Willamette Valley Reviews

This is must visit if you're a wine connoisseur. My experience here was nothing less than exceptional. The staff were friendly and explained in detail each wine. The grounds were well kept and the view was breathtaking. I can't wait to visit again.

Went to various vineyards. Wonderful tastings and staff very knowledgeable. Beautiful drives, not congested...one of the highlights of visiting Portland.

This is the place to visit ! Wineries, giant fields of flowers grown for seed. Museums, botanical gardens , great restaurants, nestled between the coastal mountains and the highplains. Get off the freeway and take the side highways

Small towns and tiny cities, farmland and wineries. A great place to visit if you like peace and quiet, you will want to move here, but as lovely as the late spring and summer are, the rest of the year is nearly non-stop rain. So come visit in the dry season, you will not be dissapointed.

You can drive a bit in any direction and the scenery, terrain and climate change - each with its unique beauty! We saw amazing wineries, forests, rock formations, waterfalls, the ocean and high dessert during our 10 day travels starting in Portland, staying in Florence on the coast, Powell Butte in the high desert, Eugene and finally ending in Silverton before heading back to Wisconsin.

We drove through the valley to a vineyard, and had a great lunch with wine tasting, overlooking the vineyard. A great way to spend a late summer day.

My husband and I own and operate a winery in Knoxville, IA, and we love to visit wineries from different regions of the country. We were in Portland in Oct 2019 to visit family and took 3 days to take a drive through the Valley, stopping at about 8 wineries. Everywhere we went was fabulous. Each location has it's own charm and appeal. The Pinot Noir and Chardonnay were top notch and the scenery was absolutely gorgeous wherever we went, despite some cool, cloudy weather. Servers and staff were friendly and loved talking about the similarities and differences of our industry whether in Oregon or Iowa. We enjoy this area so much we hope to make it a yearly trek.

My daughter was married at Willamette Valley Vineyard. What a surreal setting with the rolling hills, full of grapes, Sweet-smelling, scenic area with hills and mountains everywhere..

This area is gorgeous and easy to travel through. Get a map of where the wineries are located, choose the ones you want to visit, and grab your GPS. We checked out all the ones that were supposed to be the most beautiful. We actually tasted at 2. One of those was Erath because I buy their Pinot noir in Charlotte, NC at Costco! They had very special wines to taste. Tasting is lots of fun even if you are not a connoisseur. Buying a snack board makes it even better. We shared one with four people at Ponzi Winery, which was a more expensive tasting. If you don’t care for wine, go for the scenery.

This was a great ride. the hosts were very welcoming and made the trip exciding without being unsafe. Love the beach. Plan to go again in Oct 2018

We spent the day on a wine tour and explored the valley. Gorgeous views and landscape along with friendly people and great food.

Beautiful place, rolling hills, lots of vineyards and some tasty wine tasting what could be better. Def worth a drive.

The Willamette Valley offers beautiful vineyard and mountain vistas, great wines, wonderful eating establishments, waterfalls, lakes for swimming and fishing.

The willamette valley is full of cities with different experience offerings. From the wooden shoe tulip festival, to area wineries, to the rose festival, the Verboort sausage festival, and much more

We visited 2 vineyards and had a great day out. You have to book in advance but all the wines we sampled were delicious

First trip to Willamette Valley and it made us want to go back. The wines were great and the people we encountered in the Valley were very hospitable.

The Willamette valley is what Napa was 50 years ago. Lots of good pinots and cool tasting rooms. Napa without the attitude

Many vineyards in the Valley with tasting rooms and tours. Just the countryside is gorgeous!! Don't miss the monastery.

The wineries are in beautiful rolling hills with great, green grass, vines and trees. On sunny days the vistas are big and provide a very calming feel. The wines are good and the people very polite.

The area is very pretty with lots of vineyards, wineries, etc. I'm sure if you're a wine lover and spent a few days here, it would be a great destination, but since I don't drink and was just passing through the experience was just "okay."

Driving or cycling from Portland to the coast, the most interesting and scenic route is through the Willamette Valley. The countryside is lovely, and features many of the wineries which make this region famous.Once you reach the coast, you can travel north or south, and eventually circle back to Portland by another route.

We are food and wine lovers and I have always been a fan of Pinot Noir. My husband prefers the bigger, bolder red blends or cabernet sauvignon. The country side was beautiful and peaceful with fantastic views of the mountains and skyline. There are numerous wineries, many with porches where you can do a sit down tasting and enjoy the views. There are lots of vineyards but also hazelnut orchards and marionberry orchards. Visiting Willamette was on my bucket list and I am glad I made it. Went to Domain Serene which is stunning with a gorgeous brand new tasting room. The wine is fantastic. Also, Archery Summit had fantastic wine and a great tour and private tasting in the caves below with the barrels. One of my favorite things was tasting all the Rose which I enjoy on a hot summer day and was made from Pinot Noir grapes.

Beautiful valley on either side of the massive Columbia river, lots of wineries and places to eat . lots of waterfalls to see on the way. Very peaceful , stunning majestic views. Worth the trip

Perhaps one of the most picturesque places in the United States. Clearly competes with some of Europe's more well known destinations for scenery.

We were somewhat disappointed in the Willamette Valley experience. The towns were far from quaint, the views mostly below expectation, pours were tiny, expensive and rushed. Wines were just average. Lunch was far from memorable. Napa, Sonoma, Virginia, North Carolina were better.

We have been to the Willamette Valley many times and there seems to be a contest as to which vinery can have the most impressive tasting room. Our favorite is Argyle with sparkling wines.

This is a beautiful grape growing wine producing area. There are many, many vintners and visits are wonderful. It is only about 25 miles from Portland.

Stayed at the Allison resort and spa hotel and traveled throughout the valley sampling Pinot noir wines. Quite enjoyable!

Great day trip from Portland or find a hotel/air b&b in the area to make it a weekend getaway. We did a day trip, about an hour to hour and half drive from portland and did 3 different vineyards. had an amazing time - we were back in portland by 6 PM.
there are many vineyards you can visit, just depends on your preference and what you are looking for.

This valley is very beautiful, but the big attraction is the wine tasting and dozens of vineyards. So do some research and pick a couple that appeal to you. Some cute towns where you can dine.

We went to the Air Museum in McMinneville and several wineries. the Spruce Goose is in McMinneville. I saw it in Long Beach and it was in the water next to the Queen Mary. Seeing it out of the water is entirely different. It is HUGE. they have lots of other airplanes and interesting exhibits with short movies showing the history of some of the planes.
The Willamette Valley is starting to be recognized as THE PLACE where you get the world's best Pinot Noir wine and after some tasting, I agree.

Spent two days in McMinnville in the Willamette Valley visiting wineries. Even though the days were a bit on the dreary drizzly side, the valley was still gorgeous! The views from the wineries we visited were spectacular!!

Drove through this area in route to San Fran. The various vineyards throughout the area make the drive worthwhile.

A friend drove me through Willamette Valley. We stopped at two wineries and enjoyed lunch. Such a beautiful area. I've heard of Willamette Valley for years but have never had the pleasure of visiting it. It was such a treat!

My half day tour with Hub Global took place during rare weather-snow. But our tour guide, John found ways to engage all with interesting geological facts about each passing peak and waterfall. I recommend having someone else drive- you won’t want to miss the views.

We had a wondering wine and appetizer experience on 9 july 2025. He was very informative, entertaining, witty and shared his knowledge of wine and the AVA’s.

Thank you Jacob for all of the laughs!! The vineyard and tasting room is just amazingly beautiful! The views are breathtaking!!

Beautiful area to visit and plenty of things to do! It has really changed over the years. You won’t be disappointed taking in all the beautiful features Mother Nature bestowed.

We drove through this area and stopped at Erath winery for a tasting. The area is beautiful and there are lots of sweet small towns to visit along the way. We got tips for some great restaurants in the area, but had a reservation in Portland for dinner. You really can spend a day or three here just visiting the cute towns,enjoying great wines-they're most known for Pinot Noirs- and eating great food. I was traveling with friends and look forward to going back to experience all of it with adult members of my family.

With its lush green valley, beautiful farmland’s and stunning tulip and iris farms the only way to describe the Willamette Valley is simply beautiful. During the spring you have your beautiful tulip festival outside of Canby, later in the year you have your iris festival just outside of Salem and surrounding areas. You also have the Oregon gardens outside of Silverton. There is so much beauty to see in this area it is worth your time if you are a nature lover. It is unfortunately hard core on the allergies. So bring your tissues and eyedrops and check out the beauty.

Great wineries but it's best experienced with either a local who's a member of the winery or you really need to plan ahead. It's 45m from Portland and the bypass off of US5 really helps access, but you can still get caught up in the traffic on a weekend on the local roads.

Four of us traveled from the East coast to explore the Pinot Noir region. We found the vineyards and wine tasting areas very nice. The wines themselves varied greatly. I'm pleased to report that after many disappointing initial experiences that we built into a real comfort zone with vineyards like Domaine Douhin and Maysara. It's a joy to travel through the area. Watch for your Mount Hood sightings...it's always a treat and a great way to keep your navigation compass!

It's a really beautiful part of the world and we did a wine tasting here at a winery that was recommended. We loved the green views from the wine tasting room and we enjoyed our drive around the valley, even though there was some traffic.

there is a reason why this area has been photographed and entered many of Calendar's with the pure divine beauty of the Willamette Valley... The spring and Summer is like no other place in the US. if you haven't been to yet, I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE you to put this place to visit on your bucket list because I PROMISE this area is BREATHTAKING!!!

