Air quality challenge: Pollen
Gem: Willamette River running through town framed by trees and an extensive bike path.
Eugene is a liberal college town with the University of Oregon centrally located. It's great for canoeing, kayaking, white water rafting, and biking.
For me the best thing to do was explore Eugene's bike and park paths, taking photographs of fall foliage.
Here are more things that you may enjoy.
Things to do in Eugene
Cascades Raptors: Raptors are amazing birds of prey that I recommend seeing up close and personal.
The Hult Center: Check out Eugene's performing arts center for ballet, music and theatre.
Eugene's Saturday Market: Every Saturday til mid-November enjoy great music, farmer's market, and local artisans selling crafts.
Nearby Nature: This nonprofit helps educate young and old about nature. Take a nature walk with them and learn along the way.
Powwows: Oregon is home to nine federally recognized tribes. Hundreds of centuries before Lewis and Clark laid eyes on Oregon, First Nation (Native Americans) people hunted, fished, gathered, and explored here, passing on their ancestral ways.
You can contact recreation services to get more ideas of what to do in Eugene. You'll learn where to flat-water kayak, sand-board, hike, and go birding in and near town.
Near Eugene
A visit to Florence on the Oregon Coast, provides clean marine air and lack of industry.
East of Eugene, the McKenzie River runs clean and pristine glacial water from the Cascade Mountains.
Take a bus from Eugene to the McKenzie Ranger Station where the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail begins. You can throw a mountain bike on the front of the bus for riding beginner friendly southern portion of the trail through deep old-growth forests.
Waldo Lake is one of the purest lakes in the world, where you can see depths of 120 feet on a calm day.
I'd planned to take a McKenzie float down the McKenzie River with Oregon River Sports, but my timing was off. I hear they're a great outfit to try if you go next summer.
Turned out I didn't take advantage of outdoor sports as I might have because I experienced allergies to grass seed pollens, currently harvested throughout the Willamette Valley.
Emmanuel, in guest services at the Marriott, told me in order to clear his sinuses he goes to Spencer Butte for a view of Eugene and to enjoy clear air breezes.
Spencer Butte is also the place to go for great photos of the city.
I particularly loved the natural setting of Eugene, and opportunities for fall foliage photography... right from my hotel.
Where To Stay
I stayed at the Residence Inn by Marriott in Eugene, which I highly recommend. It's set up for extended stays, and offers a full breakfast, heated pool and gym. Each room comes with a full kitchen, desk and internet access. A laundry mat on every floor.
The river and bike path were conveniently located across the street from the Marriott so I didn't need a car to find some of my best photo opportunities--I hope you agree! :-)
Residence Inn by Marriott in Eugene was comfortable and I had everything I could possibly need.
Eugene is a top spot in Oregon that combines cultural activities, and outdoor sports with a small town feel.
Residence Inn by Marriott sponsored my Eugene stay.
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