Food, Wine and Gardens in Salem Oregon

We grabbed our mud boots, packed our best wine glasses and headed to Salem, Oregon in the Willamette Valley, home to some of the richest wines, trendy culinary spots and stunning gardens.  That’s a winning trio if you ask me.  A stay here is a good launching point for immersing yourself in a 2-day “sense of place and taste” getaway. The 150-mile long valley cradles the cultural and political heart of Oregon and is home to approximately 70 percent of its population.  The Willamette River flows the entire length of the valley, which is surrounded by mountains on three sides – the Oregon Coast Range to the west, the Cascade Range to the east, and the Calapooya Mountains to the south.

The valley is considered “Oregon Wine Country”, as it contains more than 19,000 acres of vineyards and 500+ wineries.  Perhaps you already knew that – but did you know about its unique garden scene? Often referred to as The Garden of Eden, you’ll find fields of blooming flowers, acres of green trees and about a dozen formal gardens, nurseries and parks to indulge your senses.

Think about arranging a “Carless in Salem” adventure. Yes, you can easily spend time in and around Salem without a car and special pricing is available from Washington, Oregon and San Francisco.  Our visit began with a four-hour Amtrak train ride from Seattle … easy, peaceful and inexpensive. I purchased a business class ticket to enjoy free WiFi, comfortable reclining seats, pop up desks and complimentary food and beverages. You can even check luggage. Security is tight, but not like at the airport.

Then, Uber to your hotel (under seven minutes!).  My favorite is The Grand Hotel with its stately interiors. After a tough day of travel its luxe ambience welcomes you to relax and reboot. It’s close to everything (restaurants, parks and shopping) and has a killer bar and restaurant onsite in case you’re too tired or not in the mood for exploring.

Visit the Salem Visitors Center to purchase tickets for a one day Winery Tour of Willamette Valley and a one day Oregon Garden Tour. The combo price is $99 for adults and each tour is about 5 hours. The best part is they come to the hotel to pick you up. Small groups, an informed driver and a well thought out selection of stops make this two-day tour fun and relaxing – fine for all levels of mobility and wine knowledge. The winery tour consists of three stops.  On the day I went, we visited Cubanisimo Vineyards, Willamette Valley Vineyards and Legacy Estate Vineyards, all three very different.

At Cubanisimo we experienced Cuban heritage wines that combined pride with passion. A small winery experience, its distinctive wines are made from luscious Willamette Valley fruit. The tasting room has remarkable panoramic views and service is handled by a friendly staff. Sit outside on their patio and sip in the sights.

Willamette Valley Vineyards is a big splashy experience.  Gourmet food is available to complement the solid wines you get to taste while admiring gorgeous views from the patio or from a luxe interior.  Tours and a smallish (but well-stocked) gift shop make this place memorable.

Legacy Estate Vineyards is more of a boutique stop but it has great big plans for its future. You can feel the excitement building.  Think concert venues, RV and camping spots, bike trails, spa and restaurant – all on the planning board.  Ask for a golf cart tour for the preview of coming attractions.  For now, the picnic tables, enthusiastic servers and delicious wines are enough to entertain you. It was my favorite of the three stops.

The garden stops present a different view of Salem. I was expecting botanical walkabouts but instead there was a surprising offering of state-park grandeur, botanical beauty in bloom and a local farmers market. Somehow it all worked.

A stop at Silver Falls State Park is dramatic stuff – gorgeous walking trails and insane views make this water oriented place memorable. If you just want to soak up some greenery buy a mocha latte or a dark beer and chill out on the café veranda.

For me the couple of hours at The Oregon Garden was the real treat of the tour.  Featuring 80 acres of various local botanical loveliness this is a constant work in progress.  Ever changing and improving you’re likely to find something new every time you tour. Twenty specialty gardens make for a grand tram tour and excellent photo ops. Don’t miss the Christmas activities including an old fashioned outdoor European market.

The final stop Was Willamette Valley Fruit Company, a farm market featuring locally grown products and the best strawberry shortcake in the entire world. At first I wondered how this could be considered a “garden.” But one taste of this local farmer’s garden produce brought the entire tour together in a very unexpected, yet tasteful manner.

Buy your train tickets, book your hotel, order your tour tickets.  This is how to really get to know Salem and its offerings.  It’s a “taste of place” experience you won’t forget.