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.

I had fun at evergreen water park and it is huge! i went there on my10th birthday and had a lot of…read morefun running around

The North American Aerospace Museum, formerly Evergreen, is always a treat. They have one facility…read morededicated to planes and another to space. They have a wide range of things to see, including the Spruce Goose. The docents are always very knowledgeable and take the time to chat with individuals of all levels.

This museum is obviously a labor of love for the people who work here…read more I was surprised by the size and variety of the exhibits. I especially enjoyed the exhibits highlighting the communities of Polk County, large and small, even the ones now ghost towns. I learned a lot from my visit here; for example, Camp Adair, a World War II military installation once located nearby, was once the second largest community in the state of Oregon and served as a detention center for Italian and German POWs. Many of the personal items displayed, especially upstairs, were poignant reminders of the passage of time. Also, the agricultural history displays were more interesting than they might sound, and I learned that Dallas, Oregon once carried the nickname of "Prune City." It looked like they had some local history books for sale, as well as some miscellaneous cookbooks and other books that didn't seem to have a local focus. Admission was five dollars, and at the time I visited, their credit card reader was not working, so cash was required. The restaurant next door has an atm that comes in handy if, like me, you don't have any cash with you. If you are at all curious about the history of the area, I definitely recommend this well-rounded museum!

If you're in the area this has to be on your to-do list. Plan to spend AT LEAST an hour there. This…read morearea has lots of history and you will want to have time to read some stories. All the staff there are very passionate about what they do. The gift shop also has some unique items. Don't just drive by!

This museum appears small but has so much inside! Staff working were friendly and willing to…read moreAnswer questions and tell you more about the displays They have some neat stuff, I don't know much about Silverton but learned more and got to see some cool items. Did you know there was a Silverton Red Sox?

My husband & I had to stop in here this past July when we just could not find the covered bridge we…read morewere looking for. The lady that was here was so beyond friendly and helpful. She gave us directions to where we needed to go and gave us lots of information on where to eat and other places to stop on the way to our destination. Thank you so much for your courtesy!

While we didn't have a chance to go inside the museum, the grounds are beautiful and well…read moremaintained. The gardens are a lovely spot to walk, explore and smell the flowers - when blooming. Staff kept to themselves and gave us space to wander the property. We walked, but Deepwood is set on a busy street corner so be prepared for traffic as you make your way to the parking area and the noise as you wander the gardens.

What a hidden gem in Salem! My husband and I have been trying to visit local museums and venues now…read morethat he is retired and this one popped in on our radar. We had an event near Salem so we thought we'd stop by. It's so quaint, gorgeous and proved to be lovely get away for the afternoon. It's not overly large as you can most likely walk and enjoy the trails, gardens and sights in about 30 minutes. There is a house tour but only on limited days/times and the day we visited was not one of those days. Beautiful flowers, tucked away benches and meandering trails all made for a wonderful walk. I highly recommend and it's free to walk around!

We love Gilbert House! The staff is always kind and efficient and the times I've visited, the play…read moreareas have been well-kept and clean. My kids love the outdoor playground too. We love the bubble room and exhibits, and could easily spend the day here. Pro-tip, if you have a LINCC Library card, you can get a cultural pass and come here once a month for freeeee!

This place is awesome! Great exhibits, and lots for the kids to do. It is clean and well…read moremaintained. My one issue is with the fact that it closes at 5. That is clearly posted, which is great. However, we tried to re-enter at 4:30 to do one last thing: the bubble room. Turns out they lock the gate at 4:30 and close the bubble room then. I just wish there was better signage; it doesn't feel great to have staff rush you out 30 minutes before closing time.

