Portland may be Oregon’s biggest city, but less than 50 miles to the south lies Salem, the State Capital. We’ve picked out seven things you must do on your first trip to Salem, from hiking to browsing art galleries and even sampling the local drinks scene.
Widely known for its wineries and cycling culture, Salem, Oregon is a stone’s throw from nearby Portland and Eugene. For first-timers in the city, there are plenty of attractions to get stuck in with no matter where your interests lie. We’ve compiled a list of seven things you must do on your first trip to Salem to help you plan an itinerary.
EXPLORE PICTURESQUE PARKS
Home to a plethora of parks and outdoor attractions, Salem is the perfect place to kick start an adventurous retreat. Much like neighbouring Portland, the residents here are crazy about fitness and the outdoors. Start by visiting Minto-Brown Island Park. Stretching for 898 acres, it’s the biggest park in the city and offers plenty of trails, picnic spots and woodland areas to explore. Salem Golf Club is also on site if you fancied an afternoon getting to know the course. We also suggest a trip to Bush’s Pasture Park. Despite not being quite as big as Minto-Brown (it only offers around 90 acres of park), visitors can still walk around flower gardens, follow trails and try their hand at sports on the tennis courts or the baseball diamond. Riverfront Park is another nice spot in the city, located on the edge of the Willamette River.
VISIT THE OREGON STATE CAPITOL
The Oregon State Capitol is worth a visit for its Art Deco architecture. Admiring the building from the outside is one thing, but a guided tour of the rotunda is free. The rotunda provides views over Salem, so it’s well worth the visit to help you get your bearings. Once you’re done with the tour, peruse the grounds which are home to a selection of artwork, fountains and the state tree and flower. The Capitol building resides next to the State Capitol State Park, so if you aren’t bored of all the greenery by this time, we recommend a leisurely stroll.
HONE YOUR CREATIVE EYE AT ONE OF MANY ART GALLERIES
Art is a big thing in Salem which is embodied with the city’s Art Fair & Festival that takes place at the end of July. If you don’t happen to be visiting in the midst of summer, do not fret as you can still get your art fix around the city. The Bush Barn Art Center is a great place to view art in Salem, alongside the Roger Yost Gallery. Also featuring high on our must-visit list is the Hallie Ford Museum of Art. More of a gallery than a museum, there are plenty of exhibitions to visit ranging from permanent collections to temporary exhibits.
If you fancy dabbling in your own artistic endeavours, places like Create a Memory have workshop spaces for visitors to make and decorate their own pottery or try their hand at painting.
TAKE A DAY TRIP TO SILVER FALLS STATE PARK
We know, how many parks is too many? But hear us out; the sheer size of the Silver Falls State Park makes it worth extending your trip to one that lasts longer than a couple of hours. Sure, it’s a little way out of Salem (25 miles) but boasting a whopping 9,200 acres of forest complete with walking paths and stunning waterfalls, it might just be worth the trek. The park has been dubbed the ‘crown jewel’ of Oregon’s State Parks and is home to 25 miles of trails for mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding. If you fancy a night under the stars, visitors are encouraged to pitch a tent or their RV, or rent one of the cabins provided for groups.
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN HISTORY IN SALEM’S MUSEUMS
Photo credit: Ron Cooper
Salem is home to plenty of museums, ranging from the arty Bush House to the Deepwood Museum & Gardens. Take a guided tour of the Bush House Museum, which focuses on the history and culture of Oregon and the lives of Salem’s Bush Family. Bush House Museum is owned by SalemArt, who also own the Bush Barn Art Center. Tie these in with a scenic walk around Bush’s Pasture Park and you’ll soon feel like you’re getting to know the place (and the Salem Bush family).
The aforementioned Deepwood Museum & Gardens is a fully-furnished, historic, Victorian house located in a public park. The house gives a look into early Salem and gives tours alongside presenting exhibitions and offering up its grounds to couples looking to tie the knot.
Salem is also home to the Wilamette Heritage Center, where visitors can explore the history of the state, and the Oregon State Hospital which currently houses the Museum of Mental Health. Check out all of the historic landmarks and museums Salem has to offer on their official website.
SHOP FOR FRESH FOOD AT THE MARKET
E.Z. Orchards Farm Market is one of the most productive farms in the Willamette Valley and allows visitors to buy their fruit and veg directly from its source. Even if you don’t plan on purchasing anything, the market is great just for browsing. The official website details the products that are in season as well as what goods and preserved foods they currently have in stock.
TASTE THE LOCAL TIPPLES AT A CRAFT BREWERY OR WINERY
Salem is home to a number of breweries and wineries. Santiam Brewing have a tasting room and offer craft beers with a dedicated cask-ale bar. Vagabond Brewing is also popular with locals and they host live music nights most weeks. If you happen to be visiting Salem in February, you’ll also be able to get your hands on some craft beer at the Capitol Building, thanks to Salem Winter Brewfest.
Wine is also popular in the city with wine tours and festivals taking place throughout the year. If you’re interested in exploring Oregon’s wineries further, have a read of our guide to wineries from Eugene to Salem. You could always complete it in reverse to end up in Eugene. For those visiting Salem in June, the Deepwood Wine and Jazz Festival offers all the excitement of a winery tour without the excess travel. Plus, there’s jazz music and local food on offer to help you soak up all that vino.
What is your must do attraction for first-timers in Salem? Tweet us @travioor or post a comment on Travioor’s Facebook page and let us know.
Originally published at www.travioor.com.