I enjoyed visiting a winery or 2 but after spending a couple of nights there, we felt it to be mundane and not special. There aren't many great places to eat (a handful at most) and the wineries are hard to get to unless you have a driver or drive yourself.

Traveling through the Wilamette (pronounced wil-LAM-ett by locals) Valley makes for an enjoyable experience by itself, but there is a lot to see and do there as well. Fishing, kayaking, boating, picnicking, and sightseeing are all available along the river. And there are numerous wineries and other pastimes offered. Stop at one of the Oregon visitors centers for brochures and info. It's not as spectacular as the forests or coast roads, but certainly beautiful, with a European flair.

So much to offer in the Willamette Valley. World class dining, wine tasting, water activities and so much more! So worth the time to explore and enjoy nature.

Willamette Valley has incredible wines! The BEST Pinot Noir and some very delicious white wines too!

Eugene in the south part of the valley has a great French Resturant and interesting farm stores to visit. Next stop is Corvallis with a charming downtown with lots of shops and resturants. The countryside is rolling hills with one winery after another to visit. I'd skip Salem and take the old 99W through smaller towns and head toward McMinnville and Newberg. Both little towns are very walkable.

There are plenty of wineries in the area. We were at the Domaine Serene winery in Dayton, Oregon which was fantastic. There is also a Aeronautics Museum nearby which is really nice. The town of McMinnville, OR is also very interesting to visit.

Tour guides were excellent. Convenient pick up and drop off at hotel. Relaxing laid back tour where wine tasting at three vineyards was included in the tour price.

Loved visiting this beautiful valley. Not as historic as done, but more mountainous and places to sit and taste. A must do, try Fairlings. Beautiful views! Nice

The Willamette Valley is filled with farm land, communities, waterfalls in the foothills, and wine country. Among the crops grown in the region are the noteworthy local berries such as Marionberries, Oregon strawberries, Boysenberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, and wine grapes. Woodburn was once known as the berry capital of the world. The wine grapes vary and are used to make wines such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Reisling, and Gruner Veltliner. One such place to find these fine wines are at the namesake vineyard "Willamette Valley" in Turner, Oregon.

Beautiful scenic area with great wineries. We didn’t have reservations but were able to walk in for wine tastings wherever we stopped.

Gorgeous scenery, friendly and helpful people, excellent wines and fresh, tasty meals - what more can you ask from a relaxing vacation? We stayed at the Allison Inn and Spa in Newberg. Yes, it's pricey, but worth every penny. We spent 2 days touring the valley. Try breakfast at the Babica Hen in Dundee or the Community Plate in McMinnville. We had a late afternoon charcuterie plate with a yummy glass of Pinot Noir at the Barberry in McMinnville. The owner of Bernard's farm was kind enough to direct us to an alternate route to Portland (take 47 North) which was both less busy and more scenic. Bernard's is a great stop for hazelnuts. While in McMinnville try the wines at Maysara or Yamhill Vineyards. We loved our time in the Valley so much, we're already planning a road trip back during harvest time.

We went for the Pinot Noir and visited several vineyards over our stay. They were all fabulous. We will definitely return to the Willamette Valley.

Overall, the W-Valley is worth checking out if A - You are a Pinot fan visiting Oregon and B - you like good food. Don't miss Anticca Terra.

From the warmer climate of the Amity region to the cooler regions of Dundee the Pinot Noirs ranged in intensity and quality. Top winery recommendation is Domain Drouhin. Also enjoyed a good Pinot Gris from Eyrie Vineyards. Forget highly commercial overpriced and lacklustre Argyle sparkling.

A wonderful place in the world with all the growing things. Enjoy an live! Take time and enjoy. Good things to see and good things to eat. Enjoy all the flowers and take time to pick more daisies.

See it! Taste it! Drive it! Stroll it! Experience it!
There are wineries ALL OVER the valley! Some require appointments and some you can visit on a whim.
Just GO!

I wish we had more time to explore the wineries here, there are just so many options. Since I love Pinot Noir, I just googled the best Pinot Noir wineries to visit and picked a few we can go to on a day trip. We drove ourselves and my husband and I shared the tastings so that he wasn't drinking and driving to much. All the tastings cost $ if you don't end up purchasing wine. We enjoyed it and went o Four Graces, Ayres and Stoller wineries. Before heading to Stoller's we stopped at the Red Bull Market and picked up some cheese, olives and fresh baguette and brought it with us to enjoy while tasting. That was a great option.

I recommend trying out this valley too! Really great pinot noir, the tastings aren't cheap but it's always a fun experience. The rolling hills remind me a little of Tuscany. Check it out. It's only about 30 minutes plus outside of Portland. Rent a car for the day and go!

Easy drive from Portland and endless number of wineries. Lots and lots of Pinot Noir, but if you are looking for a big and bold red, make sure and visit Natalies Estate in Newburg. Awesome wines and the owners have a fantastic tasting room and could not be nicer.

Between the vineyards ,are farms with cattle , horses , goats and llamas! Fun tastings at vineyards. Recommend the Mount Hood Summit Red Table Wine . Has won awards and at $24 a bottle ,it is a good buy. We highly recommend the Marchesi Vineyards, which Mount Hood personel highly recommended . No tastings with money back on a purchase, but nice glasses of wine,where you can sit outdoors overlooking a vineyard. Read the menu descriptions carefully , as there are many good choices. We would have joined their club , except that we live in Florida.,and the shipping costs were too expensive.

Great experience! Our tour guide, Will, was very gracious and accommodating. We had a very enjoyable visit at three wine tasting rooms— this tour is a must when visiting Portland.

We spent a week driving through the Willamette Valley and visiting vineyards and wineries, tasting Pinot Noirs, on a quest to find the ones which appealed the most to our taste buds. It was a beautiful trip. The weather was not bad by Washington state standards for Columbus Day weekend and although we had some clouds and some rain, we also got a few glorious sunny days, too. We loved meeting all the friendly people in the wine industry in the Willamette Valley. Thank you!

Pick a few Wineries close to Newberg - Dundee - Carlton, do some wine tatsting and I guarantee you have a great day.

The Willamette Valley is so picturesque and lovely. I've been to Sonoma and other locations too, but there's something special that I just really love about the atmosphere and hospitality of the Willamette wineries. And some of my favorite red wines come from this valley. Anytime I see one on a menu, it's going to be one of my top picks.

This was very peaceful to visit. It is full of vineyards and scenic views. For driving one should trade off so the driver gets a chance also!

Best views and fabulous wines! Don’t miss out o stunning vistas and delicious wines. Not just reds, give the whites a change..

What a great place to sit and enjoy a evening or lazy weekend day. If its sunny bring your sunglasses and hold tight to your wine glass as you sit and enjoy the views from here looking at the Willamette Valley. A unique brunch menu and light lunch treats that are prepared very well await your senses Pair it up with great wine and you have yourself a great date or family fun day..

We loved our visit to the Willamette Valley! We thought February was beautiful in a lot of ways; the wine was delicious, the people were so knowledgeable about wine. It's a bit disappointing that so much of the valley is farmed with grass and landscaping trees. We loved the craggy old oak trees and wish there were more of them!

If you love pinot this is the place to be. I wasn't a huge fan but I found a lot of different kinds of pinot and enjoyed sampling the varieties. There are some really rare and special wines grown here, not a lot is exported.

Charming small towns, delicious meals, tempting wines, all strung throughout green winding hills. Stay in Dundee or Newberg to be central....try the Painted Lady guesthouse (see pic below) and walk to nearby restaurants and tasting rooms. Recommend Newburgundian Bistro or Ruddick/Wood for delicious and well priced seafood and vegetarian meals.

Great place to explore and enjoy the rolling hills with fantastic views. The wine is wonderful and it is so worth the trip.

Breathtaking scenic area with great wineries. No reservations required for wine tastings which made it easy to enjoy the drive and stop whenever you wished.

We drove into the valley from Portland and visited several wineries and eateries. Beautiful scenery, friendly folk, well-signed attractions, a relaxing experience.

We spent a full day exploring the Willamette wine region and enjoyed a handful of impressive wineries along with inspiring views. The entire region is underrated for its natural beauty.

The Willamette Valley is a premier wine region. There are lots of vineyards and all have tasting rooms. A great way to spend a day here and worthwhile too.

Wonderful piece of nature. Close to Portland and easily accessible. Outstanding wineries that are hospitable and willing to share. If you like a wine make sure to ask for a "revisit".

Years ago there were the originally 6 Pinot Vineyards now there are several hundred. A wine for most tastes ad the views are wonderful from spring blooms to fall colors. Also excellent restaurants and a world class aviation museum in McMinnville. The Newberg cutoff has made travel much less congested too.

But I think this is one of the most beautiful valleys on earth. Oregon is a very diverse landscape and the micro-climate of the Willamette Valley is so lush and green (because it rains so much). When you catch it on a sunny day it is absolute perfection

We rented a car in downtown Portland so we could explore wine country.

Notes--Police are serious about speed limits; Do not plan to wine taste at numerous wineries----we drove to many just for the views and only tasted at one, since we were drifving.

The towns are al close together but you should prepare a general plan of which to visit or else you will find yourself criss crossing through the area since vineyard signs are on numerous roads and if you are not attentive, could return you to where you have already visited.

It was hot a lot of the time we were there but with humidity at only 30% it was not really noticeable. Great town to walk in and lots of good restaurants. Wineries are everywhere with lots of tasting offerings. Great for a weekend or a week.

