Archive for the ‘Things to Do In Salem’ Category

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Travel Salem Hosts Back to School Event on First Wednesday!

Monday, August 30th, 2010

Plan to celebrate the a wonderful eclectic downtown Salem Oregon on Wednesday, September 1 for this month’s First Wednesday! First Wednesday is Salem’s favorite evening event, always scheduled on the first Wednesday of each month throughout the year. Events and activities are scheduled from 5 PM to 8 PM.

As a special back-to-school bonus, Travel Salem welcomes children (and their parents) of all ages with activities inside and outside the Travel Café.

• Salem Public Library’s master storyteller will be reading stories inside a special story tent.
• Trexler Farm & Cafe will be serving food samples and showing an array of their gift items.
• Hey Handyman will present preventive home maintenance tips and visitors can enter a drawing for a multi-purpose fire extinguisher for their home.
• Willamette Humane Society (WHS) will be sharing information for spay and neuter clinics. Visitors can enter a drawing for a $25 gift certificate to Davenports Den – the WHS pet products store.
• Tigress Books (formerly Tea Party Bookshop) – book signing by Jessica Maxwell for her book “Roll Around Heaven: An All True Accidental Spiritual Adventure” Books $15 at signing.
• Rogue will be promoting a selection of their locally made beers.
• Willamette Valley Vineyards will be showcasing their wonderful sustainable wines. Wine tasting and Riedel wine glass for only $5.00. Also, receive 20% discount on all bottles purchased at the Travel Café. (Tasting fee waived for purchases over $30. Stemware not included.)

Contribute to Travel Salem’s “Absolutely Giving Back” program and help Family Building Blocks by dropping off new school supplies (crayons, colored pencils, watercolors, glue sticks, pencils, pens, scissors, construction paper, white glue, non-toxic white washable paint, or felt-tip markers). Thank you for your generosity!  Support Travel Salem’s “Absolutely Giving Back” campaign and your local community by visiting the Travel Café (181 High St. NE Salem) with contributions.

Visit  GoDowntownSalem.com for more information about First Wednesday!

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The 2010 Oregon State Is Too Big To Miss!

Monday, August 16th, 2010

The 2010 Oregon State Fair promises to be 11 days of BIG events and entertainment, August 27-September 6, 2010!

tomato_truckThe 2010 Oregon State Fair is coming back to Salem and is bigger than ever!  Guests of the Grand Hotel in Salem  have raved about this annual event for years (not to mention we are located conveniently close to the Fair Grounds!  View Larger Map)

“The Oregon State Fair is about celebrating all that Oregon has to offer, and this is especially true this year with the hosting of the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series National Championships, which speaks to the state’s rich timber history,” said Connie Bradley, Oregon State Fair Manager. Here are just some of the 2010 Oregon State Fair Highlights (visit their oregonstatefair.org for a complete schedule of events and entertainment) :

STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series Championships: The Oregon State Fair is proud to be hosting the 25th anniversary season of the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series. ESPN 2 will be there to capture all of the exciting action!

STIHL Dogs & Logs World Championships: Labor Day weekend will see the top Big Air® Dogs, the top Extreme Vertical® teams and the top 18 Speed Retrieve™ teams from all over the world compete in this prestigious yearly event.

Days of the Dinosaur: Calling dinosaur lovers of all ages! This eye-popping exposition features more than 30 life-sized dinosaur robots, skeleton replicas and an interactive children’s area with a fossil dig for junior anthropologists, a little dino ride and more. There is also an informative 3-D movie that answers questions about dinosaurs and the making of the robots, a snack bar for dinosaur-sized appetites and a merchandise area. Tickets: $5/adults, $3/kids (11 & under)

Six Nights of Amazing Performances: From legends ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd to country music star Dierks Bentley, to the Michael Jackson Laser & Dance Spectacular, the 2010 concert line-up is not to be missed!

Oregon’s BIG Wine Celebration! Featuring more than 200 top Oregon wines, the 2010 Celebration Oregon! is the one of the state’s biggest wine tasting events. In addition to the wines, patrons can also sample hors d’ oeuvres from 15 Oregon chefs.

BIG Sports Fun for Fair-Goers: This year, the popular Sports & Recreation area is being expanded to include even more fun activities for visitors to try out, including a new dirt track featuring ATV Safety Rides, Go-Cart Rides, Car/Motorcycle Racing and Demolition Derby. Also new to the area this year is Catch & Release Fishing and Let’s Go Camping.

