Attractions
Salem boasts a variety of attractions for all ages and interests. As heart of the Oregon wine country, many visitors enjoy touring the wineries and enjoying the majestic French-esque landscapes and delicious wine. Several wineries feature activities for children; the Cherry Hill winery houses a dude ranch with a variety of outdoor activities for families including cabins for overnight lodging.
Families may choose from a variety of educational and fun activities in Salem. A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village is a children’s museum located on Salem’s waterfront, next to Salem’s Riverfront Carousel. It provides innovate and stimulating educational experiences that spark children’s natural curiosity. Other local activities include the Enchanted Forest and Thrill-Ville USA Amusement Park. The Enchanted Forest is a theme park that has enchanted children from all over the northwest for generations. Children will stroll through Storybook Lane and watch their favorite storybook characters come to life. It features several rides, a haunted house and a comedy theatre too. Thrill-Ville USA houses a variety of amusement rides and waterslides, fun for all ages.
Salem is not without its share of historical locations and magnificent gardens. The area’s most prized historic homes include Deepwood Estate and the Bush House. The Mission Mill Museum is another must see for any visitor or new resident. The museum takes visitors through the history of missionary Jason Lee and his settlers. Buildings on the property include mission houses, an Oregon Trail settler’s house, a historic church and the structures, equipment and original water-powered turbine of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill.
Fun Facts
City population: 135,000
Metro population: 2.4 million
Size: 40.8 square miles
Average temperature (January): 46.9 (max) / 37.0 (min) F
Average temperature (July): 81.6 (max) / 50.7 (min) F