Fun things to do in McMinnville: 10 fun attractions and activities

Very well done flight museum! Definitely rivals the one in DC. Fantastic collection including the Spruce Goose, SR-71, F117, F-14, F-15, and many many more. We took 2-1/2 hours but felt slightly rushed to see everything. I recommend reserving a tour if you want to see the whole Goose, otherwise you just get to see the main level from the platform. My only critique is about half of the kids displays were out of order. I know it's a funding issue, but it's what allows the little breaks for the kids so the adults can experience the main points the museum has to offer.

I went about an hour before closing and it was more than enough time to see both the aviation and space museum. The tour guides were helpful and they will help you free of charge. It’s well kept as well and really cool. Plenty of parking and it’s a good walk between the two museums. Definitely recommend! Don’t go when there’s an air show across the street tho it added a couple hours to my trip lol.

We had the best time ever. All of the staff were incredibly accommodating and helpful and we learned a ton! The biggest shout out to the volunteer Sylvia, who went out of her way to ensure my kids had a blast. I highly recommend to any and all ages, you will leave knowing more about aviation than when you arrived.

One of my favorite museums I’ve visited. The goose was huge, every plane has interesting information about it, including how it was sourced which I found interesting. The info was very well curated and topical, with relevant ties to oregon when topical. Lots of friendly staff/volunteers around. The blackbird was also very cool to see. I would say 2 hours for the air section and 2 hours for the space section if you want to read everything. But could probably see everything in an hour if youre just peeking around and not reading much. Highly recommend though!

If you’re an aviation lover, this place is literally meant for you. Also, if you even have to ask or think about going to this place, they have the freaking spruce goose on display. It’s crazy to see how massive it is in person. Also, in the other building, they have an SR 71, F117 nighthawk and so many other cool planes on display. As an adult, I was a child admiring history, aviation, and so many cool airplanes all around. I highly highly recommend going out to this facility.

A nice afternoon with a really impressive collection of aircraft and memorabilia. There are tours of the inside of the Spruce goose which is actually made of birch but those are timed so that takes a little planning but if you are ok just seeing the rest it’s really a wonderful few hours! Play structure for the grand boy, theatre for 3D movies and flight sims for people e with a hardy constitution 😃

We went to see the Spruce Goose, but I really have to say the space museum in the east building took the cake. Following the story, to the curated exhibits was amazing (Titan II LCC seemed to be a bit of a mix of old and new, but it appears they are still working on that exhibit). Other really cool thing was the fact that they are actively restoring the planes right on the museum floor unlike many places where that work is happening behind closed doors.

I just moved here a few months ago, and today was my first visit with my dog to this park. It's is almost perfect with one star removed due to only a few Porta potties for a park that is massive. This isn't very practical and I'm surprised there isn't a standing bathroom facility. After this fact, the park is absolutely huge with playgrounds, trails, soccer fields, dog play area and I'm sure I missed some things. This time of year, Feb, the parking area is limited and some gates are keeping areas closed to parking. I can't wait for warmer weather to come here often.

The park sits in a crook of the South Yamhill River. It is mostly designed for sports, but there is a playground, a skatepark, and few picnic tables. There are plenty of places to park around the park. The bathrooms are all portable toilets, but there are plenty. The park is clean and well tended.

We saw the total solar eclipse at this park and got a photo of it! 2017 at this park will definitely be in my memory forever. It was amazing. The place is kept green and clean. One of the nicest parks I have been too.

Great park that is laid out well and has a lot of features for different activities. Soccer fields/baseball pitches are smooth and flat with good grass and whatnot. There's also an awesome playground with sections that are good for all ages to climb on and a skate park for non-traditional athletes to enjoy. There is plenty of parking and space for everyone to be able to spread out and share the space. The one water fountain we tried did not work, but other than that, it was a great and well-maintained park.

Love this park in McMinnville. It’s huge. It has lots of trails, big trees for shade, all kinds of open space for kids and dogs to run around, and even though they don’t have any official bathroom throughout the park, they have a lot of little outhouses or whatever you call the plastic bin to use the bathroom in, and they seem to be well looked after in the area around them, always seem to be clean, which is not usually the common factor for these. You have some areas with water access, which can be nice on hot days and the grounds look well maintained for the most part. I just wish that after the soccer games that people attending the event with pick up their leftover food and trash and take it with them or dispose of it in one of the mini trash cans available throughout the park instead of waiting for others, small children and pets to get a hold of it or sit in it or fall in it…

Quite extraordinary of a park. It has everything for everybody. Nature trails to hike, sports fields, playgrounds, what a awesome find. Even a old hobo memorial(I guess, check pics) and a cool little skate park ...what a blast.

