36 Hours In The Salem Region

11/6/2024

Silver Falls State Park

Planning a trip to the Salem area and want to experience everything? From art galleries and gushing waterfalls to small-town history and world-class eateries and wine tasting, book your stay in the region and dive in with the help of this handy, 3-day itinerary.

DAY 1: GOURMET COFFEE, WORLD ART AND LOCAL HISTORY IN SALEM

Kick off your Salem adventure with healthy brunch fare and a creative coffee drink at the industrial-chic Archive Coffee & Bar. The coffee beans are roasted onsite; pair the peppery Bee’s Knees drink with the quinoa hash. Next, it’s off to the Willamette Heritage Center for a deep-dive into the history of the Mid-Willamette Valley. With exhibits focusing on the Kalapuya people and Oregon Trail travelers, plus self-guided tours of some of the Pacific Northwest’s oldest frame houses and the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, it’s a fascinating firsthand rundown. When hunger hits, head downtown for a bowl of tantalizing coconut curry butternut squash soup at the cozy Wild Pear, and then lose yourself in over 9,000 art works, including Ancient Asian sculptures, Native American masks and rotating contemporary exhibits, at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art. Next, drive about 20 minutes north to the friendly E.Z. Orchards market and stock up on Marionberry jams, local wines and other culinary treasures to take home with you. Lastly, unwind with dinner at the lauded Epilogue Kitchen; co-owned by Chef Jonathan Jones—a semifinalist for "Best Chef in the Northwest Region" by the James Beard Foundation. Try the charred cabbage dish and sip a masterful cocktail as you peruse the thoughtfully stocked book collection.

DAY 2: WATERFALLS, CRAFT BREWS AND HISTORIC CHURCHES

Wake up and make the short drive to the charming town of Silverton for homemade biscuits and gravy and coffee at Main St. Bistro. You’ll want those calories for your visit to Silver Falls State Park, which is renowned for its fern-lined hiking trails and waterfalls. It’s an easy walk to the South Falls, where you can stand behind a 177-foot curtain of water; or hike the 7.8-mile Trail of Ten Falls loop and see 10 spectacular waterfalls up close. Bring raingear and hiking shoes, as trails can be muddy. Next, drive to Stayton and hydrate with a frosty Tuttle Trail Ale at Snow Peak Brewing Company then check out the historic Stayton-Jordan Covered Bridge; it’s built over the Salem Power Canal, which powers the brewery.

The Willamette Valley is famous for its vineyards, so hit the tasting room at St. Innocent Winery in Jefferson for a flight of single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, and sign up for a 90-minute winery tour at Willamette Valley Vineyards Estate Tasting Room. If you don’t fill up on food and wine pairings at the wineries, nearby Angel’s Share Barrel House is a beautifully renovated church with pork chops on the menu, plus beer from Salem’s For Tomorrow We Die Brewing.

DAY 3: WALKING TOURS, WINE TASTINGS AND THE MIGHTY WILLAMETTE RIVER

Fuel up with a gourmet bagel sandwich and signature coffee drink — the Pendleton chai-espresso fusion has a kick — at The Sippery in Monmouth; then step outside and catch the old-fashioned Monmouth-Independence Trolley on Main Street. The trolley runs every 20 30 minutes on weekends and takes you into downtown Independence, where a visit to the free Independence Heritage Museum is in order. Grab a self-guided walking-tour map, or download one, and explore the town’s original historic buildings, popping into buzzy boutiques, candy shops and bakeries along the way. Independence was once called the “Hop Capitol of the World”, so grab a locally crafted Hazy IPA and blackened steelhead tacos at Gilgamesh Brewing and pay homage to the town’s past — and present.

After catching the trolley back to Monmouth, it’s a quick drive to the modern tasting room at Illahe Vineyards for a flight of six wines with a side of stunning views. The vineyard’s 1899 Estate Pinot Noir is made entirely without electricity, with horses to haul the grapes and bicycle-powered pumps. Next head to Eola Hills Wine Cellars in Rickreall and soak up the stately barrel-room ambiance while enjoying pours of Willamette Valley favorites; buy a bottle or two to take home. Top off your trip at Territory Restaurant, in Independence, where you can grab a seat by the fireplace, enjoy the Guinness steak pie and gaze out at the Willamette River. Toast your incredible trip to the Salem region — and start planning your return.

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