Do you ever feel like going back to the 60's? Well you can do that in Eugene. Sort of. Of course, there is more to this Northwest city than that, but it is part of what makes it so charming.
Do you wonder about the raindrop photo? Well...it rains almost the whole Winter and into the Spring, but it is usually a light rain and most locals don't bother with umbrellas. Everything stays really green!
I lived there for 20 years and I miss it. Here are my favorite things about Eugene.
Do you wonder about the raindrop photo? Well...it rains almost the whole Winter and into the Spring, but it is usually a light rain and most locals don't bother with umbrellas. Everything stays really green!
I lived there for 20 years and I miss it. Here are my favorite things about Eugene.
In a Nutshell
If you are a fan of organic and natural foods, you will find as you look at product labels that many of them are produced in the Eugene area. This is a bicycle friendly community with many green areas and bike and walking paths, numerous large and small natural food stores, excellent restaurants and a burdgeoning arts scene as well as a hot-bed of holistic and alternative healing.
It is the home of the University of Oregon, an excellent institution with dedicated and talented faculty, which gives it that college community/academic feel.
About an hour's drive to the west is the Pacific Ocean and an hour to the east are the Cascade Mountains and some great winter skiing. On the way to the Cascades you follow along the McKenzie River which offers fabulous rafting, fishing, waterfalls and hot springs.
Located in a valley between 2 mountain ranges, the climate is moderate and though it rains all winter and into the spring, camelias and magnolia trees bloom in the winter and daffodils, forsythia and other "spring" flowers start to emerge as early as February. True spring is a profusion of azaleas, rhododendrons and ginestra. The air hangs heavy with scent.
It is the home of the University of Oregon, an excellent institution with dedicated and talented faculty, which gives it that college community/academic feel.
About an hour's drive to the west is the Pacific Ocean and an hour to the east are the Cascade Mountains and some great winter skiing. On the way to the Cascades you follow along the McKenzie River which offers fabulous rafting, fishing, waterfalls and hot springs.
Located in a valley between 2 mountain ranges, the climate is moderate and though it rains all winter and into the spring, camelias and magnolia trees bloom in the winter and daffodils, forsythia and other "spring" flowers start to emerge as early as February. True spring is a profusion of azaleas, rhododendrons and ginestra. The air hangs heavy with scent.
The Basics
- City of Eugene
- This is the official site for the city and will give you all kinds of useful info: restaurants, brewpubs, events, etc...
- The University of Oregon
- The University of Oregon is a great asset to the community. It is an excellent school with a beautiful campus.
- Eugene Weekly
- Make sure you pick up a copy of this free weekly newspaper. It has a calendar of events as well as great articles. Check out each issue on line, too.
- The Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon
- The Register-Guard is the main daily newspaper for Eugene, Springfield (right next door), and Lane County, Oregon. It is a very, very good paper. Check it out online before you go for your visit.
Where to Stay in the CIty
- The Excelsior Inn & Cafe
- A lovely place to stay right next to the university and a very good restaurant. It is located in the shopping area which has grown up next to the school.
- Valley River Inn
- The Valley River Inn is located on the banks of the Willamette River. Not a high-rise, this hotel is large, pleasant and right on the city's major bike/walking path. Footbridges on the pathway connect to the other side of the river where the Rose Garden and a large greenway is located.
The Sunday morning brunch here is fabulous. - Hilton Hotel, Eugene, Oregon
- The Eugene Hilton hotel is a high rise hotel located right next to the Hult Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Eugene. It is within walking distance of many nice restaurants, the 5th Street Public Market, Saturday Market and the downtown area.
If you plan to attend a performance at the Hult Center or visit during the Eugene Celebration, held in September, this would be a good place to stay. - The Campbell House Inn
- The Campbell House is rated among the "Top 25 Inns in America" by American Historic Inns. This large 8 bedroom B & B is located within walking distance of the 5th Street Public Market.
- Secret Garden Bed & Breakfast Inn
- A top-rated B & B by Frommers, this inn is located within walking distance of the University of Oregon. With ten delightful, light-filled rooms and a unique garden, this is a very nice place to stay.
Filmed in Eugene
National Lampoon's Animal House (Full Screen Double Secret Probation Edition)
Yes, the all-time great college movie with John Belushi and friends was filmed in Eugene and nearby Cottage Grove. I wish I had been there when it was happening, but I just missed it. This is a classic and you can see parts of the UO campus in Eugene and the downtown of nearby Cottage Grove in the film.
Amazon Price: $11.49 (as of 12/18/2009) 
Prefontaine
If you are a fan of running, you will enjoy this film about the famous runner, Steve Prefontaine. It includes scenes about the then-track coach Bill Bowerman and his development of the Nike running shoe. Eugene has been known as the track capitol of the world. The city is full of running trails and the university has a world-class track where incredible track meets take place every year. My ex-husband produced this movie!
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/18/2009)
Where to Eat
For a choice of casual daytime meals and snacks try the 5th Street Market and, on the weekends in the summer, the Saturday Market. Check out the links below for more of the best.
