Things To Do
Local Wineries
Your in the heart of the Willamette Valley, there's no shortage of wineries to enjoy! Below is some of Kevin's personal favorites. I go for the charcuterie boards! Either way sip, snack and enjoy the lush green vineyard views! - Kelsey
Durant Vineyards Tasting Room
Wonderfully cozy small tasting room on the side of a hill. Relax on their patio or hillside in one of the many Adirondack chairs. Known for their reds, but my personal favorite is their chardonnay-Kevin
Maysara Winery
Love Love LOVE Maysara, besides the great wine (for a great price) this is the first women-owned and first immigrant-owned winery in Oregon's Willamette Valley. The mother-daughter duo from Iran knows how to make wine. Reservations, I believe, are required**-Kevin
Domaine Serene Winery
One of my family's favorite. It is expensive. Its over-the-top Californian style chateau seems out of place in the Willamette Valley and has only one area for tastings that are not reserved for members. All that being said, the 'Grand Cheval' and their 'Coeur Blanc' white pinot noir are to die for. If you want to look posh and act fancy, this is the place. -Kevin
Argyle Winery Tasting House
Argyle. A great winery, and one of the few Willamette Valley Vineyards to boast a fine collection of Sparkling Wine. It's down to earth and fits the mold of what to expect in the area. -Kevin
Local Restaurants
Anything on 3rd street (the Main tourist street in Mcminnville) will give any guest the food or drink option they are looking for. Seriously, if you did not want to leave 3rd street ever for food during your stay, you won't need to.
Taco Cart outside of Tequilla Grill
This Taco/Burrito Cart is right outside the entrance to the tequila grill. This is a staple of the McMinnville and Linfield Community to find cheap, delicious food at most times during the day. Highly recommend it if you are looking for something else besides sit down. Feel free to sit on the deck next to the restaurant to eat; you can even get a marg from inside.
WildWood Cafe
Who doesn't love a good diner after a wild night of college partying? Kevin did and still does. Can't go wrong if you are looking for diner eating.
Crescent Cafe
I and two friends in college had a brunch club. We would have brunch on Saturdays in Portland and when we didn't want to drive to Portland, we would go to Crescent Cafe-Kevin
La Rambla Restaurant & Social Room
I would describe La Rambla like Stephen King describes good prose "divine"; the priciest option on the list, but you will not leave disappointed- Kevin
McMenamins Hotel Oregon
There's a bar, a basement bar, a rooftop bar, and a secret bar somewhere in the hotel. Eat pub food on the top of the building and see the surrounding area, or get a cocktail in the basement during the evening with a local comedian
Nearby Activities
Head to the Coast! Lincoln City is just 1 hour away, Pacific City 1 hour and 10 minutes and Tillamook 1 hour and 20 minutes away. Kevin and I went on our first road trip together driving down much of the Oregon Coast! There's an abundance of hikes, viewpoints, and seafood to try! -Kelsey
Pacific City
About 45 mins from McMinnville, Pacific City has massive sand dunes, a big rock in the middle of the ocean, and some great restaurants to eat while visiting. This would be the beach I would go to in college, but nowadays with Kelsey. -Kevin
Linfield University
I went to school here, feel free to walk around and see where the boy turned into a man with thousands of dollars of debt he accrued. Stop by Latourette Hall (my freshmen dorm is the last window on the right when looking at the front door), take a look at Miller Hall where I was a Resident advisor, and have the record for the largest drug bust in Linfield history.- Kevin
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
Fantastic aeronautical museum! Oddly enough, there is also a water park next door. One of my dad's favorite place in town (the planes, not the water park)- Kevin
Joe Dancer Park
Take a walk around Joe Dancer Park. I had my first college cross country race here and would be found many times running laps at 5 am here on a crisp fall morning. Best park in town.-Kevin
Miller Woods Conservation Area
Many of my friends are runners and trail runners. McMinnville lacks trails to run/walk on. If you are dying to lace up and get out there, this small trailed green area is where I would go to train for my ultras.- Kevin
Rogers Landing County Park
If you can find someone (Me and Kelsey) with paddle boards or a place to rent some water items, feel free to launch off into the Willamette River. Rogers Landing in Newberg makes it easy.- Kevin