Oregon’s “Fruit Loop”…And Hood River Lavender Farm

Thanks to a “heads up” from Peepaw’s brother Steve, we decided to get off of the freeway through the Columbia River Gorge and take a short detour on our way to Steve and Lucy’s beautiful home in Portland. We took a route known as the Hood River Valley’s Fruit Loop. Steve told us that route makes a loop around Mt. Hood, and that it would be worth the extra hour it would take to reach their home…and he was right!

The Fruit Loop is a 35 mile drive, and it absolutely lived up to it’s name! We couldn’t begin to count the number of orchards, flower gardens, and fruit stands we passed…

When I saw the Hood River Lavender Farms I just HAD to ask Peepaw to stop.

Our arrival in mid August was after the first lavender harvest, but there were still some varieties in bloom…

And the view and the SMELL was spectacular!

That lavender field was the perfect spot to stop and enjoy the beauty around us…

And the young gardeners were busy working in the beds of lavender and wild flowers.

When I was told I could cut my own bouquets of lavender, I was ready and willing!

Hood River Lavender Farm grows many varieties of lavender. Some plants are grown for culinary use, and other plants are used to make sachets and potpourri. And the tiny cottage was filled with many items made from the lavender they grow there. 

It was hard to tear ourselves away from the beauty and serenity of the place, but we were anxious to see what might be around the next bend in the road, and Mt. Hood was looming larger and larger in the distance…

Our next stop was a tasty one, for sure…Draper Girls Country Farm where they specialize in non-pasteurized ciders and U-Pick produce.

We had skipped lunch after our hearty Idaho breakfast, so we took the easy way out and bought fruit that they had  already picked earlier that day.

Everything was delicious…

But my favorite fruit? 

These little beauties…called Donut Peaches!

I think I ate four of them before we left the parking lot! They were fantastic. Sweet and juicy…and just the right size to pop in our mouths and call it lunch!

In fact…we walked around the side of the building and found a picnic table where we sat down to feast on the fresh picked fruit we had purchased. And the view?

Breathtaking…

So after a few moments of solitude, we headed back to the car to continue our drive toward brother Steve’s home in Portland. And Mt. Hood kept getting larger and larger as we reached Government Camp near historic Timberline Lodge. At an elevation of 4,000 ft, Government Camp is the base camp for a wide range of outdoor activities in both winter and summer. 

And this photo? I almost didn’t share it..because I think it looks like a painting instead of a photograph. But please believe me…I snapped this photo.

This REALLY is Mt. Hood. Snow and all…in August.

We continued on toward Portland (elevation 50 feet) where I knew we would be greeted with a warm welcome and a glass of wine to celebrate our arrival and our visit with family we love. And I was anxious to thank Steve for his tip about the Hood River Valley’s Fruit Loop.

It’s a Fruit Loop to love!