Located in the Pacific Northwest, Eugene, Oregon is known for many being beautiful, youthful and conveniently located. As of 2010, the population of Eugene was well over 156,000 people. In fact, it is Oregon’s second-most populated cities, next to Portland, Oregon.
Eugene’s largest employers are PeaceHealth Medical Group and the University of Oregon, however, the largest industry is in the wood manufacturing and recreational vehicle manufacturing businesses.
There is a strong community feel and the arts and culture of Eugene is very strong as well. Possibly known most for being the home of the Oregon Ducks, Eugene offers a wide variety of things to do and see for tourists as well as residents.
When visiting Eugene, there are several options for places to stay. A few of the more popular include:
- Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites – Springfield
- Budget Lodge – Eugene Airport Area
- Valley River Inn
- EVEN Hotel Eugene
- Driftwood Shores Resort
- The Village Inn
- Holiday Inn Eugene-Springfield
- Hilton Garden Inn Eugene-Springfield
Once in Eugene, there are many activities and events going on, as well as some sight seeing. Some of the popular things to do include:
- Eugene Ale Trail
- Visiting Sweet Creek Falls
- Eugene Distillery Trail
- Cycling to Main Street, Springfield
- Running
- Capella Market
- Blue Sky Market
- Alton Baker Park
In addition to providing visitors with beautiful scenery and nice places to stay, Eugene also offers some popular food and drink. Some of the more popular restaurants and breweries include:
- 16 Tons Taphouse & Bottleshop
- Bagel Sphere
- Voodoo Donuts
- Hop Valley Brewery
- Ninkasi Brewery Company
- Bay Street Grill
- McMenamins North Bank
- Off the Waffle
Eugene also offers a number of annual cultural events. These events range from the Asian Celebration, to the Oregon Festival of American Music, to the Lane County Fair. However, something to note about visiting Eugene is the air quality and allergies. Because Eugene is downwind of the Willamette Valley grass seed farms, there can be quite a lot of grass pollen.