owned and -operated garden facility, they have offered advice to Corvallis gardeners for over twenty-five years.
Keep going until you reach the fork in the road that leads you to Alsea. There you will find two places that will be sure to make a lasting fall impression. Stop in at Thyme Garden, offering organically grown seeds and plants, bulk dried teas and wonderful seasonings. Another uniquely Benton County experience is Leaping Lamb Farm Stay. Located in the Coast range of Oregon, this is a small farm that offers overnight stays in a private farm cottage, and it’s also a perfect place to picnic and pet the animals.
We invite you to come out and enjoy!
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