Kelsey & Ryan
Things To Do
Willamette Valley Vineyards
This is one of Kelsey and Ryan's favorite wineries. They have the best wines & the best views! Reservations recommended for indoor table service. Indoor & outdoor open seating with bar-side service available without reservations. The daily wine flight is $20 and the reserve flight is $25. Wine tours, food pairings, and tasting available as well. **check out the Q+A section for more winery options!
Left Coast Estate
This winery has a peaceful and intimate setting with beautiful, rolling vineyards as a backdrop. The tasting room is available with reservations, and you can purchase tasting flights and wood-fire pizza. They also have a list of extended experiences you can enjoy with friends or family. Bottles, wines by the glass, as well as pizza, are offered in the outdoor oak savanna. No reservations are required for the oak savanna. **check out the Q+A section for more winery options!
Gilgamesh Brewing: The Campus
Beer is big here in Oregon, especially the valley! Hop farms are everywhere, and you will probably see them during your time here. Gilgamesh Brewing is a growing company in the area and serves local beers and food. You can taste flights of seasonal brews, and they offer an excellent menu for food too! **check out the Q+A section for more brewery options!
Xicha Brewing
Xicha Brewing located in West Salem is a unique brewing experience. With delicious beers and high-quality Latin American cuisine, Xicha is a family-friendly cultural experience. The growing brewery has locations throughout the Salem-area, but the West Salem location is only a short 5-minute drive or a 36-minute walk from The Holman Riverfront Park Hotel and The Grand Hotel. **check out the Q+A section for more brewery options!
Historic, Independence, Oregon
Historic Independence, Oregon is situated directly along the mighty Willamette River. The father of the bride grew up here, and Kelsey came every summer as a child. It was a special moment for her when she got to share it with Ryan. With its many small cafes, microbreweries, boutiques, and antique shops, it's a great place to leisurely explore. The Riverview Park offers an excellent view of the Willamette River, and the Willamette River Walk is a trail that follows the river and town. We highly recommend the Pink House Cafe for lunch. It's a historic home, renovated and restored. Kelsey grew up coming to this cafe with her family. The website linked below offers excellent walking tours and itineraries. **The Dunckel name can be found on one of the pillars in Riverview Park's Amphitheatre... can you find it?
Salem Saturday Market
Kelsey, Ryan, and River LOVE the Salem Saturday Market! Enjoy locally-sourced fruits & vegetables, food trucks & food samples, pastries & desserts, artists & musicians, & much more! It is walking distance from The Holman Riverfront Park Hotel and The Grand Hotel, and you can see more of Salem: Oregon's capital city! 9 AM - 2 PM
Salem Golf Club
If you want to play a round of golf while you are here, Salem Golf Club offers great rates and a wonderful course. Kelsey and Ryan played on this course with Kelsey's family... and lost. But that's beside the point.
Riverfront Park
Easily accessible from The Holman Riverfront Park Hotel and The Grand Hotel, Riverfront Park features a children's carousel, splash fountain and play equipment; the Salem Rotary Amphitheater, which offers various events throughout the summer; river access to the Willamette; the Gilbert House Children's Museum; and walking bridges to two neighboring parks.
Silver Falls State Park
If you wish to see some of Oregon's most famous waterfalls, you can venture to Silver Falls State Park. Only 45 minutes from Salem, Silver Falls is home to 10 waterfalls and 4 of them you can walk behind! There are many hikes and trails that you can explore that vary in difficulty. It's only $5 to enter Silver Falls State Park. Silver Falls State Park trail map and general info linked below.
Portland
Although Salem is the capital of Oregon, Portland is the metropolis. You will fly into Portland, and we hope you have an opportunity to explore this unique city either before the wedding, after the wedding, or on the Saturday of Wedding Weekend! Depending on traffic, it is about a 1 hr. to 1.5 hr. drive. It is filled with farmer's markets, boutiques and cafes, and family-friendly spots like the Oregon Zoo, the Portland Rose Garden, Pittock Mansion (with stunning views of Mt. Hood), and the Portland Japanese Garden.
The Oregon Coast
If you are interested in exploring the Oregon Coast while you are here, the bride and groom strongly advise it! The Oregon Coast is a beautiful and unique landscape with quaint, coastal towns and amazing views. From the smallest harbor in the world at Depoe Bay to barking sea lions in Newport, there is always something incredible to see. The drive is about a 3 1/2 hour loop, but you will want an entire day to explore. Whether you use Saturday to journey to the coast or you venture there before or after the Wedding Weekend, Kelsey and Ryan created a shareable map of their favorite stops for you to use as a guide. (Do not forget to try the seafood!) For the kids: The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport is an interactive and family-friendly stop! (www.aquarium.org) **Reminder: the roads going to and from the coast are generally winding, two-lane highways. There will be log trucks and other farming vehicles. We advise you to be careful and aware on your journey!