Blues, Brews & BBQ: This annual favorite event brings together more than 40 professional BBQ teams, six Oregon microbreweries and great blues music the first three evenings of the Oregon State Fair.

HOURS:
Sundays-Thursdays: 10 AM-10 PM
Fridays and Saturdays: 10 AM-11 PM

GENERAL ADMISSION:
Adults (ages 11 – 64): $7.00/advance, $11.00/gate
Seniors (ages 65 & over): $3.00/advance, $6.00/gate
Children (ages 6 – 11): $3.00/advance, $6.00/gate
Group Pricing (50+): $5.00
Ages 5 and under: ALWAYS FREE

Parking: FREE
LUXURY PAID Parking Available $20
Multi-Day Admission Passes: (Available at the Oregon State Fair Box Office)

General admission tickets are available for advance purchase at the Fairgrounds (2330 17th Street NE, Salem, OR, 8 am – 5 pm, Mon-Fri) and at all participating Safeway TicketsWest outlets, online at www.ticketswest.com, or by calling 1-800-992-8499.

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Annual Hot August Flights at The Salem Airport is a Perfect Family Day Out

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

Hot August FlightsLooking for a fun family day in Salem, Oregon this weekend?  Love airplanes and cars?  Do you appreciate free admission?  If the answer is yes to any of these questions, make sure you check out the 5th annual Hot August Flights on Saturday, August 7, 2010 9-3pm at the Salem Airport.

The event features an Outdoor BBQ by The Flight Deck Restaurant, Airplane & Helicopter rides, airplane and automobile displays, contests, booths, a breakfast to benefit the Salem Civil Air Patrol and much more.  The best part is- this event is free and perfect for the entire family to enjoy.  If your travels bring you to Salem, Oregon this weekend- we hope you will take the opportunity to enjoy this event!

Download the Event Flyer for more details.

About the The Flight Deck Restaurant

The Flight Deck Restaurant offers their guests a spectacular view of the Cascade Mountains or the airplanes coming and going from the airport in Salem Oregon. A comfortable atmosphere invites guests to enjoy a delicious meal and drinks with friends and family any day of the week .

About The Salem Municipal Airport
Salem’s airport, also known as McNary Field is located in Oregon’s capitol city and in the heart of the Willamette Valley. Salem is the second largest city in the State with the Willamette River flowing through it. The airport is located two miles southeast of downtown Salem. The airport code is SLE.

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The Mission Mill Museum in Salem Oregon is a True National Treasure

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

Here is a summertime travel tip:  Come to Salem, Oregon and stop by the Mission Mill Museum to get a taste of Oregon and American history.   Mission Mill Museum interprets the history of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill which produced wool products from 1889 to 1962 and represents one of Oregon’s earliest and strongest industries. Mission Mill also interprets the history of Jason Lee’s Methodist Mission to Oregon which settled in the Willamette Valley in 1834 before the major Oregon Trail migrations. The missionaries brought formal education, industry and large scale agriculture and advocated for U.S. government in the Oregon country.

There is always something new to see at Mission Mill Museum- and this summer is no exception. The museum is hosting numerous activities for the whole family to include a Summertime concert series, Summer Day Camps, Exhibits and more.  Be sure to visit the calendar on their site: www.missionmill.com for latest news and events.

Mission Mill Museum in Salem Oregon is featured in this video brochure produced by Caitlin Stroud of CCTV’s Non-Profit Center:

We are now a Blue Star Museum – FREE Admission for Active Military Families -
NOW Through Labor Day

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Featured Event: The Bite & Brew of Salem Friday, July 30 – Sunday, August 1

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

Bite & Brew of SalemIf you are going to be downtown this weekend, come to Salem’s Riverfront Park for The Bite & Brew of Salem, one of the biggest annual events at Riverfront Park each year.  This great event features live entertainment, delicious food from local restaurants, a large carnival, and beer and wine tasting for adults!  Not to mention, it is just blocks from our hotel!

The best part? All profits from the Bite and Brew benefit local youth programs including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Marion and Polk counties, Young Life, Salem-Keizer Public Schools, the Children’s Educational Theater, Sprague Highschool Scholarships to name a few!

For directions and information, visit www.thebiteofsalem.com and  follow them in Facebook and Twitter!

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Planning a Trip? Check Out Some of our Favorite Salem Oregon Online Travel Resources

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

Downtown Salem, OregonVisitors come to Salem, Oregon for numerous reasons: many are here for business, to visit family and friends, for special events, and many just want to escape for a few days and do something different.

