Amanda’s guidebook
Favorite Restaurants
AWESOME little place in Amity, a VERY cute town between Salem and McMinnville. This is a nice local place that does some awesome farm to table food. Fun place, the sandwiches and burgers are GREAT!!
GREAT local (i.e. small and can be crowded, but super friendly!) awesome place for Breakfast and Lunch!
Busick Court Restaurant
250 Court Street NortheastGREAT local (i.e. small and can be crowded, but super friendly!) awesome place for Breakfast and Lunch!
The Sassy Onion Grill
1244 State StAwesome Breakfast and Lunch spot
The Painted Lady
201 S College StVERY elegant and absolutely wonderful food
Joel Palmer House Restaurant
600 Ferry StreetFormal, Amazing food!
Bistro Maison
729 NE 3rd StElegant, lovely and wonderful food!
Wild Pear
372 State StGreat food, casual but upscale
Bentley's
291 Liberty St SELarge restaurant in The Grand Hotel in downtown Salem.
Ritter's Housemade Foods
102 Liberty St NEGood, casual, fun and great food!
Bo & Vine Burger Bar
110 NW 3rd StAwesome, fun Burger Bar!
Rafns'
Casual but gourmet food!
Adam's Rib Smoke House - State Street
1210 State StGreat local place!
La Rambla
238 NE 3rd StGreat Spanish food in fun atmosphere
Amadeus Restaurant
135 Liberty St NEAWESOME FOOD!
GREAT- can be a wait sometimes, Breakfast and Lunch only!
49 locals recommend
Word Of Mouth Neighborhood Bistro
140 17th St NEGREAT- can be a wait sometimes, Breakfast and Lunch only!
Blue Goat Restaurant
506 S Trade StWONDERFUL food, named as Oregon's best new restaurant recently and is a greta place for Cajun inspired bar/tavern food and wonderful local beers. Located in the historic Reed Opera House in Downtown Salem.
8 locals recommend
Noble Wave
189 Liberty St NEWONDERFUL food, named as Oregon's best new restaurant recently and is a greta place for Cajun inspired bar/tavern food and wonderful local beers. Located in the historic Reed Opera House in Downtown Salem.
Things to Do- Kids
Things in and around Salem to do with Kids
This is in Riverfront park right on the Willamette River and immediately adjacent to downtown. It is part of a connected series of parks and bridges that are all pedestrian friendly. You can actually start in Wallace Marine park on the West side of the river (the side the home is on) and walk over the river across a very cool converted train trestle, then South across a couple of streets and you will get to Riverside park which has the Carousel and another pedestrian bridge to Minto Brown Island which is a large island Park. Also in this area is a GREAT Breakfast and Lunch place called Busicks Cafe (small, VERY local VERY VERY good!)
17 locals recommend
Salem's Riverfront Carousel
101 Front St NEThis is in Riverfront park right on the Willamette River and immediately adjacent to downtown. It is part of a connected series of parks and bridges that are all pedestrian friendly. You can actually start in Wallace Marine park on the West side of the river (the side the home is on) and walk over the river across a very cool converted train trestle, then South across a couple of streets and you will get to Riverside park which has the Carousel and another pedestrian bridge to Minto Brown Island which is a large island Park. Also in this area is a GREAT Breakfast and Lunch place called Busicks Cafe (small, VERY local VERY VERY good!)
Right in the same area where the trestle bridge is. Very cool place.
18 locals recommend
Gilbert House Children's Museum
116 Marion St NERight in the same area where the trestle bridge is. Very cool place.
Just South of Salem, RIGHT next to Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinnacle (Website hidden by Airbnb) of the first and largest in Oregon. Think of quaint but cool Theme Parks like we had in the 50s and 60s. This is about 15 minutes South of Salem. GREAT excuse to Hit that winery as well which is actually publicly traded :)
44 locals recommend
Enchanted Forest
8462 Enchanted Way SEJust South of Salem, RIGHT next to Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinnacle (Website hidden by Airbnb) of the first and largest in Oregon. Think of quaint but cool Theme Parks like we had in the 50s and 60s. This is about 15 minutes South of Salem. GREAT excuse to Hit that winery as well which is actually publicly traded :)
Large City Park by the Capital and Willamette University- very nice
47 locals recommend
Bush's Pasture Park
890 Mission St SELarge City Park by the Capital and Willamette University- very nice
Lovely flower gardens and very cool history about the Oregon Trail
45 locals recommend
Oregon State Capitol
900 Court St NELovely flower gardens and very cool history about the Oregon Trail
Evergreen Aviation water park. This is where the Spruce Goose is (well in the museum part) and there is a water slide that goes out of a real Jumbo jet...seriously..haha. Very cool
39 locals recommend
Wings & Waves Waterpark
460 NE Captain Michael King Smith WayEvergreen Aviation water park. This is where the Spruce Goose is (well in the museum part) and there is a water slide that goes out of a real Jumbo jet...seriously..haha. Very cool
You are only about an hour and 15 minutes from some very cool places on the coast. Neskowin and Lincoln City
Oregon Coast Highway
Oregon Coast HighwayYou are only about an hour and 15 minutes from some very cool places on the coast. Neskowin and Lincoln City
Opal Creek Wilderness
22985 N Fork RdAbout two hours away, so a drive, but lovely!
Awesome location for hiking etc!
