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Eugene (Oregon)
From eTripTips Wiki
Eugene (pop. ~140,000) is a city in Oregon at the southern end of the Willamette Valley that is best known for being the home of the University of Oregon.
[edit] Understand
Eugene people are environmentally aware people who love their coffee as well as their microbrew, and residents range from cafe liberals to the militant anarchists who were responsible for the WTO riots in Seattle. Eugene is home to the University of Oregon, aka "The Fighting Ducks." Eugene was the second home to the rock'n'roll band The Grateful Dead, thus the reason some people see this place as a "hippie Mecca." Saturday Market has been continuously in operation since 1970, rain or shine and claims to be the oldest open air market of it's type in the US. See Saturday Market.
[edit] Get in
[edit] By air
Eugene Airport (EUG), also known as Mahlon Sweet Field, handles flights from Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. It's a few miles out of town, and the public bus does not service it, so you'll have to hire a cab, shuttle, or rent a car.
[edit] By train
Amtrak serves Eugene from Seattle, Portland, and Salem, from the north with the Cascade service. With the Coast Startlight service daily, which from southern California up to Seattle, there are many trains. Trains originating from California are notoriously unreliable, commonly several hours late. There is a northbound train that originates in Eugene, the "Cascades" train that is typically much more reliable.
[edit] By car
Eugene is a two hour drive south from Portland, and approximately a 5 hour drive south from Seattle. The Bay Area is a nine hour drive south. A bit over 1 hour from the coast.
[edit] By Bus
Greyhound has a fully staffed bus station downtown, close to the Train station and to the LTD (Lane Transit District) local buses. Bus run north/south along I-5, and east.
[edit] Get around
- Bike -- Eugene has an excellent system of bike routes, bike rentals are available only a few blocks from both the Greyhound and the Amtrak.
- Take the Lane Transit District (LTD) bus, $1.25 one-way or $2.50 for an all-day pass. Buses tend to run every half-hour.
- Walk along 13th Street to the University.
- Go to the 5th Street Public Market.
- Go to the Saturday Market and Farmers Market: 8th and Oak every Saturday April 2 through Nov. 12, rain or shine, 10 am - 5 pm
- Go on the First or Last Friday Artwalk.
- See a show at the WOW Hall, ask about work trade opportunities between 3:00 and 6:00 PM Monday through Friday--maybe you'll get to see the show for free!
- Climb Spencer's Butte (the long way)
- If weather is nice go rock climbing at the columns on Skinner's Butte (or at the climbing gym nearby)
- Rent bikes and bike the entire river trail. Swim and picnic down by the Autzen foot bridge.
- Oregon Country Fair (always the second weekend in July) is the biggest hippie gathering. Tons of great food, great hand made products to buy, great music and a lot of fun.
- The Eugene Celebration (2nd weekend in September)
- Eugene offers many events for the sports fan, including University of Oregon sports and Eugene emeralds baseball.
- Visit local area wineries and tasting rooms
- See the Oregon Bach Festival, held late June through mid-July.
- Eugene Area Parks Guide to Eugene and Springfield Area parks features all the best parks in the area with descriptions, interactive maps, lots of images and 360 degree panoramas..
- University of Oregon, [1]
- Lane Community College, [2]
- Eugene Glass School, [3]
- Lost Valley Educational Center, [4]
- Valley River Center, 293 Valley River Center, [5]. It is the biggest shopping center in the Eugene area with 2 main department stores, Macy's and JC Penny. Also, a Gottschalks and a Regal Cinemas are currently being built. The mall also has many smaller stores with apparel, sporting goods, books, electronics, food and accessories.
- Gateway Mall, 3000 Gateway Street, Springfield, [6]. Although Gateway Mall is located in Springfield, it is very close to a lot of Eugene's student housing. This mall has not only a Sears, a Target, Kohl's, and a 24 Hour Fitness, but also two movie theaters. The Cinemark 17 theater shows newer movies at regular price and the Movies 12 theater shows a little older movies for only $1.50. This is a great/inexpensive date idea if you live in the area. There are also a few smaller stores and beauty salons located within the mall.
