What to See, Do, Eat and Where to Stay
What would you do if you only had 36 hours in and near Carlton and Yamhill, Oregon? See? Eat? Where would you stay? The innkeepers with the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild have offered suggestions to make your day-and-a-half Oregon adventure worth every second! Check out these insider tips below.
36 Hours in Carlton and Yamhill
Where to Eat Lunch in Carlton and Yamhill
The Larson House in Yamhill has great paninis, sandwiches, and pizza. The beloved children’s book author, Beverly Cleary lived in Yamhill and is represented by a prominent mural on one wall.
Lago de Chapala, the small family-run restaurant, serves authentic Mexican fare and amazing margaritas in Yamhill. ‘We like the chalupa served with guacamole, sour cream, rice and beans and complimentary chips and salsa’, say the innkeepers at Yamhill Vineyards Bed and Breakfast in Yamhill-Carlton.
Carlton Corners has great hamburgers, a four-sampler beer tray, and interesting signs on the wall. In a hurry? Order some food-to-go and gas for your car while you wait. Plus, you can bring your pooch. Carlton Corners allows pets to dine with you outside. The restaurant is just a 5-minute walk from the R.R. Thompson House, an historic bed and breakfast in Carlton.
Where to Eat Dinner in Carlton and Yamhill
Cuvee serves French cuisine in a small, intimate, setting where you are likely to meet the owner and chef.
Earth and Sea is in the old Carlton Firehouse.The big doors that opened to accommodate fire engines were replaced by equally large doors, which remain open when the weather is right. They serve locally sourced and sustainable food. Most of their wines are from stellar local wineries whose production levels are so small you won’t ever see outside of Oregon. The steaks and fish, as well as oysters in the half shell are very popular, say the innkeepers at Yamhill Vineyards Bed and Breakfast and R.R. Thompson House.
The Horse Radish is an offbeat storefront nook that serves sandwiches, artisanal cheese plates, local wines and beers. The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor dining.
Gather over great food/drinks and honor the bounty of the Willamette Valley. at Park and Main in Carlton.
From another Udder offers small batch, handmade ice cream in Carlton, high butter fat, delicious old-fashioned, rare dairy-free flavors, and spirited/boozy ice cream with real booze in it, partnering with local Yamhill county distillers like Bull Run.
Things to Do in Carlton/Things to Do in Yamhill
Carlton, Oregon c1840
Carlton, Oregon, first settled by homesteaders in the 1840s, has a rich history of agriculture, logging, and, most recently, wine production. Take a self-guided Carlton Historical Tour, a walking tour of 27-historical sites. Browse the tour now on this app. Are you sure you only have 36 hours? You might want to extend your stay!
The Blue Atlas Cedar in Carlton’s Ladd Park is over 100 years old.
Definitely visit several wineries if you only have 36 hours. Yamhill-Carlton is known for all the wineries and wine tasting. Many have fantastic views and storied pasts. The Southern Pacific Railroad Depot is now the Ken Wright Cellars tasting room. The Carlton Grain Elevator was remodeled and is the home of Flaneur Wines. Make time to visit the Carlton Winemakers Studio, it’s the first cooperative winery in the U.S. It was built in 2002 and houses 16 wineries. The eco-friendly building used recycled materials and lots windows for lighting. They rotate the wines in the tasting room.
Hike the Our Lady of Guadalupe Trappist Abbey and walk through the woods of this Trappist monastery.
Follow the paved path to the Erratic Rock State Natural Site where you can visit a 90-ton rock that was deposited during an Ice Age flood. Bring your camera! There’s a commanding view of Yamhill County.
In nearby McMinnville, the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum – home of the Spruce Goose, the largest wooden airplane ever constructed. This aviation museum in McMinnville also has the Hughes H-4 Hercules and more than fifty military and civilian aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and spacecraft. Additionally, McMinnville also has a self-guided walking art walk and a McMinnville self-guided historic building walk.
Willamette Valley Oaks: Yesterday and Today
The majestic oak is an iconic symbol of the Willamette Valley with a long-standing cultural significance and valuable ecological function. The Rivers to Ridges Partnership recognizes that our remaining oak habitats and the species that depend upon them rely on the active management of both public and private lands. Learn about their common management actions being implemented in Oregon Oak habitats. See beautiful specimens at Yamhill Vineyards B&Band read more about them here.
Best Waterfall near Carlton and Yamhill
Silver Falls State Park is breathtaking and has ten waterfalls. The different trails can accommodate hiking, horses, bicycle, mountain bikes and pets on leash. You can picnic and enjoy the scenery.
Where to Stay in Carlton or Yamhill
Best wine getaways in Yamhill-Carlton AVA:
Yamhill Vineyards Bed and Breakfast in Yamhill sits atop a hill with spectacular views down the valley to Mary’s Peak in Corvallis (50 miles away), the Oregon Coast Range and is surrounded by vineyards. The B&B is is equal distance from Yamhill and Carlton. “We serve grape juice for breakfast made with the grapes grown on the property, ‘wine before it’s time” explain the innkeepers.
Add the ‘Follow the Grapes’ Itinerary to your reservation and let Yamhill Vineyards Bed and Breakfast plan your day visiting wineries that purchase grapes from their vineyards. You will start your morning off with breakfast accompanied by their own grape juice, then take a vineyard walk with Ralph and his ‘Vineyard Practices 101’ Tour. This B&B grows its own Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and White Riesling.
R.R. Thompson House in Carlton is the just three blocks from Main Street and the perfect home base to walk the town of Carlton. The B&B is within easy walking distance of all of the wineries, restaurants, and shops in town.
The Carlton Inn Bed & Breakfast is located within the most walkable wine district and known as “The Wine Capital of Oregon.” A short walk out our front door you will discover over two dozen tasting rooms and wineries as well as unique shops and wonderful restaurants
Welcome to the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild
Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.
Hospitality Update: Our inns are following COVID-19 protocol guidance from the Oregon Health Authority.
Although mask guidelines are lifted:
● Some businesses may choose to still require masks.
● Some people may choose to still wear a mask.
We have all struggled through COVID-19 and could use a little kindness. Please be respectful of local businesses and their workers and most importantly kind to yourself.
