Start Exploring North Marion!

North Marion sits in the Willamette Valley between Portland and Salem, close enough for a day trip and interesting enough that most people wish they had booked a room. Ten small Oregon towns, all within about thirty minutes of one another, surrounded by tulip fields, hazelnut orchards, wineries, and the waterfall trails of Silver Falls State Park. Pick a direction and go. You will figure out pretty quickly why we say North Marion is always colorful.

Start with the towns. Aurora is Oregon's antiquing hub, a walkable historic colony where even the dealers come to shop. Silverton has a downtown full of murals and local makers, with the Oregon Garden and the Trail of Ten Falls a few minutes up the road. Mt. Angel goes full Bavarian every September for Oktoberfest, and the Benedictine monks at the abbey brew their own beer. Woodburn brings the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in spring, Fiesta Mexicana in August, some of the best Mexican food in the Pacific Northwest, and an outlet mall when bargains are the mission. St. Paul fills up for a rodeo that has been running for a century.

Then fill in the edges. Iris and peony fields in Brooks. Pumpkin patches and garden festivals in Gervais. Hop Fest in Hubbard. Country roads made for biking, rivers made for paddling, parks made for picnics, and farm stands that show up the week something gets ripe. When you are ready to slow down, the region has inns, vacation rentals, and bed and breakfasts waiting.

Pick a town, pick a season, and come explore North Marion.