Page 69 - Rural Tourism Report Washington County

CHAPTER 3: THE WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL TOURISM SECTOR

Stakeholder Outreach

As part of this study, the consultant team conducted individual interviews and convened a focus group with
a cross-section of rural tourism interests reflecting various rural locations, land use districts, practices, and
perspectives. The intent was to explore their insights on nature and scale, opportunities and constraints,
desires, and apparent trends affecting rural tourism in Washington County today.

The following is a summary of input from rural tourism interests and rural residents who shared their
perceptions with the consulting team. It doesn’t include consultant or County staff opinions, feedback obtained
by the consultant from agricultural interests who do not provide some form of rural tourism (previously
addressed in Chapter 2), or research gathered by County staff on 127 rural properties via web and phone.

Focus Group/Interview Questions and Summary of Aggregated Responses

1. In your view, what is the draw of Washington County rural tourism to the traveling public?
Responses included a range of opinions:

• The natural beauty of the rural area. It • The concentration, synergy, and variety of
is scenic, provides wildlife habitat, and farms and rural businesses, activities and
opportunities for conservation education as events for people to visit within proximity
well as recreation. People like to see it, be in to the Portland metro area. Visitors can be
it, and experience it. on intensive farmland within 20 minutes of

• Outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking, leaving Portland, experiencing a dramatic
golfing, biking, zip-lining, and horseback transition from urban to rural land along the
riding on private and public lands. way. Rural Washington County is closer to
Portland than Yamhill County.
• Farm education and heritage experiences.
Some farmers are interested in sharing • Beautiful, quaint, and unique historical
the history of food and fiber production communities that beckon the visitor to
and the cultural uniqueness of their farms. explore. Often these reflect a certain cultural
Many farms have been in the family for heritage with their foods and festivals.

generations. Experiences might include open • Availability of local foods, some sustainably
farm days, farm tours, workshops, overnight or organically produced; local restaurants
stays, farm stands and festivals. serving local foods; farm-to-table dinners
• The variety of high-quality farm products and other culinary experiences that feature

including u-pick and farm-stand produce, food and wines from Washington County
choose-n-cut flowers and trees, locally farms.
raised meat and eggs, wines, alpaca yarns, • A perception that Washington County’s rural
and nursery products available at farm areas are “upscale” and multi-cultural.
stands, specialty nurseries, farm stores,
wineries or boutique wine-tasting rooms.

WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL TOURISM STUDY 65