Exploring the Douro Valley

For 4th of July week, we decided to experience a new area of Portugal, the Douro Valley.  The Douro is in Northern Portugal, about 100 miles inland from the coastal city of Porto and a six-hour car ride from our home in Tavira.  It is an area renowned for its wine, both fortified Port wine and more traditional red, white and rosé wines.  

The area is dominated by the Douro River and the vineyards which cover the steep hills for miles and miles.  We stayed outside of the town of Pinhão, one of the two main towns in the Douro Valley.

We took a two-hour boat tour on the Douro, getting to see the vineyards of some famous wineries as well as some very nice personal homes.

We stayed at an AirBNB about a ten-minute drive outside of ​Pinhão, near the small town of Vale de Mendiz.

Ryder had a great time at our AirBNB.  He and Mark walked the vineyards each morning before it go too hot, he swam in the pool, made a new friend, and just enjoyed his vacation.  

Being the Douro, of course, we tasted and drank several wines and ate at some fantastic restaurants.  

Near the end of our trip, we drove to Casal de Loivos, a scenic overlook above the town of Pinhão and the River Douro.  The view was amazing!

The Douro Valley and the city of Porto (which we didn't visit on this trip) are definitely worth seeing.  We'd be happy to show people around who come to visit us!