The Mount Angel Volksfest is like the kleine bruder of the town's significantly more expansive…read moreOktoberfest: a quick winter fix to hold us over on beer and sausages until autumn rolls around again. Contained entirely within the village's massive Festhalle, you'll find a handful of local vendors purveying local products, including wines, clothing, hats, foodstuffs and souvenirs. Left of the entrance, you'll find der kindercorner, where volunteers offer (free!) balloon animals and face painting for the littles, who have no idea why all the grown-ups are singing, dancing, and drinking all day long. Beers, wine and cider are available from multiple vendors right of the entrance, many of them local, including a Benedictine brew crafted by the monks of Mount Angel Abbey, just outside the town proper. Music and entertainment is provided by various local, semi-local, and internationally renowned polka bands; if you've attended even one Oktoberfest in your life, you've know what you're in for, and you've likely heard all of the songs before, likely multiple times per visit. For some, the repetition gets old; I like to call it "tradition", and just roll with it. After a few beers, your appreciation for these threadbare tunes will increase, I assure you. Zigga zagga, zigga zagga, oi Oi OI! Ein prosit! It may not be the real McCoy, but it's not meant to be: the Mount Angel Volksfest is a tiny morsel meant to whet the appetite for the glorious revels to come later in the year. For a town that prides itself on its heritage like Mount Angel, the locals rarely need a reason to break out the beer and sausages. September cannot come soon enough! But until then, strap on some lederhosen, dust off that dirndl, chow down on some of the best wurst around, and raise a glass with a cheer and a smile! Winter (and COVID?) is almost over! That's more than enough reason to celebrate! Prost! Admission is $10 for adult attendees, free for under 21s. Tokens for beverages are $1/each, with beers, ciders and wines running between 6-8 tokens. Food must be purchased separately with cash or card, and an ATM is available just inside the doors, and includes an array of sausages, pretzels, potato salad, sauerkraut, and many other Oktoberfest staples, although there didn't appear to be any schnitzel, which ought to be illegal!

Neither the best fest, nor the worst fest. It is somewhere in between…read more The 4th annual Wurstfest was held February 17 - 18 and would be a nice introduction to Mt. Angel, but certainly not a substitute for attending Oktoberfest in September. It is really a way to attract visitors to this small hamlet in the Willamette Valley during the off season. The most fascinating part for me is that it is billed as a "Mt. Angel Celebration of German Sausage," and yet my favorite sausage place in town, Mt. Angel Sausage Co., was not a vendor. I am sure there is an interesting back story there... The festival was held in the new Mt. Angel Community Center, Festhalle. Since everything was in one spot, it was easy to find the festival on Highway 214 and free parking was a snap. This is very different from Oktoberfest which pretty much takes over the entire town and has dozens of venues. Admission was $10 for adults and children were free. When you entered, you were able to select a nice wine glass, beer glass or stein as a souvenir. The vendors were an interesting mix of local businesses and smaller residential vendors that traveled to the event. My favorites were the Urban German, St. Josef's Winery and the mustard sold by the sisters from the neighboring Benedictine Monastery. But compared to the spectacle of Oktoberfest, this was an elegant, modest affair. Lots of folks dressed up in their German finery and you could purchase your own lederhosen, dirndls and hats. It was a happy festival, filled with music and a few dancers, but having been a visitor to Oktoberfest, it struck me as a pleasant footnote. Certainly not a main attraction.

Had a great time at Oktoberfest this year. In my mind, Mount Angel is the one and only top quality…read moreOktoberfest around here. I've gone to others and assist us a disappointment after going to Mount Angel. I've come here every year for at least 15 years maybe longer. Thank you to the city officials for putting on such a great event.

Mt Angel Oktoberfest is a yearly event full of celebration for the harvest, as well as a 3 day…read morecelebration of the first Oktoberfest held in Munich in 1810 celebrating the marriage of King Ludwig of Bavaria. It also is a celebration of beer. This event draws thousands of visitors. This event also draws religious visitors to St. Mary's Catholic Church built in 1910, and the Mt Angel Abbey that was founded in 1882. The festival is a huge event for Mt Angel as it also draws in a lot of vendors selling handmade goods, foods and drink. There is a pavilion playing traditional German music as well as a Maypole Dance done by youngsters in full German regalia such as Lederhosen for men and Dirndl Kleid for the women. There are also car shows and military vehicles on display, a large playground area with carnival type rides for the children. Parking is difficult to find, but somehow we always manage to find a spot on the side streets or just pay to park in one of the nearby fields. There is also a free tractor pulled shuttle wagon that makes continuous rounds from the festivities up to the abbey and back. As always, the brats, corn on the cob, elephant ears.... Delicious!