I have the pleasure of working a 3 month medical assignment at Willamette valley Medical Center. The residents of this beautiful place are friendly and welcoming. The roads are in great condition, there's plenty of stores, markets, cafes and restaurants. I'm super happy to have landed this great assignment in this gorgeous place.

Has become popular with tourism and wineries but still beautiful contryside with charming small towns. Spend time now before it, too, is overrun with development like so much of the I-5 corridor

What a beautiful area to drive around and visit wineries. So many to choose from. Best to go straight to the wineries over the tasting rooms for the full experience. Many sit on the edges of the rolling hill and have stunning views.

Only went to one winery. But had private tasting and late 3 course lunch. the wines are outstanding. The tour was great. The new building is amazing.
If you like good wine do not miss this one.

There are so many wonderful places to see, eat, and drink within the Willamette Valley. We especially love to take visitors to some of our many wonderful wineries and eateries.

I was shocked to find that most places here were more expensive than Napa Valley. Bottles of red usually exceeded $50, even for the mediocre ones. If you go, check out Eminent Domaine in the Ribbon Ridge area and Du Ponte in the Dundee AVA. Aryes was also really nice but requires an appointment for tasting.

The Willamette Valley grows hops, berries, hazelnuts, and other fine fare. Worth the drive through, especially from Portland to Aurora, on down to Salem. Lots of antiquing, sightseeing, and other things to see and do.

Helpful Hint: bring a camera and your appetite. That said, don't plan on just finding good eats in Salem, look on the outskirts.

A must visit, if you have even half a day free in Portland. I have visited the area every time I am in Portland.

Beautiful place to drive through, somehow reminiscent of Sonoma, with vineyards a-plenty and lots of worthwhile tastings to engage in.

There is no finer Pinot Noir anywhere in North America. The vineyards breath taking and the hospitality is outstanding. We highly suggest putting this area on your bucket list.

Plan ahead and make sure you know the best wineries to visit. Taking a tour can be a great way to see a lot more and get better access

Born in this Eden and have been privileged to live, work and raise a family here. Lovely places to visit and exciting and stimulating activities year round.

Beautiful views and fantastic wineries. Everyone was very frindly and accomadating. We rented a house in Dayton which was accessable to all the towns and wineries.Favorite restaurant was Rosmarina in Newburgh.

The views here are perfection; the food, wonderful; and the wine delicious! So worth a vacation here!

Be prepared to stop and just ponder at the beauty in this area of the country. I can't come up with enough proper adjectives to describe it. Wish we had more time. There are numerous small towns worth rumbling through. The people that live in this area are very blessed to call it home.

Had a great time wine tasting after we ran the Portland Marathon. Good thing we had a driver! Highly recommended, liked the personal touch at the wineries, and the wine was great.

My wife and I visited here for a day with the intention of doing wine tours, of which we did. Can't say enough about that, but was also intrigued by all the other agribusiness in the area. Cute area to ramble around in.

We were on a great winery tour of the valley, and our driver showed us the hazelnut funs and 5 different vineyards. The area is just stunning, with the mountains as backdrop overlooking green vineyards.

Less than an hour drive outside of Portland lies beautiful, scenic Willamette Valley, home to some of America's finest pinot noirs and (shhhh… don't tell anyone) beautifully crafted chardonnays. No crowds. No tour buses. No clogged roads. Then again, samplings and bottle prices are a bit more, but worth every drop. There are many B&Bs and scattered chain hotels, but a few upscale resorts are starting to make their mark. With more than 50 vineyards to choose from, its a wine lover's dream. Some are small production, so in many cases, it's best to call ahead.

Spent a perfect day winery hopping via our rental car after creating our own itinerary. The valley is beautiful and there are dozens of gorgeous wineries to visit. Do it!

I love wine; but found the Wilamette Valley area to be every bit as inviting as the wines themselves. The drive from one winery to the other is, at times, breathtaking. The views from the wineries on the hills are magical. There are wineries so small that it feels like the tasting room is the inside of a wine barrel and others that are expansive with terrific views (Domaine Serene has a huge wall of windows to gaze out while tasting at the bar). The fields, the rainbows, the blue skies with puffy white clouds that can turn to a misty rain in minutes and then back again, and the freshness in the air all stimulate each sense. It's just so FRESH there!! As for wine, you probably know that Oregon is known for their pinots and I am a cabernet lady all the way; but I learned a lot about the wide variety in depth and flavor of pinots and have come to be a fan. My husband and I left the area with a case of wine with our checked airline bags and 3 cases delivered. The city of Portland, by the way, has a great food scene and worth adding to your winery trip!

Lots of wines are available in the Valley but pinot noir is king. This trip we went to the glorious new Domaine Serene building and had excellent wines with a great view. Many other excellent wineries abound including the nice people, wines and facilities at Adelsheim. we went to three boutique Napa wineries on this trip and liked the Oregon wines better at less than half the price.

We loved the tour we took of the Willamette Valley! We only had enogh time to go to three vineyards, but each was unique and left us with a desire to return. Loved the views, the boutique vineyards, and of course the wines! Highly recommend a visit there!

Great place to kick back and relax with a fruit and cheese platter and sample wines - especially with friends. Patios look over the valley and vineyards - gorgeous views!

We took a winery tour that stopped at about 5 within the Willamette Valley. Luckily is was a gorgeous clear day so the views were fantastic.

If you're spending time in Portland, be sure to visit the wine country in the Northern Willamette Valley around the town of Newberg. I've chosen four wineries to visit because of the wines, the wineries and the views, but there are many more. Enjoy the Pino Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnays. Some of the Pinot Noirs can be more full bodied, but if you're looking for the big reds, they don't grow well in this wet environment. Before you set out be sure to have a designated driver. Get started around 1000 if you're driving from Portland. Most wineries open at 1100. Start with Ponzi. The location is beautiful on top of a hill. Stroll around while you taste and even sit down on the patio or in the tasting room and enjoy a cheese plate for an early lunch. Next stop is WillaKenzie Again great views and delicious wines. From WillaKenzie drive to Pesser-Ash Wine Cellars. On a clear day from their deck you can see Mt. Hood. And while you appreciate the mountain you can appreciate some of the best wines in the region. Hungry, stop in Newberg or Dundee for a light bite before visiting the last winery of the day-Stoller. But don't spoil your dinner. The setting and delicious wines at Stoller are a perfect way to conclude your Willamette Valley experience. Well, not quite. Before you leave Portland make an early reservation for dinner at Jory's located in the Allison Inn in Newberg.The food is excellent and they have a wonderful wine list. Your journey will be memorable and you'll get a good sampling of Oregon's wines.

The walking trails along the rivers are so lovely! Sometimes I expected fairies to jump out from behind the trees, it was so pretty!

Very beautiful area, amazing scenery, tons of wineries and lots of things to do. Be sure to check out the Air Museum before you drink too much wine !

I may not leave.This place is so beautiful. We drove the back roads from Portland to get here. We had the best time visiting the wineries and just being outdoors in the sun. This is what Sonoma was like years ago but with hills, mountains,, nut groves. So very green. Find your zen and go.

There is no more beautiful a day than one started with a Peet's coffee, a drive into the Valley, and a few pit stops at roadside fruit stands, and a choice winery or two. You can't say you've seen Oregon without heading this direction instead of to the coast!

We had a lovely laid back day driving around the southern Section of the valley around the Eugene area. We visited some really nice wineries in the area.

The valley: full of filberts, cane berries, vineyards, and breweries to name just a few. Lived here much of my entire life and while the pollen really has begun to mess with me, I can't think of another location that is as beautiful in the early spring and middle fall. Summer can be nice - hot or very rainy - either way I enjoy it. One other problem is when the wildfires start up, we seem to get the smoke to settle right here in the valley and it will just linger.
Summer time the days are longer (if there isn't cloud cover) and the winter days are short (shorter with the rain clouds).
Come enjoy our winery tours, pubs and the like. Just bring a rain coat or a cover-up as the weather can and does change at times.

The Willamette Valley's claim to fame is its many Pinot Noir vineyards. Oregon Pinot's first began winning blind taste competitions versus French Burgundies decades ago. There are now many winemakers, the best of whom in the opinion of many is Ken Wright.

I just toured the Willamette Valley for the fourth time in my life via a wine tour. The views are really stupendous, and some of the wineries are just stellar. My favorites are Beau Freres and Domain Drouhin. However, there are wineries with better views and photo opps. So, it depends if you are visiting for the wine or the views. You can do both--Penner Ash and Archery Summit have great views. And, then, you can go to the other two I recommended for the actual wine. In my opinion, pinot noirs from the Willamette are the BEST American wines.

We're a 5th generation Willamette Valley family. Century Farm from 1852. You can almost relive the way the Valley was 50 years ago with an off the beaten track Blue Highways approach. Mom and pop restaurants abound in almost every town. I-5 ate up some of the meandering possibilities, but there are still a ton of gems to be found. What works for you depends on what you're looking for. If you're an EXPLORER of the quirky hit Bellfountain, 1937 State basketball champs. 27 students, 8 boys on the team. They beat a Portland team with 2100 kids for the title. Hit the general store in Monroe afterward. Grab crummy coffee and walk down to the Long Tom River and BS. Leave your devices in the car. Go on, detach. If it's harvest season; strawberries in June, all the way to squash in October, you'll find plenty of roadside stands. Bring singles as many of the stands are "honor system". If you're getting up a thirst, hit the Rodeo Inn in St. Paul. If you're really looking to be a typical tourist there are plenty of wineries. The wineries are monumentally pretty, the views are breathtaking, but the wines are reedy, and almost always vastly overpriced. Old Willamette valley or new and hip? You decide. But if you stop in Walker, ask where the gym was. My mom scored 44 points there in a game in 1935.

