There is no shortage of things to see and do in Salem, Oregon. The Willamette Valley, one of the most prolific agricultural regions in the United States, is at the core of this thriving city. In addition to its rich history, Salem is a culturally diversified city with much to keep tourists engaged. We’ve compiled a list of some of Salem’s top attractions!
Oregon State Capitol
One of Oregon’s three governmental facilities is the Oregon State Capitol building. The first two buildings were destroyed by the conflagration. Marble is used in every part of modern architecture, despite its intimidating aspect.
In addition to being the location of the Oregon Supreme Court and the offices of the Oregon State Legislature and Governor John Kitzhaber, this building is also the seat of Oregon’s Executive Branch. The structure that serves as the primary government headquarters for this state may be found in Salem.
The rotunda and the four paintings that flank the Oregon Pioneer at the top of the building are only two of the many stunning aspects of the tower. Other notable features include: In the event that you find yourself in the general vicinity of Salem, Oregon, you won’t want to miss it.
Deepwood Museum and Gardens
The Queen Anne Victorian mansion that serves as home to the Deepwood Museum and Gardens and was built in 1884 is an absolute must-see while in Salem. The gorgeous estate is comprised of a total land area of 4 acres, all of which feature lovely landscaping and natural walking paths.
The interior of the mansion is adorned with beautiful stained-glass windows and intricate woodwork. The grounds and gardens of this location are just stunning in every imaginable manner. The knowledgeable and friendly staff members are on hand all year long to lead guests on tours and participate in activities. Going to the Deepwood Museum and Gardens is an excellent method to enjoy an experience that is really one of a kind.
E.Z. Orchards Farm Market
For more than 80 years, E.Z. Orchards has been a family-owned and operated business. The farm is situated in one of the most productive regions of the United States, the Willamette Valley in Oregon. A wide range of fruits and vegetables are grown at E.Z Orchards. These include peaches, pumpkins, maize, pears, hazelnuts, and apples, among others. Sustainable farming procedures are used to cultivate all of the farm’s goods, and they are free of pesticides and herbicides.
Children and adults alike may learn something new and interesting at the farm thanks to the many educational opportunities it provides. In addition to learning about the history of the farm, visitors may meet the animals and participate in hands-on activities like picking fruits and vegetables. Visitors can visit E.Z Orchards from mid-April until mid-October.
Salem’s Riverfront Carousel
Hazel Patton was inspired to construct Salem’s Riverfront Carousel after seeing the Missoula, Montana, Carousel. It felt like a smart move to bring this kind of fun and relaxation to Salem, Oregon’s waterfront. Salem’s Riverfront Carousel was a reality as a result!
The Willamette River may be seen from the park’s carousel, which is situated in scenic Riverfront Park. When it comes to family enjoyment, it doesn’t get much better than this! An Oregon pioneer family, riding in a covered wagon, is one of 37 creatures on the hand-carved wooden carousel.
Artists from the area developed and hand-painted the delicate features of the animals and chariots. Additionally, there are lights and music to create a joyful scene for riders of all ages. Visits to Salem’s Riverfront Carousel are guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s face, young or old.
Enchanted Forest Theme Park
Despite its sordid background, Salem is now a thriving center for arts and culture. Salem, Oregon’s capital city, is home to a wide range of cultural institutions, including museums, galleries, and theaters.
The Willamette River, which flows through the heart of the city, is another notable feature. There are also several parks and hiking trails to discover for individuals who like to spend their time outside. Salem’s Forest Theme Park is a must-see for visitors. Roger Tofte had envisioned the park, which opened in 1971.
It has grown into an area of more than 20 acres, with a wide range of businesses and eateries. As a bonus, Story Land at the park allows kids to witness their favorite books and movies come to life. There are many characters to encounter, ranging from Alice in Wonderland to Humpty Dumpty. This theme park is a wonderful spot to spend a day with your family.
Minto-Brown Island Park
In Salem, Oregon, you’ll find Minto-Brown Island Park and a slew of other sights worth checking out. More than 1,200 acres of open grassland and gorgeous trees make up the park’s scenery. It’s possible to stroll, ride, or run on 19 kilometers of trails throughout the park.
