24 | Willamette Valley Travel Guide Downtown Salem Whatever you’ve come to Oregon for, chances are you’ll find it in Salem, the state’s capital and third-most-populous city. Lush green spaces define the cityscape; acclaimed chefs make magic in the kitchen with local ingredients; creative types work in studios and galleries; and fruitful countryside rings the city, meaning wineries (such as Bryn Mawr Vineyards and Cória Estates) and farms (like Beilke Family Farm) are mere minutes away. Salem's historic downtown fills its walkable blocks with way more than legislative business. Stroll in any direction and you’ll spot third-wave cafes (Archive Coffee & Bar), galleries (Bush Barn Art Center), an eclectic variety of museums (ranging from the Hallie Ford Museum of Art to the Gilbert House Children’s Museum) and ambitiously planned parks—the Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge connects three urban parks with more than 20 miles (32 kilometers) of trails. Nearby, the Oregon State Hospital Museum of Mental Health was the primary set for the landmark 1975 movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, based on the novel by Oregon writer Ken Kesey. And west of the city, theChachalu Museum and Cultural Center tells the story of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde through artwork, photography, online exhibits and more. Just a short drive from the city center, you’ll encounter some of the most iconic natural sites in the Pacific Northwest, most notably Silver Falls State Park near the town of Sublimity. There you can actually walk behind waterfalls on the fantasy-esque Trail of Ten Falls. Paddle Don Froylan Creamery, Salem Salem Area
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