With friends, we spent a couple of days in Willamette Valley. We tasted at four wineries, enjoying the Pinot Noir and the variety of whites.

Wine tasting in WV seems more laid back than the larger California area. Certainly the Adelsheim Winery, one of our favorites, combines the upscale vibe of Napa / Sonoma with the smaller, more relaxed confidence that appealed to our group.

There's nothing domestically like Napa for the grandeur, but our group truly enjoyed the comfortable style of the Willamette Valley.

I visited impromptu after a wedding in Newburg. Stayed in McMinnville. Stopped at Four Graces and Fox River. One of the best Pinot Noir wines from Four Graces I have ever had. The scenery is beautiful in this area. Highly recommend.

Drove through the valley visiting small vineyards on a clear day there were great views around every turn, Lots of neat little small towns as well.

For certain the Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley is very good. There are other grape varieties that thrive as well in this climate and terroir. The downside is the price of the wines and the crazy high wine tasting prices. Finding places where there are lots of vineyards is difficult as well.

Not the most beautiful scenic region you will ever visit but a lot of nice views. Traffic on the main routes is horrendous but gets better on the side routes.

Fantastic, spectacular countryside and views! We went on an organised Gorge Waterfalls and Mount Hood tour with Wildwood Adventures and Jess, our knowledgeable and friendly guide, was great and made sure we had the best views possible.

all along the river is incredible. Parks are beautiful. Lots of places to sit and walk along. Parks in city are lovely nd lush green.

We were on our way from Portland, OR to Seaside, OR, and came across a sign for wineries, so followed this into the Williamette valley scenic road. Very beautiful countryside lush green vegetation and farming, and stopped at the Williamette Valley Vineyard for some Pinot Noir wine tasting. Very nice winery to sit outside and enjoy the wine. Definitely recommended

Do you like history? Follow the story of Lewis & Clark who explored this area. Foodie? There are lots of cool restaurants to try and James Beard is from here! Love wine? Over 600 vineyards will keep you busy tasting different varietals. Book lover? Don't miss Powell's in the Pearl District. Art Lover? Everywhere you turn there is something to experience. Love the beach? Explore the coastal area and experience whales & sea lions. We had a great time getting to know this area.

Beautiful scenery as you drive through this area outside of the congested city. Wineries and farmland galore!

Head out with friends to this wonderful area. So many wineries, so little time. Plot out your route to visit some of the best wine producers in the state. Quaint, small towns with great downtown areas for shopping. Stop and grab a bite to eat. Get off the beaten path, and visit some of the back roads wineries. Don't forget the beer and distilleries.

Rolling hills, sunshine, tons of wineries and fruit stands. A must see not far from PDX and on the way to the coast. Completely different from busy down town.

We toured 4 wineries in the Wllamette Valley and all were great. The Willamette Valley is known for their Pinot Noir. Beautiful scenery. Definitely a must see.

Fall Harvest in full swing. Don't go ANYWHERE else, but Pumpkin Patch, to het their very own apples of many varieties, squashes, peaches, tomatoes, all grown there. Family operation makes the difference. AND in their off season, they all go overseas, and teach 3rd World countries to grow and harvest food!

It's just a bunch of grass and bushes! I'm not sure I would even consider it a destination but more of a place you pass through to get where you are going. I've seen much uglier landscapes so, I guess it's got that going for it...?

What can I say? Pinot Noir capital of the world!! SO MANY places to try...oh my!! What an amaing experience.

No matter where your at in the Willamette Valley your in for a treat. The scenery is some of the best. Make sure to use your GPS and get off the freeway. HWY 99 is my favorite. It takes you through a lot of small towns, farms and wineries.

I have heard it said that Oregon as two seasons. A wet one and a dry one. I would like to add a third that I describe as fog season. I love photo's of fog. From early October to early spring you can find fog lower than the mountains. Gorgeous no matter where you are in the Willamette Valley.

Much more laid back than the CA wine valley's, this is the place to find a hidden gem and drink some excellent wines. The scenery in the area makes the drive even better. The leaves were just turning colors slightly and the cool weather was perfect. We will come back again.

The Willamette Valley is full of variety. Some of my favorite places are the covered bridges, the bike/hike path to Vernonia, and abundant bicycle routes through towns and countryside.

Not far from Portland, this area is a such beautiful place to visit and stay. If you like Pinot Noir, you will love to try different wines there. Even if you are not that into Piont, you still can enjoy the view and chat with the people.

The Willamette Valley wine tour was great. We visited wineries in this beautiful valley wine country. I was amazed at the cool June temperatures and the amazing scenery. Our tour guide was Niko Grimanis, with works4wine, and he really did a great job. I highly recommend.

The views will remind you of Burgundy France. There are a lot of very good dining options here too. It's only a one hour drive from Portland.

We made a fall trip down the valley in late October driving from Portland to Eugene. This is a wonderful time to visit the numerous towns along the route. There are many things to choose from ranging from the vineyards to hikes and antiquing to eating. If nothing else, a drive through the valley will give you a good idea of where those folks were heading when they started out on the Oregon Trail.

If you love wine and endless breathtaking landscapes then the Williamette Valley is a must see getaway. In addition to fabulous wines, there all of oil vineyards, and spirits To taste along the way. The little towns of McMinnville in Carlton are a must see too! The Valley is sprinkled with spectacular wineries nestled among the hills. You won't be disappointed with the incredible tastings and beautiful settings.

Beautiful drive from Portland and less than 2 hours. The vineyards are beautiful and the wine tasting even better.

The Willamette Valley is a big, long place to visit. It stretches from the Columbia River down past Eugene, Oregon. So much to see from world-class vineyards to small towns, antiques stores, orchards, garden shops, amazing state and city parks and breathtaking views. Take a week, take a month and you will not run out of places to be awe-inspired by!

There was a time when Napa Valley and Sonoma weren't so heavily traveled, and I can only imagine they were similar to the Willamette Valley now. There are some commercial wineries, but many of these are still small, family owned wineries that are just so nice to visit. When it is sunny, this place is heaven. Get a driver, though, if you're partaking in wine, it is about an hour from Portland.

We took a tour of this area which was a great way to see it as the driver took us to the best viewpoints. It is beautiful!

It was great to get out into the country where "normal" folks live! Clean air, friendly people and wide open spaces.

See the countryside with Carlton as a destination-stop at Penner-Ash and Ann Amie for great views-whether or not you drink the wine.

Beautiful valley with MANY great wines. Spent time in both Newburg and Dundee, nice little towns with good restaurants

This is a great area to drive around, enjoy the countryside, stop for an occasional taste of wine or shop at small local retailers.

The roads can be very narrow and without bike lanes, which do not stop the "bike people" from providing their discourtesies. Be careful out there!

Visited 2 beautiful vineyards. Sokol Blosser and Willamette Valley.
Beautiful views and very friendly and welcoming staff. Well worth the visit to both.

The Willamette Valley is a beautiful area with a plethora of wineries that seem to cater to the pinot noir fan. The wines in this area are amazing and the wineries are a fun visit. Depending on your travel plans, you can visit the northern area of the valley on a day trip from Portland. But to really see some of the vinyards and spend some time, you shoudl stay in the Dundee/McMinville or Salem area.

Alas, the City of Sherwood, Oregon runs photo speed traps to catch unsuspecting tourists on their way to Willamette Valley wineries and wine tasting. They sure got me.

Stay out of Sherwood!

My wife and I are wine enthusiasts. Heard about Williamette Valley for years. When we finally visited, we were underwhelmed by the quality of wines (didn't live up to the hype) and turned off by the snobbery of many winery staffers. They must believe their wine is much better than it really is. Stick to Sonoma and Napa.

So pretty...this area is just beautiful! Drive out of the city and hit the mountains. Just don't try to come back after 4pm. Traffic is horrendous!

The Willamette Valley near Portland, OR, is a beautiful area of the Northwest. Full of small, and not so small, vineyards, it is a wonderful place to do some casual driving and discover some little known, small production wineries. Many of these are not labels you will find in your local wine shop or grocery store. They are too small for vast distribution, but that doesn't mean that the wines are not big! Many of the wineries have tasting rooms where you can sample (and purchase) some very interesting wines. Several have wine clubs, which is a great way to continue enjoying the wine without having to travel to Oregon. Some are by appointment only, so plan ahead. And even if you are not looking for some fabulous little known wines, the valley is beautiful with its rolling hills and beautiful flora.

We stopped for the view and the experience because the Wine was so good . We had stayed in Portland at the Kimpton Vintage hotel that week and during the nightly wine tasting we got the chance to taste this wine. Wow it was a no brainer that we had to go to this winery. Every bit of space has such a beautiful view if you want to set inside or out on the two Hugh decks the view is one to remember. We enjoyed a wine flight and had Dungeness crab dip and cheese plates along with a meat plate. They were very popular but the seating was plenty. Loved the reserve Wine the best.

So many of Oregons great wineries are located here. Beautiful drives in rolling hills and great sight when parked. Most wineries offer tastings--some by appointment only.. Oregon has many truly great, world class wines. Lots of good places to stay and many wonderful restaurants. Tip: if you plan to be tasting all day, consider hiring a driver. More than one happy taster has gotten a ticket on the way home.

