Wine, Walks & Local Wonders
A Trip Around the Mid-Willamette Valley.
Explore the areas in and around Salem and the Willamette Valley through decadent wineries, scenic hikes, and historic towns.
Start your day just north of Salem
at Lady Hill Winery, featuring beautifully crafted Northwest wines and a bright, airy tasting room overlooking the vines. Lady Hill is located adjacent to Champoeg State Heritage Area, where Oregon's first provisional government was founded in 1843.
Enjoy walking or biking the paved trails that pass historical landmarks and hug the river. Play the 18-hole disc golf course under the oak trees, or fish or kayak from dock on the Willamette River.
Continue south towards Salem and grab lunch at Gilgamesh Brewing’s The Campus – one of Salem’s first craft breweries, which also features a full-service restaurant in a cozy, lodge-like space.
As you make your way west on Hwy. 22, visit Left Coast Estates where you will take in the region’s picturesque wine and you can pair award-winning wines and hiking (some call it “wiking”) with a 1.5-mile trail that winds through vineyards, forest and native oak savannah.
Continue your journey southwest and stop at Eola Hills Wine Cellars to enjoy a variety of wines in their wine barrel tasting room.
Continue south to the historic town of Independence, once known as the hops capital of the world, where a charming main street features quaint shops, including one of the area’s last remaining independent book store, Second Chance Books and the lovely River Art Gallery, showcasing the work of dozens of Pacific Northwest artists.
Stay overnight at the new Independence Hotel, a cozy, boutique hotel situated on the Willamette River, with bike-friendly rooms and an on-site restaurant with an outdoor fire pit.