Salem sits on the 45th Parallel, which means it's the center point between the North Pole and the equator. You'll have to brave the Interstate-5 median if you want to take a picture of yourself with the sign that announces this distinction.
He's a 22-foot statue positioned on top of the capitol rotunda and painted in gold leaf-and he looks like he's wearing a cape. Sadly, it's just a tarp because he's going to put up some shelters-like the pioneers did! This guy is basically Salem's superhero. You can see him for miles around as he guards the city.
John Heder hails from Salem. He's the star of Napoleon Dynamite, one of the most popular films to break out of the Sundance Film Festival. Heder moved to Salem with his family when he was two, and he graduated from South Salem High School-which had to have been an inspiration for the movie's weird brand of deadpan humor. Vote for Pedro!
Willamette University is the oldest in the American West. It has a lush, 69 acre campus, complete with its own stream, right next to downtown Salem. However, the roughly 2,800 coeds pretty much stay sequestered on campus. Their noses tucked into books, obviously.
Don't call that an overstatement until you try La Margarita's signature dish-a mesquite-grilled Enchilada Suiza, made with a Mexican cream sauce and handmade tortillas. And they boast more than 40 different tequilas which they use in their really, really strong margaritas.
A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Museum is right on the riverfront and features three historic houses that have been converted into intense play zones. And outside they've got even more fun stuff. Check out the 75-foot "Echo Tube" and the mammoth dig.
The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes are the city's minor league baseball team, affiliates for the San Francisco Giants. They've even got their own stadium just outside of town in nearby Keizer, and tickets are affordable and plentiful. Check out a game, but don't let the heat burn you!
As the state capitol, Salem is basically a low-calorie Washington D.C.: High on cherry blossoms and marble structures, low on corruption and intrigue. Done and done.
Gerry Frank's Konditorei is the ultimate deluxe dessert palace. They also do breakfast, lunch and dinner, but you might as well just get dessert first. And second. Try the Champagne Raspberry cake or Barney's Blackout, with five-count 'em, five-layers of chocolate.
The city hosts multiple bike races every year including the Monster Cookie Ride, and traffic is always bike-friendly for two-wheeled commuters. The Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway also runs right through Salem to nearby Keizer.
Head west from Salem and wind through scenic farmland, and then jump on the Van Duzer Corridor twisting through the forest. In about an hour you'll hit the magnificent Pacific Coast. It's that easy! And the perfect short day trip when you need some rest and relaxation.
The National Arbor Day Foundation has named Salem "Tree City U.S.A." for the last 30 years in a row, due to its dedication to forestry management and planning. Plus there are gorgeous cherry trees all over.
Before you hit Salem's mall, you'll pass through a quaint tree-lined city center. Be sure to check out the Reed Opera House, a multi-level antique building filled with quirky restaurants and cool shopping. And don't neglect the side streets where you'll find coffee houses, galleries, and boutiques staffed by in-the-know hipsters.
Historic Deepwood Estate is the perfect place to host your swanky events and parties. It has formal English gardens and a bunch of nature paths surrounding it if you're looking to get back to nature. Built in the 1890s in the Queen Anne Victorian style, it has pretty much been preserved in its natural state ever since. And no, it isn't haunted. Even though it looks like the perfect spot for a ghost, right?
Kettle Chips started in Salem in the early 1980s by a couple of guys in acid-washed jeans working out of a van. They wanted chips with all natural ingredients. Now the company is the biggest manufacture of natural potato chips in the U.S. And they keep coming out with increasingly bizarre flavors. Try Cheddar Beer or Maple Bacon.
The Summer Art Fair & Festival only lasts for three days every summer, but is it the place to be that weekend. 35,000 artists and tourists come from all over, there are beer and wine gardens, food booths and stages for live music and performances. And best of all, you'll always see a bunch of spritely fairy types/ex-hippies walking around.
The indoor Salem's Riverfront Carousel lets everyone channel their inner kid year-round. Each horse is a hand-carved and unique work of art. There's even a brass ring you can try to catch from the salmon's mouth to win a free ride!
Venti's Café + Taphouse specializes in local craft beers, and their selection is extensive. Salem has two locations that both offer gourmet-esque versions of bar food to accompany their real specialty: Beer in its many forms and splendors.
Silver Falls State Park is just 25 miles from Salem, and offers 9,000 acres of forest filled with walking paths (with the chance to see wildlife like bears and coyotes) and a ton of world class waterfalls perfect for Kodak moments.
Word of Mouth Neighborhood Bistro is a must for all foodies. The crème brulee French toast will astound you. The cinnamon roll pancake is ginormous. Or just savor the prawn, avocado and cheese omelet. Go early because there's always a wait.
You'll find the Pentacle Theater quaintly tucked into a woody enclave a few miles outside of town. This community theater puts on comedic, dramatic and other plays several times a year and they're always top-notch. If you're feeling brave, show up for an audition. Who knows, maybe you have a hidden flair for acting.
If you don't feel like driving outside of town to be surrounded by nature, Bush's Pasture Park has you covered. Tons of nature trails for walking, jogging, and bikes, as well as an art center, a greenhouse, rose gardens, tulip beds, tennis courts, a museum, several playgrounds, and open meadows for your Frisbee league. Whew!
The Enchanted Forest amusement park is a cray-cray must-do. You have to see it to believe it. You'll slide out of the mouth of a witch, tour through the crooked man's abode, and stroll through Hansel and Gretel's cottage. Life-size dioramas of your favorite nursery rhymes are set up along the wooded paths. There's also a haunted house, a log ride, and old western town, and a ton of other vaguely surreal attractions.
There are twelve scenic and delectable stops on the Salem Wine Trail. Which one is the best? It's a fiercely-debated topic. But let's face it, everyone's a winner when there are this many grapes, artisans, bouquets, and Pinots in such a concentrated area. Try out St. Innocent, Honeywood, Redhawk, and Firesteed Cellars to get you started.
The Oregon State Fair takes place in Salem every August. Scream on the rides, stuff your face with funnel cakes, or enter your livestock and quilts if you think you can compete in these ninja-level statewide competitions. There are also milk moustache and milk chugging contests for all the dairy aficionados out there.
You get cooler just by walking in. Ranch Records has been around since 1982, and it's where you'll find vintage LPs, rare imports, obscure tracks from bands you've barely heard of, and the collection of posters and music paraphernalia that you never knew you needed.
If you can't get to Paris for shopping, no problem. The French Unicorn is your hook-up. It has a chi-chi, vintage-y collection of feminine and flirty jewelry, clothes, and objet d'arts.
Croissant and Company has been around since forever, and there's a reason for that. They'll make you a perfect custom sandwich on awesome bread baked that very day. In the spring they have a booth at the Saturday Market where you can get fresh coffee and croissants. Beat that, McDonald's!
Ride the famous Willamette River Queen boat, or feel free to take a canoe or kayak if you want to keep it mellow. The park also features trails, a pavilion, a large "eco-globe" sculpture, and panoramic views of the river edge of Salem. What more do you need?