I was never happier than when my father and his wife told me they were moving to the Corvallis area of Oregon, SW of the Portland area, and in the incredible and beautiful rolling countryside between the Cascades and the stunning Oregon coastline. The Willamette Valley is comprised of some of the most simply stunning land you would be lucky to call home, and it gets only better as it turns out to be spectacular countryside for a multitude of wine vineyards as well. Spend more than a couple of days here, and you will never regret it!

Just take one of the organised tours - which will take you to rather predictable and mainstream wineries - but at least you can drink ! Visiting 3-4 certainly shows a cross-section, and being in a group removes the "being alone in the tasting room" scenario. The wine prices reflect NW Pacific land and staff costs.

You can still get lost in the hills and find a small, family operated winery producing world class wines. Seek them out and avoid most of the big wineries as many are now owned by huge Californian operations. Favorites are Keeler Estate, Fairsing Vineyard, Bella Vida, Domain Drouin, Willamette Valley Vineyards, Brooks, Cristom, Ponzi.

I was traveling alone so I was not able to stop by wineries and have glasses of wine. However, driving through the valley itself is an experience as the scenery is gorgeous.

We really enjoyed exploring this beautiful,emerging gallery of winemakers who are creating complexly delicious pinots and other varietals. Yum, yum!,

My husband and I were fortunate to find a great Wine Tour of the Willamette Valley. We traveled very comfortably along with 5 other tourists and enjoyed visiting 3 wineries. The wines were delicious and the views beautiful. This was well worth our time and money.

Gorgeous wineries a wonderful drive, fields of nursery stock and sod being grown. Too many wineries to see in months. Be careful some are only open with appointments which are easy to get. Best place to see the whole valley is at the monastery near Mt. Angel. Nice parking quite a hike find the elevator. The view of Mt Hood is breathtaking across the valley.

There were 8 gals in my groups, celebrating our friend's milestone birthday. We flew into PDX, rented 2 cars and traveled south to Willamette Valley for a long weekend of wine tasting. What a weekend it was!!! We hired a driver to drive our car and we sampled some amazing wines at gorgeous vineyards. Here's a quick re-cap of my top picks, in this order:
1. Domaine Serene - elegant & beautiful!
2. Sokol Blosser - cool library rm and popcorn with great seasonings.
3. Stoller - great tasting rm & outside tables; can bring own food.
4. Argyle - right on Hwy 99. Champagne tastings. Lovely setting.
5. Durant - great gift shop. Makes own olive oil & can watch process and taste. Casual wine tasting room. Grounds are so pretty with olive grove, vineyards, lavender.
6. Domaine Drouhin - near #1. French family started. Nice views.
7. Hawks View Cellars -. nice tasting room and lovely grounds.
8. Archer - Bright tasting room. Cute seating, inside and out. Vineyard views. Kevin is great guy & wine pourer.

I hope this information is helpful...I researched for WEEKS before we traveled and we visited about 20 wineries....enjoy the fruits of my labor ;)

When the pioneers headed west and reached the Willamette Valley, their eyes must have teared. Few places in the US are as diverse and agriculturally rich as the Valley. As an avid road cyclist, I treasure riding among the farms, vineyards, small towns and quiet roads that weave throughout this rich and fertile land. Better - drive to the Dundee area, find a vineyard atop a hill looking out over the valley, sit down with a bottle of Pinot Noir and feast your eyes on what stretches out before you!

Beautiful scenery and ample wineries. Took a day trip from Portland and we were not disappointed. Good selection of vineyards.

There are many hiking trails in the area. I take my dog to a new trail every weekend for long hikes. There are plenty for any level of activity. Best time to go is spring and summer.

The valley is historic and scenic--think Oregon Trail. You need to get off I-5 to see it, with its rivers and pinot noir wineries.

What do 12 Alaskan Ladies in Portland for a convention do with their Sunday before convention starts? Go on a self guided wine tour in the Willamette Valley of course. We rented a 15 passenger van and one of us who is not really a wine drinker, graciously agreed to be our designated driver. We visited 3 wineries and 1 brewery. The Willamette Valley is so gorgeous and filled with wineries, breweries, lovely small towns and acres and acres of farm land, vineyards and orchards. Get out of the city and tour this beautiful part of Oregon!

You can't do every winery here. It's not possible. And there are serveral AVAs ( American Viticulture Areas) in this valley alone. We selected the Dundee Hills AVA and visited three fabulous wineries on a recent trip. Plan to stay somewhere nearby so that you can add some lunches and dinners to your getaway. Some suggestions? Domain Drouhin, Domain Serene and Stoller for the wineries. The Painted Lady for their wine pairing dinners, Red Hills Market for their oven fired artisan pizzas or imaginative salads and sandwiches. You can even build a picnic for the wineries from their incredible collection of cheeses, provisions and other goodies. And as always start your day with a good brekkie from Babica Hen.

This is a must do if in the Portland area. Make sure you drive down 47 and stop at a winery or too. Just a beautiful drive and view.

Awesome wine region, and large. Love the Pinot Noir and Savignion Blanc from this area. A true fan of Kings Estate, but you can't go wrong, Scenery is awesome

did a wine tour seeing 4 vineyards...the views were spectacular, the wine was 5 stars and we will be back!

Within an hour's drive of Portland, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Willamette Valley and enjoy numerous vineyards (and wine tasting) along the way.

so worth a visit! Loved our 2 night stay in the valley; will definitely return for a longer stay; so serene

Absolutely worth the drive. It reminds me of Sonoma 25 years ago. Love that everything isn't on top of each other. Just beautiful.

This is a lovely 1 hour drive from Portland. We stayed in Willamette Valley over night but you could easily make it a day trip from Portland. The vibe is very casual and relaxed and the people are friendly. The average tasting cost is $10-$15 and that is usually subtracted from any wine purchases.

Every chance we get when we are in Portland we try to get to a few winery’s in the Valley. This time was no different. If you are a Pinot drinker there is no better place. We go to the Russian river area often also. Both are great but the little restaurants and delis around the valley make it special.

The history of the beautiful valley is one highlight of a tour of the area. Can be enhanced with a stop at a cheese factory or a winery.

We took a trip by private van to three different wineries and it was a lovely day! I think a half day trip would have been plenty but we did a trip from 10am-4:30pm and it was very fun and enjoyable.

The Willamette Valley includes some of the most scenic views in Oregon. It is also home to some excellent domestic wines (and a lot not so excellent). One can easily pass a day visiting wineries and sampling their products. It is also home to some excellent agricultural products including a variety of delicious fruit. It's well worth spending a day or two.

For a beautiful taste of the Willamette Valley (thank you ancient volcanoes!) check out the following places for wonderful wine and spectacular settings: Erath, Sokol Blosser, Domain Druin, Bella Vista, Torii Mor, Argyle, Joe Dobbs, etc Check out Eyrie Vines in McMinnville (oldest Pinot Noir vine in Oregon)

the entire willamette valley is beautiful. I totally can understand why people would want to live here. The place is so scenic and seems to go on forever.

This was very scenic everywhere we looked. Enjoyed our trip very much and took lots of memorable photos which we had fun sharing upon return to Texas.

Great scenery routes! The wineries are fantastic. So peaceful and everyone I met were just wonderful people!

If you're a wine lover at all, this is a must. The countryside is gorgeous (worth a drive even if you don't partake) and the wines live up to their high reputation. I would recommend not trying to squeeze in too many vineyards in one day -- look at a list and select 3 or 4 so you can really enjoy the experience. The tastings run $20 to $30 apiece, and are meant to be savored. My favorite vineyard was Domaine Drouhin ("French soul, Oregon Soil"). Not only were the wines a delight (all of them!) but it was the best experience. Some vineyards have a somewhat snooty, erudite atmosphere (which is fine if you're a thin air connessieur) and some feel quite commercial, although all are beautiful. The staff at Domaine Drouhin was knowledgeable and friendly -- you could tell they were not reciting a memorized description but really knew the wines. The facility and grounds are incredibly situated; quite lovely and very peaceful. We were there on a cloudy day, but I understand that on clear days you can see Mt. Hood from their patio. I would go there again and again!

We spent two days touring Willamette Valley wineries with tour guides. This area, known for Pinot Noir wines, consists of two-lane winding roads and we were glad we had employed tour guides who took us to top notch, unique off the beaten path wineries that we probably wouldn't have found on our own. The wineries are small production wineries (5,000 cases and smaller) with about 75% of the wine produced being kept in Oregon. The winery tasting room buildings aren't flashy or extravagant with many not having exterior signage advertising the name of the winery. We enjoyed the opportunity to taste and purchase excellent wines in a beautiful rural setting dotted throughout with beautiful vineyards and small towns.

Visiting this green lush valley from Portland to Eugene is a great for anyone. There’s much to see and experience but it’s also only a hour to the Pacific Ocean or 2 hours to the cascade mountains. Vineyards, attractions, sightseeing, it has everything.

The valley is where most of people live and offers cities, towns, wineries, farms, woods, shoping, rivers etc.

Wineries abound in this verdant valley ~1 hr southwest of Portland. Get information on several visitor websites

This is our second escorted tour with Wildwood Adventures- and unlike most “sequels “ Not a disappointment! We did the Willamette Wine Country tour with our guide TJ at the helm. Group is kept small (10) and weather was once again perfect. The 3 wineries selected were wonderful- each different in their own way. I really liked how our guide made a pre-stop to the coolest unique downtown deli (Elephants) to allow us to select our own fresh and tasty sandwiches (which he kept cold in the van cooler) so we didn’t have to waste tour time and it was perfect to enjoy the wine tasting with our lunch . Our guide was a delight - very informative and one could tell he enjoyed sharing this amazing place we call Home. The Visitors from Michigan and Florida concurred - we were paired with a great group. Can’t wait to go again with Wildwood Adventures- it’s truly an Adventure and a most memorable experience for all.

