A Weekend in Silverton
Fifteen miles from the capital of Salem, you’ll find the charming “Garden City” of Silverton, home to the 80-acre Oregon Garden, Silver Falls State Park and a quiet downtown area with great restaurants and cafés. Head on over for a hike, family picnic or an evening out.
1.
Day One
Pack a picnic lunch and head to Silver Falls State Park, Oregon’s largest state park, located in the foothills of the Cascade Mountain Range. Follow the Trail of Ten Falls, a seven-mile hiking route that leads you to incredible views of 10 different waterfalls. Along the way, a mix of flora and fauna, including towering Douglas fir, hemlock, cottonwood and cedar trees, shades the trails. You’ll want to make a return trip in the fall to experience the spectrum of colors that this park becomes.
End the day in historic downtown Silverton with dinner at Silver Grille Café. The tough part will be choosing what to order on this seasonal menu made up of fresh, local fare.
2.
Day Two
Set aside plenty of time today because there’s a lot to experience at The Oregon Garden. An easy way to explore the garden’s 80 acres is aboard the tram, which allows visitors to get on and off at designated spots throughout the property. Along the way, you’ll see 20 specialty gardens, waterfalls, quiet ponds and so much more. Take time to visit the Gordon House, which was designed by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. You might want to time your visit so you can experience one of the Garden’s summer concerts. Coming up: The Ty Curtis Band and The Doobie Brothers (Aug. 7); Lindsay Rush; Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo (Aug. 14); and A Tribute to Ray Charles featuring Patrick Lamb (Aug. 21).