Want a peaceful escape near Portland with wineries, gardens, and riverfront charm? Visit Wilsonville! This friendly town just south of Portland offers family-friendly attractions, access to the Willamette Valley wine scene, and scenic parks perfect for a relaxed getaway.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Wilsonville is from late spring through early fall (May to October). Warm, sunny weather makes it ideal for garden visits, wine tasting, and outdoor festivals. Fall also brings vibrant foliage to the region.
How to Get There
- By Car: Wilsonville is located off I-5, about 25 minutes south of downtown Portland.
- By Air: Fly into Portland International Airport (PDX), then drive or take transit to Wilsonville.
- By Train/Transit: The Westside Express Service (WES) commuter rail connects Wilsonville to Beaverton and the MAX light rail network.
Where to Stay
- Holiday Inn Portland I-5 South – Convenient hotel with modern amenities, an indoor pool, and easy highway access.
- Best Western Wilsonville Inn & Suites – Comfortable option near shops and restaurants with free breakfast.
- Hilton Garden Inn Wilsonville – Stylish stay with on-site dining and proximity to local attractions.
Recommended Activities for Families
1. Wilsonville Memorial Park
Rating: ★★★★★
Wilsonville Memorial Park is a lovely 126-acre municipal park located just off Interstate 5, opened to the public in 1969 just following the city's incorporation. The park is the city's largest and oldest, located along the banks of the Willamette River. Visitors can make use of the park's public boat dock or half-mile of Willamette River frontage, which offers areas for strolling and wildlife watching. A skate park and dog park provide lively activities for teens and pet owners, while a plaza with water features makes for a great spot for play dates with young ones. Other amenities include day-use picnic areas, athletic courts, children's playgrounds, and a beautiful forested trail system.
8100 SW Wilsonville Rd, Wilsonville, OR 97070, Phone: 503-682-3727
2. Graham Oaks Nature Park
Graham Oaks Nature Park is a charming 250-acre nature park in Wilsonville, opened in 2010 by the Portland Metro regional government association. Prior to the park's development, the former farmland had been used as landfill, but throughout the early 2000s, Metro planted more than 150,000 native shrubs and trees and 100 million wildflower seeds. Today, the park is home to a lovely network of more than three miles of walking and jogging trails, including a portion of the Tonquin Trail, which connects to the nearby cities of Tualatin and Sherwood. Other trails connect to the adjacent Park at Merryfield. Visitors can make use of the park's lovely picnic shelters, which feature LED and solar energy features.
11825 SW Wilsonville Rd, Wilsonville, OR 97070, Phone: 503-665-4995
Attractions for Couples
3. Carabella Vineyard
Carabella Vineyard was the vision of winemaker and geologist Mike Hallock, who brought his training as a winemaker in Colorado to the winery's operations in 1998. Today, the winery is known for its elegant estate Dijon Chardonnay, Alsatian-style Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir grape varietals, which are fermented to bring out the complexity and unique terroir of the volcanic soils of the Parrett Mountain region. Visitors can stop in at the winery's delightful tasting room throughout the week with advance reservations and sample six wines chosen from its cellar lot of experimental cuvées and limited-edition library wines. Private half-hour vineyard tours explore the sweeping panoramas of the Willamette Valley and showcase sustainable harvesting practices.
16617 SW Edminston Rd, Wilsonville, OR 97070, Phone: 503-925-0972
4. Vanguard Brewing
Vanguard Brewing is Wilsonville's premiere craft brewery, founded in 2015 in the city's downtown district. The brewery is named for the military term of the same name, which refers to the advance unit of a moving army. It is known for its delicious small-batch beers, which are produced with high quality and locally-grown ingredients. Year-round flagship brews include the brewery's Schatzie German Pilsner, Piper's Moon Dark Chocolate Porter, and Good Day Mosaic Dry-Hopped IPA. Limited-release favorites emphasize experimental styles and unique flavors in varieties like the company's Hazelnut Brown English Brown Ale and Now and Zen Sake-Yeast Hybrid Beer. The company's taproom, which opened to the public in 2017, serves up pints alongside 12-inch artisanal pizzas and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.
27501 SW 95th Ave #945, Wilsonville, OR 97070, Phone: 503-855-5924
Where to Eat
5. Oswego Grill Wilsonville
Oswego Grill Wilsonville is a delicious casual American chain offering three locations throughout Oregon, including a location in Wilsonville that has been open since 2011. The restaurant is known for its upscale elegance and affordable prices, serving up modern Pacific Northwestern fare alongside a full menu of fine wines and specialty cocktails. Diners can choose from house specialties like spicy macaroni and cheese platters, garlic prawn linguine, slow-roasted prime rib, and family-recipe old-fashioned beef pot pie. Seafood specialties like stuffed salmon pair with hardwood grill entrees like Danish-style baby-back ribs. A variety of burger and sandwich options are available at lunch, alongside shareable appetizers like sushi platters and bleu cheese fries.
30080 SW Boones Ferry Rd, Wilsonville, OR 97070, Phone: 503-427-2152
6. McMenamins Old Church and Pub
McMenamins Old Church and Pub is a family-friendly pub and restaurant set within a renovated church space in Wilsonville, located along the city's ferry route that was once operated by Alphonso Boone, the grandson of famed American frontiersman Daniel Boone. The church, which was constructed in 1911, features original architecture connected to its use as a ferry dock, including cross beams and wooden pillars that date back to the 19th century. All pub fare is crafted onsite every day, including oven-fired pizzas crafted with delicious ingredients like Canadian bacon, jalapenos, and housemade barbecue sauce. Craft burgers are also served up, along with dinner specialties like Jamaican curry rice bowls and roasted butternut squash macaroni and cheese. An outdoor amphitheater showcases live music performances throughout the year.
30340 SW Boones Ferry Rd, Wilsonville, OR 97070, Phone: 503-427-2500
7. Sushi Avenue
Sushi Avenue was founded in 2008 and has become a favorite business lunch destination in the Portland region ever since. The restaurant is housed within a simple space in downtown Wilsonville and is known for its delicious bento lunch boxes and affordable dinner deals. Diners can choose from a variety of classic sushi roll and boat favorites at lunch and dinner, ranging from favorites like chirashi and tuna tataki to excellent shrimp and vegetable tempura platters. Udon and donburi bowls are also served up, along with selections like Japanese-style ribeye and panko-fried pork tenderloin cuts. A selection of regional wines and beers is available to complement all meals.
29955 SW Boones Ferry Rd D, Wilsonville, OR 97070, Phone: 503-682-0729
Where to go for entertainment
8. Bullwinkle’s Wilsonville
Visitors who are looking for some great indoor/outdoor entertainment in Wilsonville will find everything they need at Bullwinkle’s Wilsonville. At the heart of the entertainment facility you will find a 16-lane bowling alley – you can rent shoes on site. The rest of the activities are very varied and there is something to suit everyone. Outdoor activities include Go-Karts, Bumper Boats, the Soaring Eagle Zip Line and the Sky Trail Ropes Course. Indoors, you can play Laser Tag, take on the games in the Arcade or try the XD Dark Ride. There is an indoor play area for younger visitors and the restaurant serves delicious food and drinks for all.
29111 SW Town Center Loop West, Wilsonville, OR 97070, 503 685 5000
Plan Your Trip