Run Oregon Road Trip to The Vintages Trailer Resort

Run Oregon loves running – that’s no surprise. But we also love the Pacific Northwest and all that it has to offer. Running is a part of us, but it does not fully define us. In our “Make a Day of It” feature, we aim to showcase some great local non-running events and highlight where to run and how to make the most of your experience!

The most recent location for our runcation series is a new stay at The Vintages Trail Resort in the heart of Willamette Valley Wine Country in Dayton. 

The Vintages was actually the OG of our Run Oregon Road Trip Series. Back in 2016 (!) it was the first location we ever stayed at and wrote about. Now, almost exactly 8 years later – we are back!

First the Running:

Dayton is a pretty small town but does reside a handful of minutes’ drive from many other medium-sized cities that have running. McMinnville is a 10-minute drive, as is Newberg. We recommend checking out Miller Woods in Mac or the Guadalupe Loop near Newberg for some lesser known, yet super epic, trail running.

We also recommend booking your stay at the Vintages early for Fueled by Fine Wine, as you will be super close to the start line.

The Vintages is a little bit segregated from the actual town of Dayton. I took a morning run and found easy access into town for some quick and easy miles. Starting from the resort, head west on the unpaved Kreder Road and down to Alderman Park.

There is a small and cute little bridge over the Yamhill River that spits runners out onto Ferry Street. We continued down Ferry until the sidewalk ran out and looped back via a few jaunts in quiet neighborhoods. Here is a 4-ish mile route.

The Spot:

There are a ton of great trailers to stay in at the Vintages – 36 actually – each with their own unique amenities, size, and charm. Some have their own soaking tubs – perfect for relaxing after a day of running/wine tasting.

There is a minimum of 18 feet between each trailer – meaning you will have at least some privacy within a setting that doesn’t always allow for that.

While the Vintages may be trailer-based for your stay, there is a cute general store onsite (open 9a-9p) that offers local flair and essentials. This is clutch, as there’s nothing worse than realizing you need something before bed and no stores in a small town are open.

The firepit area was awesome – way updated from the first time we were here – but we didn’t get to enjoy it as much as it was a wet and rainy weekend we were there. Next time!

Our Trailer:

We got to stay in the 1977 Airstream Sovereign, a beautiful trailer with rustic charm oozing inside. It featured a queen bed, sitting / dining nook, and a private bathroom complete with a shower (which not all trailers have).

Despite being only small in stature (as all trailers inevitably are) there were a ton of amenities available to us. Inside, there was a mini fridge, pour over coffee, robes and two TV’s – one in the bedroom and one in the main area. Outside, we had a grill we could use and cruiser bikes for exploring.

The bed was unexpectedly comfortable and provided a restful night’s sleep complete with the pitter patter of rain outside (they provide ear plugs if silence is your jam).

Refueling:

The Vintages is really in a great spot to refuel mentally and emotionally. The skies are sure to be dark and Dayton is a pretty quiet city. If you are lucky enough to book a trailer with an outdoor tub, take advantage of a nighttime soak looking out at the stars above.

Even if the weather doesn’t cooperate, cozying up in a rustic trailer may be just what the doctor ordered to reset. We recommend a little running, a little wine, then cozying up and reading a book in the country.

While our stay was in January, the Vintages do have an on-site pool during the warmer months. There are a few trailers that can fit 4+ people, so if you want to come out with your small family, they will love having a pool to hit up. Their clubhouse area also features larger showers and bathrooms if you need something a little roomier than a trailer can provide.

Wineries:

A stay in the Willamette Valley really isn’t complete without taking in some wine tasting. Dayton may be small, but they do have one small, quiet tasting room (Seufert Winery) and are mere minutes from literal world class wine.

Here’s some of our favorites:

• Stoller Family Estate
• Willamette Valley Vineyards – Domaine Willamette
• White Rose Estate
• Furioso

I mean, literally take a pick of any in a three mile radius of the Vintages and you are bound to find excellent wine. There was a red and white waiting for us in the trailer (which we could open and purchase for $35), as well as more options in the main general store.

The Vintages offers a tasting passport for your stay. So, if your runcation includes wine tasting, you are automatically saving money by getting 2 for 1 tastings or other deals just for staying there.

Food can be a little tough to come by in the Dayton area, though the Joel Palmer House is a nice splurge and the Brick Hall is a fun new-ish spot. Otherwise head into other larger cities in the Valley for more options.

Overall:

We are so thrilled that we were able to come back to the Vintages after 8 years. I only had a vague recollection of the spot so it was nice to see the improvements and be able to add a current memory.

I cannot recommend a stay here enough – it’s such a unique and fun experience and one that feels miles away when you may only be 30-60 minutes from your front door. If you are looking for a runcation, staycation, or just something different – check out The Vintages!