Just south of Salem visit Willamette Valley Vineyards, where founder Jim Bernau – One of Oregon’s Pinot pioneers – produces some of the state’s most lauded wines. Sip award-winning Pinot noir along with top-flight Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris while basking in breathtaking valley views. The kids will love the quirky amusement park, Enchanted Forest, located just down the street. With its plunging Big Timber Log Ride, Ice Mountain bobsleds roller coaster and Storybook Lane, it strikes all the right notes for an afternoon of family fun. Take a walk on the wild side at Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, a 2,800-acre paradise of marshes and ponds that’s home to all types of birds – from waterfowl, raptors, and herons to migrating songbirds and egrets. Interpretive displays help identify the numerous species taking flight around the refuge.

Enjoy some award-winning wine at Ankeny Vineyards, St. Innocent Winery or Willamette Valley Vineyards. Double back across the Willamette River via the Buena Vista Ferry, a route that has been in operation since 1852. Today the ferry shuttles cars, pedestrians, and bicyclists daily year-round. If you happen to have your bike along (or want to rent one), Salem is near the midpoint of the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway, a 132-mile route that runs from Champoeg State Heritage Area to Eugene. Peddle past picturesque vineyards, charming towns, and dozens of working farms, like Frey’s Dahlias in Turner, a must-stop for tubers, cut flowers and plants from August to mid-October. Jefferson’s Greens Bridge Gardens is where you’ll find U-pick produce – everything from strawberries and tomatoes to fall pumpkins – and home baked goods. The town of Jefferson draws inspiration from its farm roots, and it’s known as the “Mint Capital of the World.” A scenic drive alongside the mint fields is a fragrant treat.

City of Jefferson
https://jeffersonoregon.org
(541) 327-2768

City of Turner
https://www.cityofturner.org/
(503) 743-2155