Historic Trolley Tour

Every summer Corvallis Tourism sponsors the Historic Homes Trolley Tour. Participants ride in a large replica of an old 1900’s trolley. The tours offer a uniqueway to see the historic sites of the city and are fun for visitors and residents alike. The tours are narrated, and people are often surprised to find out some of the original owners stories of how they contributed to the founding of Corvallis.

The trolley tour begins at the 1856 Benjamin Biddle House (believed to be the oldest home in formal Corvallis). The trolley then winds down city streets and covers architecture reflective of Queen Ann-style, Craftsman, Prairie and Colonial Revival. Small bungalows behind sycamore and oak trees dot the landscape as the narrated guide takes the participant on a romp through history. The final leg of the tour runs past 7th and 8th street and covers the 1909 Presbyterian Church and the Willamette Valley & Coast Railroad Depot.

Reservations for the tour are free can be made by calling Corvallis Tourism at 541-757-1544, spots fill up fast so it is advised to call in advance. Dates are July 11 and 25, as well as August 8, 15, 22 and 29.

Cheep and Chic weekend in the sun: A car-free Corvallis experience

Photo by the fantastic Jennifer Bebensee

Spend a weekend enjoying gorgeous Corvallis weather without breaking the bank! Leave your car behind, grab your camera and water bottle and downshift into pedestrian gear to experience Corvallis in a whole new way. The great outdoors is free, and savvy visitors go where the locals know to find the best deals on the best meals.

On Friday, on your way downtown for happy hour, start at Central Park and complete the first half of the free Alley Art self-guided tour on your way to Downward Dog or Cloud9 (if you’re under 21). After enjoying happy hour specials on dinner and drinks, return via the second half of the tour – or design your own spontaneous route through downtown.

Saturday morning, remember your cloth shopping bag (if you don’t have one “Corvallis Market Bags” are available for purchase at the Corvallis Visitor’s Center) for the Farmers' Market and Artisans Market on the riverfront. Enjoy a breakfast of organic berries and a fresh pretzel, pick up a bouquet of fresh flowers, and cool your toes in the interactive fountain.

Check the sidewalk sale tables outside Peak Sports and Many Hands Trading Company for great bargains on your way to The Vibe Internet Café for a delicious vegan lunch, free WiFi, and Stumptown coffee. Don’t forget to have the barista punch your card!

Break out that bike for the afternoon and select a route. If you prefer to stick with multi-use paths, head south along the river towards Willamette Park. If you are feeling more adventurous, tackle the Peak Experience Local Loop, a self-guided tour of local attractions. No bike? No problem. The Riverfont and Willamette Park are feet-friendly.

For dinner on Saturday, relax on the roof of American Dream Pizza with fresh air, delicious pizza, and a frosty cocktail (from the downstairs Crowbar happy hour drink menu). Corvallis offers weekend nightlife with cover charges under $5; look for salsa at Platinum and karaoke at Peacock on Fridays and check out Bomb’s Away Café or FireWorks for live music on Saturdays.

Before leaving town on Sunday morning, enjoy a marionberry scone from Great Harvest Bakery, or a breakfast bagel or wrap at Sunnyside Up. Reintroduce yourself to your car keys and have a great week!

By guest blogger Michelle Marie

Avery Park Roses

As early as May the colors of Corvallis come to life as the flowers begin to bloom at the Avery Park Rose Garden. The park is an AARS (American Association of Rose Suppliers) display garden, representing the best new rose varieties introduced each year. In addition to roses there is also a rhododendron garden, creating an even more brilliant display of colors that has appeared in countless pictures by Willamette Valley photographers.

Overall, the rose garden displays 1200 bushes with 250 varieties represented. The park is open during daylight hours and admission is free. The best times to visit are between May and October when the flowers are in full bloom. More information is available through Corvallis Parks and Recreation.

This peaceful and vibrant location is a great place to start or end your day. It gives new meaning to the phrase "wake up and smell the roses".

Aqua Restaurant

I would not call my self a restaurant connoisseur by any means, however I have had an amazing experience at Aqua Seafood Restaurant and Bar in Corvallis. Aqua is located along the waterfront, in the historic and LEED certified Water Street Market. It provides scenic views of the Willamette River while creating a rustic, yet sophisticated dining atmosphere. The interior is lined with saltwater fish tanks and themed in a natural wood and florescent blue décor. The colors and theme are further exacerbated by a full bar that is in-line with the rest of the buildings style to create a comfortably elegant dinning experience. What makes this place cheap are the fantastic happy hour specials from 4:30-6 on Tuesday-Saturday.

The food is not only delectable, but is stunningly presented and matched with a superb wine and drink list. This can partly attributed to Chef Adam Kekahuna, a culinary expert hailing from Oahu, Hawaii, who is the executive chef of the restaurant. The rest can be seen as extension of Chef Ian Duncan, a Corvallis restaurant dreamer who has years of experience in fine dinning establishments. His success with Aqua has been coupled with Le Bistro, serving traditional French cuisine.