Salem is a vibrant city with a variety of activity and unique destinations to suit any taste. We are so fortunate to have a wealth of online resources available to travelers to help them plan their time here.  These sites are dedicated to informing their readers of great events, unbiased reviews of shops and restaurants, and more.  The people who post to these sites are truly passionate about our city and want to share their insight with you.

We have begun keeping a list of these resources on the right site of our blog under “Salem Oregon Resources”.  I wish I could highlight them all today- but here are a few to get you started.  Make sure you check back as we keep this list updated.

Salemites.com- This is a blog dedicated completely to Salem, Oregon events and topics- great way to stay current and learn about events and businesses you may not have heard of otherwise!

Travel Oregon Everyone knows that TravelOregon.com is a great resource for the entire state- but they have a wonderful section devoted to the entire Willamette Valley.  Check it out for tips on great attractions and sights in our region (and the best wine!).

TravelSalem:  We refer to TravelSalem.com frequently because  they are a reliable source of current travel news and tips for visitors!  Put this site on your “Must See” checklist as you plan your vacation.  We also love their “Reel to Real” virtual tour series.

Go DownTown Salem Want to know what is happening just blocks from the hotel?  Use this site to get great info on landscape of Downtown Salem.

The Salem Heritage Network and Discover-Neighborhood-History (DISCOVER) Love history and architecture?  Our city is rich with culture and history- and these 2 sites have great suggestions to discover unique and wonderful places right here that may not be on your radar.

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Travel Salem’s Reel to Real Virtual Tour: The Adventurer

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Planning an Oregon vacation (or “staycation?) Check out this showcase experience for the Adventure Seeker from Travel Salem’s Reel to Real Video Series! Visit TravelSalem.com for more videos from their Reel to Real series:

Visually discover the Salem, Oregon area’s unique experiences that will transform your “Reel virtual” visit into a “Real time” visit. These lively “experiences” will help you discover the real you. Are you a Family Voyager, Naturalist, Adventure Seeker, Gourmand, Relaxer or a Culture Seeker? Find out!

Check Out:

Travel Salem
181 High St. NE
Salem, Oregon 97301
503-581-4325
800-874-7012
www.travelsalem.com

Detroit Lake Recreation Area
PO Box 574 (mailing)
Detroit, Oregon 97342
www.detroitlakeoregon.org

Detroit Lake State Recreation Area
44000 N Santiam Hwy. SE
Detroit, OR 97342
503-854-3346
800-452-5687 (camping reservations)
800-551-6949 (hours)
www.oregonstateparks.org

Hoodoo Ski Area
Hwy 20, Box 20
Sisters, OR 97759
541-822-3799
www.hoodoo.com

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
503-947-6000
800-720-ODFW
www.dfw.state.or.us/

Silver Falls State Park
20024 Silver Falls Hwy. SE
Sublimity, OR 97385
503-873-8681
800-452-5687 (camping reservations)
800-551-6949 (hours)
www.oregonstateparks.org

Willamette National Forest
541-225-6300
www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette/

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Historic Elsinore Theatre is One of the Many Downtown Salem, Oregon Gems

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010
The Elsinore Theatre Stage

The Elsinore Theatre Stage

When you plan your next visit to Salem, Oregon, we recommend a visit to the Historic Elsinore Theatre located on 170 High St SE. This impressive building has seen it’s share of ups and downs since opening their doors in 1926. Today, the restored Elsinore Theatre is a historic national landmark and hosts many of Salem’s premiere performing arts and film events.

The Historic Elsinore Theatre is a nonprofit organization, and its mission is to: “Promote, protect and enhance the Elsinore as an historic national landmark and performing arts center.”

It was once regarded as the finest theater between Portland and San Francisco and represents a long lost era of old fashioned vaudeville and movie houses. Be sure to read the History of the Elsinore Theatre written by Elaine K. Sanchez.

The theatre is available for tours, rentals and is currently selling tickets for upcoming performances- See Schedule. If you are going to be around this summer, you should also check out one of these movie events!
The Wednesday Evening Film Series: The Historic Elsinore Theatre in partnership with the Chemeketa Community College Humanities Department and Film Studies Program presents a program of classic and silent movies.

