Ten Great FREE Things to Do in New Orleans

Check out these ten essential free experiences from the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. Gotta love the  Big Easy!

Oregon Vistas and Vineyards - The End

Headed inland to Willamette Valley Wine Country. Note: Willamette is pronounced (wih-lam-it rhymes with dammit) and folks around there are sensitive about it. Picture hills carpeted with grape vines in varying stages of growth from seedlings to 40 year-old vines. In summer, an abundance of roadside produce stands offer baskets of hazelnuts, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, plums and more.In late fall, enjoy the grape harvesting, orchards loaded with hazelnuts, filberts and walnuts and a colorful palette of fall foliage.

Our last two Oregon nights were at Wine Country Farm in the heart of Willamette Valley. Thanks to GPS and MapQuest we arrived uneventfully. Listed in 1001 Places to See Before You Die, Wine Country Farm perches at the top of rolling hills amid acres of vineyards. Reminiscent of a French wine country villa, Wine Country Farm is actually a working winery and Arabian horse farm as well as a welcoming and well-run bed & breakfast. (Average room rate around $180.) Owner Joan Davenport is well-traveled and colorful. Her home is filled with treasures from round the world. Mornings are ushered in with tempting aromas of Joan’s gourmet breakfast wafting through the house. Again, a bountiful breakfast served at 9 a.m.makes lunch unnecessary and fortifies the stomach for sipping wine mid-morning. Wraparound decks, balconies and outdoor gazebos showcase sweeping vistas of the vineyards and valley and guests tend to gather and share their favorite local wines in the afternoon.

After sampling the vinos of Wine Country Farm, we visited neighboring wineries. Bonus: Counting Wine Country Farm, there are six wineries are within walking distance. Hank got a break from being designated driver. Stroll up the gravel roads and through the vineyards to sample award-winning pinot noirs, pinot gris and chardonnay vintages at Domaine Drouhin,Domaine Serene, Vista Hills, White Rose and Winter’s Hill. Nearby, check out Torii Mor Winery and bang the gong in the Japanese Garden’s for good luck. Eyrie Vineyards, Rex Hill, Ponzia nd Erath are among the oldest wineries in the Dundee, Newberg and McMinnville area and worth a visit. However, our personal pick: De Ponte.

There are more than 100 wineries only minutes apart in Yamhill County. Pace yourself. So much wine, so little time. Select a designated driver or go in style via limo with Willamette Valley Limousine or Insiders Wine Tour. Heads Up: Many wineries and a large number of the best restaurants are closed on Sunday and Monday. Don’t believe guidebooks that say open daily.  Call and confirm tasting days and hours to avoid disappointment.

When it’s time to take a break from wine, step back in time at Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville. Howard Hughes’s legendary Spruce Goose flying boat is the centerpiece of the massive aviation hall. Tucked under its wings and hanging from the ceiling are hundreds of notable aircraft and exhibits spanning aviation history. An adjacent building houses space exhibits and a third facility is an IMAX theatre. A dozen or more airplanes, including the sleek sneaky SR-71 Blackbird spy plane dot the grounds. Volunteers working in the museum were knowledgeable and helpful. There’s even an on-site winery touting “Spruce Goose” wines and free tastings. Unfortunately, it was the exception. The hostess for the tasting was (a) having a bad day or (b) just hates people. Recommendation: Enjoy the great exhibits and IMAX and skip the wines.

Too soon our vistas and vineyards week was over and we are headed back home to Florida. There are been-there-done-that places we enjoy, but never return to. Then, there are places that beckon us back time and time again. No doubt we will return for more Oregon vistas and vineyards.