The temptation is to do too much. Visiting 2 or 3 vineyards is reasonable, but only taste at one if you're driving. Sokol Blosser has an excellent visitors center and tasting lounge. Archery Summit is for the sophisticated. The Pinots rock!

We enjoyed the dining, the vineyards, and the attractions in nearby areas. This is a great place to spend two or three days. There is so much to see and take photos of that you need at least two days. Ask locals where to go and they'll be glad to help out.

We drove down to the wineries from Portland and had a lovely afternoon. Our first stop was the Ponzi winery. We sat outside and enjoyed their wine tastings. What was especially appreciated was that we did not feel at all rushed. We had a leisurely experience sipping the wine and enjoying the view. Our next stop was the Domaine Drochin vineyard where once again we sat outside and leisurely drank.Although we had intended to go to a third winery, we were so comfortable that we opted to stay here until it was time to head back to Portland.

Oregon has turned into wine country since we have temperate weather, our grapes love it. Green as far as you can see and lots to see. Tulip farms, wineries (rent a limo and take a tasting tour) air hot balloon rides, fresh local produce at our many farms.

We took a wine tour through the Willamette Valley. The views were outstanding. The wines were good. A "must do" in Portland.

This is truly a beautiful area with millions of wineries. Some require a reservation to taste, so you may want to check ahead of time. We tasted at three. While the wines were good (rose, Pinot noir, dry Riesling) they were definitely overpriced, especially the pinots. In fact, all three wineries charged $55+ for a bottle of Pinot, which suggested that some price fixing was going on. (Disclaimer: we live in the SF Bay Area, and have wine tasted around the world. We recently tasted in Northern Spain, and purchased several bottles of excellent reds for half the price). For further information see lostintherightdirectiontravel.com.

Was on a guided tou r. Didn't stop to take pics. But was a beautiful place. Rolling hills. Vineyards galore.

We've ventured through the northern part of the valley multiple times and it's incredible! You could spend everyday for a year exploring and not even scratch the surface

Visited a local winery, had a tour and wine sampling. The soil must be good because the wine sure was! It was fun and glad we did it.

Oregon wine country is very low key. I would suggest being very specific about where you want to go as it seemed wineries were spread out. we went to Alexana which was excellent.

I really enjoyed this tour and I highly recommend it. Our tour guide, Brie, was outstanding. She was very helpful and informative. She drove us to several wineries and was very knowledgeable about all of the sites we were seeing.

Go there, drive around
reserve time to hang around wineries,
and small towns.
Enjoy your leisure time.

Easy to get around to visit all of your favorite wineries and great beauty to behold all around! And cute small towns to explore and visit! And friendly people to boot!

We visited the wine region during the pandemic times. During this time, one needs to make reservations and because they limit capacities, wine tasting prices are higher. We ate at several restaurants and we never had a bad meal. We went to more-or-less high end wineries and the wines were at least good and some were absolutely great.

This is lib town all up and down the valley. Nothing but weirdos and freaks. If you are a normal American, avoid this craphole.

Fall is a gorgeous time to drive thru the valley when all the grass farms and bright green and the burning is over. Tons of wineries and history.

Willamette Valley has several vineyards and is possible to visit the production as well to taste them. The Valley has several small cities that has good food and friendly enviroment.

I lived in the heart of the Willamette Valley for 11 years and have returned several times to visit. It's a beautiful part of Oregon to work, play or just visit and enjoy all it has to offer. There's plenty for the outdoor enthusiast such as boating, fishing, hiking, biking. Also, don't forget to visit the many wineries which continue to pop up throughout the valley. If you're there during the summer you may want to visit some of the crop farms where a variety of vegetables, fruits and berries are grown. Visiting the foothills will take you to Silver Falls State Park, where you'll be surrounded by tall fir and pine trees. You can follow the various trails throughout the park leading to its many beautiful water falls. Be certain to visit the beautiful Iris gardens between Silverton and Salem, as well as the gorgeous flower gardens around Mt. Angel and Woodburn. While in Salem, stop and visit the beautiful State capitol with the statue of a bronze man on top. Yes, the Willamette Valley and surrounding areas will take a few days for you to enjoy and partake of it's natural beauty and all it has to offer.

For all the fans of Pinot Noir it’s the place to be, around 700 wineries to visit. Just 30 minutes drive from Portland. Recommended winery : Beaux Frères, Drouhin, Domaine Serene, Archery Summit, Erath, Eyrie Vineyard, Ken Wright.

The boutique, small-batch wineries in this region really distinguishes itself from its larger neighbor California. You can tell that the wineries really focus on ensuring that care is put into the grape vines. Oregon is famous for its Pinot Noir, and this area will not disappoint.

Spent a day wine tasting in the valley, hit 4 excellent wineries. Favorite was Ponzi, by far, but also really liked Saffron Fields. best deal ever is this: fly Alaska to Portland and if you show your boarding pass, the wineries will give you your wine tasting flights, usually $20, for FREE!! The north part of the valley itself is really pretty, as good if not better than much of Napa Valley

While we primarily stayed in Dundee, we found Oregon wasn't as friendly as we thought it would be. We also were a little surprised about how new Willamette is to tourism and the lack of customer service that goes along with it. The wine country is very new and could use some best practices from places like Paso Robles or Sonoma.

Some extraordinarily beautiful countryside in this agricultural valley noted for excellent wines. We stopped at one simple winery for a good tasting and noted that there were several guest houses nearby. Close to the city.

The Williamette Valley is the main Pinot Noir region in US. The wineries are gorgeous, the views are breathtaking, but the wines and way of serving the wines in wine tasting tremendously deceptive. Nothing compared to Portugal or Italy wine tasting. First wrong doing: they use only one glass for several wines without changing or cleaning the glass. They dont know that each wine has a proper glass to be served. Second - most wines are not ready to drink. They are too young and just tastes pure alcool- Very bad wines indeed. The marketing made around the Pinot Noir in the region OUTSTANDS the real poor quality of most wines. Pinot Noirs have to be soft, gentle and fruit. Very few suit this description here. Do not go for wine tasting offered. Select the best wines before and see if they are available for tasting or ask them to serve them to you in the proper way you want. Do not waste time in wine tastings. The Chardonnays and Pinot Gris are better than the Pinot Noirs in the tastings. You´ll find good Chardonnays here. However I strongly advise you to visit two wineries WILLIAMETTE VALLEY WINERY. - an astonishing beautiful view with good service that understands wine lovers language, have a lunch with wine there and apreciate the scenery and; STOLLER FAMILY ESTATE WINERY, an example of sustainable winery in a very friendly atmosphere to all tribes. You can even pic-nic here. They have good snacks too.

We did wine tastings at several places in the valley, each in stunning areas with delicious wines and proud owners. It was a really fun day!

OK- let's get this out of the way first. If you are staying in Oregon on vacation, you really have 4 choices: The Willamette Valley (pronounced Will-am-ut), Bend, Portland, or the Oregon Coast. Sorry, Southern Oregon.

Anyhow, since you are viewing the Willamette Valley, let's talk about it. Do yourself a favor and stay in Eugene. Eugene is a nice little town with a college/hippy vibe, and everything surrounding it is a bit more 'country', with not a ton to offer for visitors.

While in Eugene, you have a lot of options for activities. For starters, if you can, I recommend hooking up with a rafting company, and heading down the McKenzie River. TnT rafting is awesome (if they still operate, I assume they do). Keep in mind you will have to drive 45 minutes or so out of town to make this happen, so only do this if you either want to take an epic bus ride, or have a rental. There are no "crazy" rapids to worry about (unless it hits the class 3 rapid at the end- ASK if they do), and it is absolutely beautiful. Trust me. Since you are in the area, hit up Sahalie and Koosah falls- they are close and worth stopping for a photo and a quick walk.

Next up is checking out the local food joints and bars. As this is a college town, if you are coming during the school year, it will be crowded downtown, but if you are here in the summer, it is pretty relaxed. Check out Sizzle Pie, a Portland transplant, and Voodoo Doughnuts (also from Portland... but MUCH less crowded). As far as bars go, ask your cab driver to take you to "barmuda triangle" (on Broadway), and just hit up whatever looks good. I always enjoy the Horsehead Tavern. For dancing, your options are Cowfish, or Cowfish- which is fine, because it is a great place to dance and drink.

For wine lovers, definitely hit up King's estate and Sweet Cheeks. I am not huge into wine, but friends and family LOVE those places. PLEASE get a cab if you do this- the cops in Oregon DO NOT mess around when it comes to drinking and driving (we are a zero tolerance state- anything above 0 BAC could land you in jail).

Unfortunately, everything North of Eugene up until Portland is unremarkable, so keep that in mind. If you are wanting to experience more outdoors type of stuff, and don't mind leaving the Willamette Valley, definitely hit up Newport on the coast and stop by Rogue Brewery. To get there, head west on Hwy 126, and when you get to the coast, drive north for about 1.5 hours.

Also, it is a bit of a drive, but Crater Lake is a few hours away, and as it is the only National Park in Oregon, I think it is at least worth checking out once. The drive through the forest is great (especially if you are from an area without a ton of foliage)- just watch out for the Oregon State Police and their pesky radar guns.

