We have been traveling through the area for the last week and this was, by far, our most…read moredisappointing experience. On our way here we visited multiple gardens and flower farms in Salem and the surrounding area that were completely free and FAR superior. They charge $14 per person to visit the garden and in my opinion it's not worth it. The employees we interacted with were unhelpful, unknowledgeable and apathetic but beyond the poor service, the grounds themselves were disappointing. There are dead and dying plants everywhere, shade and seating are scarce and there is very little of interest to see. If you enjoy paths and trees, visit any local park and the sites will be as good. If you love roses, visit Owen Rose Garden or if you like peonys, irises, etc there are multiple farms in the area to visit for free. Unless you love the smell of hot fertilizer and throwing your money away, this is not it. Their "Amazing" water garden consists of a few algae topped ponds. They also claim to be dog friendly but they are as dog friendly as a sidewalk. They have a tram tour that literally stopped in the walkway blocking all the walking guests from proceeding while robotically reading a speech and leaving everyone to stand there in the sun until they were done. This whole experience was just so unenjoyable. I rarely leave bad reviews and I Yelp to help others avoid my mistakes so if you are reading this, please don't waste your time or money here. There are so many other great options. Oh, and to the "Business Manager" who obligatorily responds all the unflattering reviews in an effort to appear as though customer service is important, but is ultimately condescending, it's not helping your cause, so feel free to spare us all.

So nice we visited twice over the course of the weekend! Once as guests of the Resort and the next…read morewith an WCCLS Adventure Pass. Even though the plants' condition in March leaves a lot to be desired, as not very much is coming into season yet, there was plenty to take in. The variety of landscaping/hardscaping is impressive, the views incredible, the plant collection inspiring (even my very non-aggie partner took notes on what we could possibly incorporate into our own yard). It's obvious that plenty of care and planning went into the garden spaces. Highlights for me included the conifer forest and the wetlands areas. The Lewis and Clark pathway with its stonehenge-like pillars was neat too. Each section has its own hidden treasures and spaces for reflection. Would love to come back in spring or summer to see what's changed.

Had some free time in Salem and thought this could be an interesting museum, and it did not…read moredisappoint! It's not a huge museum but I didn't mind - there was lots of info and stuff to look at. I thought the exhibits were very well done and really interesting to read the different stories of people who stayed there and worked there. It was $8 for entry which I think was a fair price.

What an amazing educational place. I absolutely loved finding this gem and exploring the history…read more The volunteers are so sweet and guide you through the history. Highly recommend and love the move to show the progress in mental health treatment over the years.

Took my grandson today and it was very fun and informative for both of us. Great effort was made to…read moremake it fun for children as well. Lots of hands on activities. We will visit often.Thank you

An exceptional effort for a small town in one of Oregon's poorest counties. The young woman often…read moreon duty is, I believe, a degreed professional in museum management, and it shows. Admission is free, but there is a plastic receptacle near the entry station for donations. I am elderly, grew up around here, and can tell you that the displays capture aspects of valley life that have vanished forever.

Came here for a late afternoon performance and has a great time. We arrived at 1pm to give us time…read moreto check out the animals and ride some rides. Loved visiting with all the sheep, pigs, and other farm animals. Then we bought $50 worth of tickets (120 to be precise), and most rides cost 12 tickets. Kids had a lot of fun. And visiting a fair wouldn't be complete without an elephant ear, which was tasty but much softer than I'm used to, plus cotton candy, an Amish donut, a gyro, burgers, and a corn dog. The lines for parking were atrocious so we parked off-site and walked, which worked out well. We'll be back!

Too expensive, dirty rude people bad band not worth seeing. Needs people that get paid better and…read moreare happy to work there. More police officers. Better prices for local vendors.

