EZTrip.com International Destination Guide and Hotel Listings

A lively mix of students, professionals, hippies and blue collars, EUGENE is Oregon's second largest city and a liberal enclave where the late Ken Kesey and some of his Merry Pranksters came to live after their retreat from central California. On a slightly different note, the town was also the filming location for much of the movie Animal House .

Although short on sights, Eugene is an energetic cultural center, to which the University of Oregon in the city's southeast corner lends a youthful bohemian feel, especially along hip 13th Avenue just west of campus. The Hult Center for Performing Arts , Sixth Avenue and Willamette Street (tel 541/682-5746, ), is home to several arts organizations including the Eugene Opera, Eugene Symphony, Eugene Ballet Company, and renowned Oregon Bach Festival.

The city has two big markets: the weekly Saturday Market , around Eighth Avenue and Oak Street (Apr-Dec 10am-5pm; ), is a thirty-year institution and something of a neo-hippie carnival, thanks to the live music and street performers. Tie-dye and wholefoods set the tone, but rastas, skateboarders, punks and students join in, too. Fifth Street Market is a staid boutique mall, with a handful of interesting arts, crafts and clothes stores.

Eugene is also a prime spot for sports. Trails and paths abound for walkers and cyclists in the city center, along the river banks, and up imposing Spencer's Butte; you can rent bikes from Pedal Power, 535 High St (tel 541/687-1775)