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Where is Aurora located?
- Aurora is a delightful historic city within the greater Salem, Oregon metropolitan region, best known as the home of the Aurora Colony Christian utopian settlement in the mid-19th century.
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What historical attractions can visitors explore in Aurora?
- Though the settlement has long been disbanded, visitors can learn about the region's colony history at the Old Aurora Colony Museum, which preserves many of the colony's former structures.
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What is the Canby Ferry?
- The Canby Ferry line offers service across the Willamette River, one of the region's oldest operating ferry lines.
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How far is Aurora from Portland, and what can visitors do there?
- Portland's downtown district is just half an hour away, home to hip microbreweries, farm-to-table restaurants, and eco-friendly tourist attractions.
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1. The Canby Ferry
The Canby Ferry is an historic cable ferry line connecting the cities of Aurora, Wilsonville, and Stafford via the Willamette River. The ferry service was founded in 1914 and has continued to operate historic passenger cars into the 21st century, offering service for pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists. As one of three remaining ferries on the Willamette River, the ferry service can transport up to 49 passengers at a time, with room for vehicles and bikes for an additional fee. Visitors can ride aboard the lovely M.J. Lee II cable-guided vessel, which is powered by an underwater cable and overhead line electricity. It is named in honor of Millard Jerome Lee, the first child born in the city of Canby following its incorporation in 1870.
Mountain Road and North Locust Street, Aurora, OR 97002, Phone: 503-650-3030
2. Old Aurora Colony Museum
Old Aurora Colony Museum showcases exhibits dedicated to the history of the former Aurora Colony, a Christian utopian communal society founded by William Keil in the mid-19th century. At the peak of its operation, the colony was home to 600 residents and a wide variety of civic structures, including a fruit orchard and a hotel. Following its dissolution in 1883, the colony's former buildings were preserved on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, visitors can learn about the history of the colony and neighboring Bethel Colony at the museum, which showcases exhibits focusing on Colony families, history, and handiwork. Five buildings are showcased on the museum complex, including an ox barn, a tie shed, and a family kitchen.
15018 2nd St NE, Aurora, OR 97002, Phone: 503-678-5754
3. Pheasant Run Winery
Pheasant Run Winery is a local Aurora winery known for its sustainably-grown Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Grigio estate grape varietal wines. All wines crafted by the award-winning winery are produced in small lots from hand-selected estate grapes grown onsite at the winery's vineyards, which are located just a few minutes from the winery's historic tasting room facility. Estate grapes are also sold to a number of other local wineries and produced in regional award-winning wines. Visitors can stop in at the winery's delightful tasting room throughout the week, located within a century-old bank building originally constructed for the 1905 Portland World's Fair. Wine samples showcase the company's delicious varietals and blends, including favorites like its Bank Robber Big Red Blend and Bank Roll White Blend.
21690 Main St NE #9222, Aurora, OR 97002, Phone: 503-678-3131
4. Aurora Colony Vineyards and Winery
Aurora Colony Vineyards and Winery is a lovely local winery located on lands once belonging to the historic Aurora Colony, known as one of the Willamette Valley's favorite local wineries today. The winery is overseen by vintner John Moore and showcases delicious wines produced from estate grapes, including favorite varietals like Pinot Noir, Malbec, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. Visitors can stop in for full tasting flights at the winery's public tasting room, which showcases stunning outdoor landscaping with gorgeous water features. Live music performances are showcased at the tasting room throughout the week, both inside the tasting room and outside on its spacious outdoor patio. A tasting room kitchen is helmed by executive chef Vance Wilson, showcasing gourmet European-influenced tasting pair plates and appetizers.
21358 Oak Ln NE, Aurora, OR 97002, Phone: 503-678-3390
5. Langdon Farms Golf Club
Langdon Farms Golf Club is one of Oregon's top-ranked golf courses, located just 15 minutes south of Portland's downtown district in the city of Aurora. The course has been rated as one of the Portland area's best golfing choices by OregonLive, considered to be the best-conditioned public golf course in the city's greater metropolitan region. Year-round dry conditions make the course a must-play for golf enthusiasts, showcasing gorgeous landscaped terrain areas with challenging obstacles along fairways. After hitting the links, visitors can enjoy excellent regional cuisine options at Langdon's Grill, which also offers a full-service bar with fantastic happy hour specials.
24377 Airport Rd NE, Aurora, OR 97002, Phone: 503-678-4653
6. Filberts Farmhouse Kitchen
Filberts Farmhouse Kitchen is a delightful restaurant located with Aurora's historic colony district, housed within the 1865 Mohler farmhouse building. Curated antiques from the region's colony days are displayed within the restaurant's elegant dining area, which overlooks beautiful outdoor orchards and historic colony buildings. Classic American comfort food is served up throughout the week at lunch and dinner, including house specialties like chicken cassoulet, sauteed prawn butternut squash risotto, coastal seafood mac and cheese, and signature house bone-in pork chops with Pinot Noir and caramelized apple shallot demiglace. Shareable appetizers range from iron-skillet cornbread to deep-fried brussels sprouts with bacon marmalade.
21317 OR-99E, Aurora, OR 97002, Phone: 503-908-3264
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