The Willamette Valley & Wine Country - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 499

Marys Peak MOUNTAIN
At 4097ft, Marys Peak, in the Siuslaw National Forest , is the highest peak in the Coast
Range. Several hikes are strewn around the summit, and on a clear day there are views
across the valley from the Pacific Ocean to the glacier-strewn Central Oregon Cascades.
To reach the summit, drive on Hwy 20 - past the nearby town of Philomath - and then
take Hwy 34 for 8.5 miles. Turn right on Marys Peak Rd and go 9.5 miles to the Summit
Trailhead; from the summit it's a half-mile walk. A Northwest Forest Pass (available at
Peak Sports) or $5 day-use fee (payable on the spot) is required; there's also a camp-
ground nearby. Marys Peak Rd is closed above Mile 5.5 from about December to April.

Festivals & Events

da Vinci Days CULTURE
( www.davincidays.org ; 3rd weekend Jul) Kinetic sculpture and home-built electric-car
races are highlights of this funky arts-and-science celebration.

Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire CULTURE
( www.shrewfaire.com ; 2nd weekend Sep) Costumed players roam an Elizabethan market-
place, engaging visitors in late-16th-century small talk; held in nearby Kings Valley.

Fall Festival MUSIC
( www.corvallisfallfestival.org ; last weekend Sep) At Corvallis' premier festival live music
fills the streets and top Northwest artists showcase their work.

Sleeping
Expect prices to skyrocket during key football games, graduation and other key uni-
versity or citywide festivals and events.

Super 8 Motel MOTEL$
( 541-758-8088; www.super8.com ; 407 NW 2nd St; d $74-94; ) Decent budget
motel with basic rooms and a pleasant location right next to the river. Larger rooms with
two beds face the river. Weekdays are cheaper.

Corvallis/Albany KOA CAMPGOUND$
( 800-562-8526; http://koa.com/campgrounds/albany ; 33775 Oakville Rd; tent sites/cabins
$29/60, RV sites $34-40;

) Pleasant RV-oriented campground with small pool, gro-