Story and photos by June Russell-Chamberlin (unless otherwise indicated)
With its embrace of arts and the outdoors — as well as award-winning beer and wine — Eugene draws adventurers and art lovers to its tree-shaded streets and trails. The mid-size city in the Pacific Northwest is home to the University of Oregon and the Ducks, a world-class art museum, more than 12 miles of hiking and running trails and a laid-back, Gore-Tex-and-fleece-wearing population. Surrounded by forested hills and the picturesque farms and vineyards of the South Willamette Valley, Eugene melds culture and outdoor fun.
Where is Eugene?
About 110 miles south of Portland on Interstate Highway 5 (or I-5 as the locals call it), Eugene lies at the south end of the Willamette (pronounced will-AM-it) Valley in Lane County. The Coast Range foothills define the western edge of town, while Spencer Butte marks the southern boundary. The Oregon coast is 60 miles to the west and the Cascade Mountains are 60 miles to the east, making both ideal for a day trip.
Getting There & Getting Around
Visitors can fly into the Eugene Airport (EUG) or drive two hours south from the Portland International Airport (PDX). Several shuttle services run between Eugene, Salem and the Portland airport, including the Hub Airport Shuttle, Bolt Bus and Groome Transportation. Amtrak also connects downtown Eugene to downtown Portland.
Once you’re here, having a car in Eugene is helpful if you plan on exploring the neighboring countryside (full of farms, small towns and wineries) on your own, hiking or taking a trip to the mountains or coast. Eugene has 187 miles of bike paths and lanes, so bring your bike or borrow one of the blue PeaceHealth Rides bicycles, which are part of a bike share program in the downtown core and university area. Lyft and Uber also offer flexible transportation.
Eugene’s Pioneer Past
Eugene Skinner, a native of Essex, New York, arrived in the Willamette Valley in 1846 seeking a place to establish a homestead. While scouting the area, Skinner met two Native Americans from the Kalapuya tribe, who advised him to build his cabin high on the slopes of a butte beside the river, safely above the winter floods. He did, and the butte has borne the name Skinner Butte ever since.
The next spring Skinner brought his wife Mary to the cabin and began farming and operating a ferry across the river. He and Judge D. M. Risdon platted the city in 1852, and Mary named it after her husband. Skinner donated land for county buildings and became the county clerk and postmaster. Just as the native people had warned, the area flooded frequently from October to April, earning the townsite the nickname Skinner’s Mudhole. Skinner fell ill after attempting to rescue his cattle from the flood waters and never fully recovered. He died on December 15, 1864.
Stay in a University of Oregon-Themed Hotel
Just blocks from where it all started on Skinner Butte, the hip Graduate Hotel in downtown Eugene embraces local flair and Northwest design throughout its 275 rooms and lobby. From the 43 pairs of Nike running shoes lining the front desk (Nike founders Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman introduced their shoes with waffle-pattern soles at the University of Oregon) to the bigger-than-life duck pull toy in the lobby, the Graduate is full of playful nods to the U of O, Nike and the Northwest. Wood-paneled rooms with forest green accents, Native American motifs and floor-to-ceiling windows bring the Northwest inside. Track Town-emblazoned pillows and waffle-iron lamps highlight Eugene’s running-inspired moniker: Track Town USA.
The location can’t be beat: Shops, brewpubs, restaurants, Saturday Market and the Hult Center for the Performing Arts are all within walking distance. For more places to stay, read this article about lodging in the South Willamette Valley.
Things to do in Eugene, Oregon
With its focus on the arts and the outdoors, it’s not surprising that both top the list of locals’ favorite activities. Running trails, hiking trails, bicycle paths, rock climbing and golf are all right in town — making a quick, fresh air jaunt easy. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, grab a sudsy pint at one of the more than 20 brewpubs in town or indulge in farm-to-table dining at several outstanding restaurants.
Crowned by Spencer Butte in south Eugene, the Ridgeline Trail system provides 12 miles of mixed-use trails in the surrounding hills, with access from seven trailheads. Locals often hike the 1.7-mile Spencer Butte summit trail for the panoramic views of Eugene and the surrounding valley.
