The Willamette Valley & Wine Country - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 479

The Willamette Valley &
Wine Country
Why Go?
The Willamette Valley is world famous for its fabulous and plentiful wineries, which
could easily take several days to explore. However, they're not the region's only highlight.
Visit humble Salem, Oregon's capital city, for its museums and stately buildings. Nearby
is an amazing waterfall-filled state park, along with a lovely abbey that's home to a 2.5lb
hairball (no joke). Pause in dynamic and liberal Eugene, full of energetic college students,
pretty riverside parks and fine restaurants. And don't forget historic Oregon City, the
lovely McKenzie River area and the region's wealth of festivals.
The Willamette Valley is well located: head east to the Columbia River Gorge, north to
Washington and west to the coast. Everything is so close by you'll want to linger for
longer than you planned, so stretch that schedule and put on your explorer's hat - you'll
need it.
When to Go
Dec-Mar Hot-spring heaven at Bagby, Beiten-bush or the Belknap Hot Springs Lodge.