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Exploring Oregon Wine Country: wine + agriculture
Video screenshot - Vineyards in Willamette Valley
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Expertly Crafted Wine, Beer and Food

Willamette Valley’s fertile soil isn’t just for growing wine grapes. This same land also produces flavorful ingredients that round out the rest of the meal. Locally grown hops are featured in the unique beers served up at craft breweries around the region and state. Four varieties of white and black truffles are native to the valley and are celebrated annually during truffle season from January through March. Wild fungi also thrive in the Valley: Set out on a foraging expedition to collect your own, or enjoy them as tasty additions to dinner plates valley-wide. Whether you'd like to visit for a wine tour, a culinary adventure or a craft brew trail, you'll find plenty of opportunities to savor the region's rich bounty. Along the way, you'll also support local farmers, vintners and chefs who are utilizing sustainable practices to help this community's abundant natural resources thrive well into the future.

 

Enjoy the Outdoors

With the flowing Willamette River bordered by the Cascade Mountains to the east and the Oregon Coast Range to the west, it’s no surprise that people here love to spend time outdoors. Explore Silver Falls State Park, beloved for its abundance of waterfalls and 56 kilometers of backcountry trails. Go canoeing, kayaking or rafting on the Willamette River Water Trail. Cycle all or part of the 215-kilometer Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway, dotted with hops farms, wineries and small towns. Go skiing or snowboarding at Willamette Pass, hike to the top of 1,250-meter Marys Peak, look for dozens of bird species on the Willamette Valley Birding Trail or cycle through thick forests at Historic Champoeg State Park. Then again, you can just kick back and take in the awe-inspiring views on a hot air balloon ride. Visit in autumn or spring and you’ll be treated to a dazzling display of sunset-hued trees or fields bursting with wildflowers.

Exploring Oregon Wine Country: wine + agriculture
Video screenshot - Vineyards in Willamette Valley
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Fun Fact

Looking out over the vines at Cherry Hill Winery
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Wine Enthusiast named the Willamette Valley the Wine Region of the Year in 2016. It’s home to more than 700 wineries and known especially for Pinot noir production.

Photo: Andrea Johnson

Aerial view of downtown Eugene, Oregon
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Film fanatics might recognize Willamette Valley filming sites from "Animal House," "Stand by Me" and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest."

Photo: Ben Schorzman/City of Eugene

Blueberry picking in the Willamette Valley in Oregon
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The Willamette Valley is home to seven distinct farm loops and food trails.

Photo: Joshua Rainey

Must see places

The base of one of the falls in Silver Falls State Park, Oregon

Silver Falls State Park

Abundant rainfall and melting snow in the spring makes for outstanding waterfall hikes (and photo opportunities galore). Check out the Trail of Ten Falls at Silver Falls State Park, a roughly 12-kilometer moderate hiking trail that meanders past 10 falls, including several that you can actually walk behind. For a more ADA-accessible (but no less scenic) route, hike North Rim Trail, a gently-sloping, nearly one-kilometer path leading to stunning views of North Falls with connections to the Canyon Trail and the Trail of Ten Falls.

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The Albany Carousel in the Willamette Valley, Oregon

Albany Carousel

Built entirely by local volunteers, the Albany Carousel is, in a word, marvelous. Each animal, ranging from a giraffe to a dragon, is meticulously carved and painted by hand. The circa-1909 mechanical carousel structure was completely restored, from the bolts to the mirrors. You can still watch wood carvers at work and there’s a small museum featuring carousel animals dating back to 1885. It’s truly an Albany treasure.

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A beautiful day at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Oregon

Salem

Enjoy hectares of open green space, peaceful walking paths and beautiful views of the Willamette river in Salem, the capital city of Oregon and the cultural heart of the Willamette Valley. The historic Capitol District and the Riverfront Park and Amphitheater are always bustling with local events, concerts and community festivals, and the Salem Municipal Airport provides easy connections from other major USA airports.

The Clackamas River as seen from the West Cascades Scenic Byway in Oregon

West Cascades Scenic Byway

Road trip an astonishing 346-kilometer route that weaves through old growth forests and alongside pristine mountain lakes, rushing rivers and natural hot springs. You can simply drive and enjoy the views, or stop along the way to fly fish, mountain bike, hike or paddle. Road cyclists should carve out time to pedal the 144 kilometers of the road that overlap with the Cascading Rivers Scenic Bikeway.

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Gorgeous view from Marys Peak in Oregon

Marys Peak

It’s the highest peak in the Oregon Coast Range and an essential hike in any visitor’s agenda. Marys Peak rises 1,250 meters and, on a clear day, you’ll be wowed with views of the Willamette Valley, the Cascade Range and the Pacific Ocean. Spring is the ideal season to visit – the wildflower displays are spectacular.

Inside the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon

Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum

If the only thing you know about aviation history is when your flight arrived in Oregon, not to worry – the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is utterly fascinating, even for the uninitiated. Check out military aircraft, helicopters and spacecraft. The museum’s crown jewel is the Spruce Goose, a massive, World War II-era plane built entirely of wood by Howard Hughes.

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An idyllic scene in Springfield, Oregon

Springfield

This charming town offers a diverse line-up of sights for all kinds of travelers. Springfield served as the inspiration for the imaginary locale of the same name in television show "The Simpsons," whose creator Matt Groening, is a Portland, Oregon, native. Take the unofficial self-guided tour to see the real-life landmarks that inspired the on-screen setting. For more adventure, mountain bike just minutes from downtown and stop for refreshments at local eateries and breweries along the South Willamette Valley Food Trail.

The Hannah Bridge in Scio, Oregon

Covered Bridges Tour

If you need to fill some photo frames, grab your camera and do a bicycle or driving tour of Willamette Valley’s historic covered bridges. These were built extensively in the 19th century to protect wooden bridge floors from the rain. Along the way, stop at orchards, farms and small towns that can’t help but be charming with names like Sweet Home. Pick up a map at the Albany Visitors Center.

A kayak tour of the Willamette River in the Willamette Valley of Oregon

Kayaking the Willamette River

REI rated the Willamette one of the top seven thru-paddles in the lower 48 states. A kayak tour of “the Willy” is a great introduction to paddling for people of all ages. Several professional outfitters provide rentals and organized tours, including half- and full-day excursions, sunset paddling, craft beer and kayaking tours, and stand-up paddle boarding lessons.

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Following the Willamette Scenic Bikeway though Ankeny Vineyard in Salem, Oregon

Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway

The first bikeway in the USA was the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway, and what a ride it is. The bucolic, 212-kilometer trail boasts amazing scenery, wineries, hops farms and inviting small towns. This is a fantastic ride all year round, but bring warm gear for the rainy winters.

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