Recommended for you

Start writing a post

Travel

My Dream Vacation Was A Trip To Tillamook, OR, America's 'Cheese Paradise'

This cheese vacation was exactly what I needed in my life.

Rachel Hardin

Apr 10, 2019

Western Washington University

My Dream Vacation Was A Trip To Tillamook, OR, America's 'Cheese Paradise'

Rachel Hardin

I live, breath and sleep cheese. I don't care if it's sharp, yellow, orange, old or smelly just hand it over. Recently my mother, who is also an avid cheese lover, took me on my dream vacation to not one but TWO amazing creamery's, Tillamook and Blue Heron and let me tell you that it was better than I ever dreamed it could be.

I'm going to start off with the most amazing parts of the Tillamook Creamery.

Abundance of cheeses.

Never in my life have I seen so much cheese, even though my fridge is 60% cheese, piles, yes PILES, of cheese all over the place. The first stop on the self-guided tour is to the cheese sampling stand, they seriously have it all there, and you look and see about 100 bricks of cheese being cubed by an industrial cheese cutter (talk about dream job), and eat your way down the line and into a pleasant cheese coma.

The ENTIRE cheese process.

As a self-guided tour entails, you gotta do it yourself, and you can walk window to window watching the entire process. From milk transportation to the formation of bricks being sent off to be aged nothing is held back. This was a really cool part of the tour because for once there is an honest food company that takes pride in the process and manufacturing of their product AND they aren't hiding anything.

Quick side notes:

1. The cheese goes through a metal detector to make sure none of the machinery got in there (it would hurt if something got in there)

2. All of the cheese blocks have to match a size chart so when you open one of the big bricks of cheese and there is a small unattached piece at the top/side it was added to make sure you get what you're paying for

3. They do not waste any of the cheese when they have to cut it off to make it fit the size, they take it to be made into their shredded cheese, and if that's not super cool, then I don't know what is.

Gift shop transports you to heaven.

If Chip and Joanna Gaines ran a Creamery gift shop, this would be it. Filled with wall to wall fridges filled with you guessed it, CHEESE and local products. I could easily spend my entire paycheck here. Cute sweatshirts, hats, pins, stickers, wooden charcuterie boards (Google what a charcuterie tray is and thank me later) and all the latest inventions (new unreleased flavors of ice cream!!!) I was in heaven. Then I turned the corner to the ice cream parlor area and left with two giant ice cream cones of new flavors (blood orange! yummmmy!)

I could talk about Tillamook cheese for the rest of my life (I probably will) and I strongly encourage anyone to visit if they get the chance.

But the next best place in the entirety of Tillamook, Oregon would be the Blue Heron Creamery, which is known for its (amazing) brie and attached wine area, and surprisingly its petting zoo.

1. Setting

You start off by driving into a petting zoo with llamas, pigs, sheep, and large birds, then you pull up to this house looking area with the most amazing view of the mountains on a clear day, and finally, you're inside where the magic happens. You will think to yourself "a place with animals no thanks" but wait until you try the brie

2. Candy

Zots, Abba Zabas, whistle head candies, Razzles and anything you can remember is probably in their gift store. Then you turn around to see their handmade chocolates and truffles shaped like bees, pigs, rabbits, and more along with beautiful chocolates, caramels, and creams. This place was like candy heaven.

3. The Cheese

Anything really in the store you can sample, or get a cheese tray with all the cheese for you to try, and it is so good. The brie is amazing, and the staff is super friendly when helping you find the right cheese for you.

This cheese vacation was exactly what I needed in my life, and I hope that everyone at some point gets to experience these amazing gift shops. Best weekend vacation of my life!

travel

Report this Content

This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Entertainment

25 Beatles Lyrics: Your Go-To Guide for Every Situation

The Best Lines from the Fab Four

SUNY Binghamton

125189

Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less

best beatles lyrics

Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Smith College

182078

college students waiting in a long line in the hallway

StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

waitlisted

Recommended for you

My Dream Vacation Was A Trip To Tillamook, OR, America's 'Cheese Paradise'

This cheese vacation was exactly what I needed in my life.

Abundance of cheeses.

The ENTIRE cheese process.

Gift shop transports you to heaven.

1. Setting

2. Candy

3. The Cheese

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

Trending Topics

Top Creators

Trending Stories

Best of Travel

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments

Subscribe to our
Newsletter