During the Ice Age, raging waters flooded much of Oregon, especially the Willamette Valley. At one point, in fact, the entire region was under 400 feet of water. The result, however, is not what one might expect. As the water dried, it transformed the landscape and the soil, creating some of the most breathtaking natural wonders and fertile soil in the world. Today, Willamette Valley is teeming with life, offering epic adventures ranging from waterfall tours and tree climbing to hot springs and wine tasting, thanks to its sprawling vineyards and tasting rooms. And they offer all of it in style. Here is how to experience all of the wonder in the region without having to rough it.
Settle in at The Setting Inn
The Setting Inn is tucked into 10 private acres of lush gardens and vineyards in a prime micro-climate of Willamette Valley. Opened in 2021, the boutique luxury offering effortlessly blends modern amenities with European-inspired elegance. The property is limited to just eight rooms – yes, full inn rentals are available for those seeking the ultimate in intimacy – and boasts expansive outdoor space; in-room teas from award-winning artisan Oregonian teamaker Steven Smith; LATHER bath amenities; fire pits complete with s’mores kits; bocce, badminton and croquet courts; a great room with a fireplace that could double as an art installation; and even a rustically chic 1,200-sq.-ft. relaxation lounge made from a historic barn.
Guests of The Setting Inn have the exclusive opportunity to taste wines from the vineyard’s Single Vineyard Designate collection portfolio. These wines are extremely limited in production, member exclusive, and all rated between 94 and 100 points. Beyond this, every morning, Inn guests are treated to a gourmet breakfast box of locally made pastries and curated Oregon bites and sips.
Epicurean Experiences for Oenophiles
Willamette Valley is Oregon’s Wine Country – and one of the hottest growing regions for Pinot Noir in the world. In total, Willamette Valley is home to 700 wineries and over 800 vineyards (and growing). For many, simply visiting the seemingly endless tasting rooms in the area is enough, but there is a far more luxurious path. Namely, booking an epicurean experience for the ages at one or more of the region’s vineyards.
Going beyond cheese and crackers, Soter Vineyards – whose Mineral Springs Pinot Noir was named among the top three wines in U.S. by JamesSuckling.com in 2022 – boasts an impressive guided culinary experience designed to immerse guests in the bounty of its 240-acre Mineral Springs Ranch, Biodynamic farm, and vineyard. The menu changes weekly based on the farm’s bounty, and whenever possible, the pairing is 100 percent from the property.
Antica Terra offers a “Tables in the Trees” tasting, which takes place amongst 88 acres of grand oak trees at a 200-ft. concrete table that was poured onsite. Each of the wines, as well as some surprises from guest producers, is paired with gourmet picnic-inspired bites under the canopy of leaves. Antica also features an eight-hour immersive adventure to fish and crab on the Oregon coast via private charter followed by a dockside crab boil with a selection of rare bottlings as well as a four-hour forest experience during which a naturalist leads an adventure to collect native plants followed by a five-wine-flight tasting paired with beautifully appointed seasonal provisions.
Domaine Willamette at Bernau Estate Vineyard, which is Oregon’s first sparkling wine facility that produces world-class méthode traditionnelle sparkling wines with an underground aging cellar at the biodynamically-farmed Bernau Estate Vineyard, offers both a private pairings experience and chef’s counter. Limited to just six guests, the private pairing reservation is led by a winery ambassador and the executive chef of the vineyard, who will serve a four-course tasting menu with a selection of their best wines while sharing stories about all featured items direct from the growers and kitchen leaders themselves. If with a larger group, the chef’s counter can accommodate up to eight guests and allows the seated participants to watch the chef craft a selection of small bites before their eyes. Each bite is enjoyed with a perfectly paired wine, and the chef is available for ample one-on-one questions throughout the experience.
Ambar Estate, Willamette Valley’s first Regenerative Organic Certified vineyard, is perfect for those with adventurous palates. The Japanese-inspired space with a towering Redwood tree as its centerpiece is home to both award-winning Chardonnay and Pinot Noir bottlings and a globally inspired pairing experience that showcases Pacific Northwest ingredients at their best. During the multi-course private exploration, expect the unexpected such as green somen noodles with fennel and avocado paired with rosé, a salmon cake with corn relish paired with Chardonnay, and tuna tataki with Pinot Noir. The winery also has a private suite experience for those seeking total solace.
Also, no trip to Willamette – if seeking to do it in style – is complete without Left Coast Cellars. The past Oregon Winery of the Year winner and perennial Wine Enthusiast favorite has been ranked among the top 10 percent wineries in the world with consistent 90-plus point scores since its inaugural vintage in 2004. It offers a seasonally inspired luncheon with ample wine that showcases the harvest from across its vineyards, gardens, greenhouse, and other edible landscapes on property as well as items plucked from the top local purveyors and foragers. During the experience, four estate wines are served to complement four small plates that are almost too pretty to eat.
