Eugene, Oregon

The city of Eugene is located in west central Oregon, 66 miles (106 kilometers) south of Salem and 111 miles (179 kilometers) south of Portland. It is the county seat of Lane County, and home to 137,893 residents.

Well known for its "community inventiveness," Eugene is a place where citizens actively participate in shaping their city through actions and ideas. For example, the impressive 3,000+ seat Hult Center for the Performing Arts was built by local citizens, and the city's many co-operatives reflect the nonprofit, socially equitable mentality of local residents. Politically active and welcoming of alternative lifestyles, in Eugene you'll many student co-ops, alternative schools, and a natural food store in virtually every neighborhood.

Eugene has a vibrant and diverse arts scene, and the aforementioned Hult Center is the city's cultural hub. The Hult Center is home to the Eugene Symphony, Ballet, and Concert Choir, as well as the Oregon Mozart Players, the Willamette Repertory Theatre, and the John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts. The annual Oregon Bach Festival also takes place at the Hult Center. Don't worry if classical music isn't to your taste. Eugene is also home to many up-and-coming artists performing alternative, punk rock, and other cutting-edge genres.

The city is home to two commercial galleries. The Circle of Hands Gallery offers high-quality local arts and crafts, while the OPUS6IX Fine Art Gallery offers paintings, sculpture, glass and metal works. Theater buffs have a wide selection of companies to choose from, including the Lord Leebrick Theatre Company, the Actor's Cabaret, the Lane Community College Theatre, the University of Oregon's University Theatre, and the modestly named The Very Little Theatre.

If the Hult Center is the artistic hub of the city, then Alton Baker Park may well be its recreational hub. Spanning 400 acres (162 hectares), the park features the Science Factory Children's Museum and Planetarium, the Cuthbert Amphitheater, a BMX track, the Hays Memorial Tree Garden, the Ken Nielsen Gardens, and a boat launch. Another great local attraction is Eugene's Saturday Market, which runs from April through November, and provides a wonderful array of locally produced foods and crafts. For a great weekend outing, visit some of the numerous wineries around the city to sample the Willamette Valley's fine bouquets.

Dubbed "Track Town USA," Eugene is home to many devoted runners, and is the birthplace of Nike. In 2008, thousands of athletes and 350,000 spectators will head here for the US Olympic Track and Field Trials. A competition that determines which athletes will represent the country at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.

A nature lover's paradise, Eugene is surrounded by more than 2,500 acres (1,011 hectares) of wetlands, 30 miles (48 kilometers) of creeks and waterways, and hundreds of acres of forests. Miles of biking, jogging, and hiking trails are available, and the area also offers fantastic rafting and kayaking, along with a variety of fishing opportunities. A great outdoor escape is the Three Sisters Wilderness in the Willamette National Forest, which offers several 10,000-foot-high (3,048-meter-high) mountain peaks, a glacier, waterfalls, and abundant fishing. Other natural attractions include the spectacular Fall Creek Falls, the Oakridge hot springs, and the Willamette Pass Ski Resort located an hour's drive away.

With its outstanding arts scene, plentiful recreational opportunities, and great natural beauty, what's not to love about Eugene, Oregon?

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