- The Keystone Cafe - 5th and Lawrence - Eugene, Oregon
- The Keystone Cafe is located on the corner of 5th and Lawrence streets. This is THE "back to the 60's" place to eat. Breakfast is the BEST! They have a great selection of healthy pancakes. It is a little bit "funky", but a great place to eat.
- Eugene Weekly's Annual Manual: Best of Eugene Restaurants
- "There's no place like Eugene for cuisine. We've got upscale, we've got downscale, we've got steaks and fries, tabouleh and pies. What makes the cuisine scene in Eugene the best is so much culinary diversity."
Here it is all tied up in a nice package. What more could I say? Check this out for the very best eateries in Eugene. It is right on. Don't miss Cafe Zenon for desserts (meals, too!). - All Things Vegetarian
- A listing of vegetarian options in Eugene, including restaurants and health food stores.
Things to See & Do
- 5th Street Public Market
- An absolute must-see. An indoor/outdoor marketplace with a variety of shops, eating kiosks and artist's booths. Check out the Metropol Bakery downstairs, even if you only look in the windows. You can watch them mix up batches of heavenly cakes, breads and cookies.
- Saturday Market
- Another "don't miss" to add to your agenda. You will feel like you are back in the 60's. An open air market with music, food and artist booths. A Farmer's Market is just across the street. You could hang out here for hours.
- Hult Center for the Performing Arts
- For a performance, or just to stop by and tour a beautiful building, visit the Hult Center.
There are 2 theatres inside and many interesting permanent works of art, including the tiles in the bathrooms. Take a tour, too, with the tour guide program which I started up many years ago. You can see the dressing rooms with their autograph walls and many other things behind the scenes. The Bach Festival, held here yearly, is very popular among classical music enthusiasts. - The Oregon Country Fair
- No, its not the County fair, it is the Country Fair. Held not far outside of Eugene at the beginning of July every year, it IS the 60's revisited. Magical, musical, fun, delicious, artistic, crazy... I'm sure you will even see someone there who is naked and painted gold or silver.
Don't miss it. Take plenty of cash with you. You'll want to buy crafts and eat all kinds of interesting, good-for-you food. - The Bijou Cinema
- The Bijou offers very interesting films not often seen in the standard movie theater. Everything about the Bijou is different: the snacks, the decor, the pre-movie slide shows and its location in a former church.
- WOW Hall
- The Community Center for the Performing Arts, located in the historic WOW ("Woodmen of the World") Hall is a nonprofit arts organization providing music, dance, performance, art and more. It is a "let it all out" kind of counter-culture, fun spot.
The Oregon Country Fair
Definitely Worth a Whole Day
Viking
Country Fair Man
Friends
Couple
Three Faces
Sierra
automatically generated by Flickr
Some of Eugene's Many Spritual Services
A Good reason--on its own--to visit Eugene
Take the opportunity while in Eugene to visit one of the resident astrologers, body workers, natural intuitives or other spritiual practitioners. Some practitioners with whom I am familiar and who do not have a website are as follows:
Hazel A. Courtman, accupressure and intuitive massage: 2691 McMillan St. Eugene, OR 97405 (541) 485-5835, hazelc@efn.org
Eriba Townsend, intuitive massage: The Healing Tree, 1095 C St, Springfield, OR 97477 (541) 746-8336
Melanie Lea: Astrology For Life including life transitions, insight, family dynamics, companion charts and readings for children. For appointments call Melanie Lea, 556-5275.
And, then, there are those with their own websites which you may visit.
Hazel A. Courtman, accupressure and intuitive massage: 2691 McMillan St. Eugene, OR 97405 (541) 485-5835, hazelc@efn.org
Eriba Townsend, intuitive massage: The Healing Tree, 1095 C St, Springfield, OR 97477 (541) 746-8336
Melanie Lea: Astrology For Life including life transitions, insight, family dynamics, companion charts and readings for children. For appointments call Melanie Lea, 556-5275.
And, then, there are those with their own websites which you may visit.
- Isha Lerner
- Isha is a brilliant, gentle and strong-hearted woman: an author, expert astrologer, talented guide to the tarot and specialist in flower essences. Check out her website to see all of her offerings. You can use her services from a distance or make an appointment with her for your visit to Eugene.
- Ker Cleary
- Not just a psychotherapist, Ker can offer you intuitive guidance as well. Very talented, reputable, artistic and an all-around nice person.
- Tamarack Wellness Center
- Tamarack Wellness Center offers yoga classes and other health and well-being programs and workshops. Check out their schedule and visit the center. There are massage therapists on site too. Sue, the owner, has been dreaming of and working toward this center for many years. Her dream come true is your good fortune.
- Unity of the Valley
- This is a fabulous all-inclusive church with a great minister. Aside from the weekly services, they offer many special programs, workshops and talks. A very popular and inspirational place to gather in Eugene.
- Kay Porter & Porter Performance Systems
- Kay Porter is a specialist in sports psychology and mental training for better performance. She also offers personal counseling and guided vision quests into the Wallowa Mountains, Mt. Hood, the Three Sisters Wilderness and on the Rouge River.
