Hi friends, my name is Lin Zuo, a recent Mass Communication graduate from the University of Oklahoma and a former marketing communication professional in Beijing China. I am currently living in Corvallis with my aunt and her family – an adventurous guy, two naughty boys and a cute puppy.
I am a big fan of travel. One of my favorite quotations is “The world is a whole big book. If you don’t travel, you just read the first page of the book.” It is the reason why I came to US in the first place-to the see the world and to explore how people enjoy life in different places. I have been travelled a lot of landmark cities in US such as New York City, Chicago, San Francisco and Miami. But when I came to Corvallis, I was still impressed by Corvallis’ green landscapes, various outdoor activities and diverse artistic and cultural events. Corvallis is a great place to live. We have so many beautiful things to appreciate in our everyday’s life. I like to be waken by a bird in the morning, ride a bicycle to my office, shop the local craft stores, check the different cultural events and go camping and hiking on the weekend. Life is healthy, relaxing and enjoyable here.
I have a wonderful time in Corvallis, and like to share my views with anybody who might love the lifestyle of Corvallis. I will start to post my experience in Corvallis Tourism’s blogs and expect to have more chat with you guys.
Lin Zuo
Filed under: Recreation, Relaxation, green, tourism | Tags: Art, corvallis, Gilded Glass, Glass Art, Glass Blowing, Jan Maitland, Skip Horton
Sun Dance Martini Gilded Glass by Jan Maitland
Corvallis is known for being a city of art and culture. We also take great pride in the diverse ways that people choose to express themselves. Two artist who take this to a new level are Skip Horton and Jan Maitland. Their unique style of mastering glass artwork has created a new definition of sustainability in art.
Skip Horton is what you would call an all around artistic guy, he has been a potter, custom furniture maker, and a luthier. His interest in glass blowing started in 1978 and has since grown. Skip and his wife Donna’s interest were so profound that they opened Gazelle Glass, which has been around for more than 30 years. Their unique passion for creating glass blown items (mostly salt and pepper shakers) has brought their art to people all over the country.
Jan Maitland is an internationally awarded pastel artist, however a true passion of hers lies in gilded glass. Her work in glass is a take on the art of many others from all over the world. However, it is also complemented by her own style, a style that has evolved to the use of gold and silver gilding, enamel painting, reverse painting, and the use of millefiori beaded accents. More information about both her pastel and glass work can be found on her website.
Filed under: Recreation, Relaxation, green, tourism | Tags: corvallis, Historic, Historic Homes, Homes, Tour, Trolley, Trolley Tour
Photo by Corvallis Tourism
Due to interests in the last blog, regarding the Historic Homes Walking Tours, we felt a follow up would be needed. It occurred to us that while walking to see historic homes would be fun and exciting, riding in an old trolley through the beautiful streets of Corvallis would be even better.
Every summer Corvallis Tourism sponsors the Historic Homes Trolley Tour. Participants ride in a large replica of an old 1900’s trolley. The tours offer a uniqueway to see the historic sites of the city and are fun for visitors and residents alike. The tours are narrated, and people are often surprised to find out some of the original owners stories of how they contributed to the founding of Corvallis.
The trolley tour begins at the 1856 Benjamin Biddle House (believed to be the oldest home in formal Corvallis). The trolley then winds down city streets and covers architecture reflective of Queen Ann-style, Craftsman, Prairie and Colonial Revival. Small bungalows behind sycamore and oak trees dot the landscape as the narrated guide takes the participant on a romp through history. The final leg of the tour runs past 7th and 8th street and covers the 1909 Presbyterian Church and the Willamette Valley & Coast Railroad Depot.
Reservations for the tour are free can be made by calling Corvallis Tourism at 541-757-1544, spots fill up fast so it is advised to call in advance. Dates are July 11 and 25, as well as August 8, 15, 22 and 29.
Filed under: Recreation, Relaxation, green, tourism | Tags: Architecture, Avery-Helm, College Hill West, corvallis, Historic, Homes, Walking Tours
1892 Victorian Style Home (Photo from the Preservation Directory)
Rich in history, Corvallis contains building styles reflective of numerous architectural eras. One can not walk the streets without standing in the shadows of buildings ranging from the mid 1800’s to the present. Two famous districts that are registered nationally as historic places are the Avery-Helm and College Hill West Historic Districts.
