That feeling is back. That feeling I get every time I find myself in the mountains when the leaves are changing.
It’s a feeling that bubbles up inside of me and one that makes me stop to enjoy life and breathe in my surroundings.
It’s also the feeling that reignites my desire to live near mountains one day. To experience the seasons, pack peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and trail mix and set out on day-long hikes with Ryan and Sadie.
Oregon captured my heart today. It’s a stunning place and I feel so, so fortunate to be able to spend time in the state during such a gorgeous time of year.
I, along with the group of bloggers on the Harry & David tour, am staying at the Magnolia Inn, the most charming little bed and breakfast in Jacksonville, a small, picturesque town located just outside of Ashland.
If you happen to be close by and are looking for a fantastic place to stay with lots of character for a romantic weekend away or a quiet girls’ trip, I cannot recommend this family-owned place enough.
I think Abby, the owner’s dog, would agree!
There’s a sense of warmth from family-run bed and breakfasts that simply cannot be duplicated by a hotel. An afternoon snack of warm pecan chocolate chip cookies and milk? I was so impressed.
The first official day of the Harry & David blogger trip kicked off after breakfast.
(This picture is Sandy’s picture from the Wednesday night’s dinner, but it’s the only group picture I have so far and wanted be sure to share the links to everyone’s blogs with you guys since I know many of you love reading food blogs as much as I do! From left to right in the top row: Brenda, Brian, Heather and Matt. Bottom row, left to right: Carrie, Sandy, Dara, Gaby, me, Aggie and Maggy.)
Our group boarded a bus bound for the famous pear orchards a little after 8 a.m. and arrived to a beautiful spread of freshly cut pears and Honeycrisp apples, mixed nuts, endive topped with local blue cheese, coffee and the most unbelievable spiced apple cider tea. (I’m sorry I couldn’t find a direct link to it on the Harry & David website, but I Googled it and found it on Amazon. )
Rumor has it we should have time to do a little shopping tomorrow and I plan to stock up on that tea. When they brewed the tea for us, they added a splash of sparkling apple cider at the end. The apple cider flavor was spot-on and it was the perfect cozy, autumn drink. I could not stop raving about it!
During our time at the orchards, we learned a lot about pears and the harvesting process from Matt Borman, the orchard director for Harry & David.
The winter pears for Harry & David’s holiday gift baskets were already picked for the season, but the orchards were still so picturesque. I was surprised to learn that winter pear picking occurs when the fruit is mature, not ripe and the pears ripen after they’re picked. Nearly 700 tons of pears are picked by hand per day during harvest. It was interesting to learn about all the time and attention that goes into ensuring that perfect pears find their way into the gift baskets. They even use a water flume to prevent unnecessary handling and potential bruising. (We asked if we could ride the water flume and got shut down.)
Our second tour of the day occurred a short drive away at the Harry & David chocolate factory.
The lead chocolatier for Harry & David is a third-generation chocolatier named Charlie, which is all-too-perfect. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!
Charlie told us a bunch of fun facts about chocolate, candy and baked goods made at the factory.
When they’re making chocolate truffles, the factory can produce 120,000 to 130,000 truffles within 16 hours. Efficient and delicious!
And their beloved Moose Munch popcorn?
100 pounds of Moose Munch popcorn is popped per hour at the factory. It smelled incredible. Buttery and indulgent!
My favorite part of the factory tour occurred when we had the opportunity to try some different kinds of dark chocolate and dip our own pears into pink chocolate.
Carrie was my chocolate-making buddy!
We all left the chocolate factory in a sugary daze and headed to lunch in Ashland. More on that later!
Thanks so much to Harry & David for such a memorable and delicious day!
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Why didn’t you talk about how your phone started playing music on your phone during our tour? 😉 Seriously, though… this is a great recap of today (and bravo for doing it so quickly!)
are you trying to say you didn’t enjoy hearinig a liltte rendition of “say a little prayer for you” in the orchards? 🙂
oh my gosh, i cannot type.
Oooh I hope you get a chance to try some of Harry & David’s coffee. It’s so good!
I’ve always wondered where they get those perfect pears from! I’m surprised they pick them so early, but whatever they’re doing, it works….
ahhh lithia park! i’m getting nostalgic for my home town. i hope you’re enjoying the beauty of southern oregon.
Such a fun day! It’s been great spending this time with awesome bloggers such as yourself. You are totally amazing blogging this trip real-time. You are inspiring. 🙂
Here’s to another great Rogue Valley adventure tomorrow.
Heather
Magnolia Inn looks so adorable! So cute and beautiful!
Oh my goodness, this looks unbelievable! Oregon is one of the places at the top of my to-travel-to list. I’ve heard great things and this B&B you visited confirms them all!
Aaaaand I’m off to book a trip to the mountains. I seriously get butterflies when I see the leaves change. It’s exciting to me, haha. I’ve never been to Oregon, but it seems so beautiful!
me too!!
What an amazing opportunity! I love ‘field trips’ like this 🙂
Ah, this looks like so much fun! I’ve never been to Oregon before, but the scenery looks beautiful.
Oregon looks absolutely beautiful! I love the fall foliage. So pretty. 🙂 I’m so jealous that you had a tour of the orchard. It looked like an incredible day!
It does look beautiful!! Are those hearts chocolates? They look like fruit. I may have to order some of those! Make sure you tell us what they are!!
Your photo of Lithia Park entrance about made me cry. I miss it so much! I hiked through that park a few times a week for the last few years.
i wish i lived nearby. it looked like it was out of a movie.
