McMinnville is a charming, walkable Willamette Valley hub with a historic downtown, abundant tasting rooms and wineries, great farm-to-table restaurants, breweries, coffee shops and a friendly arts scene. It’s compact and lively with easy outdoor escapes for hiking, cycling and coastal or forest day trips, so a multi-week assignment feels like living in a place with personality rather than being stuck.
Portland (about 45 miles) and Salem (about 25 miles) are an easy drive away for big-city dining, cultural venues and airport connections.