The Avery-Helm Historic District, located downtown, contains some of the earliest structures Corvallis has to offer. This district includes nine full blocks and ten partial blocks laid out on a grid system. The buildings range from 1870’s Gothic Revival, to a surge of early 1900’s Praire and Craftsman style Bungalows. The area is part of the original 1845 land claim by Joseph Avery that encompassed 568 acres, which would eventually become known as Corvallis.
Another famed historical architecture area is the College Hill West Historic District. The buildings housed in this district cover the early 1900’s and offer styles reminiscent of Tudor, Bungalow, and Colonial. A walking route starting at 27th and Arnold takes the participant though over 250 historic homes refletive of an early community of pragmatic, middle income homes that belonged to professional working class individuals.
Maps of these routes and others can be found at Corvallis Tourism. The walking routes are self guided and can take any where from 30 minutes to two hours depending on the details a person is interested in. If anything, these tours are a great way to enjoy a walk on a beautiful day, while learning about some of the history behind Corvallis.
Filed under: green, tourism | Tags: Art, Carbony, corvallis, Harps, Instrument Making, Music, Violin
Photo By Thormahlen Harps
Music is a huge part of the vibrant culture of Corvallis and it is no coincidence that it is also a “Green” scene as well. This week features three unique music crafting methods used in the Willamette Valley.
Rob Gandara is the inventor of the Pipe Makers Union, an eco-friendly carbon fiber wind instrument company. This unique style of instrument making uses no trees and produces no traceable carbon admissions. The company specializes in old world music and strives to put their unique trademark to as many types of instruments as possible. More information about the use of Carbony instrument making can be found on Rob’s website
Jonathan Franke began making violins in 1985. He currently builds instruments full time in a hilltop shop overlooking the Willamette Valley. Franke takes great pride in meticulously hand crafting fine wooden instruments in an ecologically sustainable manner. His years of experience has produced elegant violins that can be found on his website, Pro Violins.
Sharon and Dave Thormahlen have been making their trademarked wooden harps for nearly 25 years. their unique style of creation has produced world class Harps in an eco-friendly manner. Dave builds the harps with his assistant Tommy Nunn, while Sharon strings and tunes them. They also teach a guitar building class for those interested in creating their own musical art. More information about Thormahlen Harps can be found by clicking here.
To read more about all of this weeks featured melody makers, please visit Corvallis Tourism’s online destination guide.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Avery, Benton County, corvallis, Flowers, Garden, nature, Park, Romantic, Rose, Willamette
Photo By Judy Waring Smith
As early as May the colors of Corvallis come to life as the flowers begin to bloom at the Avery Park Rose Garden. The park is an AARS (American Association of Rose Suppliers) display garden, representing the best new rose varieties introduced each year. In addition to roses there is also a rhododendron garden, creating an even more brilliant display of colors that has appeared in countless pictures by professional and amateur photographers.
Overall, the rose garden displays 1200 bushes with 250 varieties represented. The park is open during daylight hours and admission is free. The best times to visit are between May and October when the flowers are in full bloom. More information is available through Corvallis Parks and Recreation.
This peaceful and vibrant location is a great place to start or end your day. It gives new meaning to the phrase “wake up and smell the roses”.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Being the top rated Green Power Community by the EPA is a hard reputation to live up to. The answer that Corvallis has mounted, is being designated a “Bike Friendly City” by Bike USA, and ranking ninth nationally by proportion of people who cycle to work.
With over 60 miles of bike path to chose from, visitors and residents enjoy cycling through parks and within city limits. The paths are so popular that it’s not uncommon for local vineyards to offer wine tasting to bicyclists. In hopes that this “green” trend catches on, Corvallis Tourism is offering wine biking tours in the summer. This event is called ”Bicyclettes De Vin” and literally translates into “wine cycling”. The tours can be found on the tourism bicycling website.
A more tailored approach is also being offered by using a new interactive bicycle map. This allows people to select their distance and level of difficulty, which produces a personalized tour path. There are also 27 route suggestions that can be found on the website.
