Dream Big on National Plan for Vacation Day

There's plenty to do around Eugene and Lane County all year long—but its spring, summer, and fall runs of bass, sturgeon, rainbow trout, Chinook salmon, and steelhead are all worth planning an outing around.

Plenty of fishing and river guides bring decades of experience to every trip and can help anglers navigate the region's many waterways—including the McKenzie River, perhaps the region's most popular fishing destination.

Fishing is just one of several new things to try around Eugene in 2026. And as you get ready for spring or summer vacation, check out Travel Lane County's Planning page for relevant and timely information to help make the most of your next trip.

Between spring and fall, several farms around Canby and Aurora—many along the Oregon Farm Loop—open their barn doors for innovative experiences that connect visitors to some of the area's best locally sourced food and drink.

Start your adventures with a self-guided tour at TMK Creamery—and save room for a grilled cheese sandwich or cocktail crafted with farm-grown ingredients. Afterward, fill up on sweet treats at Puddin’ River Chocolates & Confections, which produces nearly 40 flavors of truffle. In August and September, marvel at the colorful blooms at Swan Island Dahlias, whose annual festival showcases more than 375 varieties of the dazzling flower across nearly 50 acres.

For additional stops, learn more about farms and wineries in the foothills of Mount Hood.

In recent years, the concept of "forest bathing" has taken off around the world. The idea of "shinrin-yoku" (literally translated as "forest bathing") began in Japan in the early 1980s and has since become a peaceful, healthful way to commune with nature.

Fortunately, visitors need not travel far from McMinnville—roughly four miles—to get a quick dose of nature therapy at the 130-acre Miller Woods Conservation Area. Choose among several paths that navigate woodland and prairie landscapes while watching for deer, porcupines, cougars, several species of bird, and other species of wildlife.

Note that pets are not allowed on the area's trails and that a $7 donation is suggested—so check ahead to plan your next visit to Miller Woods.

Around Salem and the wider mid-Willamette Valley, you're never far from rubbing elbows with the passionate makers who produced your favorite food or drink. 

At Minto Island Tea Company, for instance, sip green, oolong and black varieties from one of Oregon's only dedicated tea farms. Tours and tastings are available, and the Minto Island Growers Farm Stand offers a pleasant escape between spring and fall.

Grab a light lunch and a snack at Willamette Valley Pie Company, which processes roughly 12 million pounds of berries and other fruits every summer. Head to the company's farm café for sandwiches, pies, scones, muffins, and other sweet treats.

Indoors or out, Albany offers a little something for everyone.

In the heart of downtown, Splatter Box bills itself as "the ultimate art recreation destination" and lets groups throw, drip, fling, and brush in its paint throwing studio. (Yes, adults can join the fun, too.) What visitors do with their paint is limited only by their imagination: Feel free to paint the walls, splash your friends, or even paint on a canvas.

Further afield, head outside to the natural beauty around Albany. Choose among peaceful waterfall hikes, reservoirs in the Cascade foothills, birdwatching at national wildlife refuges, and more. Get the skinny on outdoor adventures around Albany.

Travel the Cascade foothills with a trip along the Over the Rivers & Through the Woods Scenic Byway. The 66-mile byway starts in the Willamette Valley's farmlands before climbing into the heart of the Cascades; along the way, there's plenty of year-round recreation for a long day trip or a fun-filled weekend.

The byway starts in Brownsville, which was settled in 1846 and is Oregon's third-oldest town; bald eagles spend winter in the fields around town, and several historic buildings line Main Street today. Further east is Foster Reservoir, where anglers fish for trout and kokanee salmon, Cascadia County Park (a quiet campground in the heart of the byway), several pullouts for spying wildlife, and old-growth forests where some trees are more than 500 years old.

Get the scoop on hotels around Albany and Corvallis for a comfortable home base.

The Corvallis to the Sea Trail (also known as the C2C Trail) is exactly what it sounds like: a roughly 60-mile trail connecting the community of Corvallis and the Oregon Coast—specifically, a quiet stretch of shoreline between Seal Rock State Recreation Site and the community of Newport.

The trail is perfectly suited to mountain bikers who'd like to explore the forests and vistas of the Oregon Coast Range. The C2C trail begins in Corvallis and follows public roads, private roads, U.S. Forest Service lands and wooded trails through wide-open meadows and lush forests. Highlights include a quiet campground, salmon-spawning grounds, and mountain peaks that make for a scenic getaway and idyllic introduction to the Oregon Coast Range. Before heading out, check trail advisories at C2CTrail.org.