30th wedding anniversary trip to Oregon
Apr 9th, 2017, 01:07 PM
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30th wedding anniversary trip to Oregon
I need help in planning an intinery for our 30th wedding anniversary. Would love to hit the wineries and coast Nov 3-10. We like Pinot Noir(fan of Carneros in CA), Merlot and great food. Getting in hikes or exercise is a must daily. Love immersing in local culture and blending in. Ideas for making this trip special- wineries, lodging, restaurants and sites? Hoping to keep lodging under $200/night. Thanks in advance.
Apr 9th, 2017, 01:21 PM
#2
Congrats on 30 years Penny! DW and I will be celebrating 42 on November 7 probably somewhere here in Oregon.
How far south on the coast do you plan to go?
There are several regions of vineyards in Oregon. The most notable is the Willamette Valley mostly west of I-5.
Farther south is the Rogue Valley around Medford and Jacksonville.
You should have no problem with finding lodging under $150/night.
Near McMinnville you might want to stop at the Evergreen Aviation museum. Their largest exhibit is the "Spruce Goose".
How far south on the coast do you plan to go?
There are several regions of vineyards in Oregon. The most notable is the Willamette Valley mostly west of I-5.
Farther south is the Rogue Valley around Medford and Jacksonville.
You should have no problem with finding lodging under $150/night.
Near McMinnville you might want to stop at the Evergreen Aviation museum. Their largest exhibit is the "Spruce Goose".
Apr 9th, 2017, 01:43 PM
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Congrats on 42! Especially since we share the same wedding date. I have
Heard great things about Cannon Beach and the Willamette so those are on the wish list. Thinking 2 home bases - in each locale and perhaps giving slightly more time to the wine country. All ideas welcome.
Heard great things about Cannon Beach and the Willamette so those are on the wish list. Thinking 2 home bases - in each locale and perhaps giving slightly more time to the wine country. All ideas welcome.
Apr 9th, 2017, 02:33 PM
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Unless it is really stormy on the coast, try for at least 1 night in Cannon Beach. See Haystack Rock and Ecola SP.
On the way south on 101, make a stop at the temporary visitor center of Tillamook Cheese. They are building a new visitor center which might be open by November.
Drive the coast down to Newport. Check to see if you want to visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium south of the big bridge.
Take US 20 east from Reedsport to Corvallis.
Take 99W north to McMinnville from Corvallis. Check to see which wineries are still open for tours in November.
On the way south on 101, make a stop at the temporary visitor center of Tillamook Cheese. They are building a new visitor center which might be open by November.
Drive the coast down to Newport. Check to see if you want to visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium south of the big bridge.
Take US 20 east from Reedsport to Corvallis.
Take 99W north to McMinnville from Corvallis. Check to see which wineries are still open for tours in November.
Apr 9th, 2017, 02:52 PM
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November is a good time for Cannon Beach, generally. Your budget is fine unless you want a really nice hotel or hit CB on a festival weekend (unlikely but no promises, they have so many festivals these days), Astoria may be worth a day trip- I enjoy the maritime museum and Ft Stevens state park. I really like Newport but I'd probably be not go down that far if you enjoy road tripping.
Instead of going to Willamette that time of year, I'd got to a town with a lot of wine tasting rooms, or I would stay in Portland and venture out to wineries and the gorge as weather permits. I haven't got any suggestions for towns- if Washington was on your radar, I'd suggest Walla Walla. I'm suggesting this alternative partly because food and partly because of driving. Portland has a really great food scene. The coast and other towns have a few options, but usually not a lot of awesome options. Also, you can walk around to wineries and wine bars and drink without worrying about driving- and I don't find November driving much fun. Too cold and nasty to hike usually. Too late for fall color. Wine bars and tasting rooms are open year round- wineries may have odd hours. But realistically, you can walk into any decent restaurant and find local wines on the wine list. So it depends if you want the winery experience or just to trie the local stuff.
Local favorite in hotels is the Mcmenamins. I love the edgefield if you want the country feeling. The Crystal Hotel in Portland is awesome if you want to be in the thick of things. Both have good restaurants, great soaking pools, a quirky decor. If you see a special for either the Benson or the Monaco in Portland- those would be my first picks, but I think your budget may be low.
