Location: Independence
Top Things to do in Independence
Top 10 Things to do in Independence, United States
Independence is a city in Polk County, Oregon, United States, on the west bank of the Willamette River along Oregon Route 51, and east of nearby Monmouth. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area. Thirty square blocks of the oldest part of Independence form the National Register of Historic Places-listed Independence Historic District.
Restaurants in Independence
1. Willamette Valley Vineyards
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 198 reviews
Please join us in our Estate Tasting Room to learn about the amazing story of our winery as you take in the sweeping views of the vineyard and surrounding valley. The setting is warm and relaxing with cozy fireplaces, an expansive patio and luscious courtyard. Our Daily Menu features a gourmet selection of food hand-selected by our Winery Chef and made with fresh local ingredients that pair perfectly with our wines. Open daily from 11 am - 6 pm, Fridays until 8 pm. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Our Daily Flight showcases a mix of white and red wines for $10. Our Reserve Flight highlighting our small-lot bottlings for $15. Tasting Flights are waived with a two bottle purchase or Owner or Wine Club Membership. For a unique experience, join us at 2 pm for a complimentary 30-minute tour of the winery. Offered daily, tours begin in our Estate Tasting Room near the entrance.
Reviewed By Lisa B - Seattle, Washington
During a girls trip down to wine country from Seattle, we did lots of wine tasting, at multiple vineyards, but the highlight of the trip was our four course meal with wine pairings at Willamette Valley Vineyard. Every course had insanely delicious food and the...MoreWe are honored to be the highlight of your trip! Thank you for visiting Oregon and including us on your itinerary. We hope you will visit again soon!
2. Rogue Farms Micro Hopyard
Overall Ratings
4 based on 46 reviews
The Rogue Hopyard is right on the Willamette River, just south of the once hop capitol of the world Independence, Oregon. Rogue has seven varieties and 42 acres of aroma hops growing on the Wigrich Appellation. The hops are harvested and baled in harvesting equipment and facilities on the farm. The tasting room at our Hopyard in Independence, Oregon is 468 square feet of proof that we're about World Class Beer, World Class Packaging, Community Integration, and Unique Thunder. This is the birth place of our Rogue Farm brew series and our Farmstead Nano Brewery ales. Sample these ales on the deck with a view of our hops and the surrounding terroir at sunset.
Reviewed By Gabe E - Ronald, Washington
Of course we were in the valley for wine tasting but wisely took a chance to see what the farm was all about. With a Ground to Glass philosophy they produce their own hops right in the middle of wine country. Oh, and they've got a great selection of cold beverages.
3. Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 35 reviews
Reviewed By Bluecatfish - Blue River, Oregon
Great, open Reserve. Lot's of wildlife, and hiking. Nice, imformative Gazebo for inside observation.
4. Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By David S
Not far off the freeway. Quiet. Pretty. Lots of trails but some are closed during the migratory season to avoid disturbing the birds.wevtook a long hike on a boardwalk back to some ponds with tons of frogs in them the heron back there sure was busy
5. Salem's Riverfront Carousel
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 397 reviews
Reviewed By Marianne H
I took my neice and nephews. The loved it one more time Auntie one more time. I had to bribe them to leave. It was a nasty day or we would have taken advantage of the playground and the rest of the waterfront.
6. Eola Hills Wine Cellars
Overall Ratings
4 based on 53 reviews
The Eola Hills Winery combines a scenic environment with a range of affordable and palatable wines.
Reviewed By hereinoregon - Oregon
Let me start by saying we have been coming to Eola Hills for years. Sunday brunches, holiday brunches and dinners all of which were amazing. Imagine our disappointment when we attended the Valentines dinner last night. One table with spinach salad, instant mashed potatoes, green beans, dry pasta with mystery sauce, and london broil. The food was not even hot let alone good. Desert was a piece of white cake. They did not even have the chocolate cake listed on the menu! Fine, if you want to start serving diner food then charge diner food prices. At $55 this dinner was a travesty. The one glass of wine included at that price was good but not that good!
7. Buena Vista Ferry
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By twobuttes - Salem, Oregon
This is an historic ferry that I have taken since childhood over 50 years total. It is scenic and inexpensive ($3 for autos less for bikes) It connects with a loop to Independence where you can enjoy a wonderful breakfast, lunch, or dinner at the Independence grill where the food and service are excellent.
8. Jensen Arctic Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 5 reviews
The only museum on the West Coast dedicated to arctic culture, the Jensen Museum boasts collections of arctic art, tools and clothing.
Reviewed By markers - Salem, Oregon
It is important to note that this excellent, focused little museum is no longer located on the campus of Western Oregon University. In 2013 it moved and was absorbed into the larger Museum of Cultural and Natural History at the University of Oregon in Eugene, some fifty miles to the south. I have not visited the collection in its new location, so I am not certain if it has maintained its separate identity or has simply been absorbed into the larger museum holdings. I do hope it is the former, for the collection is rich and diversified (as other reviewers have noted) and represents the loving care given to it by its creator, the late Professor Paul Jensen, who spent a great deal of time in the Arctic regions and was a devoted friend and benefactor of the region and its peoples.
9. Minto-Brown Island Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 147 reviews
Reviewed By Duane W - Salem
Minto Brown is great place to walk or ride a bike, lots of shade so its cooler and tons of wild life to see if you are out early. With access to downtown so much easier I don't recommend going by yourself at dusk or night but this is still an untapped resource for Salem
10. Redgate Vinyard
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By safi2007 - Oregon, USA
I am not a big wine person, and find some tasting rooms a little stuffy. Not so at Redgate.
On Fridays and some other days there is music....blues, country, jazz. Very friendly staff, as well as, the clientele. There is a beautiful bar, outside seating and a covered area for events.
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