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I never thought visiting a cheese factory would be very high on my list of things to do.
Until it was.
While I was researching what to do along our drive down the Oregon coast, one thing kept on popping up. Everyone was raving about their visit to the Tillamook Cheese Factory.
I hadn’t even heard of Tillamook, much less the cheese factory. Plus, I’m lactose intolerant so who cares? (secret: I still eat cheese occasionally because I love it too much. My body hates me after though)
So I did some research.
Turns out Tillamook is a massive brand and it has much more than just cheese. Things like ice cream (yum), yogurt (mmm), sour cream (yes please!) and butter (mmm makes everything taste better!). Plus, they had so many varieties of cheese! They haven’t made it up to Canada yet so no wonder I had never heard of them.
The Tillamook Cheese Factory is farmer owned, made up of almost 100 farms in and around the Tillamook County. As you’re driving through the area, you indeed see farm after farm filled cows. Once the milk arrives at the farm, it gets turned into cheese within 24 hours. From there, depending on the cheese they’re making, it gets aged. Anywhere from 60 days for Medium Cheddar to 3 years for their Vintage White Extra Sharp Cheddar. Crazy!
What exactly is there to do at a cheese factory?
Apparently a lot.
You can take yourself on a self guided tour and learn about the cheese making process.
You can grab a bite to eat at their cafe.
My chicken club wrap on the left and grilled cheese with soup or tater tots.
Wash it all down with a scoop or two of ice cream. There are 28 flavours to choose from!
There are plenty of photo ops.
Say cheese! Love the license plate.
As well as cheese samples. There is no one regulating the samples so in theory you could just go back and line up for more, but really, how much cheese can one eat in one go?
Apparently you can only get squeaky cheese curds at the factory.
And of course, take some home.
Those sample boxes would make the perfect gift.
While I was perusing their their website, I stumbled upon a question about lactose. It turns out because of the way they make their cheese, much of the lactose is left in the liquid whey, meaning their cheese is almost lactose free. Darn, if only I knew this before, I could have had more!
The whole time I was wandering around the factory on the self guided tour, I couldn’t help but wonder how the worker’s felt about being watched. The glass was tinted so I don’t think they could see us, but knowing that there were people behind it watching them, must be so strange and uncomfortable.
Even by me watching them, I felt uncomfortable. Like I was at a human zoo. Kind of strange, but also fascinating at the same time. It’s not every day you get to watch cheese being made.
You can only see a small portion of the factory on the tour and I think much of it is the packaging process. The actual building stretched far beyond what is open to the public. I wonder if the workers trade off who actually works in front of people so they’re not always being watched.
Every year over a million people visit this factory. That’s a lot of people! It can get pretty busy, and it was busy while we were there, but at no time did I feel suffocated.
I love everything that the company stands for: a quality food, locally sourced and naturally produced. It does seem a little strange to visit a factory while you’re traveling through, but our visit turned into the perfect stop. We were able to get out and stretch our legs, have a bit to eat and also discover a really cool company. Now if only they started distributing to Canada…
Have you ever visited a factory in your travels? Have you seen how cheese is made before?
Good To Know
The factory is right on Highway 101. You can’t miss it so there is no worry of getting lost.
They’re open year round, closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Their hours vary depending on the season so it is best to check on their website.
Make sure you go hungry! The cafe and ice cream options are very reasonably priced and this makes the perfect stopping point along the drive down the Oregon Coast.
This looks like all of the yum. I adore (decent) cheese!
Regarding your lactose intolerance, I have a friend who takes tablets to counteract hers? I have no idea what they’re called, but she takes it before meals if she knows there is likely to be any lactose in it?
I have a couple friends that swear by those pills, but to me, it seems kind of strange to take a pill in order to eat something. I don’t mind avoiding food with lactose in it. It does suck when you’re at a cheese factory though!
nice, different sort of place to visit. I know there’s one here in country Victoria which I went to as a child. Can’t quite remember where now…
It definitely makes for an interest point of interest during your travels! You should go check out the place near you.
I visited a chocolate factory in Japan and felt the same way about watching the workers work. It’s such a strange feeling! There’s a chinese restaurant in my city too with glass between the eating area and the kitchen so you can watch the chefs make dim sum. It’s such an odd concept!
Yes! I totally agree. Though, I think Chinese restaurants do it as a way of showing off? Regardless it is very strange and I feel bad for the people being gawked at.
My youngest son would love this place! He thinks cheese is a meal! Love your road trip stories x Bron
Thanks Bron! I think every kid young and old would go gaga for this place. Definitely lots to check out.
One of my favourite cheese brands…just love the way the name sounds. And of course it tastes good to.
Yes, Tillamook does roll of the tongue rather nicely doesn’t it?
When planning an Oregon Coast road trip a decade ago, I made sure to include a stop at Tillamook on the itinerary. What a delicious stop to make!
Yes, agreed! I’m so glad we decided to stop. So random, but a lot of fun.
I really need to return to Oregon to do your sand dune tour and visit this cheese factory. Love cheese so all those samples would probably suffice for my lunch 🙂 It’s always such a great experience to see how food you see in grocery stores are created and packaged.
There is so much cheese! I’m sure your tummy will be happy with it all 🙂
Cool…you are in my neck of the woods. I live in Portland (right now…moving to Spain in Jan) and have lived just up the Coast from the cheese factory too. We always stop by the factory when we get out to the Coast. These days I don’t take the tour anymore but will stop in for ice cream!!!
Fair enough. I bet the novelty of the tour wears off after awhile. Ice cream is always a welcomed treat though!
Wait, wait, wait. Hold up. WAIT.
Cheese samples.
Twenty-eight flavours of ice cream.
Cheesy photo opportunities.
CHEESE SAMPLES.
SIGN ME UP RIGHT NOW I MUST GO AND NO I WON’T STOP TYPING IN CAPITAL LETTERS, I’M JUST THAT EXCITED.
It’s just as amazing as you think it is. Nom nom nom cheeeeeese!