Cool park, lots of wide open space, and a big jungle gym. The baseball fields are not the greatest, the outfields are in pretty rough shape.

We visited this place with our family and booked online. The price was reasonable for spending 4 hours in a safe, enclosed space with the kids. All the water games were enjoyable, and the entry process was smooth. Seating areas were decent, and overall cleanliness around the facility was good. The staff, mostly young, were attentive and clearly focused on everyone's safety, which we truly appreciated. However, the bathrooms were disappointing — many of the showers were broken or lacked hot water, and the family restrooms had no shampoo at all and were not well maintained. Some areas of the facility feel outdated and could benefit from modernization. Additionally, the food options in the on-site restaurant were limited and could use more variety. Thank you for the experience!

We had so much fun here with my family. The only thing I would recommend is eat before you go cause their food is terrible. But everyone was very nice and helpful. Also I would recommend buying tickets online before u plan to go being they only let so many people in each session.

Disappointing Experience – Lack of Transparency and Support I was trying to purchase tickets online and had them in my cart when I received an error directing me to contact the company. I followed instructions, came in person as prompted, and was told there was nothing they could do—even though the tickets were still in my cart at the advertised price. I don’t think it’s fair to advertise a price, allow a purchase to proceed, and then not honor it due to a technical error. I’m requesting reimbursement for the price difference, as this feels misleading and frustrating. In addition, I hadn’t visited in a few years and was surprised to find that tubes now cost extra. Previously, single and double tubes were included, but now you’re charged $7–$10 unless you grab one of the few free single tubes. This charge is buried in the FAQ—it should be clearly listed with admission pricing or posted at the entrance. There are limited number of single tubes that are available for “free”-forcing people to rent. To make matters worse, the wave pool—one of the main attractions—was broken during my visit, and there was no signage or notification. No discount or compensation was offered despite the incomplete experience. Overall, I’m really disappointed in the lack of communication, transparency, and support. I won’t be returning and can’t recommend the park to others unless these issues are addressed.

Absolutely awesome place to take the kids! The slides are crazy fun and the plane aspect of it is absolutely crazy! It's nuts a whole plane is actually up there! And you slide from inside it! I have contacts too so I'm only able to go down the slides that land flat, not into a pool. And all but 1 were this way so I actually got to enjoy myself!

It looks like a cool water park when you first arrived, but I promise the management is terrible and will nickel-and-dime you for everything. In fact, they don't mention the fact that your ticket only includes a few activities for small kids despite them paying full price. You'll also need to pay $10 for a tube if you want your small kid to ride the main slides. Also, some slides were closed and there was blood all over the place because they fail to regulate the kiddie slides and will let huge dudes go down and injure themselves.

We celebrated our son’s birthday at Wings and Waves Water Park and had a fantastic time. We rented a cabana, which turned out to be a great decision since it gave us a comfortable spot close to the children’s play area. The food was better than expected—pizza was pretty decent, but the real highlight was the cookies, which came out warm and delicious. The park has four main slides. The cabana included one double tube, but since there weren’t many free tubes floating around, we rented two more for $20. It was well worth it—otherwise, you’d spend too much time waiting at the bottom of the slides. My wife and I braved the big blue slide together, and let’s just say it was like a rocket ship taking off! It was much faster than expected, which left her a little queasy afterward, but it was definitely memorable. Out of the four slides, three required tubes, while the Mach 21 did not. Personally, I found the blue slide way more thrilling than Mach 21. Aside from the slides, there’s also a wave/tidal pool area. While relaxing there, I saw a child struggling to keep their head above water. I was genuinely impressed by how quickly the lifeguard responded and got the child out safely. They had some difficulty locating the parents, but it was reassuring to see how attentive and professional the staff were in keeping everyone safe. Our cabana was also assigned a hostess, Riley, who did a fantastic job making sure we had everything we needed and checked in on us throughout the day. Overall, it was a very positive experience—fun for the kids, exciting for adults, and well-run by staff who take both service and safety seriously. I’d definitely recommend Wings and Waves, especially if you rent a cabana for the extra convenience.

