Eugene, Oregon Fun Things To Do

Situated in the picturesque Willamette Valley, Eugene, Oregon is a vibrant destination where nature and culture are in harmony. With views of fir trees and the breathtaking Cascade Mountains, Eugene boasts exciting attractions, theaters, art galleries, parks, golf courses, wineries, restaurants and music clubs. Take in a live performance at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts.

Play on the banks of the Willamette River or explore the Science Factory Children's Museum & Planetarium. Shop from farmers and artisans at the Saturday Market and hear live music at clubs and pubs around town. Enjoy a wine tasting journey through the beautiful vineyards and wineries of Willamette Valley.From skiing to fishing, Eugene offers a myriad of recreational adventures.

One of the top cycling cities in the country, Eugene offers miles of scenic biking, walking and jogging trails and paths along the Willamette River and through neighborhood parks and gardens. Tee off on spectacular golf courses and PGA level country clubs. Go whitewater rafting or kayaking down the magnificent McKenzie River. Enjoy fly fishing for rainbow trout in one of the area's lakes or deep sea fishing in the Pacific Ocean. Drive east for snow skiing and snowboarding at winter mountain resorts in the Cascades.

Eugene, Oregon Attractions

University of Oregon

- Situated on a beautiful landscape in Eugene, the University of Oregon Eugene is a comprehensive research university for liberal arts, sciences, and the professions. Graduating generations of leaders since 1876, the flagship campus of the University of Oregon System offers diverse undergraduate, masters and doctoral programs through the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Education, School of Architecture and Allied Arts, School of Journalism and Communication, School of Music and the School of Law.With a spectrum of academic and athletic programs, you'll find a path that inspires you. Catch a track meet at the Hayward Field, site of several Olympic Trial events. Visit www.uo.edu

Lane Events Center

- Home to the Lane County Fair and Ice Center, the Lane Events Center hosts over 125 events, conferences, festivals and conferences each year, including the Oregon Logging Conference and Oregon Asian Celebration. The Ice Center and Hockey Arena is an Olympic-size skating facility with arena-style seating for 2,700 spectators. Figure skating and Ice Center programs provide learning opportunities and competitive events.

The Convention Center, with over 100,000 square feet of indoor facilities, 70,000 square-feet of continuous trade show space, loading docks, meeting rooms, on-site parking, and full-service event catering, is the ideal space for large trade shows, conventions and elegant banquets.

Autzen Stadium

- One of ESPN's Top 10 Intimidating Stadiums, Autzen Stadium is the legendary home of the University of Oregon Ducks football team. The most feared football venue in the Pac-10 Conference, Autzen Stadium seats up to 55,000 fans, and offers 32 new luxury suites and two private clubs. The stadium's valet bicycle parking celebrates the city's green friendly vibe.

Hult Center for Performing Arts Eugene, Oregon

Hult Center for the Performing Arts

- The cultural cornerstone of Eugene, the Hult Center is one of the busiest performing arts centers in North America. Comprised of the 2,500-seat Silva Concert Hall and the 500-seat Soreng Theatre, the design of the Hult Center is a major architectural and acoustical achievement. The Hult Center presents hundreds of year-round performances, concerts, art exhibits and events.

Art at the Hult includes a permanent collection on display and architecturally integrated visual art - one of the Hult's remarkable features.Ranging from hand-painted tiles in the restrooms to the house curtain in the Silva Concert Hall, works by 30 artists and artisans were executed with the construction. The Jacobs Gallery features changing exhibits by regional artists. For events and tickets, go to www.hultcenter.org .

Matthew Knight Arena

- Located at the University of Oregon, Matthew Knight Arena is home court for the University of Oregon men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams. The Arena also presents blockbuster concerts, performances, and sporting events such as Cirque Du Soleil: Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour. The Knight Vision boards are the largest and highest resolution video scoreboards in an NCAA arena. For upcoming events and tickets, visit www.matthewknightarena.com.

Fern Ridge Lake

- Just 12 miles northwest of downtown Eugene, Fern Ridge Lake is a dam-regulated lake for swimming, fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, and jet skiing. Six lakeside parks offer a variety of recreation, as well as boat access and watercraft rentals. Kirk Park - opposite the dam on Fern Ridge Lake - features a fishing dock, paved roads, trails, picnic tables, fire rings, canoeing and berry picking. Orchard Point Park offers moorage, boat ramps, boat and kayak rentals, picnic sites, swim, game and play areas, and a concession stand. Extensive wetlands provide unique habitats for a variety of wildlife and waterfowl. For information, call 541-682-4414.

McDonald Theater

- With a rich theatrical history starting in 1925, McDonald Theatre is a performing arts venue featuring live music concerts, films, theatrical shows, lectures, movies and community gatherings in Eugene, Oregon. The McDonald Theater hosts the city's most exciting concerts, events and stage performances and adds a unique cultural energy to downtown Eugene. For upcoming concerts and events, visit www.mcdonaldtheatre.com

McKenzie River

- Originating on the slopes of the western Cascades, the McKenzie River flows in crystal-clear torrents through lush alpine forests down into the pastoral McKenzie Valley near Eugene. Oregon's classic mountain rafting river, the beautiful Mckenzie River offers miles of exciting whitewater and playful class II and III rapids, as well as challenging waves, tubes and holes for kayakers and rafters who crave exhilaration. The McKenzie Rivers offers guided whitewater rafting trips, as well as excellent fly fishing spots for steelhead salmon and trout. The mountains around the river offer some of the most scenic and varied hiking in the Pacific Northwest.

Willamette River

- Flowing through the heart of Eugene, the Willamette River is the largest river entirely in the state of Oregon. A major tributary of the Columbia River, the Willamette River flows 187 miles northward through the Willamette Valley between the Oregon Coast Range and the Cascade Range, One of 14 American Heritage Rivers, the Willamette is one of the most popular fishing destinations in Oregon full of trout, salmon, sturgeon, walleye and smallmouth bass. The Willamette River offers excellent rafting, floating, canoeing and kayaking adventures. A great place to access the river is a mile east of Ferry Street Bridge. Float down just past Alton Baker Park and exit at the river path by Downtown Eugene.

Hendricks Park Rhododendron Garden

- Eugene's oldest city park, Hendricks Park offers 78 acres of beautiful parklands that include a mature forest, a native plant garden and a world-renowned rhododendron garden. Laced with trails, the park is a haven for hiking, biking, bird watching and urban serenity.

Retreat into nature, walking among 200-year old Douglas firs, ferns, and wildflowers, and over 6,000 varieties of rhododendrons. Nestled under a canopy of Oregon white oaks, Hendricks Park's 12-acre rhododendron garden offers winding walkways through the beauty of rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias, and viburnums.