When I was little I remember going to a State Fair. I can't remember if it was the Pennsylvania State Fair, or if I went with my cousins in New York. All I remember is that it was magical. I can remember the  experience with all my senses. It was over 25 years ago, but I can remember the smell of the fried funnel cakes and the colors of the lights from each ride that lit up the sky. I tasted a caramel apple (it was a mess and I hated it since then). The sound of music blaring from each ride, enticing you to ride it again and again. Screams of joy, I would think, everywhere. Feeling the cold metal handlebars and holding on for dear life, on every single ride. It's a sensory over load situation that I have been wanting to recreate for my boys. 

Another one of my Oregon Bucket list Items is the Oregon State Fair. (I will find my list soon and do a blog post- as soon as I find it!) 

Here's a little tip- DO NOT PURCHASE YOUR RIDE TICKETS AT THE BOOTH. They are $50 for an all you can ride bracelet. So, for my family it would have been $250! And the little one isn't able to ride all the rides. Check the website because local grocery stores are selling them for $38. Worth it. There are so many fun rides! We ended up getting a few tickets for my boys to ride at least a few rides. For the website click here . 

So, here's what we loved! 

1) FARM ANIMALS!!!! You guys! I loved all the animals that are competing for best in show and such. The horses are my favorite. And the petting zoo is the best one I've been to so far. We had a blast. 

2) RIDES!! Like I said, totally prebuy those tickets and go have a blast! There are so many cool rides here. I was surprised! 

3) FAIR FOOD! I have always wanted to experience all food fried. This year the fair had a new fried food; it's the fried caramel apple, but I was after the fried Pickles and Snickers, along with an order of fried Oreo's. If BBQ'd turkey legs are around - my husband is holding one for sure. oh, and how can you not go to the fair and not get cotton candy and ice-cream! I did see there is a coffee cart near the chicken exhibit building- for my coffee addicts. Coffee is a must. 

4) CONCERTS! with your pass to get into the Fair (which, you guys, if your kids did the summer reading program at the library- there's free passes for the kiddos. So you can save, and then get that ice-cream). On Wednesday, Skillet is performing for the Family night event. That should be fun. Again, check out the website for more details, click here

5) All The ART and Craft exhibits. I love walking all the little vendors that come to fairs to sell their goods. I talked to a few interesting people about their trade and what makes them passionate about what they do. There was a bee keeper for one - I had never met some one that speaks with such great admiration toward bees! I loved her. I wanted to just buy all her honey. Another one that stood out was a husband and wife that are retired teachers, they sell travel guides of Oregon. They really are a wealth of knowledge. I looked up their website, click here to view their site and order the travel books. And then we walked around the Art exhibits and Science Fair exhibits from local school districts. My son was so into this. He loved all the Art work created for those shows. He was inspired. So was I!  

ummmmm….AND,  PEOPLE WATCHING! You guys, I don't know about you, but I people watch. I mean, I'm fascinated by different groups of people that walk in, families with kiddos, young couple that are there getting completely lost in the crazy and only seeing each other. It's so beautiful to me how different each person is. We are there for one reason - THE FAIR. And, we can each have such different experiences in that one day. I love it. So, next time you catch me staring at you - I really am doing just that. Admiring your uniqueness. Or trying to make sense of it all...