Looking for the best things to do in Salem, Oregon? From the Historic Deepwood Estate, Oregon State Capitol, Wander Riverfront Park, to the Experience Forest Theme Park, Salem is the best weekend getaway or long vacation place for every traveller. The city is Oregon’s capital city and a perfect combination of rich history and modern charm. There are museums & art galleries for history buffs and spooky sites for horror enthusiasts. Read on to discover perfect things to do in Salem, Oregon and start planning your trips with family and friends.
Things To Do In Salem, Oregon
The city of Salem offers great family-friendly attractions, from museums to playful parks. The city’s top highlights include exploring the hands-on display at the Gilbert House Children’s Museum and experiencing the storybook magic of the Enchanted Forest theme park.
Family-Friendly Things to do in salem, Oregon
Explore Minto Brown Island Park
Minto Brown Island Park is a larger park in Salem and is also bigger than Central Park in New York. It covered over 1,200 acres of lush, open, and wooded areas. If you are travelling with your family, then this park is a must-visit. You can do multiple activities like Go for a stroll, sprint or cycle around the park. You can also invite your furry companion to the off-leash area. Grab your binoculars to watch the wide variety of birds around the park. It has hiking trails, swimming spots nearby and a playground for kids. Minto Brown Island Park has got it all.
Make A Day Interesting With Elsinore Theatre
Elsinore Theatre is located on the High Street, Salem, Oregon. It is for the people who love performance. It was opened a hundred years ago but is still actively operating. This theatre presents concerts, folk plays and live entertainment regularly. It opens from nine am to four pm from Monday to Friday. Ticket prices are totally based on the event. There are many popular local restaurants available nearby where you can enjoy a meal after the show. Visiting the Elsinore Theatre is one of the fun things to do in Salem, Oregon.
Discover Historical Downtown & Waterfront
Go to the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall in downtown Salem. Vehicles are not permitted inside. You can find a family-friendly spot for walking & relaxing, street performers, boutiques, and restaurants along the pathway. Just sit on the benches. Enjoy the lively atmosphere. It’s crowded during September and October due to the autumn haunted happening festivals. Doing some photo shoots here will feel like you’re in a movie. You will find the Elizabeth Bewitched Statue and the Willamette Heritage Center around the corner. If you are looking for a secluded place, Derby Wharf Light Station is an ideal site for you. Go for a relaxing sailing tour via Sunset Sail, Mahi Harbour cruises and Boston Harbour City cruises.
Visit Local Museum & Art Gallery
The Peabody Essex Museum is the oldest in the US. It holds collections of ancient asian arts and medieval American designs. The Salem Maritime National Historic Site preserves six centuries of the ancient history of Salem. Visit local art galleries like Bush Barn Art Center and Willamette Art Center. You will find theatres and local music bands around here. Trail in Deepwood museums & gardens in the afternoon or evening. Tour in Orlok’s nightmare gallery.
Kids Things to Do in Salem, Oregon
Enchanted Forest
The best thing to do in Salem, Oregon with kids is to visit Enchanted Forest. The Enchanted Forest is a mythological-themed park. You will find every known creature that kids might have seen in storybooks or cartoon movies. Like dragons, vampires, elves, werewolves, giants, goblins, unicorns, monsters, witches and so on. It’s like a dream come true for the kids who love mythological stories. This place is located on the southern side of Salem in Turner. General admission is twenty dollars with each ride costing around four dollars to five dollars each. It was built manually by Roger Tofte. For park information and much more, go to their official page, Enchanted Forest.
Sallem’s Riverfront Carousel
This is a very popular location for outdoor things to do in Salem, Oregon. This place is similar to an amusement park. You will find various gift shops, manually crafted horse rides with each having their own name. You can also book or rent this place for a birthday celebration or parties related to kids. It is open from ten am to five pm from Monday to Saturday. There are a lot of activities to do here for kids. This is close to the riverfront park.
Gilbert House Children’s Museum
Gilbert House Children’s Museum is a private non-profit museum opened in 1989. Children will enjoy science and art themes along with history. There is a sand pit, climbing towers and slides outside. It is accessible.
Rock Boxx Climbing Gym
It is another kid-friendly spot. Children(sometimes even adults) can climb walls with safety equipment. It opens Monday to Saturday from nine am to ten pm. On Sunday, the timing is ten am to six pm. For a one-day entry, day passes are suggested.