A wonderful afternoon spent with my daughter! Get ready to walk a few flights of stairs to enjoy the 4 slides, but it is worth it. Can't wait to go back

After a long day at work I just wanted to try a new tasting room. I was the only person in the tasting room. I inquired if I could just have a white flight, the answer was no secondary only so many bottles were open. So I asked if I could just enjoy a glass of white wine, and decompress from my day. I was told they only do tastings, no single glasses. A tasting is $40, waived with $120 wine purchase! Seems a bit steep to me!! In California vineyards are pulling up their vines because of decrease in wine sales! How sad. I guess Eyrie Vineyards feels they are worth the price.........i will not return

Wonderful tasting. Definitely stop here if traveling through Oregon. We accidentally booked our tasting on the wrong day, but Cesar got us all sorted out, no problem. Cesar walked our group through the history of wine in Willamette valley, while serving us several delicious wines along the way. The tasting room is intimate and feels old school cool. We appreciated Cesar’s time and knowledge of their vines. We bought a couple bottles to take home and will definitely be back on our next trip to Oregon

Cesar’s knowledge of wine and the history of the area, make this tasting one not to miss. Start here if you are looking for a thorough explanation of the wine-making process, and how Willamette Valley came to be. What it lacks in beautiful views, Cesar skillfully makes up for with his presentation of the wines. Out of the 5 vineyard visits we did, Eyrie was my favorite wine tour of the area.

Make an appointment! With appointment you get a group tour and informative tasting. I would suggest this as one of your first winery visits because of everything you'll learn. We had a family member of the winery go through several wines while the group was seated around a table with some snacks in the middle. He explained the area, the soil, the history, and the differences between the taste of their wines. This is a must for your first trip to Willamette Valley!

We had an amazing visit and tasting, walking the Outcrop and Eyrie vineyards was an experience I’ll always remember.

We went in at 3:46 to get a glass of wine.The person working there said they were closed. There were four people in the tasting room. I said that the website stated that they were open until 4 pm. He said that if we wanted a tasting, which we didn’t, we could come back tomorrow. Very unprofessional and rude. Thumbs down, sorry.

Come for the wine, stay for the experience. My wife and I did a wine tasting at Eyrie and we loved it. Top notch selection of wines in their Exploration Flight. What we really enjoyed about our experience was Taylor, who is a wealth of knowledge and an absolute delight - we learned so much from her about the story of the winery and each wine we tasted. She exudes an infectious passion that makes you lean in all the more and enjoy each wine more fully. World-class experience. Highly recommend, look forward to returning.

Fun place for the family to see some history of agriculture and other culture. We went for the Farm Fest 2022 and Plowing Competition. Price of admission was reasonable. They had demonstrations such as blacksmith, horse shoeing, sawmill, and yarn spinning. A few animals were on display such as chickens, goat, lamb with baby, and pony. We were allowed to pet 2 large Belgian horses. Their hair was very soft because they were only 2 years old, yet they were already huge! Some other activities included grinding corn, planing wood, sitting on horse saddles, and pedal tractors for kids. The plowing competion was especially interesting—I’ve ALWAYS wondered how they did that way back in days of ol’. These folk make it look so easy, but still it takes a LONG TIME and A LOT OF PEOPLE—not to mention beasts of burden—to plow a small field compared to a modern tractor. The food court smelled good. The museum was neat; they have many kinds of old machinery from tractors to fire trucks, and even bicycles and cars. Check it out and be glad we live in a time of penicillin. If you choose to give a thumbs-up 👍🏽 or not, I hope you found my review helpful!

This museum has been lovingly developed and maintained by proud local community members, who have assembled a truly impressive array of historical information, images, plus antique vehicles and machinery. Some of the vehicles, including horse-drawn ones, date back as much as 150 years. There are even stage coaches and vintage agricultural and timber equipment. This museum is very much worth a visit and is just off of Oregon Highway 18, just west of McMinnville. The museum is free, but donations are appreciated! Please remember to thank the friendly volunteers!

They’re remodeling although some of the staff tried to be helpful, almost everything is under tarps or roped off. The executive directors double door office entrance is open wide but don’t dare wander in there or you’ll be told it’s not a public area… oops sorry! You’re pretty much on your own to figure out what you’re looking at. Oh one more thing. The MAIN show hall is closed for remodeling.

Lots of old equipment to see here. The demonstrations are fun to watch also. My little daughter likes to see how things were done in the “old” days. They transport you by wagon from the parking area. All kinds of farm demonstrations going on. Horses, goats, geeses, etc for the kids to pet.