Instead of going to Willamette that time of year, I'd got to a town with a lot of wine tasting rooms, or I would stay in Portland and venture out to wineries and the gorge as weather permits. I haven't got any suggestions for towns- if Washington was on your radar, I'd suggest Walla Walla. I'm suggesting this alternative partly because food and partly because of driving. Portland has a really great food scene. The coast and other towns have a few options, but usually not a lot of awesome options. Also, you can walk around to wineries and wine bars and drink without worrying about driving- and I don't find November driving much fun. Too cold and nasty to hike usually. Too late for fall color. Wine bars and tasting rooms are open year round- wineries may have odd hours. But realistically, you can walk into any decent restaurant and find local wines on the wine list. So it depends if you want the winery experience or just to trie the local stuff.
Local favorite in hotels is the Mcmenamins. I love the edgefield if you want the country feeling. The Crystal Hotel in Portland is awesome if you want to be in the thick of things. Both have good restaurants, great soaking pools, a quirky decor. If you see a special for either the Benson or the Monaco in Portland- those would be my first picks, but I think your budget may be low.
Apr 10th, 2017, 06:41 AM
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Sounds like a nice trip
We live in this area, right near a bunch of the wineries, so here is my take on this.
Definitely spend a few nights in the Willamette Valley. McMinnville is a great base for this, especially if you want to be able to drive to various wineries as well as just stay put and walk around downtown, which has loads of good restaurants as well as many tasting rooms. There is the Hotel Oregon, which is a McMenamin property, right in downtown. I love the place, but not sure if that is what you have in mind for an anniversary. There are other B&B's, etc around, but I haven't stay at any of those so can't comment.
Another option is Dundee, which has over a dozen tasting rooms and about 6 excellent restaurants right on the main road (highway 99), and a very nice hotel, the Inn at Red Hills. We have stayed there even though it is 10 minutes from our house, and highly recommend it.
Carlton would work for this as well, but on a much smaller scale. Their downtown is about 2 blocks long, but nice, and lots of tasting rooms.
If you want a nice B&B outside of a busy area, take a look at Chehalem Ridge B&B. Beautiful location, and if a clearish day, the most stunning views!!! Only a short drive to some excellent wineries, like about 10 minutes.
As for wineries, these are the ones that are our favorites and that we take visitors to. Arbor Brook and Brick House both in Newberg, Seufert and Stoller in Dayton, Argyle (for bubbles) in Dundee, and Grochau in Amity. There are loads more as we have over 400 wineries in this region alone.
Cannon Beach is wonderful and one of our favorite places. Our favorite hotel in town is the Surfsand Resort, and we have been going there for decades. In your time frame, rooms will most likely be on special so within your price range. Excellent hotel and I truly cannot say enough good about it! Right next to it is another hotel that we have really enjoyed, but is much smaller, the Cannon Beach Hotel. Most of their rooms are not ocean view though, so that is a drawback.
Once you know where in wine country you are staying, I can give restaurant recommendations etc if you like
We live in this area, right near a bunch of the wineries, so here is my take on this.Definitely spend a few nights in the Willamette Valley. McMinnville is a great base for this, especially if you want to be able to drive to various wineries as well as just stay put and walk around downtown, which has loads of good restaurants as well as many tasting rooms. There is the Hotel Oregon, which is a McMenamin property, right in downtown. I love the place, but not sure if that is what you have in mind for an anniversary. There are other B&B's, etc around, but I haven't stay at any of those so can't comment.
Another option is Dundee, which has over a dozen tasting rooms and about 6 excellent restaurants right on the main road (highway 99), and a very nice hotel, the Inn at Red Hills. We have stayed there even though it is 10 minutes from our house, and highly recommend it.
Carlton would work for this as well, but on a much smaller scale. Their downtown is about 2 blocks long, but nice, and lots of tasting rooms.
If you want a nice B&B outside of a busy area, take a look at Chehalem Ridge B&B. Beautiful location, and if a clearish day, the most stunning views!!! Only a short drive to some excellent wineries, like about 10 minutes.
As for wineries, these are the ones that are our favorites and that we take visitors to. Arbor Brook and Brick House both in Newberg, Seufert and Stoller in Dayton, Argyle (for bubbles) in Dundee, and Grochau in Amity. There are loads more as we have over 400 wineries in this region alone.
Cannon Beach is wonderful and one of our favorite places. Our favorite hotel in town is the Surfsand Resort, and we have been going there for decades. In your time frame, rooms will most likely be on special so within your price range. Excellent hotel and I truly cannot say enough good about it! Right next to it is another hotel that we have really enjoyed, but is much smaller, the Cannon Beach Hotel. Most of their rooms are not ocean view though, so that is a drawback.
Once you know where in wine country you are staying, I can give restaurant recommendations etc if you like
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