Car Hire Eugene - Mini guide to Eugene

Oregon’s second-largest city, Eugene, has a privileged location in the south of the fertile Willamette Valley, with the Willamette River passing right through the town. It is home to the University of Oregon, which gives the city a well-blended atmosphere of fun, academia, arts and culture.

The Hult Centre for the Performing Arts is an impressive performance complex encompassing the 500-seat Soreng Theatre and the 2,500-seat Silva Concert Hall. Cumulatively, the spaces within the Hult Centre enable an astounding 800 performances to be scheduled yearly, making it one of the most active theatre centres in the entire nation. The world famous Oregon Bach Festival is held here, as well as operas, ballets, symphonies and other shows.

The historical district in the heart of town was founded in the early years of the 20th century, and has some interesting old buildings. The Fifth Street Public Market, an old feed mill converted into an atrium, lies at its centre and is a wonderful place to stop for lunch, being home to some fabulous cafés and restaurants. Once you’ve satisfied your hunger, take some time to explore the interesting array of chic and bohemian boutiques and diverse art galleries in the vicinity.

The enormous University of Oregon campus is historically and architecturally rich, with old buildings and fascinating museums situated among a pleasant environment of tree-lined footpaths and green landscape. Deady Hall and Villard Hall both date back to the late 1800s.

The university’s Museum of Natural History encompasses the Oregon State Museum of Anthropology and provides fascinating insight into the ancient people and animals of the region. It also features changing exhibits on other cultures. The University of Oregon Museum of Art is the second largest art museum in Oregon and features varying exhibits as well as constant displays of African, Asian and Russian art and Rodin sculptures.

Eugene is the site of America’s oldest weekly open-air crafts fair. The Saturday Market has grown steadily, and now hosts nearly 300 stallholders each week. With this extensive selection of clothes, jewellery, handmade items and more, it’s an excellent place to pick up souvenirs and gifts.

Eugene is a cyclist’s paradise, with over 80kms of bicycle paths, 19 streets reserved exclusively for cyclists and 25 off-street trails. Walking and jogging are also popular, especially along paths lining the Willamette River.