If you live in Tualatin, you probably think of Sherwood as “the town past the roundabout on 99W” or maybe “the place with the Robin Hood Festival.” And sure, both of those are accurate. But Sherwood’s Old Town — the stretch of SW First Street between Railroad Street and Washington Street — has quietly become one of the most genuinely pleasant main streets in the south Portland metro, and most Tualatin residents have either never walked it or haven’t been in years.
That’s a mistake. Here’s what you’re missing.
📍 Getting There from Tualatin
Sherwood is about 15 minutes from Tualatin — straight down 99W past the Sherwood exit, or the scenic route via Tualatin-Sherwood Road past the farms and nurseries. The back-road route through Cipole and Edy Road is prettier and often faster, especially on weekends when 99W backs up. Free parking is easy to find on the side streets off First Street and in the small lot behind City Hall.
We deliver to Sherwood regularly — it’s well within our same-day delivery zone — so consider this both a travel guide and a reminder that if you have people in Sherwood, we can get flowers to their door.
🍽️ Where to Eat
Old Town Sherwood punches well above its weight class for dining:
- Symposium Coffee — The anchor of Old Town for morning visits. Excellent espresso, pastries from local bakers, and a cozy interior that makes you want to linger. Outdoor seating on the sidewalk in warm weather.
- Al’s Diner — A classic American breakfast-and-lunch spot with enormous portions and the kind of diner coffee that comes in a bottomless cup. Cash-friendly, no-frills, and beloved by locals.
- Dumbarton Bar & Grill — On the edge of Old Town, this is the reliable dinner spot for burgers, pub food, and a solid beer selection. Good for families and casual date nights.
- BAZI Bierbrasserie (nearby on 99W) — Just outside the Old Town core, BAZI has one of the best Belgian-influenced beer programs in the area, plus moules frites that are worth the trip alone.
- Sherwood Saturday Farmers’ Market (seasonal) — Not a restaurant, but the prepared food vendors are excellent, and eating a fresh tamale while browsing the stalls is its own kind of dining experience. Runs May through October in the Old Town Stella Olsen Park area.
🎭 What to See and Do
Stella Olsen Memorial Park — The green heart of Old Town. Small but well-maintained, with a gazebo, playground, mature trees, and a little creek running through it. This is where the community gathers for festivals and summer concerts. In May, the park is at its greenest and the flower beds are freshly planted.
The Robin Hood Festival (July) — Sherwood’s signature event, held annually since 1954. Three days of parades, archery tournaments, live entertainment, a carnival, and the kind of small-town festival atmosphere that feels increasingly rare. It takes over all of Old Town and draws visitors from across the metro. Mark your calendar for mid-July.
The Sherwood Center for the Arts — A newer addition to Old Town, hosting live theater, music, art exhibits, and community events year-round. It’s brought a real cultural pulse to the main street. Check their calendar — there’s usually something happening on weekends.
Antique and specialty shops — Old Town has a handful of small shops that are worth ducking into: antiques, handmade goods, home décor, and the occasional pop-up. The mix changes seasonally, which is part of the charm — you never know exactly what you’ll find.
Sherwood Historical Society & Museum — A tiny volunteer-run museum in a historic house near Old Town. Free admission, fascinating local history, and the volunteers will talk your ear off about the town’s lumber and farming roots if you let them (you should let them).
🚶 Walks and Nature Nearby
If you’re already in Sherwood, these are within a few minutes:
- Stella Olsen Park to Cedar Creek Trail — A short connector trail from Old Town south along Cedar Creek. Flat, shaded, and pleasant for a quick walk after coffee or lunch.
- Snyder Park — A larger community park on the south end of town with sports fields, a playground, and walking paths through open meadows. Good for kids who need to run.
- Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge — The Atfálat’i access point is about 10 minutes north, back toward Tualatin. We covered this in detail in the Tualatin River Trail guide — the refuge is spectacular in May for camas meadows and wetland birds.
- Tonquin Trail (under development) — The regional trail connecting Sherwood, Tualatin, and Wilsonville is expanding. Some sections are already walkable and connect to existing greenways. This will eventually be a major asset for all three cities.
For more walking ideas closer to Tualatin, our spring walks guide covers the Bridgeport area, Wankers Corner, Lake Oswego paths, and the Stafford backroads.
🏠 Sherwood’s Neighborhood Personality
Sherwood has a specific feel that’s different from Tualatin. Where Tualatin is a mix of suburban development around I-5 and older neighborhoods near the river, Sherwood is more small-town-that-grew. It has that “we used to be rural and we remember it” character — family-oriented, community-connected, slower-paced. The Old Town reflects that: no chains, no big-box anchors, just local businesses on a walkable main street.
That personality is also why Sherwood residents tend to really appreciate flowers. We notice it in our orders — Sherwood deliveries skew toward birthdays, new neighbors, teacher appreciation, and “thinking of you” occasions. It’s a community that shows up for each other, and flowers are one of the ways they do it.
📅 When to Visit
- May–June: The Saturday Market is starting up, Stella Olsen Park is blooming, the restaurants have patio seating open, and the weather is finally cooperating. Best time of year for a first visit.
- July: Robin Hood Festival. The whole town comes alive. If you go one time all year, make it this.
- September–October: Harvest season. The nearby farms and nurseries on Tualatin-Sherwood Road are selling produce and pumpkins. The light in the Tualatin Valley is golden in October. Combine a Sherwood Old Town visit with a farm stand stop on the drive home.
- December: Holiday lights and small-town Christmas events. Sherwood does the holiday spirit well.
💐 Combine the Trip
Here’s our suggested Tualatin-to-Sherwood day plan:
- Drive the scenic Tualatin-Sherwood Road route (15 minutes, pretty farms)
- Coffee at Symposium on First Street
- Walk Stella Olsen Park and browse the Old Town shops
- Lunch at Al’s or Dumbarton
- Walk the Cedar Creek Trail if you have energy left
- Stop at a nursery on the way home
- Realize you should send flowers to someone you thought about during the walk
Step 7 is optional. But if you get there, tualatinflorist.com delivers same-day to Sherwood, Tualatin, and everywhere in between. We already wrote a similar guide to Lake Oswego for the east-side neighbor trip — now you have the southwest covered too. 🌿💐