The natural trees and lush meadows that beautify this location are certain to sway your opinion in a positive direction. In addition to that, there are many other opportunities to see different kinds of animals along the way. A trip to the park is always a great choice for a barbecue or a picnic with the whole family.
Additionally offered are a variety of playgrounds for children of all ages. This is the spot for you if you’ve been seeking a place to relax or get some exercise. Regardless of how you want to spend your free time, Minto-Brown Island Park is a fantastic location to do so.
Gilbert House Children’s Museum
This Oregon city is best renowned for its history, and there are lots of activities to reflect it. Whether you’re looking for a guided tour of a historic home or a museum dedicated to the city’s history, Salem provides plenty of options. Salem, on the other hand, has a slew of fun things to do for families with small children.
One such museum is the Gilbert House Children’s Museum. As a non-profit museum located in downtown Salem’s Riverfront Park, it has something for children of all ages. To engage the interest of children of all ages, the museum’s interactive displays are a good place to start.
Young people who are enthusiastic about the past, the arts, or science will find the Gilbert House Children’s Museum to be an excellent destination. When you are making plans for your trip, if you are going to be taking your children with you, you should make sure to include a stop at the Gilbert House Children’s Museum.
Oregon State Hospital Museum of Mental Health
It is open to the public and operates on a not-for-profit basis as an educational resource for the community. The museum tells the stories of those who have worked or lived at the hospital during its existence.
The museum, which is located in an area that is roughly 2,500 square feet in size, is entirely maintained by volunteers and is sustained solely by contributions from private individuals as well as financial assistance from the government.
As a consequence of this, visitors may pick up quite a bit of information on the medical facility and its patients, despite the museum’s lack of size. The museum’s materials are beneficial to professionals in the field of mental health as well as the general public, and the museum itself serves to raise awareness about issues related to mental health.
The Hallie Ford Museum of Art
It is a well-known landmark in the city. In 1998, Willamette University’s Hallie Ford Museum opened its doors to the public thanks to the generous support of the Ford Family Foundation.
Several works of art have been donated to the museum’s collection. Displayed in this show right now are early 1900s Native American baskets and other works by Oregon artists. Willamette University, which has a strong affiliation with the museum, offers a wide range of academic programs related to the arts.
On their website, you may learn more about this location. If you’re in the Salem region and looking for something new to do, make sure you stop by the Hallie Ford Museum of Art.
Reed Opera House
Cyrus Adams Reed erected the Reed Opera House in 1869. Salisbury’s Opera House has played a crucial role in developing the city’s vibrant cultural scene. The opera house there is not what it used to be; it has undergone renovations throughout the years, but you can still see remnants of its former glory.
Traveling productions and homegrown talent might be shown in the Reed Opera House’s great design. After a few years, the Salem Opera Company was created and began putting on regular concerts. Several improvements have occurred throughout the years, most notably when it was transformed into a mixed-use complex in the late 1990s.
Various locally-owned stores, cafés and bakeries, professional offices, and restaurants were added to the complex during the renovations. Today, the Reed Opera House is once again a bustling center of activity in Salem’s historic downtown.
The Willamette Heritage Center
Salem, Oregon is home to a living history museum that goes by the name of the Willamette Heritage Center. Through the sharing of stories, the Willamette Valley Regional Museum strives to bring together the many communities that make up the region’s rich past. The center encompasses an area of five acres of land and offers a wide range of engaging events and interactive displays.
Visitors get the opportunity to tour the historic buildings of the center, gain knowledge about the early residents of the region, and stroll around the facility’s magnificent gardens. The Willamette Heritage Center is an excellent location to get knowledge of the diverse history and culture of Oregon.
The Bush House Museum
The Bush House Museum should not be missed by visitors to Salem, Oregon. It is located in the Bush Pasture House, constructed in 1877 by Asahel Bush II, and was the family’s principal house before it was converted into a museum.
From March to December, the museum is available to the public and has several exhibits on the Bush family’s history and the role they played in the establishment of Salem.
If you’d rather see the house as it was when the Bush family lived in it, you may take a tour. The Bush House Museum is one of Salem’s most popular tourist attractions because it is both entertaining and instructive for visitors of all ages.
