Under $100: Willamette Valley

Northern Oregon is rich in many things. Find yourself in the Willamette Valley and you will find an area rich in offerings of food, wine and a wonderful landscape, diverse in scenery and serenity.

A great place to spend a day, here are some tips on how to do it on a budget and still feel like you’re living it up in your high-class style.

After having a nice light breakfast at Patty’s Off Center Café, take a nice drive into the heart of wine country and get yourself to Willamette Valley Vineyards where you can have a tasting flight starting at $10.

© Jesse Kraft | Dreamstime

Daily tastings showcase a mix of white and red wines for $10 or they offer a Reserve Flight, highlighting their small-lot bottling for $15. This is an intimate, seated tasting experience in the wine cellar. Reservations recommended but walk-ins can be accommodated if there is room.

At 2 p.m., enjoy a complimentary general tour of the winery to fully experience this wonderful winery. This tour takes 30 minutes on average.

By now, hunger will certainly be setting in and it will be time to feast on the fabulous local cuisine of an area so rich in farms and fresh options.

© Lorenzo Tlacaelel | Flickr

A short ride from Willamette Valley Vineyards will have your taste buds tantalized by the plentiful vegetarian, vegan and meat options of Gamberetti’s Italian Restaurant, where they believe in sourcing as much food locally as they can and still offer mouthwatering meals at great prices.

To end the day, head to the water and walk along the majestic landscape of Minto-Brown Island Park, a park unique to the area, giving you the satisfaction of a sunset stroll, fueled by great wine, epic food and the certain comfort of a well budgeted day full of diverse living.