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Where Pioneers, Cherries, and Natural Beauty Meet
Salem is nicknamed "The Cherry City" because the Willamette Valley (where Salem sits) grows TONS of cherries! In the early 1900s, Salem was surrounded by cherry orchards, and the city held a huge Cherry Fair every year with parades, cherry pie contests, and celebrations! Today, Oregon is still one of America's top cherry-producing states, and Salem celebrates its cherry heritage every summer!
Millions of Pounds
Cherries grown annually!
Cherry Pie
Oregon specialty!
Cherry Fair
Historic celebration!
Salem was one of the final destinations for pioneers traveling the FAMOUS Oregon Trail! In the 1840s-1860s, thousands of families traveled 2,000 miles in covered wagons from Missouri to Oregon - a journey that took 4-6 MONTHS! Many settled in the fertile Willamette Valley around Salem because the soil was perfect for farming. These brave pioneers built Oregon into the state it is today!
The Oregon Trail was 2,000 miles long - imagine walking that distance in a wagon!
Oregon's State Capitol building is GORGEOUS, but the coolest part is what's on top! Standing 23 feet tall on the dome is a GOLDEN STATUE called the "Oregon Pioneer!" It weighs 8.5 tons and shows a pioneer with an axe, symbolizing the brave settlers who traveled the Oregon Trail. The statue is covered in gold leaf and sparkles in the sunshine - you can see it shining from miles away!
Salem became Oregon's capital in 1851. The city was chosen because it's in the center of the Willamette Valley, making it easy for people from all over Oregon to reach!
Salem is home to Willamette University, the OLDEST university in the American West! Founded in 1842 (before Oregon was even a state!), Willamette University has beautiful red-brick buildings and sits right next to the State Capitol. The university brings thousands of students to Salem and makes the city young and vibrant!
Salem is surrounded by INCREDIBLE natural beauty! To the east, you can see the snow-capped Cascade Mountains including Mount Hood and Mount Jefferson. To the west, the Coast Range mountains lead to the Pacific Ocean (just 60 miles away!). The Willamette River flows right through the city, and you can kayak, boat, or walk along beautiful riverfront parks!
Just 20 miles from Salem is Silver Falls State Park - Oregon's LARGEST state park! The park has the famous "Trail of Ten Falls" where you can hike and see TEN different waterfalls! The coolest part? You can actually walk BEHIND some of the waterfalls! Water cascades down in front of you while you stand in a cave-like space behind it - it's absolutely magical!
The Trail of Ten Falls is about 7-8 miles and takes you past all ten waterfalls! The tallest (South Falls) is 177 feet high - taller than a 15-story building!
You can walk behind South Falls and North Falls! It's like entering a secret waterfall cave - absolutely incredible!
The Willamette Valley around Salem is some of the BEST farming land in America! The valley grows everything: cherries, hazelnuts (Oregon grows 99% of America's hazelnuts!), berries, hops for beer, wine grapes, and tons of vegetables! Salem hosts farmers markets where you can buy fresh food directly from local farms. The soil here is so rich because of volcanic ash from ancient eruptions!
Oregon grows 99% of America's hazelnuts!
The Willamette Valley is hazelnut central!
Plus: Wine country, berry farms, hops for craft beer, and more!
Salem gets A LOT of rain - about 40 inches per year! But that's what makes Oregon so GREEN and beautiful! The rain falls mostly in fall, winter, and spring, while summers are usually sunny and warm. All that rain creates lush forests, green grass year-round, and those famous Oregon ferns and moss. Oregonians don't use umbrellas much - they just wear rain jackets and embrace it!
Rainy Winters
But mild temperatures!
Sunny Summers
Perfect outdoor weather!
While Portland (50 miles north) is famous for being "weird and quirky," Salem has its own unique vibe! Salem is more laid-back and family-friendly, with a small-town feel even though it has 175,000 people! The city has great parks, friendly neighborhoods, and a strong sense of community. People love Salem because it's close to everything - mountains, ocean, Portland, and wine country - but feels peaceful!
The Willamette Valley is one of the BEST wine-growing regions in the world! The area is especially famous for Pinot Noir wine. There are hundreds of wineries around Salem, and the valley is considered one of the top wine destinations in America! The cool climate and volcanic soil create perfect conditions for growing grapes!
Because Salem is surrounded by farms, the city has an AMAZING farm-to-table food scene! Restaurants use fresh, local ingredients grown right in the valley. You can find incredible berries, hazelnuts, fresh salmon from Oregon rivers, grass-fed beef, and vegetables picked the same day! The Saturday farmers market downtown is huge and filled with local vendors!
Marionberries
Oregon's signature berry!
Fresh Salmon
From Oregon rivers!
Hazelnuts
In everything!
Craft Beer
Oregon hops!
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