Salem, Oregon, Things To Do – Attractions & Must See

Salem, Oregon, Things To Do

In the center of the Willamette valley sits Salem, the capital city of Oregon. It is a city that has a lot to offer visitorsHere are some of the most popular activities when you are visiting the city of Salem.

Minto Brown Island Park

This park is the ideal spot for any outdoors-lover visiting Salem. It is an nature preserve located on an island in the middle of the Willamette River. The large island has many miles of hiking and biking trails to take advantage of and some are even accessible by wheelchair. There is also a farm on the island still in operation. Know that areas of the island are susceptible to flooding, so certain parts of the park might not be accessible when you visit. The island is a popular site for bird-watchers because there are many migratory birds that like to rest on the island.

The Capitol Building

For a great unobstructed view of the city, make a visit to the tower of the Capitol building. While you are up there on a clear day, you can easily see the entire city and Mt. Ranier and Mt. Hood are visible on clear days. There are interior tours of the Capitol available every day except for Sunday and they run from 10 am to 5 pm each day.

Willamette Heritage Center

A wool mill and a Christian mission center were what originally drew people to settle in the valley, so these things are honored today at the Willamette Heritage Center. There are even three preserved homes built in the mid-1800’s that visitors can tour. Until a few years ago, this attraction was referred to as Mission Mill. On top of the preserved structures, the Heritage Center has a huge exhibit filled with machinery used in the 19th century. This is a must-see for Salem visitors with a penchant for history knowledge.

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