Welcome- Yamhill Valley Heritage Center Like the old saying goes, “ better late than never.” My wife and I were on our way to Lincoln City to visit my relatives when we passed the Heritage Center on the outskirts of McMinnville. As we drove by I happened to look over to my left and to my surprise there were horses hitched to plows turning dirt. I looked at my wife with that look she knows so well, and said… hunny there’s no way we’re not running around :) I was excited beyond words and so was my wife who was desperately in need of a bathroom:)). But I digress. Upon enter, ($8.00 for adults) I was informed that this event was called Farm Fest which offered a variety of events and attractions designed to illustrate life as it once was. The horses that drew us to the event had been in a plowing competition that was just ending. So, we got to pet some of them and learn more than we might have otherwise been able to since they were done working and their owners were able to chat. Several breads of horses were represented in various shapes and sizes. Each with their own strengths and weaknesses but according to a few of the horsemen there mule is the best worker of them all provided the person behind the reins works them at a steady walking pace. There was fun for all ages including interactive exhibits where you could husk corn off the cob and grind it into meal, and shave bark off a log which pioneer’s would have used for log cabins. There were also informed volunteers who were able to provided in detail some of the adversaries abs hardships the early settlers faced when they migrated west. There was also a working sawmill were they were ruff cutting timber into 2x4 planks for another center and there was also a working blacksmith shop. There were also a few local non profit and local vendors who had kiosks in a covered portion of the center. There was also food for sale but it has closed by the time we got there. Awards were presented and thanks were given to ask who participate. If you get the chance look up the schedule and put this on your to places to visit soon.

Will be at Harvest Fest Sunday Aug 19, 2018 from 12 noon - 4pm. Hay ride, food, vendors, blacksmith and more. Had fun. Lots to look at.

We just happened to be passing through on a vacation and had to stop in. The sawmill, the tractors, the old farm equipment was amazing to check out!

The atmosphere in this place was awesome with all of the retro toys and collectibles decorating the walls. Unfortunately some of the games are starting to show their age. On several units I had buttons that would stick or just not work. The majority of them did work though. I didn't really see any employees so it was difficult to ask for refunds. Overall the place is worth a visit for the aesthetic alone.

It is a very fun arcade place. I learned how to play a guitar and race. Very fun

Best spot in town imo. Super friendly service every time I go in. Not a huge review person but I gotta say I love this place and everything about it. Always clean, liveley and a cool place to be.

food is a little on the pricey side. i have never eaten here, but have been a handful of times to game. there are tons of classic games available. plenty of pinball machines, shooting games, and claw machines. i enjoyed the 4 player pacman table the most. clean, pizza smelled really good. lots of things to look at on the walls.

This place is soooo much fun for kids AND adults. They have Guitar Hero! 😱🥰 Super kind employees and good food. Just a great place to go. We had my 9 year old daughters birthday party there a couple weeks ago. She had the BEST time!

The woman behind the counter was kept busy, but managed to keep up on a weekend by herself. The games were mostly classic, but the claw machines were total rip-offs, even more than you would usually find. We had the handmade pizza. It was well made and delicious.

Fun vibe with a lot of gaming options. The pizza exceeded my expectations by a mile! Seating options were extremely limited (two tiny tables). The boys running the place were polite and hardworking!

While most of the other shops, boutiques and tasting rooms on 3rd St. were closing up for the evening, Pinot Vista was just getting started. My wife and I saw a two-piece band setting up for their performance through the window, and decided to pop in for a glass (or two) and some live entertainment. We were warmly welcomed into this classy (seeminly family run) little space, ordered a chardonnay (I didn't catch the name), Rose of Tempranillo (which my wife liked so much, she ordered one for herself afterward), and the Gewurstraminer (which ended up being my favorite). All the while, we were engaged and entertained by the two members of the band, who were amused by our toddler's sons utter fascination with them and their music. Big thanks to both of them, and the owners of Pinot Vista, for allowing and taking pleasure in our son's wanderings and exploration! He was enraptured! Such a relaxing environment, couple with some wonderful wine, beautiful music, and spending time with family without any responsibilities or expectations, is the perfect way to spend a Saturday evening, and I can't imagine many better places in McMinnville than here at Pinot Vista! We will definitely be back, the next time we find ourselves in town.

My wife and I visited this tasting room once as novice tasters and had an amazing experience! Just to verify that it wasn't a fluke we came back a second time and it was just as fantastic as the first time! Rich is a very personable and professional host!

Relaxed, unpretentious tasting room. Local decor and rustic ambience made for a comfy atmosphere whilst we sipped on some lovely local wines. A must visit for tourists and locals.