I hope this info was helpful!

The Willamette Valley is a scenic and variety area outside of Portland. There is something for everyone in the area from parks, wineries, attractions, great theatre, and musical options.

The views remind me of Ireland but the wineries are the best. Lots to choose from and easy to see as many as 7 or 8 in one day without rushing.

We spent a wonderful day touring vineyards with a knowledgeable tour guide. The vineyards were spectacular, and the hosts were friendly. The wine, of course, was marvelous. I would recommend scheduling a tour for early in the work week. We had the vineyards to ourselves.

We loved it. It's beautiful to see, and for the most part, the wine is really good. I have a couple of favorites in the valley and I'm hoping to find some more. Good eats in the Valley as well.

We enjoyed the day driving through and tasting wine at three different wineries. The area is peaceful and enjoyable. Very easy to make a day trip from Portland.

Visited a few winery's in this area and the views were stunning. We especially liked the Willamette Valley vineyards, they offer outdoor seating with great views. Owners are very pleasant and wines are superior. Bring a lunch and enjoy!

The first thing you need to learn when visiting the Willamette Valley is how to pronounce the name. Oh, don't worry locals are happy to help you learn how to properly pronounce the name ;-)
I cannot say enough about the Willamette Valley. I have visited here twice in three years and I live on the east coast. I find the wines in this regions to be outstanding. Every time I go I find new wineries that are amazing. I find the Willamette Valley to be what the Napa Valley was 30 years ago. Most wineries are intimate settings with wonderful hosts. And the Willamette Valley boasts some of the best Pinot's you will find in the states. I promise you will not be disappointed. Cheers!

There are some beautiful wineries but we only had time to visit 3. They're expensive to taste and the wines were pricey. I am from Cali so I would compare to Napa in terms of price guitar much more limited on varietals. There may have been wineries similar to those in price in Sonoma, Central Coast, Santa Ynez and Sanata Barbara but we didn't have time to find out. Definitely;y an area I would love to explore more.

I live in Portland but work 30 miles away at a winery in Yamhill. My drive to work in the morning is a highlight of the day as I drive through some of the most serene and beautiful countryside in the state. The Valley has so many wonderful attributes, but how many areas offer a great commute ?

Reminds me of the south of France. Truly lovely. Highly recommend. We rented a car but next time will take a tour so we can both watch the hills roll by!

This area is the "It always rains" area of Oregon and Washington.Situated west of cascades and east of the coast range this area gets its fair share of rain. With that said the climate is mild with a few days on either end of the ugh the weather is miserable spectrum; however, the rain and occasional hot or muggy summer day does make for some amazing berries, produce, natural areas, wineries and breweries. The wide range of people in the area make for public events that cover a broad range of subject matter. The art and music are amazing and accessible There is literally something for everyone to see. A variety of farms are set up for visitors and make for fun outings; alpaca, horses and goats to apples, squash and pumpkins take your pick. Always dress in layers, which kind of explains the whole Birkenstock's with socks and flannel shirts clothing style.So Hipster, Human, or Animal there are wonderful destinations and scenery in this area of the pacific northwest.

Some of the best wine in Oregon you can try from hill top tasting rooms with wonderful views. Also great restaurants in McMinnville, Carlton and Newberg.

Fifteen hundred people came to dinner! The staff, the volunteers, the students, the chefs and culinary team, the vintners, El Presidente- Matt Berson, Linfield College President, Dr. Miles Davis, orchestrated and conducted an awesome joyful international symphony of inspiration, insight and indulgence into the world of Pinot Noir.

Sonoma and Napa Valley quality wines and wine tasting without the traffic and the crowds. Great restaurants and bnb's too.

Very scenic. Dozens and dozens of wineries. Don't miss the air museum. Lots of good eating but can be pricey. Be prepared to research the wineries since there are so many.

We moved to the Willamette Valley to enjoy the Pinot Noir wine region as well as the wine country life. With all wine area, the restaurants come along too to the area. You can eat and drink then in a world class environment. The different publications, from Sunset Magazine, to Wine Spectator, have been praising this area. You should come along too, and also see the spectacular nature that is also here too.

This is a wonderful place to spend a day just driving to enjoy the scenery and nature. You don't even need a plan. Just go. There are so many farms and wildlife you're sure to take hundreds of pictures.

We live just north of the Willamette Valley and love to spend time driving through the vineyards and oohhing and ahhhhing over the gorgeous countryside. If you visit Portland, you need to take a half a day and drive down to the Willamette Valley.

If you have the time - take in this area out of Portland, Oregon. It is peaceful, and well worth the trek, if you have the right mind set to be away from the hustle and bustle of freeways and tons of traffic and people.
BEAUTIFUL.

It's wonderful. We live in West Linn, just below Willamette Falls and have traveled up and down the valley... you keep crossing the river as you do. One gorgeous, scenic vista after the other. Amazingly fertile, all kinds of greenery from grape vines through hazel, fruits and wholesale nurseries.

The San Joaquin Valley feeds the world, well nearly. The Willamette Valley brings Vineyards, Nectarines Apples Fir Trees Hops Marijuana Sheep Husbandry

Marvelous spot to visit. And relax. The area is stunning. With the views you are almost in another time. It is relaxing and a great experience and recommend to all nature lovers.
Book early fir prime times.

We've toured many California wineries. We found the Oregon wineries terribly expensive. For $20 or $25, you will receive a 1-ounce taste of four or five wines. The area is beautiful, the area, buildings, and gardens are beautiful. Tastings are open from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.

We used Wine Spectator and input from locals to select 3 wineries just a relatively short distance from Portland. We chose Lemelson, Stotler Family and Domaine Serene. Without a doubt 3 great choices all with great wines.

The Willamette Valley has some of the most amazing views and the wineries are outstanding. The drive alone is worth a trip. you will not be dissappoimnted.

Do NOT expect an idyllic retreat from the hectic pace of Portland.
It is difficult to enjoy any scenery when you are stuck in traffic gridlock.

This area is heavily promoted and as a result a lot of tourists, and Portlanders choose to visit it on the week ends. There is only one major road into this area - Old State Highway 99W. This road is seriously out of date. In places it becomes a country road with only one lane in each direction, and no traffic lights for long stretches.

This is also one of the main roads to get to the Oregon Coast.

This makes for massive traffic jams - especially on week ends. You can expect to spend three hours in bumper to bumper traffic getting back to Portland. We went in early OCTOBER and there was still incredible traffic.

There are cool little country towns along the way. I especially enjoyed Newburg.
But, once again the insane amount of traffic flooding through the main shopping area takes away from the "Idyllic enjoyment" of the town. It also makes it very difficult to parallel park on the street or to drive around to find an open parking spot.

You will have a considerably better experience if you do NOT go on a week end.
I recommend going on a Monday or a Tuesday. And scheudle your time so that you are back in Portland before their rush hour traffic starts.

The green, lush hills are fun to drive around. Wine tasting is everywhere. You could come for just a few hours as a side trip from Portland, or stay for a week slowly exploring the area and various parks, farms and vineyards.

... I forgot to add 'brews' to the listing here... the Willamette Valley is home to ORegon State University and the University of Oregon, but also grows nearly all the grass seed in the U.S., much of Oregon's wine and has many many many wonderful breweries. There are online guides for drviing the wine country, and brew pub maps at many sites. Not to be missed in the spring are also the farm stands with fresh flowers you buy on the honor system.

We visited four wineries in one day! Wines are very good to great! We highly recommend Four Graces as the top choice!

Very cool, very pretty, very fun to drive to and through. Loved this part of the journey. Saw 3 different wineries and none of them disappointed.

It's a must see while in Oregon. What a relaxing spot. Hiking, food, quaint towns, and vineyards. It's full of scenic drives and wonderful dining. Don't miss it.

My wife and I recently drove through the Willamette Valley specifically to do some wine tasting. The settings for most of the wineries we visited were really lovely and we enjoyed tasting the wines and chatting with the local folk. As might be imagined, pinot noir was seemingly on offer at all of the wineries we visited (about 8) over the 2 days we did our tastings. It's a lovely part of the world and worth visiting, particularly if you like pinot noir wine.

We have been to NAPA valley several times and this area is much nicer. Reasonable area with awesome wines. We will go back to this area.

The will Willamette Valley is full of things to do definitely something for everybody hiking boating winetasting in me anymore you want to do it you can do it there

So much fun to travel up the mountain and see all of the gorgeous vineyards here. Visited White Rose and Vista Hills on a chilly day, and had a great time.

So many wineries to choose from...but don't miss Alexana and Argyle. Only an hour outside of Portland!

The Winterlea vineyard in Dundee was welcoming and offered beautiful views of the valley. They specialize in Pinot Noir and we bought a case and shipped it home. The staff was knowledgable and helpful.

McMinville midst in the famous Willamette Valley is worth a visit. Nice local people, cool restaurants and winebars everywhere

This was a wonderful day out for anyone who is remotely interested in wine. The region was incredible, the wines were amazing and the people were really friendly. I loved it, and was so glad I booked a tour.

We took a drive and made a few stops in this valley on our way to the coast. The options are a bit overwhelming so plan you visit.

We came to Willamette to see a farm that we are interested in. It's amazing to see the abundance and the variety of crops producing here.