Epic Outdoor Adventures
The sky is the limit when it comes to things to do and see in the region. Or is it? Given hot air balloon rides are offered daily thanks to Vista Balloon Adventures, Willamette Valley Balloons, and others, in the literal sense not even the sky is the limit when visiting.
Of course, there are also the standard hiking, biking, and seasonal water adventures, but given the unique geography in Willamette, why not explore something more on the wild side?
First Nature Tours offers a private “Chasing Waterfalls” tour during which guests are whisked to (and sometimes behind) a selection of wet and wild waterways including McDowell Creek Falls, Crystal Falls, Majestic Falls, and High Rock, among others. There is even an option to pair a day of white-water rafting to the tour, if desired. Perhaps even wilder, First Nature also offers a Winter Truffle Forage & Feast, a fully immersive truffle-hunting adventure with trained, reliable truffle-hunting dogs complete with diving, digging, authentic connection to nature, and education. The day completes with a lavish-yet-rustic luncheon utilizing the prized truffles at Alloro Vineyard. Not only is it cooked by a local chef, but the meal is accompanied by a guest winemaker and their specialty pours of choice.
Then there is always Tree Climbing at Silver Falls, both the name of the activity and the outfitter. Through this excursion, join expert guides for day-long sunset climbing and rappelling adventures 300 feet in the air, or even stay overnight in an ancient, old-growth forest, complete with dinner service.
Book a Wellness Journey
Willamette Valley is also home to several natural hot springs, notably Breitenbush Hot Springs and Terwilliger Hot Springs, both of which are in the Willamette National Forest and offer soaking tubs and pools as well as wellness services and treatments.
And then there is The Allison Spa. The Allison Spa, a Forbes Four Star Award winner several years over, is a 15,000-sq.-ft. respite designed for the ultimate in rejuvenation with a clear Northwest twist. The entirety of the space is a celebration of the region, developed utilizing sustainable practices and seamlessly merging the indoors and out through natural woods and light.
All spa guests are invited to indulge in the co-ed indoor pool and spa year-round as well as a co-ed relaxation lounge and a breathtaking outdoor terrace. There are also men’s and women’s individual lounges, offering eucalyptus steam rooms and saunas as well as the standard shower facilities and single-sex relaxation areas complete with dried cherries and other locally sourced goodies. Given it is a wine country, guests are also given the option to sip on Oregon wine or bubbles before or after any treatment, too.
To completely immerse oneself in the awe-inspiring natural wonders in every direction, The Allison Spa offers a Zen Den Garden Massage, which takes place in a private, open-air garden cottage near a waterfall and may be done alone or as a couple’s experience. There are many custom add-ons to the massage from which to choose as well including a Moroccan oil nourishing scalp massage; a hand treatment called soyaffin that blends shea butter, local beeswax, and a concentrated serum to revitalize the skin; and a mimosa to complete the session.
The Spa also offers a custom hydrofacial, which combines a gentle form of hydra-dermabrasion techniques and medical-grade ingredients for longer-lasting results, especially for dull and dry skin. Based on the guest’s needs, a combination of lymphatic therapy using high-pressure suction to manually massage and drain toxins from the lymph nodes as well as LED light therapy may be added to the treatment as well.
Each spa treatment or package is made better with a specialty enhancement at The Allison Spa. Among the most popular are a Himalayan salt room session, which fortifies the immune system and provides natural healing from skin and lung issues, and a calming private bath, including one that celebrates the Pacific Northwest’s healing agents by using rich pine, juniper, and bergamot body oils, combined with a series of warm steamed towels and light massage techniques.
Insider tip: Do not leave without accepting the front desk’s gift of a mouthwatering house-made chocolate truffle as a parting gift.
Don’t Forget Dinner and Drinks
Dining is being elevated to an art form in Willamette Valley, especially at James Beard darlings The Joel Palmer House, Lion & Owl, and most recently Hayward, which was a finalist for the 2024 James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant.
Another up-and-comer well worth the visit: Humble Spirit. Despite its name, the chic eatery has plenty to brag on from its elegant take on normally rustic, meaty dishes to its delicate handmade pasta balanced with local produce and herbs.
On the opposite side of the spectrum would be the icon of the area in The Painted Lady. It is housed in what seems like an old Victorian home where one’s great-grandmother might dine, but do not let that dissuade one from making a reservation as it happens to be the recipient of both a Forbes Four Star Award and AAA Four Diamond status.
Finally, while wine is the star of the show in Willamette Valley, there are several fabulous bars and lounges with magicians of mixology sprinkled across the region as well, notably at Pacific Standard, which was developed by nationally lauded bartending superstars Jeffrey Morgenthaler and Benjamin Amberg. The menu pairs classic and unconventional cocktails with a host of beautiful small plates and shared bites.
For more information, visit www.willamettevalleyorg.