Stopped in for a "taste of Pinot" and met Rich who poured us some very tasty wines including Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc (very tasty). Spent quite awhile in a very relaxed atmosphere. Of course it was a Sunday and perfect for us! We visited a second time without Rich and we spent time outside On a rather windy and cold afternoon as the venue was hosting a private party. We were later invited indoors which made our second visit nice. Recommend this location in downtown McMinville as it has a different ambiance than your standard wine tasting venues! Thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

The folks who work here are lovely and the number of wines to try! So many and they are very knowledgeable. High class wines in a very casual relaxed atmosphere, laid back like you’re on someone’s front porch. Wish we lived closer or we would be here more!!! Much love from Olympia to you guys!

It is has a great layout & stocked tasting room with beer on tap & multiple wineries being represented. Rich Washburn is a perfect host for intimate settings, small groups & as witnessed here when the place was full. One of the best in McMinnville.

Have a seat at the bar you will receive great service, fantastic atmosphere and amazing wine (the munchies help). Did I say Rich is the best host!! If not he certainly is! Locals and out of towners are equally comfortable in a location that makes u feel at home.

Went to the wine tasting event yesterday and talked some good friends into joining us. I had been twice before and really enjoyed it. The food was good and what wine we tasted was good but we just wish there was more info about each winery on the brochure. You just had the name and not even where it was fun. There wasn’t time to talk to those pouring because there were always people waiting. We would get a quick name of the town and that was it. Glasses were breaking throughout the event because they are the thinnest glasses we have ever drank wine out of. I brought them home but wondered why when I went to wash them. We did love the shuttle from the hotel though. Thanks for providing that. Won’t be returning though.

We just saw Lovecrafted. Despite some of the actors being... not so great... there were several that were really great and we really enjoyed the show.

Last night went to the production of Enchanted April..wonderful play..the actors were very good and I so enjoyed the entire thing. I've already picked my next visit. My "adopted nephew" was one of the actors..wonderful performance! As were all.. This was my 1st time realizing what a great addition to Keizer this theater is. I hope the word gets out and more people get to branch out, enjoy it and support these wonderful people who put on these plays. I will from now on.

Love Loss and What I Wore by Nora Ephron. This is an intimate theater and it was my first time attending a play here. Very professional. My friends and I had a blast. Can't wait for the next production.

Small theater, big hearts. You can tell they love doing what they do and work hard at it, small room for a big presence

Purely enjoyable. What a talented group and I'm glad I was introduced to them by friends to see The Odd Couple.

Came for the library its not that big as compared to the Salem Public library. But there's enough there to keep the average person satisfied. Some interesting history about the building itself.

A little air flow would have been nice but the seats are pretty comfortable and the old building is well kept to a regular eye.

Salem location. Esra was fantastic helping with my grandson. We had an outstanding time. My 13 year old grandson got really pretty good at throwing when he slowed down. What a great way to spend an afternoon.

My wife and I had such an amazing time there. We just wandered in and they were ankle to squeeze us in for an hour. Claire was an amazing coach and kept us entertained. We look forward to going back.

This is the absolute BEST place to go in Salem. I'm addicted after a few months of going. Doing the membership is definitely the way to go if you go more than 3 or more times a month. I go 2-3 times weekly, so it's the best value for me. The staff are friendly, helpful, and funny (in a good way, of course). They make it so much fun! Please go and have a GREAT time. Thank you, Oregon Axe!

I had made last minute reservations and had no issue. My group had an amazing! Ezra taught us all proper throwing technique and then proceeded to walk us through a few games so we could compete with one another. The atmosphere was fun, inviting, and well worth it!

Kanaan did a great job helping my crew of high school seniors have a fun party. We all had a blast. It was well worth the money. We would definitely go back. So glad we got to go.

My group had a great time during our session yesterday with Ezra. A couple of us knew what to expect going in, but my decision to go was made at the last minute and I didn’t get a chance to really check out the website much beforehand. Everyone was super friendly, approachable, and fun. In addition to being taught how to properly throw the axes, we were coached in a light-hearted and tailored way to ensure each of us could actually succeed. Ezra hosted some games for us to play, kept track of our scores, and engaged with us the entire time. I was kind of expecting to just be shown an axe and to be told to start practicing with a “good luck”... Thankfully this was nowhere near the case. My group is already talking about making plans to go back again. Highly recommend.

If you are thinking about axe throwing—do it! Great fun! The staff is SUPER helpful. We had Ezra as our coach, and he was so helpful! We also had Clair helping out too—she was amazing! 🤩 If you’re on the fence—just do it! So fun‼️