Things to Do in Hillsboro

Come late July, plumes of lavender-scented steam arise from Mountainside Lavender’s still and drift through the cool mountain air. As the season winds down, the farm’s experts set to work extracting the essential oils from their sole crop via the millennia-old practice of steam distillation. With more than 20 varieties of french and english lavender dotting the side of Chehalem Mountain, farmers have more than enough buds to choose from for their small batches of oil, which many prize for its calming effects. What doesn’t end up bottled may debut in the farm’s selection of handmade soaps, massage oils, and eye pillows.

In addition to incorporating the potent herb into therapeutic goods, farmers open their fields to visitors, who can gather bunches of english and french lavender varietals that burst into purple, pink, and white blooms. They also welcome guests to pause from plucking, smelling, or explaining the concept of private property to bumblebees so they can savor a picnic lunch while soaking up views of Mount Hood and Saint Helens.

Since 1990, Kandice Champion's expert tutelage has propelled horses into being victorious in dressage, hunt seat, and Western show rings. Champion Training Center's expansive facility accommodates participants of all ages and skill sets as they enrich their riding prowess atop trained school horses during daytime, evening, and weekend sessions led by Kandice and her squad of qualified teachers. In addition to lessons, Champion Training Center supplies devoted equestrians with horses for sale and equips riders with new and used accoutrements, including saddles, boots, and equine tiaras.

Close to half a century of history seeps through the ice at Winterhawks Skating Center, as evidenced by the wooden beams still arching across its ceiling. As the official practice facility of the Western Hockey League's Portland Winterhawks, the center echoes with slap shots, bodychecks, and figure eights throughout the year, hosting recreational hockey leagues and clinics for youths and adults as well as public skating sessions and lessons for all experience levels. Off the rink, an onsite pro shop helps players to upgrade their old equipment or replace the paisley furniture and shag carpets in the penalty box.

At Gametime, interactive attractions fuse with made-from-scratch eats to create an excitement-packed tandem that raises the bar on family fun. Bowlers unleash spherical fury across 12 different lanes, including 4 lanes harbored by a private party room where leather couches, chairs, and random appearances from a mailman help to recreate the comforts of home. Inside the arcade, competitors ranging from pint-size to full-size test their skills on popular games such as air hockey or skee-ball, and throughout the facility, flat-screen TVs flicker with sporting events so eyes have an easier time diverting from heated stare downs with disobedient balls. Between unabashed sessions of point scoring, a newly remodeled kitchen serves up Pug's Restaurant's freshly crafted fare, highlighted by hand-tossed pizzas and burgers made with hormone-free beef.

Tall nets surround Sunset Golf Center’s driving range, their forgiving springiness easing wayward balls back toward the range's lush green. Here, golfers launch balls from the center’s 50 practice stalls, more than half of which are sheltered from the elements. Artificial-grass mats carpet each stall with blades soft enough to mimic real fairways but short enough to avoid attracting artificial cows, and across the grounds, a stone Statue of Liberty oversees play atop the 18-hole miniature-golf course. From his post at the center, golf instructor Sandy Sutherland helps both juniors and adults to hone their links prowess.