Downtown Salem - Salem, OR Area Guide

The Kalapuyans, a Native American tribe, originally inhabited the Salem area and called it Chemeketa, which referred to a place to meet and rest. From its small beginnings as a mill town, Salem has grown into a lively center of Oregon government and culture.

The Annual World Boat Festival takes place in Salem every year in June, and the proceeds go to the Multicultural Institute in the area. The Hallie Ford Museum of Art also houses a large portion of the Pacific Northwest culture, features local artists and has a huge rotating exhibit that changes every three months.

Though restaurants abound along Liberty Street, the first on your list of central Salem restaurants to visit has got to be Wild Pear. Though the $10 to $15 entrees may look daunting at first and the dinnertime service can become less than ideal, the dishes, such as the margherita pizza or the Kailua pork sandwich, make up for that manifold. You must also try the appetizers and their signature cocktail, the pear-tini. Though only open during breakfast and lunch, Word of Mouth Neighborhood Bistro promises excellent brunch food and lives up to this perfectly. From the crème brulee French toast to the fillet mignon chicken-fried steak, these elegant combinations never cease to surprise the taste buds.

If you're not in a brunch-y mood, Marco Polo Global Restaurant affords a nice change of pace with an uncanny variety of American, Italian and Asian cuisine. With two separate menus, choosing what to eat remains the most difficult part. If you're vegan or vegetarian, the hot-and-sour tofu always works out well, and for meat lovers, the Cajun chicken might become your new favorite dish.

In central Salem, no shortage of nightlife arises. Whether you want to cruise over to Capitol City Theater for drinks and an open-mic session or you want to watch the game at Magoo's, Salem houses plenty of amazing nighttime experiences.

Though little public transportation can take you from Salem to Portland, Salem itself has plenty of transportation that can get you around the neighborhood. Bus 1, 8, and 11 remain popular methods of transport and run well into the night. Expect a one-way fare to cost about $1.50.

Driving in Salem does not present much of a problem if you can get used to all the one-way streets. Parking can become annoying, though street parking costs nothing if you can find it. Street parking and parking garages provide your best chance at find a spot.

If you want to head north in toward Portland, the drives takes about 45 minutes. Getting on the Interstate 5 on-ramp only takes about 5 to 10 minutes from central Salem, which makes traveling to other nearby cities a breeze.

The main thoroughfares in Salem, River Road and Commercial Street, take you all the way through the city and often present the fastest way to drive around.

Biking in Salem works well since many bike lanes and bike racks line the streets, and nearby shops. Even if no bike lane exists on a street, Salem drivers are well accustomed to giving bikers enough space.

In central Salem, you can expect that many people walk up and down the streets. With wide sidewalks and overhead walkways, getting around on foot has always been a great alternative.

If you would rather get a cab, you won’t have much success trying to hail one, but calling a cab company remains an option. Uber has not yet come to the Salem area due to issues with the cabbie laws.

Of all Salem’s parks, the Riverfront Park wins out as the largest and most beautiful. With plenty of walking and biking paths, the green grass typical of Oregon cities, and a sweeping view of the Willamette River, you could not ask for a better park. Though the indoor carousel and gift shop does cost money, the playground and trails cost nothing and remain free for the public at any time on any day.

If you want to spice up your day at the park, you could take a ferry over the river to explore what West Salem has to offer. The Riverfront Park hosts The River Rock Concert Series yearly.

Living in central Salem costs considerably less than living in downtown Portland, and the average rental rate only costs $660 per month. Overall, the Salem area cost about 12 percent less than living in Portland and 6 percent less than the Oregon average.

Salem and Portland gas prices almost match up perfect, both around 7 percent above the national average at any given time. And, if you’re planning to head on down to a local pub, a beer costs around $4.

Salem Center, central Salem's largest shopping center, covers four city blocks and has overpass walkways to aid shoppers in getting from one area to the next. With specialty stores such as Olive, a upscale boutique with the best designed printed t-shirts and women's casual clothing, and Salem Stained Glass, a hobby and clothing store that has almost anything you could imagine, you can find what you're looking for when you go to Salem Center. Otherwise, the primary grocery store in the area remains Fred Meyer, a Kroger branch. However, for better, fresher produce, most residents in the area go to the Salem Saturday Market that runs from April until October. There, the local vendors also sell art and crafts to patrons.