Filed under: Relaxation, green | Tags: Aqua, corvallis, Fine Dinning, Fish, Restaurant
I would not call my self a restaurant connoisseur by any means, however I have had an amazing experience at Aqua Seafood Restaurant and Bar in Corvallis. Aqua is located along the waterfront, in the historic and LEED certified Water Street Market. It provides scenic views of the Willamette River while creating a rustic, yet sophisticated dining atmosphere. The interior is lined with saltwater fish tanks and themed in a natural wood and florescent blue décor. The colors and theme are further exacerbated by a full bar that is in-line with the rest of the buildings style to create a comfortably elegant dinning experience.
The food is not only delectable, but is stunningly presented and matched with a superb wine and drink list. This can partly attributed to Chef Adam Kekahuna, a culinary expert hailing from Oahu, Hawaii, who is the executive chef of the restaurant. The rest can be seen as an extension of Chef Ian Duncan, a Corvallis restaurant dreamer who has years of experience in fine dinning establishments. His success with Aqua has been coupled with Le Bistro, serving traditional French cuisine.
With the success of these two fine establishments, Corvallis residents have long awaited the opening of Terzo, an Italian Restaurant located just below Aqua. The question in everyone’s mind is, “what will Ian Duncan come up with next.” Until this question can be answered we must enjoy the three fine dining facilities that are currently available, and eagerly await the next.
Filed under: Recreation, Relaxation, green, organic, tourism | Tags: Benton County Historical Museum, corvallis, Experience, Finley Wildlife Refuge, Gathering Together Farm, green, Greengable Garden, Loop, Mary's Peak, nature, Peak, Pegasus Frame Studio, Rose Garden, Thyme Garden, Tyee Wine
(Photo by delina)
The Peak Experience Local Loop is a collaborative self guided tour of local countryside attractions, in and around the Corvallis area. It is sponsored by Greengable Gardens, Gathering Together Farms, Pegasus Frame Studio & Gallery, Tyee Wine Cellars, and the Thyme Garden. The loop highlights family farms and local artisans, which are cornerstone for the Willamette Valley community. By visiting the local business’s along the tour, visitors help to keep the local economy thriving and contribute to healthy foods and farm-scapes.
The loop starts out just outside of Philomath with a tour of Greengable Gardens, Gathering Together Farms, and a walk through the Benton County Historical Museum. From there, participants head to Corvallis for a stroll through the Rose Garden and Pegasus Frame Studio & Gallery. After the exciting romp through town, the tour heads south to Tyee Wine Cellars/Buchanan Family Century Farm and Finley Wildlife Refuge. The final leg of this experience heads east to Thyme Garden and breathtaking views of Marys Peak.
The Peak Experience Local Loop is a great way to spend a day learning, and seeing, some of the greenest areas the Mid-Willamette Valley has to offer. The tour can be done all in one day, or broken up to highlight individual interests. This tour is a must for anyone who loves the outdoors, and is for both visitors and residents alike.
Further information about the tour can be found at the Corvallis online destination guide by clicking here
Filed under: Recreation, Relaxation, green, tourism | Tags: Civil War, corvallis, Fort Hoskins, Military, Siletz
(Photo From Oregon Live)
Fort Hoskins can trace its history back over 150 years ago to 1856, in Kings Valley, Oregon (at that time simply called the O.T. or Oregon Territory.) It was created to protect and monitor emerging coastal Indian reservations following the Rogue River Indian War. The fort held a garrison of 150 men, up to, and through the Civil War. It was closed just nine years after its creation in 1865. The fast closure of this fort has left much archaeological evidence intact. It is not uncommon for visitors to see roped off areas full of aspiring OSU Anthropology students.
In 1991 the fort was purchased by Benton County as a 130-acre historical site, which was later converted into a public day use park. Today, visitors can enjoy picnicking, educational interpretive displays, self guided trails, and the occasional Civil War reenactment. Fort Hoskins serves as a fantastic opportunity for visitors to see a piece of Oregon military history. From the expansive historical information to the breathtaking nature views, the fort offers a little bit for history buffs and nature enthusiasts alike.
A wonderfully detailed history concerning the creation of Fort Hoskins can be found here.
