Fabulous Farms in Oregon Wine Country

Agrarian Ales – A place to taste and play in Eugene

Beer and food just taste better on a farm. Spend one evening at Agrarian Ales and you'll see why.

Housed in a converted 1940’s dairy barn, Agrarian’s tasting room is surrounded by hop vines and cherry orchards. A wood fired pizza oven turns vegetables, artisan cheeses, and meats from neighboring farms into a truly farm-to-table pairing.

Many breweries serve outstanding craft beer and food. But Agrarian has something else. The rural setting provides plenty of space for having fun. Hula hoops, a giant Jenga set, backyard games, and even a wooden play structure for the kiddos, free you from the day’s responsibilities.

To learn more about Agrarian Ales--and find out how you can get your first pint free--click here.

Photo: Sally McAleer

Experience nature on the farm in Albany

Travelers who want to reconnect with nature can pay a visit to Midway Farms just outside Albany, a biodiverse organic farm that aims to build habitat while also growing mouth-watering organic food.

Visitors are encouraged to walk the grassy pathways at the farm, where crops grow in lush pockets rather than long, single-crop rows. Vegetables, flowers and herbs are tucked in among old-fashioned fruits, and certain spots are left undisturbed to provide insect habitat.

In summer wine and cheese-tasting parties on the farm bring in live music, local vintners, and organic cheesemakers. In the fall, guests are invited for cider-pressing day. 

"We try to learn from Mother Nature instead of work against her," co-owner Cynthia Kapple says.

For more about Midway's nature-based farm events, click to keep reading.

Photo: courtesy of Midway Farms

Wander to the wild side in Mt. Hood Territory

Rosse Posse Acres in Molalla is a unique attraction along the Molalla County Farm Loop in Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory.

More than a petting zoo, this ranch is a 52-acre working elk farm renowned for giving people the chance to see these huge animals face-to-face, not to mention beautiful views of the surrounding countryside and Mt. Hood, one of Travel Oregon’s Seven Wonders.

Guided tours of the ranch start with an educational talk at the barn with an expert, or “elkspert.”  After the talk, guests get some face time with the massive animals. You’ll have the chance to not only come away with some amazing pictures, but see the beautiful creatures and their behavior closer than most anyone else you know.

Click here to read more on how to schedule a tour at Rosse Posse Acres.

Photo: courtesy of Rosse Posse Acres.

Foodie Finds Near the Cherry City

Salem lies within Marion County, which is the largest producer of agriculture in Oregon, growing everything from tea leaves to turnips, juicy berries to ripe cherries.

Coined the Cherry City for its thriving cherry industry, Salem offers all kinds of delectable treats to tempt your taste buds, as well as the opportunity to see how many of them are grown or made.

Just west of the city lies Cherry Country Orchard & Chocolate Factory – a family-owned orchard and chocolate factory specializing in all-natural cherry products, including their signature product: dried cherries covered in rich milk or dark chocolate. Visitors are welcome to stop at the factory store for delicious samples and views of the lush cherry orchards.

For more luscious treats from the Salem area, click to keep reading.

Photo: Courtesy of Cherry Country Orchard

Sample Old-Fashioned Flavor in Yamhill Valley

For gourmands interested in beverages produced using old-fashioned, traditional methods, the Yamhill Valley offers the ultimate farm-to-table experience.

Kookoolan Farms and World Meadery in Yamhill produces everything from grass-fed meat to pinot noir grapes. What makes Kookoolan an unforgettable stop, though, is their onsite mead tasting room, where visitors can sample more than 150 varieties of the world's oldest fermented beverage.

For a different kind of old-fashioned drink, a visit to Champoeg Creamery outside St. Paul is like taking a step back in time. Visitors will find Jersey cows contentedly munching in pastures of green grass. Sign up for a class, and you can milk a cow and make your own cheese.

Sound tasty? Click here for more details on Yamhill Valley farm stops.

Photo: courtesy of Champoeg Creamery

Feast on the Farm in Benton County

Seeking the freshest possible produce? It doesn't get any fresher than eating a meal on the very farm where your food was grown. 

At Gathering Together Farm, just outside of Corvallis in Philomath, Oregon, enjoy expertly prepared local cuisine at a farmstand dining room.

Gathering Together is a certified organic farm with an on-site farm store and a seasonal restaurant all in one location. Their homemade potato doughnuts are made fresh every morning--stop by and fuel yourself for a day of exploration in the Willamette valley.

Gathering Together's Farmstand restaurant has menus inspired by the best French and Italian traditions. Dishes change frequently, based on the abundance of produce and the creativity of the chef.

Click here for more on Gathering Together's mouthwatering farm dining.

Photo courtesy of Gathering Together Farms.