More than 12 miles of paved paths line both sides of the Willamette River and connect Eugene and neighboring Springfield. The Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path, which crosses the river on five pedestrian bridges, winds past Skinner Butte, the Owen Rose Garden, the Eugene Science Center (a children’s science museum and planetarium), a dog park at Autzen Stadium, and a 1:1 billion scale model of the solar system.
Art aficionados flock to the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art on the University of Oregon campus. The museum offers world-class visiting exhibits as well as exhibits drawn from its own extensive collections of Chinese, Japanese, Korean and American art. Be sure to ask about the Guide by Cell program, which uses your cell phone to present an interactive audio guide to the museum. Several art galleries call downtown Eugene home, where the buildings double as canvases for the 20×21 Mural Project. Most of the 22 murals (at last count) are downtown, but a keen eye will spot murals in other parts of town as well.
More Fun Things To Do in Eugene
See where Eugene began at the top of Skinner Butte. Walk or drive to the park at the summit, where panoramic views stretch to the forested hills and Spencer Butte on the southern horizon. Go at sunset to watch the lights wink on as the sun drops behind the trees.
Admire the raptors — from diminutive but fierce American kestrels to steely-eyed bald eagles — at the Cascades Raptor Center in the south Eugene hills. Visitors can get a closeup look at more than 36 resident birds of prey.
Scale Skinner Butte at The Columns, a columnar basalt formation on the west side of Skinner Butte where local rock climbers practice their skills. If the weather is lousy, head for Crux Rock Climbing Gym and Elevation Bouldering Gym, both located near the base of the butte.
See the world’s oldest running shoes at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History on the University of Oregon campus. The 10,000-year-old sagebrush sandals are among the museum’s collection of prehistoric and Native American artifacts from Oregon. The museum also features exhibits on prehistoric animals, fossils, geology, archaeology and much more.
Get lost among the books at Smith Family Bookstore. As famous in Eugene as Powell’s City of Books is in Portland, Smith Family Bookstore fills a historic building with an extensive collection of new and used books as diverse and culturally rich as the Eugene community itself.
Stop and smell the roses at the Owen Rose Garden. From May to October, 4,500 rose bushes representing more than 400 varieties bloom in the riverside garden. A central gazebo, rose-covered arches and shaded picnic tables invite flower lovers to stroll and linger.
Where to Eat and Drink
From fine dining to casual beer gardens and comfort food, Eugene tempts locals and visitors alike with a variety of outstanding restaurants. You’ll find the locals gathered for breakfast at the award-winning Glenwood or indulging in the tasty fare at Eugene’s oldest vegetarian restaurant, Morning Glory Café. Another favorite for breakfast is Studio One, a classic movie-themed hangout that serves the usual egg dishes, plus a variety of egg benedicts, French toast and more. Don’t miss the chocoholic pancakes.
All of these restaurants also serve lunch. If everybody in your group wants something different, head for 5th Street Market, where local restaurants offer a variety of menus in a food court setting. Craving deli sandwiches, soup, salad or hearth-baked pizza? Head downstairs to Provisions, where you’ll find all that and much more. As the name suggests, it’s a good place to grab picnic supplies before touring local wineries or heading out for a hike.
If you’re looking for some of the tastiest food trucks in Eugene, you’ll find them gathered at Beergarden. At least five food trucks offer a variety of flavors, from burgers to poke. Brew pubs offer some of the best casual farm-to-table dining in town. Three pubs to try: Steelhead Brewery, Cornucopia and Falling Sky Brewing. For fine dining, you can’t go wrong with the Italian ristorante Excelsior, Beppe and Gianni’s Trattoria, French-inspired cuisine at Marché or the award-winning local favorite Cafe Soriah, which dishes up Mediterranean flavors from Cairo to Athens.
Plan Your Weekend in Eugene
With so much to discover and taste, you’ll want to spend a weekend in Eugene — or longer — to enjoy all that the city has to offer. Hike the trails, tour the brew pubs, or discover the galleries and murals downtown. Wherever your adventures lead you, you’ll enjoy a weekend brimming with outdoor fun, outstanding food and unique art in Eugene.