I live in a suburb south of Portland. The Willamette Valley is what most non-Oregonians think of when 'Oregon" is mentioned. Not too hot in summer, but 2018 was an exceptionally warm summer and wet and cool to cold in Winter. It rains frequently in our wet season (October to April) but it's not gully washers but mostly drizzle. What gets folks in the winter is the frequent Gray Skies. Portland, Salem, the capital, Corvallis (OR State U) and Eugene ( U of OR & Animal House) are all in the Willamette Valley. The aalley is roughly 50 to 60 miles inland from the coast and has a strong marine weather influence. It's lush green all year round and NOT humid in summer. Lots of great places to go all year round no matter if you and yours are 6 to 76.

We went to Four Graces and Aldensheim wineries. Very fun on a beautiful day. None of the grey or rain of the coast. Highly recommend an outing.

The valley is peaceful and beautiful with many wineries scattered throughout. Sadly, the wines we tasted didn't measure up to the Napa Valley offerings but, admittedly, we're biased.

Would never have realized how big and beautiful this area so close to Portland is if I hadn't taken a tour in a van with an experienced guide. So many waterfalls to see, and they're all different. A great escape from the concrete jungle.

There seems like SO much to see and do in Willamette Valley that it should have it's own destination. We took a wine tour from Portland, and we seemed to only see a small portion of the area.

Portland and the surrounding area beautiful and well,worth the trip. Lots of rain leads to green rolling hills and exceptional views

Having been in many wine tours I’ve enjoyed a variety of states and venues. Our tour lead by Crystal of Wildwood Adventures was terrific. She has an exuberant personality and worked hard to make sure our small group was happy. The wineries were ok, the scenery and the company were terrific.

Great area to drive through...very pretty with a nice rural feel. Very green and lush.

In the winter gets a little dreary with the ground fog but very nice area the rest of the year.

We took the day to go to Chehalem Winery and then they also suggested a few other wineries. Take a day to go wine-tasting for sure. Great pinot noirs but we also tasted some great Pinot Grigios

There are some wonderful wineries in the area and it will take you at least two or three days to sample various sections of the valley.

and great food. Vineyards, farmer's markets, covered bridges, Oregon State University at Corvallis, dry warm summers, cycle trails and so on.

We took our cousin's cabin cruiser down the Willamette River close to downtown Portland last month (August, 2018). It had been in the nineties until the day we decided to spend the day on the river, but it was in the low sixties (and felt even colder) and overcast. It was still something I'll always remember if for nothing more than the abundance of houseboats lined up in their own little houseboat subdivisions. We see nothing like that in Missouri, but it was especially fun since we cruised by them real slow and got to visit with some of the owners as we went by. Beautiful scenery of nature along most of the route we took.

I love coming back home to Oregon. Unless it is in the dead of slushy, sleety winter. Seems like the nice weather follows me there. Lots of stuff to do; hiking, boating, skiing, drive to the beach, drive to eastern Oregon, camping. You would have to be an idiot not to find something you love to do there. S'wonderful.

So green and spacious. Really enjoyed our time here and checking out the wineries. Easy to get around and everyone was friendly.

We recently toured the area and stopped for tastings at several wineries. The overall experience was wonderful and I would highly recommend.

You have to get out of the city and enjoy the surroundings, take a walk, enjoy the views and this is a great place

Our group of five really enjoyed meeting many different winemakers and tasting so many excellent Pinots. The whites were good too, but we went for the Pinpots and were not disappointed.

One of the most beautiful places in the world. Try to go some of the amazing wineries that are plentiful in the area!

The vineyards were breathtaking. A must see and really only a 45 minute drive from Downtown Portland

The Willamette Valley is known for its vineyards of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris wines. The landscape is beautiful. We visited a tasting room in Dundee, which was a pleasant intermezzo. Most of the tasting rooms are in towns, not immediately at the vineyards. The experience would have been better for us if more organized Information would have been available about where to go for different varieties of grapes and specific vineyards.

The Willamette Valley is huge. Spanning a large area from East to West and North to South. I am not sure if it is fair to try and sum it all up in one review. That being said, it is awesome. I call it home and it's beautiful. Full of great towns, great nature and great people.

If you LOVE your Pinot, you will love Willamette Valley! There are so many great wineries that we didn't have time to visit, so consecutive trips may be called for. Rainy and cold in February, so if you are craving sun, not the best time, but we found lots to do anyway. Great food scene, as well.

Our primary reason for visiting Portland was the Williamette Valley Wineries. It turned out to be better than visiting Napa/Sonoma. The primary wine is Pinot Noir but they also have excellent Pinot Gris and Chardonnay's. We visited twelve different Wineries in 2 1/2 days and found all to have outstanding wines, outstanding people in the tasting rooms and great picturesque locations. Anyone who loves their wines, I would very highly recommend visiting this region.Three wineries of particular note are Three Graces, WillaKenzie and Cherry Hill.
Great personnel and interesting stories.

Scenic drive on winding roads with beautiful vineyards, grass seed fields, hazelnut orchards, berries and so much more. The rolling hills and valley with the mountains in the backdrop were breath taking.

The Willamette Valley is so interesting and diverse, with high quality Pinot Noirs and Pinot Gris from very small to large production wineries. It is beautiful, and the wineries are so distinct and diverse. Fun and refreshing after the corporate wineries in California!

Quick trip to wine region. Mostly focused in Dundee area. Great tasting experiences with knowledgeable tasting room people.
The wineries we visited are tend to high-end, so I recommend to do research on which ones you like to visit and come prepared.
It was Monday, so there was no crowds.

We thoroughly enjoyed driving through the Willamette Valley as well as stopping at the winery named after its location. The vineyard went on and on. Hard to believe that we were not in Tuscany.

Be warned, do your homework and make sure you allow enough travel time to get from winery to winery! With 5pm closings, The day goes by rapidly and the 5pm closing times arrive quickly. There are many wonderful wineries to visit, choose wisely and enjoy your day.

The Willamette Valley is more than just a river between hills. There are sever additional streams, Yamhill and Tualatin which help make up the charm. This is especially true of the northern section. Additionally, several of the nearby mountains, such as the Chehalem provide striking vistas.
To add to the experience there are literally 100's of wineries, many of which have tasting rooms. Much of the wine produced is world class, often at reasonable prices. Also, in some of the smaller towns up north including Dundee, Newberg, McMinnville and Independence are often very go restaurants. Finally, and excluding Portland, there are many interesting sites to visit.
To sum up, the Willamette Valley can make for a full day visit, or even overnight in some of the boutique hotels therr.

I have been to many growing regions and AVA's in California, and Europe, and this stands tall with all of them. The wines that come from this region are among the best in the world, so much so that many of the top producers from Burgundy, where I was lucky enough once to travel to, have come here to produce wine that are as good as the ones they make in France.

We were just driving through on our way to Newport and stopped at some wineries. There was a great variety of wineries from casual to more upscale with beautiful scenery. I was surprised that there was a $15 tasting fee/per person at all the wineries, which I haven't encountered in Colorado or most places in California. Be sure to pick up a map of wineries in the area.

I have travelled through the Willamette Valley several times, and stopped at some great vineyards. One we stopped at, were enthralled with our English accent and ignored their own countrymen to talk to us. We were given almost royal attention.
Purchased a few bottles of wine, which was consumed over the rest of our stay.
If the weather is fine, the trips are very enjoyable

What a gem so close to Portland. Very nice wine in a vineyard setting that compares with those that I have encountered in California, Spain and Australia. Low key, knowledgeable staff and great wine.

The wineries in the Willamette Valey are starting to rival the Napa wineries for certain varietals. We are major Pinot Noir fans so right up our alley. Bergström was outstanding, with a few different Pinots to choose from. A bit on the pricey side, but worth it. We are also big fans of Domaine Drouhin, having drank their wines in Oregon but also having enjoyed the family's wine in the South of France a few years ago. Willamette is lots of fun.

With a group of friends sharing my bucket list item to roller skate in Portland one said she most definitely wanted to include a day of wine touring. So she contacted the Willamette Wine Tour company and booked 2 vans. We had a great time and the weather couldn't have been better for enjoying the beautiful scenery as well as the wineries. The sun was shining and the views were amazing.

How can you go wrong staying here when there are so many wineries to try. We tried four of them and three were absolutely delicious. The fourth was not to my liking but I could see other people liked it quite well during the tasting. Some give much bigger tastings, some give small tastings, and one tasting was even free, but the norm is to pay about $10 to go and taste. The $10 is usually refunded if you buy a bottle from what I could see. The scenery Is beautiful, especially with Mount Hood in the background. Very nice place to stay and convenient to the coast.

Lovely drive through this wine country, with beautiful scenery and plentiful wineries. The wineries themselves are well-appointed, with plenty of that world-renowned Pinot Noir to taste!

The Willamette Valley offers something for everyone. Hiking, biking, arts, waterfalls, shopping, micro-brews, restaurants and a beautiful view of snow capped mountains. The Willamette River is a Hallmark view as is the Columbia River.

This area drips with history and we cannot wait to move to this area for our final years! Will be here soon!

First I had to stop by Fred Myers (a local grocery chain) to buy my 1 day Non resident fishing permit for $22. At 630am we parked on one side of the highway and walked under the highway through a big metal pipe with a loose stone floor. Once on the other side I arrived at the spot. Only 3 other fisherman arrived there before me, each keeping his distance from the others. The river was glassy and moving very slowly. I put power bait on and casted my line. What beautiful place this is with the trees surrounding you and the reflection of the forest on the river like a mirror. And then we have then trout. Yum!! there was a daily limit of 5 fish each and we caught our limit in a few hours. A little cooler on the river in the morning so you may need a lite jacket.