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You are here: Home / Destinations / A Cheesy Time at the Tillamook Cheese Factory

A Cheesy Time at the Tillamook Cheese Factory

09/24/14 | Destinations, Food, North America, Oregon, USA


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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.

Tillamook Cheese Factory Outside

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.

Self Tour @ Visiting the Tillamook Cheese Factory | packmeto.com

You can grab a bite to eat at their cafe.

Cafe Food @ Visiting the Tillamook Cheese Factory | packmeto.com

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!

Ice Cream! Visiting the Tillamook Cheese Factory | packmeto.com

There are plenty of photo ops.

Visiting the Tillamook Cheese Factory | packmeto.com

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?

Visiting the Tillamook Cheese Factory | packmeto.com

Visiting the Tillamook Cheese Factory | packmeto.com

Apparently you can only get squeaky cheese curds at the factory.

And of course, take some home.

Visiting the Tillamook Cheese Factory | packmeto.com

Visiting the Tillamook Cheese Factory | packmeto.com

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.

Visiting the Tillamook Cheese Factory | packmeto.com

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.

Visiting the Tillamook Cheese Factory | packmeto.com

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.

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Comments

  1. Sammi Wanderlustin' says

    September 25, 2014 at 12:03 AM

    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?

    • Adelina says

      October 3, 2014 at 12:17 AM

      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!

  2. Andrew says

    September 25, 2014 at 12:16 AM

    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…

    • Adelina says

      October 3, 2014 at 12:18 AM

      It definitely makes for an interest point of interest during your travels! You should go check out the place near you.

  3. Bryna says

    September 26, 2014 at 5:06 AM

    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!

    • Adelina says

      October 3, 2014 at 12:19 AM

      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.

  4. Bron says

    September 27, 2014 at 8:26 AM

    My youngest son would love this place! He thinks cheese is a meal! Love your road trip stories x Bron

    • Adelina says

      October 3, 2014 at 12:20 AM

      Thanks Bron! I think every kid young and old would go gaga for this place. Definitely lots to check out.

  5. Tim says

    September 27, 2014 at 8:10 PM

    One of my favourite cheese brands…just love the way the name sounds. And of course it tastes good to.

    • Adelina says

      October 3, 2014 at 12:20 AM

      Yes, Tillamook does roll of the tongue rather nicely doesn’t it?

  6. Francesca (@WorkMomTravels) says

    September 28, 2014 at 3:44 AM

    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!

    • Adelina says

      October 3, 2014 at 12:24 AM

      Yes, agreed! I’m so glad we decided to stop. So random, but a lot of fun.

  7. Mary {The World Is A Book} says

    October 4, 2014 at 10:08 PM

    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.

    • Adelina says

      October 5, 2014 at 12:45 AM

      There is so much cheese! I’m sure your tummy will be happy with it all 🙂

  8. Ed says

    October 14, 2014 at 8:26 PM

    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!!!

    • Adelina says

      October 17, 2014 at 7:01 PM

      Fair enough. I bet the novelty of the tour wears off after awhile. Ice cream is always a welcomed treat though!

  9. Tom @ Waegook Tom says

    November 27, 2014 at 6:21 PM

    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.

    • Adelina says

      November 28, 2014 at 8:36 PM

      It’s just as amazing as you think it is. Nom nom nom cheeeeeese!

Welcome to Pack Me To!

Adelina is a part time traveler, exploring the world despite having a full-time job. Pack Me To is a collection of stories from her travels and adventures around the world as she packs you to destinations around the world with her.

Adelina has been traveling for as long as she can remember and has lived abroad in the Netherlands and Hungary. She loves telling stories, and eating and exploring her way around the world. Come along for the ride. Read More…

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