Explore Cristom Vineyards
Winemakers at Cristom Vineyards are known for their distinctive approach to winemaking. To create this style you need farming, engineering, and biochemistry. For the winery to be LIVE Certified Sustainable, it must achieve stringent criteria regarding its environmental effect, social responsibility, and financial sustainability.
The utilization of natural yeasts is one of the most distinguishing characteristics of Cristom’s wines. Wine fermentation with entire clusters is accomplished using yeasts found naturally on grapes.
As a result of this procedure, a wine with plenty of taste and personality is produced. In addition, the vineyard employs grapes that are farmed organically and procedures that are environmentally friendly during the winemaking process. Because of this, Cristom’s wines are both tasty and environmentally sustainable.
Pentacle Theatre
For more than 60 years, the Pentacle Theatre in Salem has been putting on live productions of theatre that are of a professional caliber. Over 560 plays and musicals have been presented by this community theater group, which operates on a not-for-profit basis and relies entirely on volunteer actors and crew members.
The theater, which features both Douglas and Oak Fir trees as its backdrop, is a fantastic choice for a place to go for entertainment in Salem. Visit the website of the Pentacle Theatre to learn more about the shows that are currently running during your time in Oregon if you are interested in both showcasing and promoting Oregon’s homegrown talent.
Salem Saturday Market
The city of Salem in Oregon is a wonderful destination, and while you’re there, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to go to The Salem Saturday Market. The vast majority of people who live in the Willamette Valley bring their wares to the Salem Saturday Market, which is also one of the numerous activities that tourists participate in while they are in the city of Salem, Oregon.
At The Salem Saturday Market, you may get a good deal on just about anything, from locally grown fruit to artisanal jewelry, and the prices are all fair. It is highly recommended that you go to The Salem Saturday Market if you are seeking a fantastic location to get some mementos or presents for your loved ones back home.
Willamette Valley Pie Company
There are a number of family-owned businesses in the Salem region, including Willamette Valley Pie Company, and it is strongly advised that you stop by. The Gerald Roth family founded this business, which has now grown into a well-known fixture in Salem.
The Willamette Valley Pie Company is a fantastic destination for enjoying a sweet snack with the whole family because of the delectable pies that they provide. In addition to the pies that have become their trademark, they provide customers with a wide selection of other baked items, such as cookies, cakes, and bread.
The Willamette Valley Pie Company should thus be at the top of your list of places to take your children if you are seeking for activities to do in Salem with them.
Honeywood Winery
In 1934, Rob Honeyman and John Wood, his business partner, established the Honeywood Winery. The oldest winery in Oregon, this one is surrounded by a plethora of lush vineyards and orchards. In addition to producing high-quality vinifera wines, the liberty also offers a wide variety of specialty and fruit wines at moderate prices.
Over the past 80 years and 13 generations, the business has been operated by the same family. Rob’s great-grandson Anthony, the current CEO, assumed control of the company in 2018. The winery’s reputation for producing top-notch wines has only grown stronger since he took the helm.
Winery tours and tastings are available year-round, making it a popular tourist attraction. Honeywood Winery welcomes guests to sample some of its fine wines while learning about the establishment’s rich history.
Willamette Mission State Park
Oregon’s Willamette Valley’s Willamette Mission State Park, located right in the middle of the valley, is a lovely sanctuary. The remnants of the original mission, which was founded by Reverend Jason Lee in 1834, can be found within the park, which is also home to numerous other historical structures.
The mission housed a large number of Native Americans who were eager to learn about European culture and Christian beliefs as well. Picnicking, hiking, and birdwatching have all been popular activities in the park in recent years. Another notable tree in the vicinity is a black cottonwood that’s over 250 years old. Visitors to Oregon should not miss a trip to the Willamette Mission State Park.
If you wish to visit more places in Oregon, see the things you can do in Medford here.
Bethel Heights Vineyard
In 1975, the Bethel Heights family planted their first vines at their vineyard in Bethel Heights, New York. Eola Hills, in the Willamette Valley, is where the New World Pinot Noir is grown. Over 13,000 cases are produced from the Bethel Heights Vineyard’s 100 planted acres.
Family members work tirelessly to ensure that each vintage of their wine is as good as possible. If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by the Bethel Heights Vineyard for a tour and some wine sampling. You won’t be dissatisfied with it!
