We spent two nights in Eugene during our Oregon trip, and while that did not give us enough time to explore everything, we enjoyed the city and the surrounding area. Eugene has a pretty university campus, walking and biking paths, local shops, wineries and plenty of easygoing things to do.
Where We Stayed in Eugene
We stayed at the Graduate by Hilton Eugene and had a great experience. The hotel’s fun collegiate theme fits the destination perfectly, and the location made it easy to explore downtown on foot.
You can read my full review of the Graduate Eugene for more details about the rooms, location and overall experience.
Walking Around Downtown Eugene
We spent some time walking around downtown Eugene, where there are a variety of shops and restaurants. It felt like the area may have been more active before the pandemic, but there were still places worth exploring.
Be sure to walk through the Farmers Market area. There were plenty of local products and produce and some of the biggest, most beautiful carrots I have ever seen.
We also stopped at 5th Street Public Market. It has several cute restaurants and shops, along with a Nike store, although there was not as much there as I expected. It is still a pleasant place to walk around or grab something to eat.
There are also wine-tasting options near Eugene’s theater district. We did not have time to visit them, but they could be a convenient choice if you want to sample local wine without driving outside the city.
Explore the University of Oregon Campus
One of our favorite things to do in Eugene was simply walking around the University of Oregon campus.
The campus is leafy, green and very pretty. It was a relaxing place to spend an early evening, and I would recommend it even if you have no connection to the university.
After exploring the campus, we headed toward the Alton Baker Park, the large park near the football stadium. I loved the string lights along the path coming across the bridge from the downtown park. The park is huge, crosses the river and was filled with people running and biking. Disc golf is also available. It is a great area for a long walk, especially when the weather is nice.
Play Mini Golf at Camp Putt
For something a little different, we went to Camp Putt Adventure Golf. The afternoon we arrived was technically the beginning of its fall schedule, and the course was supposed to be closed. However, the owner was kind enough to let us play anyway. He told us we would have to be okay with the water features being turned off, which was completely fine with us. As it turned out, he turned them on for us anyway. It was such a nice gesture and made the experience even better.
Camp Putt has two courses, and the holes were challenging and fun. I especially liked the dam-themed hole, where you have to putt the ball through logs. It was much more creative than a basic mini-golf course.
Admission was $8 per adult when we visited, and it was worth the money.
See the Simpsons Murals in Springfield
We also drove over to nearby Springfield to see the Simpsons mural. This was a fun and easy excursion from Eugene. Springfield has several murals around town, including Simpsons-related artwork, and its downtown area was cute to walk around. Even if you are not a major Simpsons fan, the murals make for an entertaining stop and give you another reason to explore beyond Eugene.
Visit Sweet Cheeks Winery
Our biggest highlight was Sweet Cheeks Winery in Veneta. Oh my goodness, the views were incredible. I honestly think Sweet Cheeks has the most beautiful views I have ever seen at a winery in the United States. We sat outside with friends, drank wine and admired the scenery. It was exactly the kind of relaxing afternoon you hope to have in Oregon wine country. The staff members were also friendly and welcoming. Sweet Cheeks is about a 30-minute drive from Eugene, and parts of the route are winding. There was no rideshare service available for the return trip when we visited, so you will need to plan ahead and have a designated driver.
I would love to return to Eugene and spend an entire day visiting wineries throughout the area. Based on the scenery and our experience at Sweet Cheeks, this feels like a destination that deserves a full wine-tasting itinerary.
Is Eugene Worth Visiting?
Eugene may not have the major attractions of a larger city, but we found plenty to enjoy during our two-night stay. The University of Oregon campus was beautiful, the parks and walking paths were inviting, Camp Putt was a fun surprise and Sweet Cheeks Winery was unforgettable. I would happily return especially to explore more of the area’s wineries.
