What can we do in Brownsville
WHAT CAN WE DO IN BROWNSVILLE?
The Nest in downtown Brownsville is the perfect basecamp for birding, bicycling, hiking, fishing, painting or photography, Sunday drives, geocaching, touring historic homes, and while visiting family and friends in the area. We can help you put together a day trip or a week's vacation in our neck of the woods...or we can wake you in the morning with a steaming cup of coffee and a hearty breakfast and you can explore at your leisure.
BIRDING: The Corvallis Chapter of the Audubon Society organizes field trips in the valley, the local Christmas bird count, and monitors sightings. Wood ducks love our millrace and when the water is low in the summer, belted kingfishers and herons have a field day. From the windows of The Nest, you can watch the juncos, nuthatches, chickadees, and others at the feeder in the old apple tree.
www.audubon.corvallis.or.us/ Click on the link to discover what's happening with birds in the Willamette Valley near Brownsville:
BICYCLING: Brownsville is on the new Oregon State Scenic Bikeway which stretches from Portland to Eugene. The Nest is an excellent over-night stop halfway along the route. Miles and miles of country roads, including some challenging mountain biking in the Brownsville Timber, beckon bicyclists of all abilities.
www.oregon.gov/OPRD/PARKS/BIKE/WVSB_entire_route.shtml Connect with Oregon Parks and Recreation for map of the Oregon State Scenic Bikeway.
HIKING AND ANGLING: Some of the most amazing forests, rivers, and mountains in the Northwest are within a 45 minute drive from The Nest. The nearby Calapooia River is a haven for winter steelhead and spring chinook runs. The neighboring Willamette National Forest is home to some of the best waterfalls, crystal clear mountain lakes, river recreation, and hiking, all within an easy drive from The Nest. We can even pack you a picnic to take along!
www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette/recreation/index.html/ Click on the link to plan your outdoor adventures or let us help!
GEOCACHING: Grab your GPS, your water bottle, and hiking boots. There are 18 geocache sites in the Brownsville area, some easy to find, some darned near impossible. Use The Nest as a basecamp and find them all!
www.geocaching.com Click on the link and discover all the geocache sites near The Nest.
ARTS AND ARTISTS: Rhoda Fleischman (fine ceramics), Wendy Hoffman (unique jewelry and beads), and Alice Tetamore (representational watercolors) are talented artists living in Brownsville who are listed on the OregonCrafted Arts Trail. All three, and more, welcome visitors to their studios.Want a personal visit? we can help.
STAND-BY-ME: Remember the classic 1986 rites-of-passage movie "Stand-by-Me"? It was filmed in Brownsville and by following our free walking tour map, you can visit the hot spots where the action took place. Or you can watch the movie on your personal DVD player in the comfort of The Nest.
www.imdb.com/title/tt0092005/ Enjoy background information about Stand-by-Me.
OVER THE RIVERS AND THROUGH THE WOODS STATE SCENIC BYWAY: For a lovely day drive through landscape that changes from gentle farmland to wooded foothills to ancient volcanic peaks, follow the Over the Rivers and through the Woods State Scenic Byway, the only state Byway that runs east/west. Box lunches to-go are available from our local eateries.
www.sweethomeoregon.org/home.cfm?dir_cat=32896 Link to a description of Over the Rivers and through the Woods Scenic Byway.
HISTORIC HOMES AND BUILDINGS: Brownsville is one of the oldest communities in Oregon and we have a wonderful collection of historic homes and buildings spanning architectural styles from the mid-1800s to modern day. A free walking tour map is available at the Linn County Historical Museum across the street from The Nest. The museum is the perfect jumping-off place for a tour since you can learn about the historical context of our town through fascinating displays and artifacts, including a covered wagon that carried an early family along their Oregon Trail journey.
www.co.linn.or.us/museum/ The early prehistory and history of Brownsville are displayed at the museum.
HISTORIC CEMETERY: The Brownsville Cemetery on a lovely hill east of town is a fascinating site with vistas of the Calapooia Valley and, in the distance, the peaks of the High Cascades. Stories of pioneer families and those of the native Kalapuya people can be read on the tombstones. This a great place for a painting or photography session.
PIONEER PARK: Picture a picnic or a stroll in the Park dotted with gnarled old maples and tucked into a bend in the Calapooia River. The Park is just a hop,skip, and a jump from The Nest. Our Fourth of July Fireworks in the Park is one of the best small town family celebrations in the Willamette Valley. A regulation-sized croquet court is located in the Park and the Calapooia Croquet Club welcomes all players. Come join the annual Costume Croquet tournament where frolicking is encouraged.
And there's lots more. Your visit to Brownsville and The Nest can be as adventuresome or tranquil as you wish.
