Lots of small farming communities with delightful cafes and small shops. Historical Society museums, covered bridges and lovely parks are also found. Roadside stands for vegetables and fruits in season. A great area for a lazy Sunday drive or a weekend.
I had a few hours to kill and drove miles of the scenic loop out of Forest Grove. I visited a few wineries and took in some beautiful scenery. I'll definitely return for a longer visit.
Great area, scenery, people, etc.... and great for wine tasting, especially for the Pinot family- much less crowded than Sanoma and other "well known" options
Many wineries along the way....a bit pricey. We enjoyed a lovely restaurant Tina after spending the afternoon tasting wines.
Spent an afternoon touring wineries and drinking some wonderful pinot noir. If you;re a wine over don't miss it, Loved the diversity of the ones we visited.
The Willamette Valley, while no longer a secret, is still very much worth the trip for those visiting the Portland area for at least a few days. Only a 35-40 minute drive from PDX, the various towns in the Willamette Valley including Dundee and McMinville are host to some of the best Wineries in the United States, and perhaps the best Pino Noirs in the world. A must visit.
What I loved about Willamette was that is was so diverse, not a monogamous stretch of vineyards. The lush green countryside was dotted with orchards, vineyards, straw farms, green fields and even a kiwi far.The wines we tried were exception especially those at Alexana, which also had a stunning view and Rocco.
Very seanic area and great views from the hills to the valleys. We were on a wine tour butglad to have a tour guide so We didn't have to woory about a map and directions Just got a great views and history of the area.
The rolling hills here--just an hour outside Portland--are beautiful. There are many wineries, so do some research and choose one or two before you drive out.
We had ideal weather and a perfectly clear (and unseasonably warm) day to explore the Willamette Valley. Beautiful!