Leaving my friends in Washington, heading south on Highway 101 toward the coast, I crossed the bridge into Oregon, stopping on the far side of Astoria at the sight of a roadside Cornish pastie truck parked just off the highway. I was hungry and it was the best pastie I’d ever had, well worth the swerve off the road I’d chanced to get it.
I had 2 targets for the day, the Tillamook Cheese Factory and a hotel stay that I expected to be the highlight of the drive home, along with the world-class ocean views. The weather deteriorated as I neared the hometown of the one cheese that’s always in my fridge, Tillamook Extra Sharp White Cheddar, but I wasn’t worried, certain that cheese making and cheese-making viewing would not be impacted by the rain.
One cannot miss the colorful sign right on the highway in front of the 30,000 square foot visitor center of Tillamook Creamery, opened in 1966, run by the farmer-owned Tillamook County Creamery Association and one of the most popular visitor attractions in Oregon.
Entering under an enormous portrait of Flower the show cow . . .
. . . the self-guided tour begins up the flight of stairs just inside the door.
Visitors then have the pleasure of viewing a series of educational displays . . .
. . . and watching cheese production through windows above the factory floor.
Also visible from above are the gift shop . . .
. . . and the restaurant.
After hanging out for a while watching the cheese goings-on I checked out the gift shop thoroughly & bought myself a snack, cheese and crackers. I wished I’d had time for a real meal, the burgers looked good, but I was feeling the pull of Newport, 90 minutes down the road, and didn’t want to dawdle. It was pouring as I made my way to the parking lot, but time for just one more picture from under my umbrella before I drove away.
Visit the Tillamook Creamery website,
Next week from Newport at the Sylvia Beach Hotel.
And more stories are here.
