10 superb wineries in Oregon’s Willamette Valley

There is something magical about a natural hot spring.

As the host of popular TV shows ranging from Bizarre Foods to Magnolia Network’s Family Dinner, Andrew Zimmern has traveled and eaten his way across the globe.

We reported last month that Airbnb Co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky’s compensation package could top $1 billion over a decade. It’s a lot, no doubt, but he’s also said he plans to give a lot away.

Napa Valley has long been a mecca for wine lovers. Who doesn’t fantasize about sipping wine while overlooking a vineyard? But wine country vacations are getting expensive: tasting room fees have risen sharply since 2019, according to Silicon Valley Bank’s 2023 Direct to Consumer report. With premium tasting experiences often costing an average of $128 per person per winery, a weekend getaway can quickly add up. And long gone are the days of traversing Highway 29 and popping into places on a whim; reservations, a practice that gained traction during the pandemic, remain firmly in place.

While some might argue that the best way to get to know a place as sensory saturated as Las Vegas is to get out and explore, to truly experience this city, from the Strip to downtown and from the westside to Boulder City, is to taste it.

Launched in London more than 20 years ago, the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards has become one of the most important ratings in the rarefied world of top tier fine dining (though not without some criticism and controversy). But regardless what people think of the process behind selection, there’s no doubt that some of the big winners over the years have in fact been some of the world’s very best, places like Spain’s El Bulli, England’s The Fate Duck, Italy’s Osteria Francescana, Denmark’s Noma and in the U.S. notables have included Napa Valley’s French Laundry and New York City’s Eleven Madison Park.

Devastating floods that have killed hundreds of people and displaced tens of thousands more in East Africa are now inundating parts of the Masai Mara, one of Africa’s greatest wildlife national reserves.

Dallas-based real estate investment trust (REIT) Ashford Hospitality Trust has handed over possession and control of 14 hotels back to the loan servicers.

Being a mom is all too often a thankless job and one day a year is surely not adequate to express to your mater just how much she means to you. Nevertheless, Mother’s Day is the one occasion on the calendar on which everyone is supposed to deeply and genuinely express to Mom her importance in their life, so it’s worth making the most of it.

Amid velvety green valleys and oak-covered hills, more than 425 wineries flourish on 63,000 acres of vineyards, producing some of the nation’s best pinot noir, zinfandel and chardonnay — 99% of which are sustainable. Welcome to laid-back Sonoma, located an hour north of San Francisco (depending on traffic), yet a world away. 

Anyone who appreciates fine wine is spoiled for choice in California.

What’s the best way to experience Oregon’s gorgeous scenery? From the open road.