What a fun trip, you get to go on the best trips. Looks like a really nice place. That bed and breakfast is so cute. Thanks for the recommend. Have a great weekend. ^_^
I absolutely love the mountains and feel the same way – I see myself living out there one day. It’s hard to leave where you are though, Chicago has grown on me! And um, the chocolate factory!?!? Haha every girl’s dream!
Touring a chocolate factory with a guy named Charlie? That is just too perfect…now I have the urge to watch that movie :-p
Oregon is by far my favorite state on the west coast! It is absolutely breathtaking. If you are at all near, stop by the pacific coast! Beautiful!
That all just sounds amazing. And makes me want some Moose Munch.
The Kidless Kronicles
Wow it looks so beautiful there! I am very jealous of the trip. I love Harry & David fruit.
That place looks amazing! I’m totally loving Autumn (or Fall as you guys call it!) The chill in the air, the crisp colourful leaves and finally some bright skies in Ireland! 🙂 That pear looks amazing btw!
You had me at Spiced Apple Cider Tea!!! I’m in love with all thing apple cider this time of year {or year-round, let’s be real here} and can’t think of a more picturesque setting in which to enjoy it! Have a blast on your trip 🙂
Breathtaking views! Nothing like the west.:)
How fun!!
They really do have the best pears in the world!
Looks awesome! I’ve only had a Harry and David pear once and it was amazing! I love the pink pear!
I know EXACTLY the feeling you are talking about Julie! I get the same thing when I am in the moutains (especially in Wyoming). Its almost like you feel like “ahhhh, i’m home.” Oregon looks amazing! I definitely am going to order some of that apple spiced tea! Those Harry and David baskets are the BEST gifts for Christmas or other occasions. Excited to see more pictures of your trip!
i would LOVE to visit wyoming. i bet it’s gorgeous!
You MUST go!!! My husband and I just got married a month ago in Jackson Hole. You guys should make a trip this summer or next fall! That is the best time to go!
Yum! That all looks so amazing, especially the chocolate-dipped pear 🙂
Julie, i completely understand that feeling. As I read your description, I thought “I know. I know exactly.” It’s my lifelong dream to live in the mountains, and I hope I can make it happen someday!
me too, natalie! 🙂 i hope we can both make it happen. 🙂
What a perfect little getaway! Ahhh seriously, everything looks amazing… from the bed & breakfast to the beautiful scenery to the delicious food. I’m sure you’re having a blast!
Oooh those pears look amazing!
I feel blessed and lucky to live practically IN the mountains during this time. THe leaves are gorgeous! Have fun in OR 🙂
Your trip looks like so much fun! I know exactly what you mean about getting that feeling when you’re in the mountains with the beautiful foliage…I’m visiting my parents in Connecticut and it’s absolutely gorgeous here right now!
Julie thank you for recommending this place! I live in Seattle, so it really isn’t too far from me if I ever wanted to explore! The mountains are great, aren’t they?! For some reasons, pictures with mountains in the background are just the BEST 😉 If you guys ever decide to move out here, you’ll have to let me know and we can pack those PB&Js and set out for some great trails! Cheers to Friday, friend!
i would LOVE that!!!
Those pears are so cute! Wow Oregon looks amazing.. kinda reminds me of upstate NY
Those pears covered in pink chocolate are gorgeous. Who would have thought to dip pears in chocolate . Did you eat one? Have a fantastic trip.
Wow! This is truly the trip of a lifetime. And that bed and breakfast is perfection! Go girl 🙂
Omg this looks like the best trip! I LOVE harry and david! I really want some of their moose munch now! haha Btw, your outfit is super cute!
What a great experience! Oregon looks gorgeous this time of year!
Just looked at the Harry&David website . Kudos to them for having sugar free baskets for the many people who can’t have sugar.
This is like fall in a blog post. Those pears look amazing and so gorgeous. I applaud your will power to not eat moose munch all day long while there-that stuff is SO good!
today i think i ate enough moose munch to last me a lifetime. 🙂 it’s SO good and SO addicting.
That pear is so stinking’ cute!
I LOVE all things Harry & David. So classy and… CLASSIC. This was the perfect autumn setting for the event!
Oh my gosh what a fun trip!
Bahhhhh still dying of jealousy over here. What an fantastic opportunity! Feel free to snag me whatever Harry & David freebies you can 😉
Oh man this looks like the BEST TOUR EVER!!!! Beautiful scenery, Oregon, pears – so jealous!
Gorgeous pics — thanks for sharing your experience. Harry & David Moose Munch? One of the BEST things I’ve EVER eaten 🙂
I used to work part time at Harry & David. Loved it and I’m a little jealous you got to see where all the magic happens. 🙂 I am still a huge fan of their pears – nothing like them in the grocery store, in my opinion.
Where are your brown boots from? They’re so cute and falltime-y! Fashion post please! =) Looks like you had a blast.
I grew up in grants pass, just a hop skip and a jump from where you are. I now live in San Diego, which is wonderful but around this time of year I miss it and the beauty that fall brings to southern Oregon. Glad you get to experience it!! 🙂
This is such a fun trip!!! Im definitely going to try “spiking” the tea with the apple cider, such a good idea!
Now that I live in Florida I really miss Fall in the north:(:(:(
Woo! Welcome to Oregon! You’re in my neck of the woods – picturesque indeed! So jealous of the Harry and David cider drinking! Have some delicious H&D chocolate for all of your readers 🙂