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fall and winter in the salem area
FALL n What to do n What to wear
The reds and golds of the fall foliage at Salem Riverfront Park are a can’t-miss. For a drive filled with oil-color hues and historic covered bridges, Aumsville Ponds, Champoeg State Heritage Area, Spong’s Landing Park and Straub Nature Park are favorite spots. For a bit of local history, Powerland Heritage Park in Brooks just north of Salem is home to a collection of museums that celebrate the machines that used to power Oregon agriculture, plus trolley rides and miniature-train rides for the kids. Fall is also harvest time for wineries, breweries and local farmers: Bauman’s Farm and Garden in Gervais hosts one of the largest pumpkin patches and harvest festivals in the area. Try an orchard-fresh cider at Salt Creek Cider House or a harvest lunch at Bjornson Vineyard. For Halloween, you don’t want to miss the annual Salem Zombie Walk.
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Day temperatures drop from high 70s to low 50s from September to November; pack sweaters, long pants and a jacket.
Winter
n What to do n What to wear
Winter means it’s time to usher in the holidays with a festive light display or sip your favorite wine vintage beside a fireplace during the Willamette Valley’s famed wine-cellar season. It’s also a good time to take a nature stroll on the accessible trails at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge and Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, where bald eagles are more active in the winter. Or stay in the city, grab a cup of locally roasted coffee at the Governor’s Cup and explore Salem’s largest park, MintoBrown Island. Take a tour of the Bush House Museum and explore a rare example of a 19th-century farmstead, or visit the multicultural World Beat Gallery. During the holidays, the historic Elsinore Theatre offers a fun live-performance lineup, and the Silverton Christmas Market has gifts and international food galore.
Winter ranges between 35 and 50 degrees with frequent rain showers. Snowfall is rare within Salem city limits; pack a warm jacket, hat, gloves and water-resistant shoes.
