ANDRÉA JOHNSON with beautifully presented (and delicious) dishes for people of all dietary preferences — and a great wine list. For an immersive lunch experience, sign up for a fourcourse summer luncheon at The Thyme Garden nursery in Alsea, which includes a guided walk through a bountiful herb garden. Play This part of the Willamette Valley offers loads of great ways to get out and play. Home of the University of Oregon, Eugene offers plenty to do, from shopping at 5th Street Public Market and the Eugene Saturday Market to learning the story of our natural world at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History on campus. Nearby, the 4,000-squarefoot interactive space at Hayward Hall celebrates the history of the university’s collegiate running legends. Art fans won’t want to miss the street art created through the 20x21EUG Mural Project. Nature lovers should head to the Cascades Raptor Center to see birds of prey before heading to nearby Spencer Butte for an invigorating hike. North of Eugene has some great spots to visit, too. Head to the twostory Corvallis Museum to see sleekly presented photos and artifacts that tell the story of Benton County’s past, or watch a football game at Oregon State University’s Reser Stadium. In Albany the Historic Carousel & Museum is another must-see for visitors of all ages, with its merry-go-round and a workshop where you can get a glimpse into how carousel creatures are made. Stay Eugene is a particularly convenient base for exploring the southern part of the Willamette Valley. On the northern banks of the Willamette River, Valley River Inn offers cozy rooms — many with river views — and a celebrated restaurant, Sweet Waters, that draws in hotel guests for riverside patio breezes and a wall of wine. Downtown Eugene is another convenient choice, with sleek boutique properties such as Inn at the 5th and the Gordon Hotel within walking distance of shops and restaurants. Great options exist farther north, too, including the Independence Hotel, sandwiched between the Willamette River and the adorable town of Independence, and the Best Western Premier Boulder Falls Inn, a sleek hotel in Lebanon with its own Japanese garden. Willamette Valley Vineyards OREGON WINE TOURING GUIDE 53
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