Hidden Gems of Eugene, OR
When I asked my husband during our last night in the Grand Tetons,
“Are you really up for the rest of the trip—Oregon, California, Arizona, Colorado, Utah?”
I expected a pause. But without hesitation, he said:
“Absolutely.”
We were in our mid-60s, already road-weary from days of driving, hiking, and living out of a van—but the adventure wasn’t over. We had no more reservations, just a KOA membership, maps, and momentum.
That absolutely? It took us somewhere we never expected: Eugene, Oregon—a college town turned wine country paradise, and one of the best surprises of the entire trip.
🚐 The Road to Oregon: Wild and Empty
After leaving the Tetons, we made our way across Idaho and stopped overnight near Boise. The next morning, we debated:
North to Bend?
Southwest to Klamath Falls?
We went with the quicker route: Klamath Falls. We had a KOA reservation, plans to visit Crater Lake National Park, and no idea what was waiting for us.
The drive through the Oregon Outback was surreal—four hours, one other vehicle, and landscapes that looked hand-painted. Pinks, blues, tans, wild lakes and lonely mountain ridges. Desolate but gorgeous.
🍷 Welcome to Oregon Wine Country
When we landed in Klamath Falls, we grabbed some local maps and realized:
We were in wine country. Serious wine country.
The Willamette and Eugene Valleys are home to over 700 wineries, with world-renowned Pinot Noir and volcanic soil that grows award-winning grapes—and yes, some legendary Oregon-grown cannabis, too.
We originally planned to wait until Napa, but the universe had other plans. Our first stop was Crater Lake, formed by the collapse of Mount Mazama and now the deepest lake in the U.S., glowing sapphire blue.
Then came the curveball: a call from a friend of our son, inviting us to visit his commercial farm in Bend. So off we went. And after the farm visit, he said:
“Head west through Eugene and follow the coast south to the Redwoods.”
Sounded like a plan. We needed a place to stay. Eugene it was.
🍕 College Town Cool
Eugene is home to the University of Oregon, and like most college towns, it has great pizza, cool bars, and affordable lodging. We landed there with zero expectations and woke up the next morning ready to explore.
Armed with local tips and a little trial-and-error, we picked three wineries to visit. No reservations, no real plan. Just a loose dartboard strategy—and it worked out beautifully.
🍇 Winery #1: Sweet Cheeks Winery
Yes, that’s the real name.
Started by Dan Smith, a commercial refrigeration guy with a dream, Sweet Cheeks was nestled just west of Eugene.
We drove up a vineyard-lined hill and arrived at a modern farmhouse-style tasting room. We were seated on a back patio surrounded by wild lilacs, pink roses, twinkle lights, and wrought iron tables tucked into small garden nooks. The view: nothing but vineyards and sky.
Kodi got a water bowl. We got a cheese board with nuts, fruit, and crackers, and I ordered the “Summer Flight”—four refreshing whites, plus a splash of Pinot.
We stayed for over two hours, taking photos, sipping wine, and soaking in the scene.
We left with two bottles and zero regrets.
🍷 Winery #2: LaVelle Vineyards
A little tipsy and feeling adventurous, we decided to skip Sarver and try something new. I could barely read the map, but we locked in LaVelle Vineyards, northeast of town.
Located in Elmira, the entrance felt like a fairytale: a winding drive to a red barn with gold wings on the doors. It’s family-owned and boutique, with a cozy tasting setup.
They brought out wine in a beautiful iron flight caddy—three small glasses balanced in a row. I picked two whites and a red Pinot. We sat on a shaded private patio under a bright yellow canopy, with Kodi stretched out in the grass beside us.
Vines surrounded us, full of plump grapes and buzzing with workers. I couldn’t tell one wine from the next by then—but it didn’t matter. We were mellow, happy, and completely in the moment.
🛏 Back in Eugene
We returned to our hotel, happily buzzed and glowing with gratitude. Eugene had stolen our hearts.
This was never on the itinerary, but it should’ve been. You could easily spend a week here just winery-hopping through the Willamette Valley and still not see it all. The Willamette Valley and Eugene, Oregon, are rooted in rugged history- shaped by lumberjacks, volcanic forces, and untamed wilderness. Don’t miss the thrill of adventure along the wild Rogue and mighty Columbia Rivers..
The next morning, we hit the road again—heading west to the Oregon Coast, then south to Redwoods National Park.
🍷 Final Thoughts
Sometimes, the best parts of a road trip are the ones you didn’t plan.
We discovered:
That wine tasting is better with dogs and wildflowers
That Eugene is a perfect mix of rustic and refined
That going off-script is always worth it
If you’re headed to Oregon, don’t skip Eugene.
It’s more than a college town—it’s a hidden gem in the valley of vines.
Cheers!