What a beautiful old theater in downtown Salem, Oregon. The Elsinore is a lovely reminder of the…read moreglitzy and glamorous days gone by, and I'm here for it! Thank you to everyone in the community who has done their part to maintain this jewel over the years. The theater boasts a grand lobby with lots of space for concession and merch lines. There doesn't seem to be the bottleneck one often sees at older venues such as this. The seats are spacious and comfortable in the auditorium, and there doesn't seem to be a bad seat in the house in terms of sight lines and visibility. The balcony doesn't hang so far over the main level that folks in the back feel claustrophobic. I've sat in multiple locations on this level and was pleased with each of my seats. The stage is mid-sized, however, it's beautifully framed by golden architectural detail that helps it seem far more grand. And the acoustics are such that sound travels nicely throughout the auditorium. Visitors can make use of street parking throughout downtown, with free parking after 6 PM. There are also several large, paid parking lots in the vicinity as well.

This theatre is beautiful! Parking in parking garage nearby is easy and close and there are food…read moreand bars options nearby. The staff and volunteers at the theatre were all really kind and friendly and the music sounded good! Check out the lovely art and stained glass while you're there. Beautiful historic building. My only complaint has nothing to do with the theatre itself, but the crowd... no one stood or danced for an amazing band (Sierra Hull) which is awkward and weird to me.

The Salem Art Fair has been a staple a Salem summers for years. The art is impressive and moving…read morethe stage out from under the oak trees was a good decision. However, I wish the booths for individual artists were still under the shade of the trees and the food options are disappointing. The addition of Gilgamesh Brewing is promising, but I think bringing in food trucks, or some new vendors, could provide better options.

There was a time that I really loved attending the annual Salem Art Fair. It was when I was a kid…read more Set amongst the beautiful shady trees at Bush Park, it was a nice summer time activity that didn't result in heat exhaustion. My mother and I used to always go together and get the delicious chocolate and almond dipped ice cream bars. It was fabulous. Then, after several years of not visiting, I finally went summer of '09 since I now live within walking distance (parking is a nightmare). What a shock. Just shock. At least half of the artists aren't even from Oregon, let alone the Salem area. There were people as far away from Colorado and Arizona slinging their "art" for rip off prices. Yeah, I said rip off. Look, I understand that art may take time and that these people might do this as a living. That's not my problem. As a consumer and a customer, I refuse to believe that the salt and pepper shakers they painted took so much time and effort that they warrant that $90 price tag. Am I an idiot? No. In addition to the above rip-off, the Salem Art Association will now be charging admission to "enjoy" the fair. They believe that "it's a good deal.... and $5 isn't that much money..." You're right, it's not a great deal of money, but that really isn't the point. It's a craft fair, not a museum. It's purpose is to allow patrons to purchase art, not rip people off. But I can't be too harsh, can I? The SAA reports that they ONLY made $215,000 on last years art fair. Boo hoo hoo. They also further justify this $5 fee by claiming that this art fair is one of the best in the country. I don't know the source of this information, but considering what a dump Salem is, I have a hard time believing it. Gah! Just another reason to avoid Salem.

This is one of my favorite places in Salem. They have a large and growing collection of WWII items…read morein the museum, and seeing the progress being made on the plane restoration is amazing. When finished it will be one of only a few flightworthy B-17's. Museum volunteers are passionate and knowledgeable. The "Warbirds Over The West" event is something I look forward to each year. Great food, lots of historical planes fly in, historical displays, vendors, etc ... it is a great event. If you like planes, WWII, or just history in general ... this museum is well worth the trip.

Independence is a fun little city with a college-town feel. Western Oregon University is nearby so…read morethere are always college students around. Central High School is also located here. One of the funnest things about Independence is the 4th if July celebration! The day starts out with a fun run and a big parade, then people meander down to the riverfront to enjoy the music, food and booths. Then, when it's dark, they have a fantastic fireworks display!

Today is the biggest day of the year for the city of Independence. Of course the name should give…read morethat away. We come here almost every year for the parade and all the festivities. The parade is always fun. They have a small, I think 5k run at the beginning of the parade. Some times they have a fly over by the military. The rest of the day, they have rides, booths and lots of food down by the river front. At night, they have one of the biggest firework shows. If you haven't been, you should come and check it out. It's great fun. Our family loves it.