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.