Northeast Salem - Salem, OR

As the capitol of Oregon, Salem has a rich political culture. Settlers from the east made homes in Willamette Valley in the 1800s, establishing Salem as the main area of commerce. Salem received some of the first public schools in Oregon, which caused the population to grow. After being established as the state capitol, many influential people moved to the area. In the 1980s, local businesses came to the city due to its thriving economy.

Northeast Salem established The Oregon State Hospital Museum, which educates residents about the history of mental health. This museum doubles as a fully-functional hospital.

Most of the Salem arts scene rests in downtown Salem, but Northeast Salem houses Salem Beats recording studio and the Music Music instrument shop.

The area doesn't host any major annual festivals, but the neighborhood association frequently plans events for the community.

Nightlife in Northeast Salem centers around the Lancaster Mall area. Travel a few miles outside of this neighborhood's borders to enjoy downtown Salem's thriving nightlife, or partake in one of its handful of bars. You find dozens of familiar chain restaurants in Northeast Salem, but the neighborhood also houses local eateries you cannot find anywhere else. For south-of-the-border cuisine, visit La Fondita between Center Street and Hawthorne. This shop serves traditional huarache, which remains hard to find anywhere north of Mexico. This dish includes a fried masa base topped with beef, pork or chicken. Substitute meat for vegetables, as this place caters to vegetarians. While Northeast Salem doesn't have a central restaurant location, you find most local businesses operating on Center Street, which intersects the neighborhood. One such restaurant, the Fresh Start Market & Espresso stands out for its dedication to community charity. When you eat here, you give back. Young people who have been convicted of crimes in the juvenile court get the opportunity to work for this restaurant and learn life skills. Enjoy the flavors of Guam at Island Girl's Lunchbox. This food stand has a casual outdoor atmosphere, making it the perfect spot to grab a fast lunch. Choose between a barbecue chicken plate or a plate of tri-tip smothered in spices over red rice. The stand has vegetarian and gluten-free substitutes for everything on the menu. Northeast Salem doesn't have music venues, but it does have the Regal Lancaster Mall Stadium 11 attached to its central shopping center for families looking for something to do at night. The cheapest drinks in the neighborhood can be found at Roccos Bar & Grill. Order a high-quality IPA draft beer for less than $3 at this local hangout. For a fancy happy-hour atmosphere, visit the bar at Newport Seafood Grill, and sip on a smooth chardonnay. If you're looking for a place to unwind after work with a group of friends, try The Rock Wood Fired Kitchen. This bar serves quality happy-hour food, including a wide variety of pizza.

Whether you prefer to drive, bus or walk, Northeast Salem has convenient transportation options for any situation. One of the best ways to get around this neighborhood comes in the form of the Cherriots transit line. The city provides options for people who have disabilities with their CherryLift line of specialized buses.

Lancaster Mall sits to the east of this neighborhood, making taxi services common and easy to use. Hail a cab, or pull the Uber application up on your phone, since the company services all of Salem.

When you take your car, park in one of the dozens of free parking spaces available. Northeast Salem has a reputation for the best shopping centers in the city, and these include enormous free parking lots for customers.

Interstate 5 connects Salem to Portland along this neighborhood's eastern border. Market Street and Center Street provide a direct line to downtown Salem, while the 22 expressway gets you anywhere west or east of the city.

With its focus on developed parks and shopping centers, Northeast Salem has the safest walking paths and biking lanes in the area. Nearly every shop sits near Lancaster Mall, so buying your grocery essentials remains highly a walkable journey.

Three major parks call Northeast Salem home. Its largest park, Geer Community Park, sits along the outskirts of the neighborhood. Residents come to this 46-acre park every day to play softball, roller hockey and basketball. Nature-lovers enjoy the park's 26 acres of undeveloped land.

One of the most popular parks for relaxation in Northeast Salem remains Hoover School City Park. This park maintains a family-friendly atmosphere with its prime location next to Hoover Elementary School and its elaborate playground equipment.

While Harry and Grace Thorp Park remains the smallest of the parks in Northeast Salem, its location next to a popular residential area makes it convenient for families. Have a picnic, walk your dog around the paved sidewalk, or let your kids play on the slides.

Residents visit all of Northeast Salem's major parks for free. While you don't see annual festivals in the parks, the neighborhood association occasionally schedules community activities in these areas.

Not only does Northeast Salem have some of the highest-quality residential areas in Oregon, it remains about 11 percent cheaper to live than in downtown Portland. The average rental rate sits at $560, making this an affordable option for nearly every budget.

Get to the Salem city center on one of the Cherriots buses for as low as $1.50 per ride. If you don't want to wait for the bus, find reasonable gas prices in Northeast Salem. Gas prices sit at only about 8 percent higher than the national average.

Northeast Salem has the most affordable beer prices in the city, where you buy most beer for less than $3 per bottle.

Northeast Salem houses one of the largest shopping centers in the region, with Lancaster Mall nestled to the east of Interstate 5. The mall has dozens of stores, including Best Buy, Burlington Coat Factory, Macy's and Sears. For high-end retail, shop at Kay Jewelers or Fred Meyer Jewelers.

Go to This One's 4 You Salon Boutique near the mall to pamper yourself with hair styling, nail art and a hot-stone massage. This shop takes the typical nail salon up a notch with its selection of boutique purses and jewelry.

You don't have to go far to find a one-of-a-kind gift in Northeast Salem. Head over to All That Glitters Jewelry to find quality wholesale necklaces, bracelets and rings. Their experts replace old gemstones with new ones for a revamp on an old family heirloom.

Living in Northeast Salem puts you at the central location for grocery stores in addition to boutiques. Get your pantry essentials at Fred Meyer, Safeway or Winco. Buying organic has never been simpler with Trader Joe's and LifeSource Natural Foods close by.

Go to the Salem Saturday Market for your pick of goods from local vendors, or go to the Salem Public Market for fresh produce.