Guide Exploring Eugene, Oregon | SolarTravels.com

<body> Destination Guides Search for a City Destination Guides > North America > USA > Pacific Northwest > Oregon > South through the Willamette Valley > Eugene Eugene Travel Options Flights Hotels Vacation Rentals Cars • Eugene • Practicalities • Hotels in Eugene EUGENE BE THERE NOW Hotels in Eugene • Hilton Eugene And Conference Center Eugene from $149.00 USD • Campus Inn And Suites Eugene from $91.00 USD • Red Lion Hotel Eugene Eugene from $119.45 USD More Hotels in Eugene >> READ IT HERE A lively mix of students, professionals, hippies and blue collars, EUGENE is Oregon's second largest city and a liberal enclave where the late Ken Kesey and some of his Merry Pranksters came to live after their retreat from central California. On a slightly different note, the town was also the filming location for much of the movie Animal House . Although short on sights, Eugene is an energetic cultural center, to which the University of Oregon in the city's southeast corner lends a youthful bohemian feel, especially along hip 13th Avenue just west of campus. The Hult Center for Performing Arts , Sixth Avenue and Willamette Street (tel 541/682-5746, ), is home to several arts organizations including the Eugene Opera, Eugene Symphony, Eugene Ballet Company, and renowned Oregon Bach Festival. The city has two big markets: the weekly Saturday Market , around Eighth Avenue and Oak Street (Apr-Dec 10am-5pm; ), is a thirty-year institution and something of a neo-hippie carnival, thanks to the live music and street performers. Tie-dye and wholefoods set the tone, but rastas, skateboarders, punks and students join in, too. Fifth Street Market is a staid boutique mall, with a handful of interesting arts, crafts and clothes stores. Eugene is also a prime spot for sports. Trails and paths abound for walkers and cyclists in the city center, along the river banks, and up imposing Spencer's Butte; you can rent bikes from Pedal Power, 535 High St (tel 541/687-1775) </body>