- Claudia Leone
- You may contact Claudia Leone through this webiste. Her specialty is tarot, astrology, and channeling. She encourages self Awareness and puts out a newsletter called "Love Notes", which you may access through this site, as well.
Isha Lerner's Tarot or Oracle Cards
All of Isha's cards are delightful and full of insight. Choose the deck you feel most drawn to. Whichever you chose, you will be happy. They are all beautifully illustrated and full of color and the insights and stories which accompany each card are interesting and profoundly helpful.
I want to highlight them here so you can more easily be aware of them, but visit her website--listed above--for a full description and to make purchases, as well.
I want to highlight them here so you can more easily be aware of them, but visit her website--listed above--for a full description and to make purchases, as well.
Inner Child Cards: A Fairy-Tale Tarot
I believe this was the first deck Isha put together. The interpretation of the stories as archetypal is so very interesting and eye-opening.
Amazon Price: $25.51 (as of 12/18/2009)
Inner Child Cards Workbook: Further Exercises and Mystical Teachings from the Fairy-Tale Tarot
A handy workbook with additional suggestion for using the Inner Child Cards.
Amazon Price: $11.20 (as of 12/18/2009)
The Triple Goddess Tarot: The Power of the Major Arcana, Chakra Healing, and the Divine Feminine
Focusing on the female Goddess as teacher and inspiration.
Amazon Price: $23.10 (as of 12/18/2009)
Tarot of the Four Elements: Tribal Folklore, Earth Mythology, and Human Magic
Based on the native familes' or tribes' connection with the Earth.
Amazon Price: $26.60 (as of 12/18/2009)
Power of Flowers
Flowers offer so much to us. This deck is a beautiful reminder of the power within us all.
Amazon Price: (as of 12/18/2009)
A Handy Reference Map + Eugene Authors
Eugene Springfield, Oregon: Street Atlas
Take a good map with you on your visit to assist in navigating the area. Springfield is Eugene's very close neighbor: they blend into each other.
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 12/18/2009)
The Mental Athlete
Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 12/18/2009)
Eugene: An Interesting Place to Visit/A Great Place to Live
If you plan to visit Eugene, I know you will enjoy your stay. Immerse yourself in the laid-back lifestyle. If you go in the summer you can be assured of nice days. In the spring, it may rain a bit, but the blooming flowers are fantastic. Check out my lens on the Oregon Coast, which is only an hour's drive west, and "Insider's Oregon" about the McKenzie River Drive, which begins in Eugene and heads east.
If you are a Squidoo member, please RATE THIS LENS by clicking on the stars above. Thanks! If you are not a member yet and like to write, consider joining. It is fun, rewarding and free!
If you are a Squidoo member, please RATE THIS LENS by clicking on the stars above. Thanks! If you are not a member yet and like to write, consider joining. It is fun, rewarding and free!
Add Your Comments Here!
Do you have connections to Oregon? Do you live in Eugene? Have you ever visited? Add any comments here.
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- Jill K. Jill K. Jun 30, 2009 @ 6:28 am
- I like Eugene so much that I bought a piece of property there and plan to relocate my daughter and myself before she starts school (she just turned three). Saturday Market is so much fun that I want to have a booth there! I'm gathering my plans together and as soon as the real estate market turns around, I'm out of here (Las Vegas) and moving there!
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- ArtByLinda ArtByLinda Jul 9, 2008 @ 11:13 am
- You've done an incredible job with this lens, I commend you! Eugene is beautiful! My husband lived there long ago. I would like to invite you to join my group called "Exploring Oregon", I am inviting lens' of quality and yours is one! You can look at the group there, and a> if you would like. :-) Thanks for sharing about Eugene, you did a wonderful job! Linda
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- Food_Junkie Food_Junkie Jan 23, 2008 @ 1:19 pm
- I understand while you love Eugene. Check out my Lens to see how the food scene is going.
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- Dennis_Pease Dennis_Pease Dec 2, 2007 @ 3:11 am
- Hi njg,
Great Lens, I bet you miss Eugene. I live in Florence and I'm a Real Estate Broker with RE/MAX Integrity in Eugene. This is just such beautiful country. I drive Hwy 126 about 3 days a week and I am always amazed at the beauty.
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- Tina Patel Tina Patel Aug 13, 2007 @ 6:22 pm
- Hi, we have a hotel in Eugene Oregon if you can plase add our hotel on your site. www.eugeneuniversityinn.com
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Other Oregon Lenses
Here are my other lenses about Oregon. Please give your rating to this lens and the others. Thank you for looking!
- The Beautiful Oregon Coast
- Favorite things about the Oregon Coast.
- Insider's Oregon
- Covering the McKenzie River Drive, Central Oregon and Southeastern Oregon.
- Portland, Oregon
- Favorite things about Portland.
- Yummy Oregon
- Oregon is well-known for a wealth of native foods and cuisine. Check here for some of what Oregon has to offer
by njg
Though I am still a Northwesterner at heart (I lived in Oregon for 20 years), I now make my home in beautiful, historic, semi-rural New England. Not f... (more)
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