Fun and outdoorsy activities to do in and around Eugene in as the weather gets warmer.
Spring into spring this year and experience all that Oregon has to offer. As the weather lightens up there are signs of life all around us, open your eyes and embrace the season of revival. The days are longer, the birds are louder, and the sun is brighter, so here are a few ideas to make this spring a special one.
Gardening
Has your thumb looked or felt green lately? If so, maybe some good ‘ol gardening is calling to you. Spring is the time to get some starts going, weed out your garden bed, and get everything ready for summer. Some fruits, vegetables, and flowers are ready to go now while others require warmer, more stable weather for growth. Here are a few online resources for where to start, and since everywhere is different, make sure to look at our region specifically.
Online resources include: The Old Farmer’s Almanac, The Johnson Brother’s Gardening Calendar, and OSU Extension: Monthly Garden Calendars
Tulip Farm
If you’re looking for a destination, the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is definitely that. Their annual Tulip Festival, held from March 22nd to May 5th, is a celebration of spring, featuring hundreds of varieties of tulips, in almost any color you could imagine. The festival also provides carnival food, booths, and a hot air balloon if you want to get an aerial view of the fields. The farm is located in Woodburn Oregon, and tickets are required for admission to the festival. You can get tickets and additional information on the bloom status and festival details on their website, woodenshoe.com. 33814 S Meridian Rd, Woodburn, OR 97071
Go to a Sports Game
Do you want to do something with friends and family outside but aren’t very interested in plants? Maybe a baseball or basketball game is for you! The Eugene Emeralds Baseball and Ducks baseball and softball teams have games weekly, so pick an afternoon or evening and head on down to the stadiums for a good time. To find information on schedules and tickets, visit their websites, milb.com and goducks.com. Go Ducks!
Hendricks Park!
Hendricks park, a local Eugene favorite, has a large variety of flowers to enjoy, many of which are in bloom right now. As the oldest park in Eugene, Hendricks features a 12-acre rhododendron garden, as well as a native plant garden that would make for a great picnic spot, birthday outing, or a walk with friends and family. If you’re wanting to go on a hike or jog, the trail systems that surround the park are a great option. This is the best time to see native flowers in bloom, such as the Oregon grape or trillium. Dogs are permitted on the hiking trails but aren’t allowed in the gardens. Tucked on the hill just a mile or so from the University of Oregon, Hendricks park is definitely worth a visit this spring.
Road Trip to Silver Falls
Another roadtrip for you could be Silver Falls. Closer to Salem, Silver falls is the largest state park in Oregon and is a prime hiking destination. While it’s a beautiful place anytime of year, the ten waterfalls that you can view by taking a 7-mile loop (trail of ten falls), has the strongest waterflow in the winter and spring, which makes for a thrilling experience. As you hike you’ll see waterfall after waterfall, some of which you can go behind and around, which can be a once in a lifetime experience. If hiking’s not your thing but you’d still like to feel the power of thousands of gallons of water flowing off a cliff, then both the North and South falls are accessible by just a short walk from the parking lot. If you can’t get enough, there’s over 9000 acres of land to explore, so if you’ve got a day off, going up to Silver Falls is a great way to spend it.
Saturday Market & Farmer’s Market
The Eugene Saturday market and farmer’s market are back and moving into full swing. After a long winter, the 55th year of the Saturday Market has begun and is a great way to be part of the community, enjoy live music, support local artisans, and food vendors. The farmers market in Eugene runs 9am-3pm every Saturday, across the street from the art vendors, at the new Farmer’s Market Pavilion downtown. Oregon’s climate and geographical location supports a robust variety of agriculture, which allows local farms to grow amazing produce. If you are interested in organic farming and local food systems or just want food that is fresh, this is a great way to support that. So on any Saturday that you’re looking for something to do with a friend or family, head downtown and feel the vibrancy of spring and our community.
Enjoy the Outdoors
Maybe you’re not looking for a big outing but rather something you can do today. Take advantage of the nice weather and go for a bike ride, a walk or even a drive! This can be a nice way to take in the beauty all around us. Delta ponds and the areas surrounding are full of life this time of year, on a sunny day you’ll see turtles basking on logs, egrets posing, and maybe even goslings or ducklings in late spring.
It’s safe to say that pretty much no matter where you go around here, you can see the beauty of spring. It goes by fast so don’t forget to “stop and smell the roses,” take some pictures, and get some vitamin D. Get outside and enjoy the sunshine. Happy spring.
The Axe 