People used to say that if you drove on Highway 99w through Newberg, you could blink and miss it. The town’s hidden gems have always been a little beyond the beaten path, and there are now more things than ever to discover–here are a few spots that locals know are real treasures.

Shop

Downtown Newberg is home to quite a few vintage, antique and thrift shops – if there’s something special you’re looking for, shopping here can be like a real treasure hunt. For things for the home, such as vintage glassware, art, lamps, ceramics, toys and more, check out Wine Country Antiques. For vinyl records and other collectible nostalgia visit Echo’s Antiques & Vintage (612 E. 1st Street). New to You Kids is a huge consignment store for children’s clothing, toys, books and accessories. Velour contains a curated selection of vintage clothing for men and women, as well as jewelry (specifically sterling silver and turquoise) and accessories. Ken & Daughter Jewelers is a fine jewelry store, but also has two cases of cool vintage pieces on consignment–one for gold and one for silver.

Eat

While Newberg is home to incredible fine dining restaurants, locals also frequent small family-run spots with great food like Just Pho You (steaming bowls of pho to warm up a rainy day), Dos Mundos (a Mexican food truck known for some of the best tacos in the state of Oregon), and Gusto (an Italian deli run by the family behind Rosmarino). Forage is a cozy restaurant with an impressive wood-fired oven set into a charming old craftsman home, where chef/owner Kris Utz turns out a menu of Italian-inspired pizzas, salads and seasonal shared plates. Kopitos Cocina is a new Mexican restaurant from an established taco truck and catering company, with an extensive menu for lunch and dinner, and serves breakfast on the weekends. Speaking of breakfast: don’t miss Kayt’s Kitchen, an adorable pink food truck open on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 9am until sold out (get there early for the largest selection!). Kayt handmakes bagels for her breakfast sandwiches, along with craveable pastries and donuts featuring seasonal flavors.

Drink

Hidden amidst this region of rolling vineyards and stately wineries are tiny tasting rooms and bars tucked into unusual spaces with tons of character, and delicious drinks. Drive through the hills down a country road to Killdeer Distilling, a small owner-operated distillery in an old garage. Taste their whiskey and gin, meet the house cat, and if the weather’s nice, enjoy the patio and views of the grazing sheep. Not far away on the grounds of Trisaetum winery is a madeover vineyard shed which serves as an elegant speakeasy where cocktails are mixed with Brixeur Spirits, made on site with many botanicals grown right on the property. Artist Block is a Dundee Winery that mixes wine with avant garde art. They recently opened a wine bar inside an quonset hut in downtown Newberg–which also serves as the location of their ramen pop-up, Alpha Bravo. In March, Stoller will take over the former Chehalem Winery brick building in downtown Newberg with their array of wine brands, but will continue the live music, trivia, and bingo nights locals have come to love.

Play 

For breaks between all of that delicious eating and drinking, check out some of the spots where locals stay active year round. For a peaceful walk in the woods, park at the Chehalem Glenn Golf Course and follow the Gettman Loop trail, past the green and through a beautiful forest lined with ferns and fir trees, and down to the creek. Golfers can enjoy the course itself. Newberg also has a couple of great disc golf courses: at Herbert Hoover and Ewing Young Parks. Ewing Young Park also has a trail down to the Willamette River, as well as an award-winning skate park, as well as a dog park. When it’s raining, visitors can pay for a day pass at the Chehalem Aquatic & Fitness Center, to use the gym facilities and heated indoor pool. In the evening, take a trip down memory lane at the 99w Drive-In movie theater (one of the last in the U.S.) or their sister screen, the Cameo Theater. For casual nightlife, check out Old Town Bar & Grill, Social Goods or Barley & Vine.

Stay 

If you’d also like to stay in Newberg’s walkable downtown in a more apartment-like setting, Lifestyle Properties is a local company that operates a wide variety of vacation rentals with unique features and character, from studio rooms to  loft apartments with historic details, to beautiful wine country homes. Pulp & Circumstance, a charming boutique in an old Victorian Home, also offers two vacation rental units above. The Painted Lady Cottage is a charming little abode with a garden patio, operated by the restaurant of the same name which sits next door.