Though the largest cities in Oregon are connected by Interstate 5 on the western side of the state, Portland, Salem, and Eugene are, surprisingly, not what you should focus on during your next road trip. There are smaller, pretty cities along this north-south highway, as well. One of them, Woodburn, is home to one of the largest tulip-and-daffodil-bulb farms in the Pacific Northwest: the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm.
Woodburn sits in between Portland and Salem in the Willamette Valley. The small city, home to about 30,000 people, is known for having a temperate climate. Its mild winters and warm summers make it an ideal spot to grow berries, hazelnuts, and flowers. Green parks fill the center of the city, as do outdoor festivals, which bring both the community and its visitors together.
Portland is the city that is known for having the best coffee in America. Its international airport, PDX, is just 45 miles north of Woodburn. Though an hourly shuttle runs between the airport and Woodburn, you will probably want to rent a car for this trip, since the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm lies on the outskirts of the city, and take Interstate 205 that connects from the airport to either Interstate 5, or Oregon Route 99E. While hotel options are limited, there are several chains off the highway, such as La Quinta and Best Western.
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Visit the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm
Hot air balloons at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm during the Tulip Festival in Woodburn in the Willamette Valley of Oregon – Thye-Wee Gn/Shutterstock
The Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is a destination in itself. The farm was established by a newlywed couple in 1950. They started raising six children and a lot of vegetables on the eastern edge of Woodburn. The first tulips were grown in 1975, and, after nearly a decade, they started opening their colorful fields for a Tulip Festival each spring. It now features hot air balloon rides and local craft and food vendors. A Summer Flowers festival eventually followed in 2024. Visitors can walk through a sunflower maze and pick cosmos, lilacs, and zinnias in July and August.
Luckily, visits to the farm are not limited to the festivals. Given its location in the Willamette Valley, the largest wine region in Oregon, it is not shocking that the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm also decided to start growing grapes. Wooden Shoe Vineyards planted their first vines in 2009 and started bottling their wines in 2012. You can sip their albariños, pinot gris, rosés, tempranillos, and pinot noirs in their tasting room from May to October.
Explore diverse downtown Woodburn
the outdoor beer garden at TopWire Hop Project in Woodburn in the Willamette Valley of Oregon – topwirehp / Facebook
After spending the morning at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, you should return to the center of Woodburn to see what other outdoor events are happening in the city. Its vibrant Mexican culture is noticeable right away. There are numerous Mexican restaurants downtown. There is also a three-day Fiesta Mexicana, featuring a parade, a soccer tournament, and Lucha libre, each summer.
Fridays on 1st & Front brings art galleries, live entertainment, and pop-up markets to Woodburn on the second Friday of every month. Tuesday nights in the summer are reserved for Music in the Park. TopWire Hop Project, a beer garden on Crosby Hop Farm, has food trucks and tasting flights with a glimpse of Mount Hood, the tallest mountain in the state.
More gorgeous views are just a short drive away. Twenty minutes from Woodburn, you will find the Oregon Garden in nearby Silverton, which boasts acres of beautiful scenery. Even farther south, you can discover Cottage Grove, Oregon’s ‘Covered Bridge Capital’, which boasts classic small town charm and serene natural beauty. Oregon’s big cities are pretty cool, but the smaller ones are where you will find all of the surprises.
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