Tracey Sunflower, co-owner of the Westfir Lodge with her husband Noah, recognizes that look in the eyes of her guests. Tucked away in the West Cascades, surrounded by towering forests and sparkling waterways, the historic lodge welcomes a wide range of travelers—both as a base camp for outdoor adventure and as a respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. “A lot of our guests get out here, and they’re like, ‘Where are the crowds? Where is everything? Am I in the wrong place?’” Sunflower says. “But once they get here, get checked in, and have a chance to just chill out and maybe go for ..read more

Memorial Day weekend is one of the biggest wine-tasting weekends of the year in the Willamette Valley–every winery in the valley throws open its doors to celebrate the summer season ahead. Here are a few trip ideas to guide you on your tasting journey this Memorial Day:  1. See art in action Get inspired this weekend when you visit a winery where the creative spirit of art intersects with the creative power of winemaking. Beckham Estate Vineyard’s clay wine amphorea Beckham Estate Vineyard, Sherwood. Winemaker Andrew Beckham is also a potter; visit his ceramic studio onsite and taste w ..read more

This spring break, create memories that will last a lifetime with an adventure around the Willamette Valley. Here are seven of our top picks for family-friendly trips all around the region this spring. Enchanting Mix of Fun, Education in Salem The Gilbert House Children’s Museum hosts educational offerings near the riverfront in Salem.Humpty Dumpty is a popular attraction at the Enchanted Forest amusement park just outside of Salem. Photo courtesy Enchanted Forest For family-friendly fun without a lot of fuss, bring the kids to Salem, where they can meet Pancho the Elephant (the newest animal ..read more

If you enjoyed your trip to Oregon Wine Country, it’s never been easier to bring a taste of the Willamette Valley home. Since 2013, Alaska Airlines, Travel Oregon, and the Oregon Wine Board have teamed up to offer the Wine Flies Free program, which allows visitors to check a case of wine for free when flying from certain cities throughout the Pacific Northwest—including Portland and Eugene. What is Wine Flies Free? Alaska Airlines, Travel Oregon, and the Oregon Wine Board know how important wine is to visitors and communities throughout the Pacific Northwest—which is why the organizations par ..read more

Memorial Day weekend is one of the biggest wine-tasting weekends of the year in the Willamette Valley–every winery in the valley throws open its doors to celebrate the summer season ahead. Here are a few trip ideas to guide you on your tasting journey this Memorial Day:  1. See art in action. Get inspired this weekend when you visit a winery where the creative spirit of art intersects with the creative power of winemaking. Beckham Estate Vineyard’s clay wine amphorea Beckham Estate Vineyard, Sherwood. Winemaker Andrew Beckham is also a potter; visit his ceramic studio onsite and taste ..read more

Every May, the Oregon wine industry celebrates the state’s world-renowned wine scene as part of Oregon Wine Month. The festivities typically include new releases, sweepstakes, seminars, and other fun events at wineries, tasting rooms, and restaurants throughout the state. Around our region, you’ll find more than 700 wineries pouring pinot noir, chardonnay, and other celebrated varietals in scenic settings—open patios or ornate tasting rooms. Use these resources and somewhere to celebrate Oregon Wine Month with us this May. 5 Biodynamic Wineries 10 Al Fresco Wineries Memorial Day Weekend in Or ..read more

Winter is undeniably a slow stretch for farmers throughout the Willamette Valley. Most crops have been picked, many markets and farm stands are shuttered until spring, and shorter days leave less time for farmers to tend to their crops. But this is the Willamette Valley, after all, where producers grow more than 170 crops each year. So while it’s not the most robust growing season, the Willamette Valley’s extensive winter output covers dozens of crops—including a variety of greens, purple broccoli, pears, Brussels sprouts, squash, potatoes, shiitake mushrooms, apples, and more. Find a more det ..read more

You and your winemaker can do more than fill a glass. Willamette Valley growers, farmers, winemakers and tastemakers are driven by their desire to harvest and create something that reflects a sense of place. Ask any one of them, and you’ll find they are eager and earnest about sharing the place they work and live. And while they are, of course, proud to share their experience and serve the literal fruits of their labor with you, they serve this land first. Preserving, protecting and conserving the health of their river valley is vital to their mission for a better Willamette Valley. Wineries ..read more

Even if you don’t know the Willamette National Forest’s Middle Fork Ranger District by name, chances are good you know some of the outdoor opportunities within its forested boundaries. Maybe you’ve gone mountain biking on some of the world-class trails around Oakridge and Westfir, gazed upon the 286-foot-tall Salt Creek Falls, or taken a dip in McCredie Hot Springs. Perhaps you’ve trekked the trails hunting for an ornament as part of our Willamette Valley Forest Ornament Contest? Well the beloved Willamette Valley Forest Ornament Contest is back for another year. This Nov. 25-Dec. 31, you’ll h ..read more

The Willamette Valley Forest Ornament Contest is back for another year! This Nov 25 – Dec 31 you’ll have your chance to find ornaments along beloved trails in the Willamette National Forest’s “ Cottage Grove Ranger District in the Umpqua National Forest. Fun fact: The Cottage Grove Ranger District is the only one of the five participating ranger districts not to be in the Willamette National Forest. Rather, it’s in the Umpqua National Forest—just southeast of Eugene on the western slopes of Oregon’s Cascade Range. (And if you’re curious: A ranger district is a term for a certain area inside a ..read more