Pacific Northwest Food and Wine
Sep 12th, 2016, 04:13 PM
#61
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Sunbum--You are right, this is in a very quiet area of Newberg. It is about 10 minutes from our home and I go past there quite a bit. Nice quiet area, and central enough for getting around to the wineries etc, but also a good location for walking the old downtown area of Newberg.
Sep 13th, 2016, 09:56 AM
#62
I've been poring over maps and trying to incorporate many of the suggestions made by the incredibly generous contributors above. Before I can look at specific scenic drives, I'd like to narrow down the overnight destinations.
As much as I'd like to just turn up and wing it, my inner over-organized self needs at least a basic plan.
Does this itinerary make logistic sense, or am I making the usual first-timer's mistake of trying to do too much in too little time?
We have 14 nights to work with and if possible, would like to end the trip close to Portland for easy access to the airport.
Arrive Portland, pick up car downtown, probably on the road around noon
Drive Portland to Yakima (just over three hours?) - spend a few nights there
Drive Yakima to Walla Walla (Dayton - 2:20) - spend a few nights there
Drive Walla Walla (Dayton) to Hood River - 3:25 - spend a few nights there
Drive Hood River to Bend - 2:45? - Spend a few nights there
Drive from Bend to Carlton (Willamette Valley) - stay 3-4 nights, inclusive of day trip along the coast
Drive Willamette Valley to PDX for 6 pm departure
Logical? Ridiculous?
As much as I'd like to just turn up and wing it, my inner over-organized self needs at least a basic plan.
Does this itinerary make logistic sense, or am I making the usual first-timer's mistake of trying to do too much in too little time?
We have 14 nights to work with and if possible, would like to end the trip close to Portland for easy access to the airport.
Arrive Portland, pick up car downtown, probably on the road around noon
Drive Portland to Yakima (just over three hours?) - spend a few nights there
Drive Yakima to Walla Walla (Dayton - 2:20) - spend a few nights there
Drive Walla Walla (Dayton) to Hood River - 3:25 - spend a few nights there
Drive Hood River to Bend - 2:45? - Spend a few nights there
Drive from Bend to Carlton (Willamette Valley) - stay 3-4 nights, inclusive of day trip along the coast
Drive Willamette Valley to PDX for 6 pm departure
Logical? Ridiculous?
Sep 13th, 2016, 10:26 AM
#63
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The route is logical
It will take more than 3 hours from Portland to Yakima. Plan on about 4. Personally, I really dislike Yakima(have lived there), so my personal bias is coming out, lol, so I would limit that stay to one maybe two nights.
It will take more than 3 hours from Portland to Yakima. Plan on about 4. Personally, I really dislike Yakima(have lived there), so my personal bias is coming out, lol, so I would limit that stay to one maybe two nights.
Sep 13th, 2016, 10:28 AM
#64
Not ridiculous and reasonably logical, but a couple of personal comments...
I'm inclined to think that visiting both Yakima and the Walla Walla/Columbia Valley wine areas is a bit of overkill. From Walla Walla to Sunnyside (in the core of the Yakima Valley vineyard areas) is only around 90 minutes, mainly on freeways, and could be done reasonably as a day trip. From Dayton it's a little further, but Dayton is a very small town and I'd be concerned that you'd quickly run out of places to visit or things to do. Maybe not, maybe that's just me, but it would be a concern.
If you skipped the Yakima stay and added a day or two to the Walla Walla/Palouse area, you could do a day trip or even an overnight out to Joseph, beautiful in the fall, with a stop in Pendleton - maybe hit the Pendleton Mills factory store.
One major change I'd suggest basically is to reverse your route. In October the longer you wait, the higher the chances become of hitting rainy weather in the Willamette Valley and along the coast. By putting the coast and Willamette Valley last, you're almost guaranteed to get rainy days - maybe several. You can still get them earlier in the month, but the odds increase as the month goes on. East of the Cascades, on the other hand, it will be chilly at night (higher altitude) but less likely to be wet.