Salem Centre
Located in the middle of Salem, the Salem Center is an enclosed shopping mall that welcomes both people and dogs. In addition to its 80 stores, the retail center has a food court. A sky bridge spanning five stories connects the various buildings on Centre Street.
Each of the four anchor businesses at the Salem Center, Nordstrom, JC Penney, Kohl’s, and Macy’s, has its unique character in the retail industry. In the surrounding area, you could also find mall staples such as Bath & Body Works, ROSS, and American Eagle Outfitters. Spending the day at Salem Center while also taking your pet for a walk and doing some shopping is a fantastic way to spend the day.
Historic Elsinore Theatre
Located in the heart of historic downtown Elsinore, the Historic Elsinore Theatre is a stunning specimen of Tudor Gothic architecture. After its grand opening on May 28, 1926, it has been a popular destination for tourists and locals alike ever since. “Hamlet,” a play by Shakespeare, inspired the theater’s name.
Design elements from a Danish castle may be seen throughout the theater. Hamlet is set in the fictional Danish castle of Elsinore, thus the name. The façade of the structure, with its lofty turrets and majestic front, is stunning. It’s the inside of the theater, though, that truly catches your attention.
The grand foyer and the ornately adorned ceilings and frames around the theater are breathtaking. If you’re in the area, make sure to check out the Historic Elsinore Theatre.
Riverfront City Park
Visitors and residents alike will find a great deal to enjoy in Salem, a city steeped in history. Salem’s Riverfront City Park, where the Salem Riverfront Carousel may be found, is a hidden gem. Originally an industrial site, the park now boasts boat docks, pathways, and a children’s playground, all of which have been lovingly restored.
The park’s carousel is one of just two remaining hand-carved wooden carousels in Oregon, making it a must-see attraction. At the second-story platform, visitors may ride on one of the 33 hand-painted horses, or they can take a look at the Willamette River below. Even if you’re just searching for a spot to unwind, Riverfront City Park is a great option.
Bush Pasture Park
The center of Salem, Oregon’s capital city, is home to Bush’s Pasture Park, a park that spans 91 acres. The park offers a variety of amenities, including forested areas, hiking paths, tennis courts, and a softball field. It is common for people to gather in Bush’s Pasture Park for both planned athletic activities and impromptu outings in the park’s natural setting.
The park’s hiking paths are accessible to the general public and have vantage points of both Mount Hood and the Willamette River. In addition, the park features four tennis courts that are all lit up and available for hire. Bush’s Pasture Park is a wonderful area to spend the afternoon taking in the sights and sounds of nature.
Ankeny Vineyard
1980 saw the beginning of operations at Ankeny Vineyard, which is currently owned by Joe Olexa. The Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge may be seen in the distance from this location since it is perched on the southern slopes of the Salem Hills. The vineyard is situated on 35 acres of land and cultivates grape varieties including Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Marechal Foch.
Because of the vineyard’s location, the grapes reach full maturity at an earlier stage. Both the temperature and the soil are ideal for the cultivation of grapes. The tasting area at the vineyard offers guests the opportunity to sample all of the many varieties of wine that are produced. In addition, the vineyard is available for private events such as weddings and business gatherings.
Santiam Brewing
The Santiam brewery is a corner industrial unit that has both a tasting area and a brewery with a capacity of 10 barrels. They are open every day of the week, and their cask bar has a fantastic variety of beers for customers to choose from. The utilization of more time-honored processes, which sets these beers apart from others produced using more contemporary techniques, is what gives these beverages their unique character.
Using the traditional approach yields a beer that has a more robust flavor and less carbonation than using the modern method. This indicates that the beer has a more creamy texture and a more robust taste. Visit the Santiam Brewery if you are interested in trying out a variety of beers; they are sure to have something that will pique your interest.
Conclusion
With its many wineries and vineyards, Salem is a city that is full of life. There is always something to do, and the city has several great attractions. From the Salem Public Library to the Oregon State Capitol, there are several places to explore. The city also has several great restaurants, bars, and cafes, making it a great place to eat and drink.
Salem is also home to several museums, including the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and the Thomas Hart Benton County Museum. With so much to see and do, Salem is a city that is sure to please.