The little towns and countryside around Eugene, Oregon’s second most-populous city, have long been a haven for laidback, locally made wine tasting. Today the South Willamette Valley is also home to a happening craft beer scene, with a growing number of artisan distillers and hands-on ways for the whole family to access outdoor adventure — all within a two-hour drive of Portland. Here’s how to explore it all on your own, thanks to four self-guided trails created for your year-round enjoyment. SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY FOOD TRAIL From McKenzie River Lavender near Springfield to the pumpkin patch at Thistledown Farm in Junction City, the South Willamette Valley Food Trail highlights more than 50 spots for road trippers to taste and embrace the seasons in and around the Eugene-Springfield area. Stop for farm-fresh produce at Detering Orchards in Harrisburg and delectable baked goods at Noisette Pastry Kitchen in Eugene, which mixes high-quality local ingredients with old-world techniques. Soak up the summer vibes on the patio at Obsidian Grill at McKenzie General Store in Blue River, and say hello to the friendly critters at Aragon Alpacas in Eugene. The South Willamette Valley Sample wines, ales, spirits and farm adventures on these four fabulous tasting trails. Many locations are seasonal, open May through October, so it’s best to call ahead. EUGENE ALE TRAIL Given the valley’s historic role as a leading hops-growing region, the craft beer scene continues to flourish here. There are now about two dozen standouts on the Eugene Ale Trail, which includes long-standing favorites like Ninkasi Brewing Company as well as off-the-radar finds like 3 Legged Crane Pub and Brewhouse and Plank Town’s Hilltop Bar & Grill. Falling Sky and Hop Valley have multiple locations, and there’s always plenty of pub grub. Cider and mead lovers can celebrate too. WildCraft Cider Works is an Oregon favorite, and Viking Braggot Company makes a refreshing fermented beverage that blends elements of beer and fermented honey (mead). SOUTH WILLAMETTE WINE TRAIL Less crowded than the wineries in the north Willamette Valley, many of the awardwinning spots along the South Willamette Wine Trail feel refreshingly unexplored, the experience more relaxed. It’s easy to plan a day trip from Eugene to several tasting rooms, with many clustered along Territorial Eugene 101 199 30 97 20 62 62 66 138 227 140 42 47 202 99W 22 58 126 138 99W 99E 228 126 242 84 5 5 20 20 Gold Beach rt Orford Waldport Bandon Brookings Florence Harbor Reedsport Astoria Newport Seaside Cannon Beach Pacific City Cave Junction Pacif ic Ocea n Calif o rni Washi n g CRATER LAKE MT ASHLAND Umpqua River Portland Springfield Salem Coburg Junction City Veneta Lowell Oakridge McKenzie Bridge Creswell Cottage Grove Portland (45 miles) MELANIE GRIFFIN / EUGENE, CASCADES & COAST DAY TRIPS Highway. Stop in at family-owned favorites such as Benton-Lane, King Estate and Brigadoon Wine Co., or sit for a flight at Sweet Cheeks Winery, Silvan Ridge Winery and Saginaw Vineyard. Make sure to assign a designated driver or book a guided tour, such as Sunshine Limo Service & Wine Tours. EUGENE DISTILLERY TRAIL A crop of passionate craft distillers have taken root here, and you can sample their inspired, award-winning spirits along the Eugene Distillery Trail. Swallowtail Spirits, located in Springfield, uses the incredibly pure McKenzie River water to make its award-winning vodka, gin and whiskey. The Eugene location of Heritage Distilling Co. is home to its wildly popular Brown Sugar Bourbon. Thinking Tree Spirits in Eugene’s Whiteaker neighborhood is grain-to-bottle, with grain, fruit and botanicals for its gin, rum and vodka proudly grown locally. IF YOU GO: Visit EugeneTastingTrails.com, or pop into the Eugene, Cascades & Coast Visitor Center (754 Olive St., Eugene). Sweet Cheeks Winery 60 PortlandUncovered.com
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