Oregon Axe
If you are a fan of throwing things, Oregon Axe is the place for you. Here you will learn how to pitch an axe. Drinks are also available. So it’s a good spot for both kids and adults. Another unique thing to do in Salem Oregon is to make your witch broom. Workshops like the witchery will guide you on how to make this.
Best Haunted Spot To Visit With Friends
Salem Witch Trials
This is a chain of trials started in Europe in the early 1300s. Visit the Salem witch museum where many peoples especially womens were accused of practicing witchcraft without any evidence. They were later killed. A witch trial memorial is created to show respect to all the innocents who died during this trial. Jonathan Corwin was one of the judges in the witchcraft trial. His house is called a witch house as it is the only structure directly connected with the massacre trials of 1692.
Haunted Safari
- Go for Salem night tours. Explore deepest history and hear about ghost stories while visiting real locations like the Salem Witch Museum and the Witch House.
- Spellbound tours are guided by real supernatural detectives. They will teach you how to capture ghosts with cameras and some current ghost hunting techniques.
- Visit cemeteries, former mental asylum centers and execution sites like the Salem witch museums. Visitors report feeling weird energy around them in these places.
Travel Tips To Visit Salem
Time to Visit Salem
- If you want to visit on a budget and also don’t want to be mugged up in a crowd, Then you best time is from November through March. Most of the festivals would have ended by then. So tourists will be fewer this month. Even the local businesses will reduce their prices. The temperature stays 46°F to 56°F. It is winter season but locally referred to as the fall season also.
- If budget is not a concern for you, then your best time is September and October. This is the festival season. You can learn more about the culture of the town during this month. The temperature stays between 22°C and 31 °C. You can experience cool breezes and light rainfall during these months. So pack accordingly.
Where To Stay In Salem, Oregon?
There are many famous hotels for your stay in Salem, Oregon during your vacation. Below are a few reputed name for your comfort.
- The Grand Hotel in Salem: This hotel is in the middle of the town. It delivers a reasonable price despite being counted as a luxury hotel. The staff are surprisingly welcoming. Parking and breakfast are free. You can relax in hot tubs and pools services provided inside.
- Holman Riverfront Park Hotel: As the name suggests, this hotel is very near the riverfront park. You will get comfortable, spacious rooms with rain showers. Pets are also welcome inside this hotel. If you are tired from travelling, or have no energy to go out to eat, then a restaurant is available downstairs for your convenience.
- Comfort Suites Salem: This hotel is a very optimal choice for family accommodation. You will be provided with an indoor pool. A breakfast buffet is provided for convenience. Most importantly, this hotel is budget-friendly.
- Best Western Plus Mill Creek Inn: This hotel is also a budget-friendly option for families staying. Indoor pools and hot tubs are provided. If you are travelling with a baby, a crib will also be provided. For your ease, a tiny microwave and a mini fridge are also available.
- Salem waterfront hotels & suites: This hotel provides top-tier lodging like free wifi, free parking, an indoor pool and so on.
- Comfort Inn & Suites: This is a more economical option for tourists who want an affordable trip.
Packing Ideas
The climate is surprisingly unpredictable. So you need to pack based on which month you are travelling.
For Summer
- T-shirts, shorts, tank tops, skirts, and light long pants during the daytime.
- Hoodies, sweatshirts, jeans for evening and nighttime.
- Wear sneakers for hiking and sandals for daily walking.
For Winter
In Salem, Oregon winter seasons often suggest fall.
- Pack raincoats and umbrellas, in case of rain
- Full sleeve shirts, insulated pants, puff jackets
- Get waterproof boots, gloves, neck scarves, and head mufflers
TIP: Bring a small backpack with you with essentials like sunglasses, a bucket hat, refillable water bottles, power banks, and first aid in case of any emergency.
Budget Travel Tips
- Plan each of your days so you won’t be blank after reaching Salem.
- Recheck all your bookings ahead of time to avoid mismanagement.
- Use public transportation for touring around the city.
- Happy Hours provide fresh and cheap meal options with discounts.
- Do low-price activities like visiting the Oregon State Capitol, Bush Pasture Park, or the Riverfront Carousel, Silver Falls Trail Park etc.
Conclusion
Some of the best things to do here in Salem include visiting haunted places, taking tours in historical parks, look for local delicacies. Salem, Oregon is a very well reputed spots for many activities. Salem has spots related to history, culture, mythology, art, theatres, and many more. We hope this blog helps you to plan your trip and answers all the questions that you have. Moreover you can make your upcoming journey more relaxing and stress-free with our Salem Oregon charter bus rental services with various vehicles available.