OREGON ATTRACTS SENIORS



Seniors Head to Sherwood

Money Magazine selects America’s Best Small Towns and Sherwood ranked #5 out of 50 select towns. There are plenty of reasons senior citizens love this small town (15,000) just outside Portland — quaint historic downtown, top-ranked schools, relatively affordable home prices — but residents gush most about its proximity to fun stuff.

Just west of Sherwood is Willamette Valley wine country. Keep going and in less than two hours senior travelers are on the Oregon Coast. Or travel 65 miles east to Mount Hood for skiing or hiking. Then there’s Portland, home to highly acclaimed restaurants, microbreweries, museums, theater, and more.

The first people to live in Sherwood were the Tualatin Indians. They roamed the area for many years before the first white men came. The first wagon train arrived in Oregon in 1843, and by 1853, Sherwood was being settled by farmers.

They built their houses of the logs taken from the forest which once covered the area. They grew nearly everything they needed. Twice a year they took the three day journey into Portland for staples like salt, sugar and syrup.

 What Seniors Can See And Do In Sherwood

A major attraction in Sherwood is the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. A comment from a recent visitor noted that “This delightful wildlife refuge is located on land that was previously a dairy. It has a lovely visitor center with well-composed educational exhibits and informed volunteers.”

The Refuge, just a few miles from the center of Oregon’s largest city, is where the honking of geese replaces the honking horns. This special place is a refuge, a haven for wildlife and people. Born of a community’s dream, and made possible by their support, a wildlife refuge now thrives in the backyard of a growing metropolis.

Another highly popular attraction is Safari Sam’s. The centerpiece is the largest play structure in Oregon. Visitors have hours of fun discovering all the different features built into a jungle gym built strong enough for seniors to enjoy as well.

For you gardeners like me, take in Al’s Garden Center that is ranked #1 for visitors. Sherwood’s Family Days Out launched a site in January 2009 and they hope to have over 5 million visitors and a staggering 15 million page hits, and that’s a whole bunch!

A drive through scenic wine country is a senior visitor’s top choice. Even if you don’t like wine, the drive is beautiful and the grounds of the wineries are often breath-taking.

Nike is headquartered in Beaverton, 12 miles away, and Intel’s largest site is located among other high-tech companies in Hillsboro, 18 miles away. Despite its proximity to Oregon’s biggest city, Sherwood has many restaurants and cultural activities of its own.

The town of Sherwood claims that its unique combination of modern business and small town charm make it one of the most livable cities in Oregon. Take in some terrific views on the “Official Travel Oregon” site that will make one say “wow!” jeb

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