Travel Tip for Your Next Beach Trip: Think Berries!

My first story for Travel Oregon is all about berries—where to find and eat the strawberries, blueberries and cranberries that deliciously dot the Wild Rivers Coast Food Trail and the Central Coast Food Trail.

I got to talk to farmers like Betsy Harrison of Valley Flora Farm near Bandon, who with her two daughters grows the organic u-pick strawberries that are eagerly anticipated up and down the coast. Down around Elkton is Estill Farms, where Paula Estill grows both organic and conventional blueberries—and if you don't have time to pick your own you can pick some up from her at the Florence Farmers Market on Tuesday afternoons. And in early fall there are the region's famous cranberries, available fresh in October and November at farm stands and area farmers markets.

Local foraging expert Jesse Dolin said not to forget the wild bounty of the region,  listing evergreen huckleberries, salal berries, blackberries, red elderberries, thimbleberries and salmonberries to be found in campgrounds and along hiking trails in the area. I can taste them already on my griddled pancakes drizzled with maple syrup.

Read the story and make plans to visit if you haven't already!

Top photo of strawberries from Valley Flora Farm; lower photo of blueberries from Estill Farms.