Things to Do

We’re very excited that that you’re coming to our Wedding and Reception, but want to encourage you to participate in many of the fun local activities that we’re hoping will turn this in to a Wine Wedding Weekend!

And while McMinnville and the surrounding Willamette Valley are known as a renowned destination for wine (particularly Pinot Noir), there’s more than wine and the associated great food to enjoy.

The Beach

What would the last big weekend of summer be without a trip to the beach? Scenic Highway 101 along the Oregon Coast is just a 65-minute drive southwest of McMinnville down Highway 18, and Cannon Beach is just a couple of hours to the northwest.

Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum

Where else in the world can you see a collection of vintage aircraft like the world famous Spruce Goose, catch an IMAX movie, splash in an in-door water-park that feature a wave-pool and ten water-slides, and taste wine - all in one location?!?! The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum has a full day’s worth of activities for kids of all ages in one spot – right on the outskirts of McMinnville!

Church and Fudge

No, that’s not a typo. Right outside McMinnville resides the Brigittine Monks’ “Order of the Most Holy Savior” where you can attend Catholic Mass and satisfy your sweet tooth with their heavenly good gourmet confections!

There are other Christian churches in McMinnville – though I don’t think they offer chocolate with salvation.

For other faiths, the nearest options are in Portland or Salem.

Wine Tasting

We’re not even going to try to list all of the hundreds of wineries where you can enjoy a wine-tasting around McMinnville, but have a separate page detailing some of the wineries that we’re really enjoyed

Vineyard Tours

Most of the hundreds of wineries in the Willamette Valley offer wine tastings, but for anyone who wants a little more in-depth exploration of what’s involved in making world-class wines there are some great opportunities.

Vineyard Hike

One of our favorites is the vineyard hike at Sokol Blosser Vineyards, which we enjoyed on the first day of our engagement! You can check out some of the first vines planted in Oregon, learn about soil types, see newly planted vines, discover the history of the Oregon wine industry, sample wines in the middle of the vineyard, and taste locally made olive oils next door at Red Ridge Farms – followed by a catered picnic lunch and wonderful Sokol Blosser wine.

Not up for waking through the vineyard? No worries – there also a bio-fueled ATV option!

If you’re up for that, contact Jeff Knapp at 503-864-2282 x 27 to make your reservations – be sure to mention that you’re with our wedding group, since Steve has already made arrangements for Sokol Blosser to set aside some slots for the tour on the Saturday of our Wine Wedding Weekend!

Vineyard Horseback Rides

Seeing a valley obsessed with organic farming and sustainable agriculture by horseback seems like a great way to go, so join Equestrian Wine Tours for a two-hour tour through vineyards with stops at several tasting rooms.