Tiny Travels: Alpaca walking should probably be your next great pandemic adventure There’s really only one real rule for walking an alpaca at Wings and a Prayer Alpacas: You walk the alpaca, the alpaca doesn’t walk you. Read Article
Rooted in McMinnville: Monica Macias of Yamhill Valley Vineyards Monica Macias sits at a desk on the far side of the Yamhill Valley Vineyards tasting room. A large window behind her frames a vineyard. The vines are bare in February and it takes little imagination to visualize broad green leaves spreading like a blanket across this view. Read Article
Rooted in McMinnville: Ricardo Antúnez Pura Vida Cocina has been around for seven years at its 313 NW Third St. location. It originally shared a storefront with a small art gallery, then eventually expanded to the full available space. Throughout that time, chef and owner, Ricardo Antúnez has developed a menu that delivers Central American foods with a style all his own. Read Article
Winter outdoor dining? We’re in! As we begin to yearn for last summer’s epic outdoor dining scene, restaurants have responded by raising dining tents throughout McMinnville, putting a halt to our languishing and keeping the monotony of a COVID winter at bay. Luckily, we Oregonians are of the hardy sort, and outdoor dining in the winter has become an adventure that we are willing to try out. Here are some places to enjoy a meal out this weekend. Read Article
Tiny Travels: Whatever your relationship status, wine country has the perfect place to celebrate Valentine’s Day—it’s really just a chance to spend time with those you love. Whatever your romantic status, a day trip to the heart of Oregon wine country has all the right settings for romance, bromance, or a Galentine’s Day outing. Read Article
McMinnville Short Film Festival celebrates 10th year virtually A well-made short film can pack as much punch as a 2-hour movie. So you should know that the McMinnville Short Film Festival draws near. They’ve gone virtual this year for their 10th anniversary. Starting Feb. 18 for ten days, you’ll have a virtual smorgasbord of 127 films to choose from. Read Article
Rooted in McMinnville: Gallery Theater’s Cathy Willoughby Two small floor lamps cast a lonely pool of light near the front of the Gallery Theater stage. No one has uttered lines from that spot since the cast of “Noises Off” shouted “BLACKOUT” on March 1. Sitting high in this otherwise empty McMinnville auditorium nearly 11 months later, Cathy Willoughby looks down to the light and explains how a community theater group meets its mission when gathering actors on a stage and patrons in seats is not possible. Read Article
Tiny Travels: Take a Wellness Reset in McMinnville New Year, new place? If one of the great benefits of travel is how it resets the mind with new perspectives and habits, a quick trip might be the best way to kick off a new wellness routine. With a fresh motivation to focus on physical and mental health, the Tiny Travelers set out to deliver a choose-your-own wellness itinerary for a day trip or overnight to McMinnville. Read Article
Rooted in McMinnville: Red Hills Kitchen’s Kyle Chriestenson It’s quiet inside Red Hills Kitchen. The downtown McMinnville restaurant is closed this day and chef Kyle Chriestenson is spending his morning planning menus and reviewing food supplies for the days to come. Like most restaurants, business is down right now due to the pandemic. Still, Kyle remains upbeat. Read Article
12 Days of McMinnville Christmas Holiday Song This year, for our annual holiday gift guide, the Tiny Travelers are showcasing the best gifts from local stores and producers to send to all of the far-flung friends and family you haven’t been able to visit during the past year. We at Visit McMinnville wish you health and happiness this holiday season and for 2021, too! Read Article