Last week, I traveled to Oregon with my middle child to visit Willamette University in Salem. She’s still struggling to decide which university she’ll be attending next year. Willamette was the last on our visit list. We’d never been to Oregon before, and really liked what we found. In fact, I told my husband I’d happily move to the Pacific Northwest. I like the rain, the greenness, and the trees. The people were friendly, and life seems to be a bit slower there than here in the Bay Area.
We boarded our plane in San Jose and had an uneventful 1 1/2 hour flight to Portland (thanks Alaska Airlines). From there, we rented a car (thanks Dollar Rentals) and plugged the hotel address into my map app. It was raining, but that was to be expected. The drive south to Salem was beautiful. The freeway was lined with evergreen trees much of the way. In other spots, the valley opened up to scenic farmland. We also saw a waterfall and plenty of rivers and streams. Spring had reached Oregon and everything was in bloom.
Sightseeing in Salem
After arriving in Salem and checking in to our hotel (not that great, unfortunately), we decided to explore. It was raining, but not too hard. So we ventured out to find some food and fun. We found the Willamette Valley Pie Company and had a late lunch and dessert (of course!) It was all delicious and I just found out you can order some of their products online. Check them out here. Try the Marionberries. They’re an Oregon specialty.
We spent the next two days exploring Salem and the Willamette University campus. Salem is the capital city of Oregon, but it feels like a small town in many ways. The traffic was almost never a problem in Salem, and parking wasn’t a big deal either. Salem’s population is less than half that of Portland’s. And it is surrounded by wilderness and agricultural land. I think this is why it has that small town feel.
Riverfront Park and Historic Downtown
We started out exploring the historic downtown area of Salem and walking along in the Riverfront Park. The Willamette River runs through this area. Even though it was cold and rainy, it was still lovely. The park has a playground, a children’s museum, an indoor carousel, bike and walking paths, community events, and the riverfront, of course. We checked out the carousel and adjoining shop. We met some friendly woodcarvers who were working on a new carousel horse, Actually, it was a dragon. They also showed us the plans for a cow and a skunk. Did you know it can take two years to complete a carousel animal?
After rambling along the river, we decided to shop a little. We found a fun bookstore called The Book Bin. Three stories worth of reading and book-related items. I loved it! They also sell a lot of used books and buy them as well. What I loved even more was that Oregon does not charge sales tax. I bought a set of books for my son and they cost exactly what the price sticker said they would.
We also had a fantastic lunch at the Oregon Crepe Cafe and Bakery. We had savory crepes that were very good, but they had nothing on the dessert crepe we share. Fresh strawberries, dark chocolate and cream…crepe heaven! I would have eaten that for every meal in Salem if my daughter’s common sense hadn’t intervened.
Willamette University
In the afternoon, we checked in to the campus for the planned activities. These included several information sessions, tours, dinner, and question and answer groups. Parents were also invited to a reception in the university art gallery. The university had planned things out very well, and I was thoroughly impressed by both the programs and the people we met.
The campus is small, but well-organized. The student population is about 2500 including graduate students. It is a small, liberal arts college with a long history. In fact, it was the first university founded in the American West, dating from 1842. Willamette was one of the first coeducational colleges in the United States and it’s first graduate was a woman. The campus is right in Salem, literally next door to the state capitol building.
Most of the campus buildings are made of red brick. They contrast beautifully with the green lawns and trees. It is a very attractive campus. There is a mill stream running through it, complete with ducks and ducklings. It was charming. The university also owns 305 acres of forest nearby that is used for educational and recreational pursuits.
Overall, we loved Willamette University. The campus and it’s people were wonderful. The programs and opportunities offered were top notch. Willamette is just about everything I love in a college. It is small enough to offer the personal touch, but big enough to have plenty of variety and opportunities. I really wish I could send my daughter there. Unfortunately, the price tag is too steep. I just don’t know how we could pull it off without going bankrupt. Why does a college education have to be so expensive?
One Last Salem Experience
We had last adventure before we left Salem. I was sitting near the University Center waiting for my daughter to get out of a class she got to attend. I noticed some people in a dormitory courtyard across an open expanse of grass. They seemed to be very scantily dressed for the weather we were having. They looked like they were applying body paint.
I happened to be talking to my husband on the phone and described what I was seeing. Another parent walked by me and noticed the group of students and said “Are those people naked?” A nearby university employee answered, “Yes, it’s Naked Run Day.” A few minutes later, I got off the pone and walked to a spot near the mill stream to wait for my daughter. Suddenly, there were cheers and a crowd of about 30-40 naked students ran by. After they passed me a second time, my daughter approached and asked if I’d seen the naked runners. How could I have missed them? It’s not something you see every day., especially not in my little town. Sorry, I didn’t take any pictures of them to share.
A New Friend
I did make a new friend during the Naked Run. I think his name was Duke. He was very friendly and didn’t know what to think of the runners any more than I did. His owner was a Willamette student and she, like everyone else we met, was friendly and inviting. She even gave me some tips on how to pay the crazy tuition.
Portland Fun
We left Salem on Friday and headed back to Portland. The traffic in Portland was almost as bad as the Bay Area. That’s what I get for traveling on a Friday afternoon…commuter traffic! Thank goodness for my GPS! I purposely scheduled our flight for later on Saturday so we would have time to explore a bit. The front desk staff at our hotel were fun and informative (Thanks La Quinta Inn, Portland Airport). After a yummy Thai dinner (Sa Bai Thai), we got some much needed rest.
In the morning, we had out complimentary breakfast (basic, but good) and drove back into Portland to spend a few hours. Traffic was better on Saturday, but Portland still has city traffic issues. Parking, however, wasn’t as big of a headache as I expected it to be. We had a destination in mind. We headed directly to Powell’s City of Books. They claim to be the world’s largest independent bookstore and I believe them. This place was incredible. It is a book lover’s heaven. People of Portland, do you realize has lucky you are to live near this amazing place?
You Must Go to Powell’s
Powell’s book inventory exceeds 2 million volumes. They host 500 author events a year. They have 5 stores in the Portland area, but we went to the original store (founded in 1971) in the historic downtown area. You could spend the entire day here and never get bored. And they have a coffee shop so you’d never get hungry or thirsty either. We wandered (and ate) for a couple of hours. After spending too much money, we sadly said goodbye to Powell’s. If you can’t get to Portland, you can still visit Powell’s online and see if you can spend too much money too.
We had one more stop to make before turning in the rental car and flying home. A few blocks from Powell’s City of Books we discovered a chocolate shop. Funny how where ever I go I find bookstores and chocolate shops, isn’t it? At Cacao Drink Chocolate, we bought a little treat. Then we ordered a medium cup of dark drinking chocolate to go and said goodbye to Portland.
I loved Oregon. I loved the weather, the friendly, laid-back people we met, the scenery, the cities, and countryside. When I have an opportunity to return, I will. Perhaps I have a rich uncle I’ve never met who wants to sent my daughter to school in Salem. Probably not.
Thanks for reading and please share.