I'm inclined to think that visiting both Yakima and the Walla Walla/Columbia Valley wine areas is a bit of overkill. From Walla Walla to Sunnyside (in the core of the Yakima Valley vineyard areas) is only around 90 minutes, mainly on freeways, and could be done reasonably as a day trip. From Dayton it's a little further, but Dayton is a very small town and I'd be concerned that you'd quickly run out of places to visit or things to do. Maybe not, maybe that's just me, but it would be a concern.
If you skipped the Yakima stay and added a day or two to the Walla Walla/Palouse area, you could do a day trip or even an overnight out to Joseph, beautiful in the fall, with a stop in Pendleton - maybe hit the Pendleton Mills factory store.
One major change I'd suggest basically is to reverse your route. In October the longer you wait, the higher the chances become of hitting rainy weather in the Willamette Valley and along the coast. By putting the coast and Willamette Valley last, you're almost guaranteed to get rainy days - maybe several. You can still get them earlier in the month, but the odds increase as the month goes on. East of the Cascades, on the other hand, it will be chilly at night (higher altitude) but less likely to be wet.
Sep 13th, 2016, 11:56 AM
#65
Thank you both much appreciated.
I was thinking it might be wine overkill myself, and that's saying something.
I was under the impression that Dayton would be a central location for the Walla Walla area, but evidently not?
Will have to Google Pendleton Mills - no idea what that is.
I'd considered Willamette Valley first and will consider it again. Didn't think about weather issues.
I was thinking it might be wine overkill myself, and that's saying something.
I was under the impression that Dayton would be a central location for the Walla Walla area, but evidently not?
Will have to Google Pendleton Mills - no idea what that is.
I'd considered Willamette Valley first and will consider it again. Didn't think about weather issues.
Sep 13th, 2016, 01:43 PM
#66
I was under the impression that Dayton would be a central location for the Walla Walla area, but evidently not?
Will have to Google Pendleton Mills - no idea what that is.
Dayton is a pretty town in the Palouse wheat country; Walla Walla itself - also a very attractive town - would be a more convenient base for touring wineries.
Pendleton is an historic woolen products company, famous for its "Pendleton shirts" and its blankets. It's very good quality stuff, and remember there's no sales tax in Oregon.
http://www.pendleton-usa.com/custser...eName=Heritage
Will have to Google Pendleton Mills - no idea what that is.
Dayton is a pretty town in the Palouse wheat country; Walla Walla itself - also a very attractive town - would be a more convenient base for touring wineries.
Pendleton is an historic woolen products company, famous for its "Pendleton shirts" and its blankets. It's very good quality stuff, and remember there's no sales tax in Oregon.
http://www.pendleton-usa.com/custser...eName=Heritage
Sep 13th, 2016, 03:05 PM
#68
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FYI, if you do not stop at one of their own locations, you can buy Pendleton at many other places around here. The Made In Oregon Stores carry quite a bit of it, and the usual outlets (Woodburn and Troutdale, with Woodburn being a MUCH better outlet mall), as well as Pendleton's own stores.
Sep 14th, 2016, 01:46 PM
#70
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There is nothing wrong with Aurora, but there is nothing there really. Which B&B? There is a small airport in Aurora, and so noise might be an issue. We were at a wedding there a couple years ago and the military was using that airport for training that day, so you could not hear a thing during the wedding ceremony. Honestly, I would choose something on the other side of I-5 instead of Aurora. You are right though, it is not far from Newberg, but if you are going to be out tasting you do not want to drive far. The police here are really on top of it, etc. Plus we have red light cameras where the tickets are $260 a pop, and are reported to insurance. Even for right turns on red if you don't make a full complete stop, as if taking a drivers test. So the closer to the WB wineries the better. Oh, and you will need to drive 20 minutes for restaurants and such as well.
