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As a Matter of Fact, McMinnville is an Awesome Cycling Destination

MDA_SherriRobinson_ComeOnIn McMinnville and the surrounding area is a great place to ride a bike. This isn’t news to the many who flock to the area every weekend for a little two-wheeled exploration of this glorious region along with a big contingent of happy locals. We can’t wait to be there with all of you in July.

We’re pretty stoked that, as is the case in The Dalles, McMinnville’s Downtown Association is working with Travel Oregon and using Weekend Ride as a catalyst to help local businesses become even more bike friendly – it will make riding down there frequently that much sweeter.

As luck would have it, the Weekend Ride will take place during one of the most happening happenings of the year in McMinnville – Turkey Rama. Celebrating 54 years of glorious tradition, Turkey Rama “observes the historical importance of the once-thriving turkey business in the surrounding county.” The event includes the world’s largest turkey BBQ, a carnival, a beer garden, a street dance and even a fun run (biathlon anyone?).

Places of Interest

Beyond Turkey Rama, there are plenty of places a cyclist might want to visit in McMinnville. A lot of the action takes place on or around Third Street. In fact, there are so many wine bars and restaurants that McMinnville was named one of the six best small towns for food lovers by Bon Appétit Magazine in 2010. You can read all about the thriving eating and drinking scene in this Oregonian piece as well as this one, so there’s no need to delve deeper here. If you want to add fine dining to your Weekend Ride experience, it’s probably best to make a reservation. Between our cast of characters and Turkeyrama-ites, the town is going to be hopping.

R.StuartSpeaking of hops, the Granary District, which lies on the “edge of town” (a few blocks away from Third Street and downtown) is home to a new crowd-funded brewery called the Grain Station. The Granary District also features retail shops, a great produce stand and much more.

If you feel like making your own weekend trip to McMinnville, the McMenamins Hotel Oregon is both bike- and pet-friendly, and it’s right in the middle of town. Tommy’s Bicycle Shop, which opened in 1949, is also in the middle of town. Not only is Tommy’s a great shop, but it also has a nice list of local rides on its website.

Like many of the towns we’ll visit on this year’s Week Ride and Weekend Ride, it’s clear we won’t have enough time to take it all in during our stay in McMinnville. Multiple trips or extended visits are looking to be all but mandatory.


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