25 locals recommend
Silver Falls State Park - South Falls Day Use Area
Awesome location for hiking etc!
Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge
Coville RoadVery cool area that is nearby!
Wineries
Some recommended Wineries!
Some of the best wine in Oregon, it is a leisurely 15 minute walk from the house (5 min of that is just getting down the driveway) there is a substantial hill, so bring walking shoes!...or it is a 2 minute drive :)
Bjornson Vineyard
3635 Bethel Heights Rd NWSome of the best wine in Oregon, it is a leisurely 15 minute walk from the house (5 min of that is just getting down the driveway) there is a substantial hill, so bring walking shoes!...or it is a 2 minute drive :)
Cristom Vineyards
6905 Spring Valley Rd NWLovely and a neighbor right down Spring Valley Road
Stangeland Vineyards
8500 Hopewell Rd NWLocal producer, 5 minute drive. Small, intimate tasting room.
Zenith Vineyard
5657 Zena Road NorthwestLOVELY local winery in beautiful setting! About 10 minutes away.
Lovely winery right off 99. Awesome wood fired pizza oven until 4PM each day, kid friendly (behaved kids anyways haha)
16 locals recommend
Left Coast Cellars
4225 N Pacific Hwy WLovely winery right off 99. Awesome wood fired pizza oven until 4PM each day, kid friendly (behaved kids anyways haha)
One of the originals and largest in the area, unrivaled views, about 15 minutes south of Salem.
69 locals recommend
Willamette Valley Vineyards
8800 Enchanted Way SEOne of the originals and largest in the area, unrivaled views, about 15 minutes south of Salem.
Eola Hills
1600 Oak Grove RdAppointment only, book a tour, or visit their tasting room off 99 and 22.
Cherry Hill Winery
7867 Crowley RdGreat Local winery!
Firesteed Winery & Tasting Rm
20005 Northeast Fairview DriveBrooks Wine
21101 SE Cherry Blossom LnVery near the home in Amity
Arcane Cellars
22350 Magness Rd NWNear Wheatland Ferr
Bethel Heights Road Northwest
Bethel Heights Road NorthwestAwesome Local winery very near the Bethel Manor
Maysara Winery
15765 SW Muddy Valley RdLovely location and amazing wine! Popular for weddings.
Sokol Blosser Winery
5000 NE Sokol Blosser LnOne of the Oregon Originals!
Stoller Family Estate
16161 NE McDougall RdAmazing wines!
Domaine Serene Winery
6555 NE Hilltop LnGreat location and wines!
Caterers
Caterers recommended for the area.
The Whisler Sisters have catered several dinners for guests at the house and come very highly recommended! They are familiar with the location and have great personalities!
Whisler Sisters
7238 Southeast Foster RoadThe Whisler Sisters have catered several dinners for guests at the house and come very highly recommended! They are familiar with the location and have great personalities!
Willaby's Catering & Event
765 Liberty St SEFantastic local caterer
Absolutely wonderful caterer. They have done parties at the house several times and get RAVE reviews!
R & R Culinaire
1722 Oregon 18Absolutely wonderful caterer. They have done parties at the house several times and get RAVE reviews!
Coffee Shop
AWESOME location with great coffee and LOTS of meeting space and seating. It is a community not for profit run by the Salem Alliance Church. The building also houses Free medical clinics and other community support organizations. Stop on in and support this great, EVERYONE WELCOME space by having a great coffee!
16 locals recommend
Broadway Coffeehouse
1300 Broadway St NEAWESOME location with great coffee and LOTS of meeting space and seating. It is a community not for profit run by the Salem Alliance Church. The building also houses Free medical clinics and other community support organizations. Stop on in and support this great, EVERYONE WELCOME space by having a great coffee!
Transportation
GREAT options for a shuttle from PDX to Salem Area
www.groometransportation.com
Groome Transportation
34030 Excor Rd SWGREAT options for a shuttle from PDX to Salem Area
www.groometransportation.com
Traveler advice
Getting around
Wine Tours
https://pinotcar.com/
https://www.prestigewinetours.com/
Don't miss
State Capital Gardens and Mill Stream at Willamette Uni
Short walk from the property is the State Capital grounds with some wonderful things to see!
If you walk past/through or around the Capital building, Willamette University starts on the other side. There is a cool area there called Mill Stream in the middle of campus that shows you Mill Creek, salmon come right up that creek and spawn still. 😊