No Place like Gahr Farm

There are so many reasons to spend a long weekend in Oregon’s lush Willamette valley south of Portland. Pinot noir, pinot gris, and pinot blanc, just to name three. Hazelnuts, fresh fruit, charming farms, hiking in the nearby Coast Range, and great birdwatching are a few more reasons. And of course, a two-night stay at Gahr Farm.

Gahr Farm is situated on a 350-acre conservation farm and forest, which is managed as a native plant and wildlife reserve. There are 150 acres in forestland, and the remainder is in meadows, wetlands, and riparian areas. Several hiking trails wind through the property, and don’t forget your binoculars! Wildlife abounds. When we stayed at Gahr Farm we got up at the crack of dawn for an early morning stroll to watch the numerous songbirds and hawks that reside in the native habitat conserved here for them.

The guest quarters are actually a spacious cottage that is separate and private from the main family home. The cottage sleeps four, with a queen size bed and two twins in two separate bedrooms. There’s a full kitchen in the cottage with all the cooking supplies you need, and we brought our own fresh food to cook into a delicious dinner each evening we were there to go with the best bottle of wine we’d bought that day. After dinner, relax together beside the wood-burning stove as you finish off the bottle. Of course, nearby McMinville is full of fabulous restaurants like this one should you have some extra cash or just prefer to leave the cooking to someone else.

Aside from the gas money you’ll need to tour around to the wineries, and the occasional purchase of a fabulous bottle of vino, visiting the Willamette Valley is an inexpensive weekend trip. Most of the tasting rooms in the Willamette are free. On our numerous trips there, we only encountered a few that charge a tasting fee (for example, those closest to Portland and some of the fancier new tasting rooms).

Gahr Farm’s rates simply can’t be beat for what you get — just $115 for one night, or $95 for two or more nights double occupancy. (additional guests $25 each.) This includes, by the way, an absolutely fabulous home-cooked breakfast, served in the main house, or at your cottage should you prefer. We recommend taking your breakfast with your hosts, Ted and Harriett, and soaking up the history of this fabulous farm as you do so.