- Eat at the Zenon Cafe 898 Pearl St (541-343-3005)
- World-class desserts at The Sweet Life 755 Monroe St (541-683-5696)
- Real NY Style Pizza at Mezza Luna Pizzeria 933 Pearl Street (541-684-8900)
- Hippie pizza available at the Pizza Research Institute 1328 Lawrence Street (541-343-1307)
- Fresh and local breakfast, lunch and dinner at Eugene landmark Cornucopia 295 W 17th Ave (541 485-2300)
- Lunch or dinner at Marche Restaurant in the 5th Street Public Market (296 E 5th, 541-342-3612)
- Have breakfast at the Keystone Cafe (395 W 5th Ave, 342-2075) or Morning Glory (450 Willamette St, 541-687-0709)
Get a copy of the latest "Chow" from the Eugene Weekly for a complete listing of restaurants
- Have lunch at one of seven Burrito Boy locations. Inexpensive, locally owned, the best burrito and taco chain in the city. [7]
- Drink beer at the High Street Brewery & Cafe (1243 High St, 345-4905)
- Drink coffee at Allann Brothers (The one by Humble Bagel or by The Jail)
- Drink martinis or single-malt Scotch at Adam’s Place (30 E Broadway, 541-344-6948)
- Best Western Greentree Inn, 1759 Franklin Boulevard, +1 541 485-2727, Fax: +1 541 686-2094, [8].
- Best Western New Oregon Motel, 1655 Franklin Boulevard, +1 541 683-3669, Fax: +1 541 484-5556, [9].
- The Eugene Hotel, whose large sign is a prominent feature of Eugene's skyline, is actually a retirement community. If you try to get a room there they will just laugh at you.
- Eugene International Hostel, 2352 Willamette Street, +1 541 349-0589, [10]. Vegetarian kitchen, seasonal organic garden, dormitory style rooms, free internet and guest phone.
- Eugene Whiteaker Hostel, 970 West Third Avenue, +1 541 343-3335, [11].
- Motel 6 Eugene South - Springfield, 3690 Glenwood Drive, +1 541 687-2395, Fax: +1 541 687-6828, [12].
- Phoenix Inn Suites, 850 Franklin Blvd, Tel: +1 541 344-0001. [13] - All suite accommodations with complimentary breakfast buffet, high speed internet, and 24 hr. business center
- Residence Inn Eugene Springfield, 25 Club Road, +1 541 342-7171, Fax: +1 541 342-7175, [14].
- Valley River Inn, 1000 Valley River Way, Eugene Oregon, 97401, Reservations: +1 800 543-8266, Phone" +1 541 743-1000, [15] A unique resort-style Eugene Oregon hotel and conference center, located along the quiet banks of the Willamette River. Experience the comfortable retreat that has set the standard for Eugene hotels since 1973. Convenient to downtown and the University of Oregon.
[edit] Get out
Eugene is two hours from the Cascade Mountains (good skiing at Mt. Bachelor), and a little over an hour from some of the most beautiful coastline on the Pacific shore.
- Day trip to the coast. Eat at Mo's in Florence, take a hike en route at Kentucky Falls and hit the Hobbit trail just north of Florence.
- The McKenzie River corridor (fly fishing, rafting)
- Hendricks Park Rhododendron Garden
- Mt. Pisgah Arboretum
- Bike paths along the Willamette River.
- Cape Perpetua Interpretive Nature Center (on coast north of Yachats)
- McCredie Hot Springs on the right just past mile-marker 45 on highway 58.
- Blair Lake and Meditation Pool (Wall Creek), take highway 58 to Oakridge, left on Union St, right on 1st, ten miles or so to a left turn on Forest Service Road 1934. Meditation Pool is on your left after about 3/4 mile (trailhead, about 1/3 mile walk to the pool), Blair lake is all the way at the top. Be sure to detour near the top when you see a road going off to the left marked by a trail marker (picture of two people hiking) for a spectacular view. Blair lake has campsites and hiking, Meditation Pool is a warm spring.
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