Since I was attending WDS in Portland July 5th to 7th, Mr. Jones and I decided to go to Portland a few days early and explore the Oregon Coast.
It’s about a 1.5 hour drive from downtown Portland to Tillamook, via a scenic drive on Hwy 6 through the Tillamook State Forest. Dairy cattle have thrived in the cool coastal area date since 1851.
Any visit to Tillamook, Oregon had to include a visit to the Tillamook Cheese Factory.
More than 100 years ago several small creameries joined together to form the Tillamook County Creamery Association, still owned today by more than 100 farm families.
The Tillamook Cheese Factory is open for self-guided tours every day of the year, except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
March 2017 UPDATE: On March 5, 2017 the Tillamook Cheese Factory Visitor’s Center closed. It is being replaced by a brand new center scheduled to open by the summer of 2018. Meanwhile, there is a temporary Visitors Center is not physically connected to the factory.
Visitors watch the cheese making via glass windows looking down into the plant. Since we visited on the 4th of July holiday, there wasn’t much activity on the line.
The tour includes signage that explains what you are seeing, plus cheese-making factoids. Who knew that a “forty” is a cheese block weighing between 41 and 42 pounds?
A fun part of the display area showcases the Tillamook ad campaigns through the years.
At the end of the tour there are free samples of every kind of Tillamook cheese. Our favorite was the new Vintage White Sharp Cheddar Cheese. You can buy your favorite cheese, plus a bag of those squeaky cheese curds.
Our favorite Tillamook product, however, isn’t the cheese. It’s hard to choose a favorite flavor of Tillamook ice cream.
The chocolate peanut butter Tillamook ice cream is hard to beat. it contains a “river” of peanut butter running through the chocolate cream.
Another highlight — one of the Love Loaf Tour vans is available for a photo op.
Of course, like all good factory tours, there is a gift shop, selling this cookbook among thousands of cheese-related souvenirs.
The Tillamook Cheese Cookbook: Celebrating Over a Century of Excellence
Have you visited the Tillamook Cheese Factory? What’s your favorite flavor of Tillamook ice cream?
March 2017 UPDATE: On March 5, 2017 the Tillamook Cheese Factory Visitor’s Center closed. It is being replaced by a brand new center scheduled to open by the summer of 2018. Meanwhile, there is a temporary Visitors Center is not physically connected to the factory.
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