Sep 14th, 2016, 01:50 PM
#71
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I just googled and am guessing it is the Feller House? If so, it is at least on the good side of I-5, but the roads over to Newberg are fine during the day but not ones that I will take when it is dark. Too windy, narrow, no lights, etc.
Sep 14th, 2016, 02:22 PM
#74
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Not in the sense of being safe, etc, but I meant in regards to being closer to wineries, restaurants, pretty much everything. The east side of I-5 in that area is pretty much no mans land. Sunbum said it well, IMO.
Sep 14th, 2016, 03:05 PM
#75
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I also think your proposed itinerary is generally okay, but in line with others' comments, wonder about your choices in lodging locations. None of the wine country towns are so busy to warrant avoiding staying in them. (Except as noted, possibly Dundee.) Same for Hood River vs. Husum.
Other comments:
A day-trip would be short-changing the coast. Maybe take a night from Yakima and one from WV wine country to give you two nights at the coast. As much as you may love wine, once you've seen Cannon Beach and/or Manzanita, you won't regret it.
Possible alternatives to Bend (though it's a great little city): http://www.sunriver-resort.com/, http://www.blackbutteranch.com/, http://www.metoliusriverresort.com/, or http://fivepinelodge.com/.
Other comments:
A day-trip would be short-changing the coast. Maybe take a night from Yakima and one from WV wine country to give you two nights at the coast. As much as you may love wine, once you've seen Cannon Beach and/or Manzanita, you won't regret it.
Possible alternatives to Bend (though it's a great little city): http://www.sunriver-resort.com/, http://www.blackbutteranch.com/, http://www.metoliusriverresort.com/, or http://fivepinelodge.com/.
Sep 14th, 2016, 04:03 PM
#77
I definitely have concerns about how busy Willamette Valley wine towns will be during our stay - if we visit there first, it'll be Thurs-Sun, and I've already run into several places that are fully booked, not to mention rather expensive since it's the weekend.
We prefer quiet out of the way places, but based on the responses above, probably not as out of the way as Aurora, which doesn't sound that quiet anyway, so I've cancelled.
We prefer quiet out of the way places, but based on the responses above, probably not as out of the way as Aurora, which doesn't sound that quiet anyway, so I've cancelled.
Sep 14th, 2016, 04:32 PM
#78
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I agree with faceinthecrowd's entire post, as usual, lol.
Except for "downtown" Dundee, you won't see crowds. Dundee's downtown is tiny, just a couple blocks, so it isn't a big issue anyway.
Have you looked at Chehalem Ridge B&B in Newberg? It is close enough to everything, yet up on Chehalem Mountain, so feels further out, and it is not expensive at all.
Except for "downtown" Dundee, you won't see crowds. Dundee's downtown is tiny, just a couple blocks, so it isn't a big issue anyway.
Have you looked at Chehalem Ridge B&B in Newberg? It is close enough to everything, yet up on Chehalem Mountain, so feels further out, and it is not expensive at all.
Sep 14th, 2016, 04:37 PM
#79
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Agree there are a lot of expensive places. Maybe look in the Amity area- still wine country. Check Flipkey or Airbnb?
I think the wine towns will be busy but once you get out in the country where the wineries are, we did not find it so busy. It was very relaxed.
And even though the little towns are a bit busy, the streets roll up early!
Mms suggested a place called The Vintages where I would have loved to stay- it's refurbished airstream trailers but didn't work for our group.
I think the wine towns will be busy but once you get out in the country where the wineries are, we did not find it so busy. It was very relaxed.
And even though the little towns are a bit busy, the streets roll up early!
Mms suggested a place called The Vintages where I would have loved to stay- it's refurbished airstream trailers but didn't work for our group.
Sep 14th, 2016, 05:01 PM
#80
Yes, I'd run across Chehalem Ridge B&B in Newberg, they're fully booked.
Ran across Vintages too, but wasn't so sure about the whole trailer thing
I'll take a look at Amity, thanks.
Ran across Vintages too, but wasn't so sure about the whole trailer thing
I'll take a look at Amity, thanks.
