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.

Eugene is many things. A damp city in the woods. A hippie Mecca. A university town. Founded in the 19th century by Eugene Skinner (strange how he gave it his 'first' name), the town has grown to approximately 140,000 inhabitants. It is the seat of Lane county and hub (along with its sister city, Springfield) of the local timber industry.

Get around

 • Bike -- Eugene has an excellent system of bike routes 
 • Take the Lane Transit District (LTD) bus

Activities

 • Climb Spencer's Butte (the long way)
 • If weather is nice go rock climbing at the columns on Skinner's Butter (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 is the biggest hippie gathering. Tons of great food, great hand made products to buy, great music and a lot of fun.
 • Eugene Celebration (2nd weekend in September)

Dining

 • Zenon Cafe 898 Pearl St (541-343-3005)
 • Marche Restaurant in the 5th Street Public Market (296 E 5th, 541-342-3612)
 • Keystone Cafe (395 W 5th Ave, 342-2075)
Get a copy of the latest "Chow " from the Eugene Weekly for a complete listing of restaurants

Drink

 • High Street Brewery & Cafe (1243 High St, 345-4905)
 • Allann Brothers coffee
 • Adam's Place (30 E Broadway, 541-344-6948)

Lodging

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.

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 Perpetual Interpretive Nature Center (on coast north of Yachats)