THINGS TO DO WHILE YOU'RE HERE
(And there's lots!)
Spend the morning exploring historic neighborhoods, the afternoon outside, and still make it back in time to accomplish absolutely nothing on the porch. And that may be the best thing about staying here: you don’t have to choose between doing things and actually having a vacation.
Wander Downtown Forest Grove
Start close to home. Downtown Forest Grove is easy to explore on foot, with local restaurants, shops, galleries, historic buildings, and plenty of places to stop when walking suddenly feels unnecessarily ambitious. Grab coffee. Find lunch. Browse somewhere you didn’t intend to go into. Take the long way back. There is no prize for efficiency here.
Explore a Little History
Walk through Forest Grove’s historic neighborhoods and Pacific University’s leafy campus, where Old College Hall has been standing since 1850. The surrounding streets are filled with homes from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, so even an aimless walk can become an architecture tour.
And unlike an official architecture tour, nobody will test you afterward.
Find the Giant Sequoias
Forest Grove is home to two of Oregon’s largest Giant Sequoias. They are enormous. They are old. They are considerably more impressive in person than any reasonable description of a tree has a right to be. See them and allow every ordinary tree you encounter afterward to disappoint you slightly.
Taste Your Way Through Wine Country
Forest Grove sits at the gateway to Oregon wine country, with dozens of wineries and tasting rooms scattered through the surrounding countryside. Spend an afternoon wandering between vineyards, enjoying the views, and confidently discussing aromas, finishes, and mysterious “notes” you may or may not actually be detecting.Nobody is checking. The drive itself is part of the experience, with rolling hills, farmland, vineyards, and enough scenery to make taking the longer route seem entirely reasonable.
Try Something Besides Wine.
If wine is not your thing, but you cannot abandon the noble pursuit of drinking locally made things, Forest Grove is home to Oregon-made craft saké, offering a decidedly different tasting experience Think of it as broadening your cultural horizons. Very responsibly.
Wander Fernhill Wetlands
Almost within walking distance from us, Fernhill Wetlands offers miles of peaceful scenery, easy walking, wildlife viewing, and excellent birding.It’s a great place for an early-morning walk, an afternoon wander, or simply escaping somewhere quiet enough that the loudest thing bothering you may be a goose. Fair warning: geese have opinions.
Spend the Day at Hagg Lake
Henry Hagg Lake is close enough for an easy day trip and offers hiking, biking, fishing, paddling, boating, picnicking, and plenty of room to simply sit beside the water. You can spend the day being impressively outdoorsy. Or you can bring lunch, admire the scenery, and watch somebody else kayak.
We recognize both as valid recreational choices.
Head for the Forest
If you want more trees, and apparently Oregon believes there is no such thing as enough trees, Tillamook State Forest and L.L. Stub Stewart State Park are within easy reach. Hike, bike, ride horseback, explore forest trails, or simply disappear into the greenery for a few hours.
Come back muddy, tired, and suddenly very appreciative of showers, clean sheets, and furniture.
Take the Scenic Route
Not everything needs a destination. The countryside surrounding Forest Grove is full of vineyards, farms, wooded hills, and quiet roads that make wandering by car surprisingly worthwhile.
Pick a direction. Take the road that looks interesting. Stop somewhere unexpected.
Eventually your phone can figure out how to get you back. Probably.
Spend Some Time at Pacific University
You don’t need to be attending an event to enjoy Pacific University’s Forest Grove campus.
Take a walk beneath the old trees, explore the historic buildings, or simply enjoy one of the prettiest corners of town. If you are visiting for graduation, Family Weekend, a sporting event, reunion, or campus visit, congratulations: you’re staying close enough that transportation does not need to become its own separate crisis.
Catch Something Local
Forest Grove has a habit of finding reasons to gather. Depending on when you visit, you might find farmers markets, theater performances, wine walks, art events, Oktoberfest, the annual Corn Roast, Concours d’Elegance, seasonal celebrations, and other community events happening around town.
Check what’s going on while you’re here. You may accidentally end up having plans.
Eat Something Good
Exploring becomes considerably less charming when everyone is hungry. Forest Grove has plenty of local places to grab breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, dessert, or the emergency afternoon snack you absolutely did not need until approximately thirty seconds ago. Downtown is close enough that you can walk to dinner, enjoy yourself, and wander back without having to turn the evening into a transportation strategy meeting.
Do Absolutely Nothing
This is also an activity. Come back to the inn. Claim a spot on the wraparound porch. Bring coffee, wine, a book, a friend, or absolutely nothing. Watch the neighborhood go by. Take a nap. Sit longer than intended. Your vacation does not require measurable productivity. In fact, we strongly discourage it.
Make the Stay Your Own
Spend the morning wine tasting and the afternoon hiking. Spend the morning hiking and the afternoon recovering from your terrible decision to spend the morning hiking. Explore downtown. Visit the university. Go searching for Giant Sequoias. Take a drive through wine country. Sit beside the lake. Or make absolutely no plans at all. Forest Grove gives you plenty to do. Relax Inn the Grove gives you somewhere comfortable to come back to when you’re done. And, fortunately, the porch will still be here. Almost as if it's just waiting on you to return.