CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: MELANIE GRIFFIN (2); ERIN SACKETT UNIVERSITY OF OREGON Home to athletes and scholars, the University of Oregon campus offers museums and a 295-acre (119-ha) arboretum with more than 4,000 trees. The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art and Museum of Natural and Cultural History offer continually changing exhibits, as does the nearby Maude Kerns Art Center. Stroll down 13th Avenue for a taste of college life, with many shops, cafes and budget-friendly restaurants for a quick lunch. Stock up on Ducks apparel for the whole family at The Duck Store. After cheering on the Ducks in your favorite sport, join friends for burgers at McMenamins East 19th Street Cafe or a pie at Hey, Neighbor! Pizza House. For leisurely dining, try Beppe & Gianni’s Trattoria or Taste of India. Vero Espresso House and Tailored Coffee Roasters are great places to hang out, even if you don’t need to study. Warm summers call for a scoop of Oregon Bing cherry or rocky road at longtime favorite Prince Puckler’s ice cream shop; for waffles, try Moke’s Coffee & Kitchen. Hendricks Park is an excellent place to spend time outdoors among thousands of rhododendrons and azaleas that flower around May. Nearby is Pre’s Rock, a memorial for Steve Prefontaine where runners often leave tokens to his memory like race bibs, medals and running shoes. SOUTH EUGENE Take a drive into the green hills of South Eugene to see the quiet side of town. Explore the Friendly neighborhood — a great hangout spot with a market and food carts. Here, you can take a breathtaking hike on the Ridgeline Trail or a jog on the wood-chip paths of Amazon Trail. Visit nearly 40 birds of prey at the Cascade Raptor Center. Dining options abound in South Eugene. Try pastries at Metropol Bakery or Hideaway Bakery — great in winter with two fireplaces — for breakfast. The Friendly Garden food-cart pod offers meals for a range of tastes from Japanese home cooking to pizza. Enjoy classic and experimental brews at Drop Bear Brewery. Browse Bo’s Wine Depot for the perfect bottle of wine or take a picnic to Wayne Morse Family Farm, now a city park. NORTH EUGENE & OAKWAY CENTER Another quiet neighborhood where residents dine and play, North Eugene is well worth a stop during your stay. Oakway Center, anchored by the Hyatt Eugene, has shops, markets and restaurants, like Sabai, where you can enjoy colorful Thai dishes, or Eugene Running Company, which can help with anything from shoes to trail tips. Nourish yourself at healthy eateries like Nekter Juice Bar and locally owned Cafe Yumm!. Farther afield, try a farm-to-table meal at Northwest-themed North Fork, steaming Vietnamese soup at Pho the Good Times or a pastry at Southpine Bakery. Valley River Center has even more shops and nearby attractions to explore. Venture onto the bike path running along the north bank of the Willamette River, take in a movie at Regal Valley River Center, or bowl a game or two with the family at Round 1 Bowling & Amusement. For a classic diner experience, order a cheeseburger and milkshake at retro DickieJo’s Burgers. Hayward Field Salt & Straw at the Oakway Center Cascade Raptor Center Eugene, Cascades & Coast Visitor Center | 754 Olive St, Eugene 42 EUGENE & WILLAMETTE VALLEY
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