I’m tentatively planning a trip to Eugene for June. My kid’s dad lives out there and after 13 years, he called us up and invited us out for a visit. I’m inclined to go. My questions:
What cool things should we do and see while we’re there?
Where are the best thrift stores?
What about places to stay that might not be on the Internet?
Neighborhoods to avoid?
Best driving route (from Ohio)?
And other stuff like that. I’d especially like to hear from Dopers who live in Eugene or used to live there. Any advice would be appreciated.
I lived there for 2 years. There aren’t really bad neighborhoods-- it’s just not that large of a town. Maybe go canoeing on the MacKenzie river? There’s not much in town, but nature stuff is really good-- hiking, et al. You’ll be about an hour from the coast, a town called Florence is straight west, I believe, and pretty pleasant. If you want to drive another hour southish the Oregon Aquarium might be nice. There might be some interesting B&B type places but someone who still lives there will be of more help.
As for a driving route, I think it’s all bleak until you hit the rockies-- I’ve gone from Oregon to the midwest two routes-- one via Chicago and the SD thing, up through WY and MT, north Idaho and down eastern Washington to the Columbia; the second time we actually went via Saint Louis and Denver and then caught up with I-90 again in Montana. We were with a U-haul so the routes right across Utah and such weren’t too attractive-- there’s one major northern route (I-90, catching 395 and 84 to Portland after Spokane, then I-5 to Eugene) or a much more southern route which I don’t know much about-- I feel like you’d have to make long tracks through CA. From Bloomington, IN, I think we took legs. . . day 1 a shortish day to Rockford ILL, day 2 to. . . somewhere in South Dakota. Some. . . town. Then to Sheridan, WY, then to Coeur d’Alene (Montana is very large-- at least there’s not really a serious speed limit), and then you can get to Eugene in 8 hours. The west is very large.
Yeah, since you’re from the midwest, you’ll definitely want to see the coast. And the dunes are impressive too. Watch out for the sandworms, though.
On the way to Eugene, you might want to hit the Bend area or Crater Lake.
(I know nothing about Eugene itself, though, since I’ve only ever been there flying through on I-5. Maybe you can go on an anarchist-watching trip or something?)
I lived in Eugene for a couple of years as well… but that was back in '90 or '91. I’m sure things have changed quite a bit.
Right next to Eugene is the quaint little town of Springfield, which I am convinced was Matt Groening’s inspiration for the Simpsons’ hometown.
A bit north, towards Corvallis, is Mary’s Peak; a gorgeous view of the Willamette Valley from up there, and absolutely the best place to spend an evening watching a meteor shower in the region.
A bit east (? My memory is hazy. It was a long time and a whole lifetime ago for me) is the Slide Creek area. Gorgeous camping, and some natural hot springs where you’re liable to find naked hippies playing didgeridoos (you have to hike in, but it’s not too far off the road… maybe 1/4 mile or so).
If you’re so inclined, you can drive up to Salem and see the depths to which humanity can sink when the vigilance of the good and wise lapses. While there, you can visit the Oregon State Mental Institute where I used to work; they filmed One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest there, and if you pop into the Administration building, you can see the water fountain thingy that the Indian threw through the window in that movie (assuming they haven’t moved it, that is…).
Oh! And if you’re there at the right time, the Oregon Country Fair is great fun for hippies and non-hippies alike, and is very close to Eugene.
I’m trying to think what else there is to do… hmmm… if you’re into wine, there are a lot of wineries in the Willamette Valley, and you could go on a wine-tasting tour.
The 2005 Oregon Folk Festival kicks off tomorrow evening on the UO campus.
You’ll have no trouble finding thrift stores. Trust me.
I probably live in one of the worse neighborhoods and all I worry about is an occasional homeless man sleeping next to my front gate and my 40 year-old neighbors that ride minature motorcycles.
I’m not an outdoors-y type guy so I don’t have much in the way of hiking or bike trails (though there are a ton of both if you are).
Do a google search for “The Hult Center”. We get lots of big ballet troupes, comedians, musicians, etc. I think Yo-Yo Ma is accompanying our orchestra this year.
I always take I-84 onto South I-5 to avoid Portland (though that would only be practical if you’re planning on coming through Idaho). If you come down that way there are a ton of neat places to visit just off the highway south of Portland (The Rose Garden, OMSI [actually that’s downtown, but super cool])
Make sure and go to the Saturday Market at least once and absorb some local free-spirited flavor (I didn’t like it but I’m glad I went). Located in downtown Eugene every saturday, round-abouts 8th and Pearl st.
I’d be happy to look around for anything in particular.
I lived there for a year. The best things about it were the natural beauty around it, and the food. Lots of good, inexpensive, generally healthy places to eat out. Hit the Cafe Xenon if it’s still there for a slightly more expensive special occasion meal. Tasty tasty. The saturday market on saturday mornings is an institution. Walking around the U of O campus is pretty. There are at least two really fine brew pubs. The one on 18th (if I remember correctly) is pretty darn good. If you get a chance, drive out to the coast. If you drive out to Florence, stop at Dixie’s Cafe on the way out of town. Fine, fine diner food in a great atmosphere. That’s all I can think of right now. Not really a bustling sort of town, pretty laid back.
I’ve lived in within an hour of Eugene my entire life. Definitely don’t miss the Saturday Market, especially the open-mike area.
The Aquarium is north of Florence, in Newport. It’s where Keiko lived for a few years.
Matt Groening grew up in Portland, OR, and the layout of Springfield is based on Portland, IIRC. He makes fun of Eugene a lot though.
Eugene has a fair-sized drug culture, too. It is in one of the highest meth-producing counties in the US, and also big on pot.
If you want to do things with your kids, there are a million great hikes within minutes of Eugene. Get a book to help you decide which one is appropriate for you. If you decide to go to Florence, the lake Tachenich trail is less than 6 miles roundtrip, and takes you out to the ocean. You can find it if you drive 10 miles south of Florence on Hwy 101.
Eugene is kind of where old hippies go to die when they get distracted on their way to Berkely. If you can, extend your visit to early July, when the Oregon Country Fair is in full swing. Eugene has no law prohibiting female toplessness, so you can see all of the saggy-breasted earth muffins you want.
I thought Woodstocks was a CA thing. . ok, there’s one in Corvallis. . .
No, for pizza in Eugene, it’s Pegasus. For drink it’s the High Street McMennamins. That’s the facts, guys.
Thanks everybody for your ideas and suggestions. I’ve revived this thread because I’m scheduled to leave for OR on Saturday or Sunday.
Does anybody else have any suggestions/ideas for stuff to do? My kid’s dad has lived there for years so I think we’ll have a lot of fun regardless. Just basically looking for housekeeping type details that someone from Ohio would not know about Eugene.
Any Dopers who live out there now? Dopefest, anyone?
If you wouldn’t mind a little further driving north into Salem or Corvallis, I’d be interested in a small 'fest, assuming anyone else is too. Would be more fun than sitting around my apartment like I do every other weekend.
