Travel Guide

Things to Do:

Willamette Valley

The Willamette Valley is the heart of Oregon wine country, the state’s most well-known wine region stretching 150 miles from Portland in the north to Eugene in the south.
It’s home to nearly
700 wineries,
producing not only pinot noir but many other cool-climate varietals.
One might enjoy the ultimate wine retreat, touring and tasting, picking up a bottle to enjoy with dinner or a picnic. There are bed and breakfasts, inns, and vacation rentals tucked among the vineyards for those who want to immerse themselves in at all, perhaps while sitting on a porch swing taking in the view while sipping.
But there’s more to do here than wine tasting, from exploring charming small towns to hiking and waterfall hopping. Silver Falls State Park is just 60 miles south of Portland and by hiking the Trail of Ten Trails you’ll encounter 10 different waterfalls, half of which are at least 100 feet tall.
In between, take in the views of the forest, streams, and spectacular canyon viewpoints.
Numerous other hiking trails, horseback riding, and camping can be enjoyed here too.
After exploring the park, if you’re more into beer than wine, you can enjoy a cold one at Benedictine Brewery in Mt. Angel, about a 25-minute drive northwest. The Benedictine monks of Mount Angel Abbey have been growing hops in the area since the 1880s and the tradition continues with the Benedictine Brewery, owned by modern Oregonian monks
Less than five miles from Mt. Angel is the small town of Silverton, Oregon’s “Garden City.” It’s home to Oregon Garden, an 80-acre botanical garden that includes 20 different gardens with a diverse collection of plant species. It hosts the Rose Garden, Children’s Garden, the Rediscovery Forest, and the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Gordon House. With the colorful flowers, rare flora, and conifers, there are many fabulous photoops here along with a café, gift shop, and retail nursery.
The historic town of McMinnville has a tree-lined main street that’s been named among the very best in the U.S., with unique boutiques, cafes, farm-to-table restaurants, and wine tasting rooms. Just minutes from the downtown core is the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum with a wide range of exhibits, a 3D movie theater, and even a flight simulator where you can jump int the pilot’s seat and experience the thrill without leaving the ground.
The Willamette Valley has several cities worth exploring, including the state capital of Salem.

It’s home to multiple museums, including the Bush House
Museum which provides a glimpse into the life of a local
family in the 19th-century complete with artifacts and antique
furnishings

Located at Willamette University, the Hallie Ford Museum of Art is Oregon’s third-largest art museum, with a permanent collection that includes more than 9,000 historically and culturally diverse works, with a focus on contemporary and historic regional pieces from the Northwest and traditional Native American baskets.
Families with children might head to the Enchanted Forest Theme Park just south of Salem, which includes a western-themed town, haunted house, bobsled coaster, and a log ride. It was hand-built over a period of seven years and opened to the public in 1971.
Eugene offers numerous attractions as the state’s second-largest city. Its Museum of Natural and Cultural History on the University of Oregon campus is the largest of its kind between Seattle and San Francisco and features 100,000 fossils, nearly a million archaeological artifacts, and temporary exhibits focused on a variety of Pacific Northwest themes.
If you’re here on a Saturday from April to November, visit the oldest weekly outdoor arts and crafts market in the country. The Eugene Saturday Market hosts more than 200 food vendors, local artisans, and live performances.
Those who like to hike or bike can hit the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail, a 26-mile route just east of Eugene.
Starting from the Upper McKenzie River Trailhead, you’ll pass through an old lava flow from Mount Washington and meander alongside the McKenzie River through oldgrowth Douglas fir. It continues to Clear Lake, the Great Spring, and multiple waterfalls, including Sahalie, Koosah, and Tamolich falls.
At the viewpoint of Tamolitch Blue Pool, you’ll see the river bubbling up from the ground in a crystal-clear, aquamarine-hued pool.