Albany has been a bustling town since it was founded in the 1840s, and has retained much of it's unique architecture and history. The homes, museums, and downtown all embody the charm and splendor of the town.

The Albany Regional Museum
This museum is a fun collection of old Albany memorabilia, photos and artifacts. View a shoeshine stand popular in Albany for decades, or the Camp Adair exhibit, and be sure to stop in the Tripp Research Room. For additional information visit www.armuseum.com or call (541) 967-7122.

Dentzel American Carousel Museum
Albany's Brass Ring carousel studio is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to building a traditional Victorian carousel in Albany's downtown historical district. This carousel project began in 2002 and is estimated to take 7 to 10 years to complete. The carousel mechanism is a 1909 Dentzel machine, possibly the last made by Gustave Dentzel. There will be a menagerie of animals-totaling more than 54-all hand carved and hand painted in the traditional style of Dentzel and Muller. For museum hours call (541) 791-3340, or visit www.albanybrassring.com.

Linn County Historical Museum
Linn County Historical Museum was established in Brownsville in 1962 by the Linn County Historical Society in cooperation with the City of Brownsville. For more information visit www.co.linn.or.us/museum Group tours may be pre-arranged for any time or day. Call (541) 466-3390.

Monteith House Museum
The Monteith House, the first frame structure built in Albany in 1849, is one of the most authentically restored homes in Oregon. It is now a house museum, where visitors can see the pioneer kitchen Christine Monteith used to prepare meals or the original piano brought by covered wagon to help make the wilderness a bit more civilized. For more information call (541) 928-0911 or (800) 526-2256.

Throughout the year, Albany plays host to some of the most well-known events in Oregon. These annual festivals and events reflect the charm and sense of community of this historic town.

Covered Bridge Festival
Annually, in August
At Pioneer Park in Stayton, Oregon, enjoy this old-fashioned family event that includes juried arts & crafts booths, bridge tours, vintage cars and bicycles, breakfast on the bridge, live entertainment, games, storytellers, pie-eating contests, watermelon seed spitting and more.
See www.covered-bridges.org for details.

Wah Chang Northwest Art and Air Festival
Late August
This award-winning festival comes to Albany every August and is a sight to see! There are more than 40 hot air balloons lifting off each morning from Timber Linn Park and a night glow on Friday night at dusk. On Saturday Arkey, one of the most complex special-shaped balloons ever built with over 1700 separate panels, will fly at the Festival. There is a free concert Saturday night along with airport activities, juried arts and crafts, children's activities and more!
Call (541) 928-0911 or visit www.albanyvisitors.com

Antiques in the Street and Old House Parts Sale
Each September, the Saturday after Labor Day
Browse through Historic Downtown Albany with antiques literally filling the streets. For more information contact the Albany Downtown Association at (541) 928.2469 or (800) 526-2256.

Nighttime Magic
December 1-January 1
Wander through one of Albany's three nationally registered historic districts after dark to see the magical effect of over 200 historic homes lit with white lights for the holidays. Call the Albany Visitors Association for more information (541) 928-0911 or (800) 526-2256.

Old-Fashioned Christmas Celebration
Experience the sights and sounds of an old-fashioned Christmas in Albany's Downtown Commercial Historic District. Shops are decorated for the holidays. For information, call the Albany Downtown Association at (541) 928-2469.

The Willamette Valley has some of the greenest and most striking nature in Oregon. The beautiful terrain is great for visitors who love hiking, picnicking, or just enjoying the outdoors. Recreational opportunities within a short drive from the hotel include golfing, snow skiing, sailing, beach combing, fishing, hunting, hiking, water skiing and road tripping.

Scenic Byways
Oregon is home to some of the most beautiful Scenic Byways on the west coast. The McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass scenic byway is an 82-mile loop around two of central Oregon's Cascade Mountain passes that winds around lava fields, snowy mountains and rushing rivers. The West Cascades Scenic Byway is just east of Albany and weaves through cascading rivers and old growth Douglas Firs. For nature lovers, the Scenic Byways of Oregon are a must.

Nature Trails
Mary's Peak
For superb views of the valley and a moderately strenuous hike, head west 16 miles from Corvallis on Oregon 34 to Mary's Peak, the highest peak in the Coast Range. A road leads to the top of the mountain, but there is also a trail that leads from the campground up through a forest of old-growth noble firs to the meadows at the summit. For more information, contact the Siuslaw National Forest at (541) 750-7000 or www.fs.fed.us.

William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge
If you're a bird-watcher, the 12 miles south of Corvallis on state route 99W is a good place to add a few more to your list. This refuge has three short, easy hiking trails that provide the region's best glimpse of what the Willamette Valley looked like before the first settlers arrived.

Golf Courses
The Golf Club of Oregon
The Oregon Golf Club is a public club designed for avid golfers who are looking for a challenging golf experience. It has 18 holes over 5,841 yards with a par of 70. Phone: (541) 928-8338.

Golf City Par-3
The Golf City Course is a unique public course because it has one of the world's shortest par 4s. It is a fun course to work on your short game with 9 holes over 801 yards and a par of 28. Phone: (541) 753-6213.

Trysting Tree Golf Club
Trysting Tree Golf Club was recently rated by Golf Digest as the 9th best public course in the State of Oregon. It has a public 18-hole championship course, a 300-yard driving range with 3 target greens and a private south end reserved specifically for group lessons. Phone: (541) 752-3332.

For details about our Winery Package, click here.

Ankeny Winery
This winery is located in the heart of Oregon's Willamette Valley on the southernmost slopes of the Salem Hills, overlooking the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge. The terrain and low elevations make it one of the earliest ripening sites in the valley, resulting in extraordinary Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris grapes. Vineyard owner and Winemaker, Joe Olexa, turns out small hand-crafted batches of wine to capture the unique character of this vineyard.
Hours: Open daily, 11am-5pm. Phone: (503) 378-1498

Springhill Cellars
This small family-run winery produces excellent pinot noir and pinot gris, both of which are priced at under $20. They also do an unusual pinot noir rosé. Hours: Memorial Day-Thanksgiving, Sat-Sun, 1-5 p.m. Phone: (541) 928-1009

Tyee Wine Cellars
The Tyee Wine Cellars tasting room is in an old milking barn from the days when this was a dairy farm. Although Tyee usually does a decent pinot noir, their real strength lies in the consistency of their whites-pinot gris, pinot blanc, chardonnay, and gew¸rztraminer all tend to be dry and light. Be sure to walk the 1 1/2-mile trail through farm and forest.
Hours: April to mid-June and early September to December: Sat-Sun, noon-5pm Mid-June to Labor Day: Daily, noon-5pm. Closed January through March. Phone: (541) 753-8754

More Wineries in the Area:
www.oregon.winecountry.com
www.willamettewines.com