With the success of these two fine establishments, Corvallis residents have long awaited the opening of Terzo, an Italian restaurant located just below Aqua. The question in everyone’s mind is, “what will Ian Duncan come up with next.” Until this question can be answered we must enjoy the three fine dining facilities that are currently available, and eagerly await the next.

Alsea Falls

Alsea Falls Recreation Area is next to the South Fork Alsea River, in a lush coastal forest of red cedars, maples, and Douglas firs. The recreation area has 22 picnic tables, 16 campsites, hiking trails, and an outstanding view of Alsea Falls. Throughout the spring and summer, visitors can find blooming rhododendrons, Oregon grapes, dogwoods, and other wildflowers, as well as numerous wild berries.

The falls themselves are simply breathtaking. While not the tallest or most powerful, spectators have the chance to walk right up to them….or even through them. Explorers can hike further down the waterfall by hopping boulder to boulder for roughly 2-3 miles. There are plenty of unique swimming holes that dot the river. Many of them are actually indentations cut into large rocks by the river.

Alsea Falls are only a 35 minute drive from Corvallis. This is must see if your passion is exploring the Oregon back country.

Warm Comfort Food

There's nothing like a steaming cup of soup on a dreary winter day in Corvallis. The Soup Shop on Monroe is a great place to head for cheap food and a unique atmosphere. Whether you prefer Tomato Bisque or creamy Clam Chowder, the Soup Shop has a soup for everyone. In it's relaxing atmosphere, you can enjoy soup with family and friends for a very thrifty price. Not only do they offer delicious bread and salads, but they also have take-out for those of us on the go. So next time you're feeling a little under-the-weather, you know where to go!

Internationally recognized Cuban Salsa in little ol’ Corvallis?

Although we may be better known for our technological and research developments, Corvallis is also on the cutting edge of a lesser-known cultural scene: Cuban Casino Rueda Salsa dancing! Developed in Cuba in the mid-1900s and now practiced all over the world, Casino has a fun, athletic, informal style that grew out of several Afro-Cuban folkloric dances. In the US, Corvallis is right up there with Miami, Atlanta, Detroit, and San Francisco as a Cuban Salsa hot spot. Although it is also a partner dance, it’s often danced in a circle by as many couples as can fit in the space! A caller announces moves, and the group follows along - to see a rueda in action, check out this clip of Corvallis' own Rumbanana Salsa Group.

Local instructors Simona and Mike, directors of Rumbanana Salsa Group, are internationally known Casino instructors and performers, but the community they’ve created in Corvallis is remarkably accessible. Lessons, practices, parties, clothes, and community are all easy to come by and won’t break the bank.

Compared to dance lessons in Portland, lessons taught by Rumbanana are a steal. At $40 for eight hours of lessons over four weeks, it’s an unbeatable deal – and the price drops to $35 if you pre-register by emailing Simona. Level one lessons are held on Tuesday nights from 6-8 pm at the Platinum Club on 4th Street (between the Vibe and Ti Amo).

After you’ve mastered the basics, you’ll want to practice! While many of us just shove the couch out of the way and crank up the timba music at home, it’s also fun to join the OSU Casino y Rueda Club for open practice at the Women’s Building on campus on Tuesday nights from 8-10 pm. It’s totally free – and you’re guaranteed to pick up ideas for new moves from other dancers.
While we expect to pay $8 and more just for the cover charge (not to mention drinks) when we travel out of town to dance, the cover for Latin Xplosion at the Platinum Club in Corvallis is just four bucks, on top of which well drinks are $1! Ask for the house special, the Rumbanana shot – we think they put rum and banana flavored something-or-other in it, but we tend not to ask too many questions when it’s that delicious. The DJ always plays the hottest Latin music from all over the Caribbean – from bachata to timba to reggaeton, there’s something for everyone. When you get tired of dancing and people watching, there’s always a good game of pool.

As for what to wear … apparently some club scenes care about the height of fashion, but the Corvallis community is way past that. Dress up if you feel like it, wear jeans and a t-shirt if you don’t, dress as your favorite sitcom character – probably no one will notice, and if they do, they won’t care. The bottom line is that getting dressed for going out to dance in Corvallis doesn’t cost a fortune. Hit the Goodwill or dig out that fun shirt or skirt that you never thought you’d have a chance to wear again, and you’re all set. Just be sure to wear comfy shoes!

It’s true that the best things in life are free, and the best thing about Cuban Salsa in Corvallis is the community. Folks who take advantage of the opportunity to meet other people in lessons soon find themselves recognizing people all over town. With about two hundred people in the extended salsa family, it’s small enough that you’ll see familiar faces at different salsa events right away, but large enough that there are always new people to meet. We are a truly diverse bunch – we’re from all over the world and span a wide range of ages, occupations, and dance backgrounds. You never know who you might run into at a salsa event, from a neighbor to your favorite mechanic.

See you on the dance floor!

By guest writer Michelle Marie