The films are digitally restored from archival prints and presented with live accompaniment by Rick Parks at the “Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.” Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased at the Historic Elsinore Theatre, and at all Tickets West locations. Phone 503.375.3574 for information about upcoming performances (starting up again in September). Box office and doors open at 6:00 pm, movies start at 7:00 pm.

The 1st (and only) Joan Weldon International “B” Movie Film Fest- August 6-7! FREE ADMISSION

For further information or to make a donation or volunteer, contact:

The Historic Elsinore Theatre
170 High Street
Salem, OR 97301, Phone 503-375-3574

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Summer in the City Music and Wine Festival Coming in August!

Thursday, July 15th, 2010
GoDownTownSalem.com

GoDownTownSalem.com

Looking for a unique getaway in August? We recommend planning a visit to downtown Salem, Oregon during Summer in the City Music and Wine Festival August 14 and 15.

Celebrate the last days of summer in beautiful Historic downtown Salem. Check Availability in our hotel and simply walk to the event! Call toll-free in the US and Canada: 1-877-540-7800, local phone: 503-540-7800

Love wine? The festival will feature a massive Wine Pavilion featuring 21 different Oregon wineries. Love music? The entertainment line up includes 20+ bands and features our favorite regional and local acts including Charlie Musselwhite and more.

There will also be plenty of food, shopping, kids activities, sidewalk sales, a BBQ cook-off- and so much more.  For a small entry fee you can enjoy all three entertainment pavilions. Adults $7 and Students 16 and older $5.00 with student ID. For full event details, visit GoDownTownSalem.com.

Go Downtown Salem! has been a key partner in the Salem Vision 2020 planning process. More than 3,000 residents responded to Salem Vision 2020 surveys, a majority asking for more festivals, activities and live music events in the city center. The Summer in the City Music and Wine Festival is a direct result of the call by Salem residents for a vibrant destination.

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Take a Day to Explore the Many Sights in Downtown Salem, Oregon

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Downtown Salem, OregonWhat makes Downtown Salem an ideal destination?  We  are a proud and vibrant community that is easy to navigate and filled with surprises.  Our guests love to stroll the city blocks and take in the many sights- including numerous landmarks such as The Reed Opera House and many other historical buildings that have been preserved and revitalized.

Downtown is the place to find events, entertainment, premiere shops and specialty boutiques, restaurants, coffee bars, and wine! In fact- we have 120 shops, galleries, theatres, restaurants, salons, entertainment, historic buildings just steps away.  Download this map of Downtown Salem and do a walking tour of downtown to see for yourself!   We also recommend visiting Go Downtown Salem for current events and featured businesses in downtown.

The Reed Opera House is one of the many historical landmarks in Downtown Salem

The Reed Opera House is one of the many historical landmarks in Downtown Salem

Other nearby places of interest:

  • Riverfront Park
  • State Capitol
  • Carousel
  • Elsinore Theatre
  • AC Gilbert House
  • Hallie Ford Art Museum

Be sure to bring your camera and we invite you to share your photos/experiences on our Facebook page!

Experience the historic landscape of Downtown Salem. Explore beautiful store fronts with unique merchandise. Dine in over 40 restaurants with cuisine inspired by diverse ethnic flavors and locally grown products. Interested in arts and culture? Music venues, movie theaters and art galleries are ready to welcome you.
Downtown Salem has something for everyone, and every day it’s open for discovery. Start exploring the pages of this website to discover what’s going on today!
Download a map: http://www.godowntownsalem.com/_explore/gdsmap.pdf
Event information: http://www.godowntownsalem.com/_events/monthly.php
12 coffee spots to get a warm latté, 3 artisan bakeries offering daily delights, 36 restaurants to sit down and dine, and 14 places to sip an Oregon microbrew or discover a local wine. When it’s time to eat, Go Downtown!
Downtown is a place where you can see a play, watch a movie, or listen to live music. It’s a place where you can take cooking classes, visit art galleries, or find activities for kids of all ages. Go downtown to discover what’s happening.
Downtown Salem is full of friendly merchants, unique shops and local goods in a shopping district of old and new. Go downtown and enjoy all the shops
> Riverfront Park
> State Capitol
> Carousel
> Elsinore Theatre
> AC Gilbert House
> Hallie Ford Art Museum
The Fourth Annual Oregon Artists Series is an invitational exhibit of contemporary paintings, prints, and mixed media work from artists throughout the state of Oregon. The exhibit opens July 15 at the Salem Conference Center, and is free to the public. Presented by the Salem Conference Center and the Oregon Artists Series Foundation.

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