Silverton
Set in the foothills of the Cascade Range, Silverton is a quaint community on the banks of Silver Creek. The creek-side setting gives the town something of the feel of an old New England mill town, and although the area's major attractions--Silver Falls State Park and The Oregon Garden--are both outside of town, the downtown, where a pedestrian-covered bridge leads to a pleasant, shady park, is also worth a stroll.
While in Silverton, be sure to wander around town and admire the many murals. Local artists who display their work at the Lunaria Gallery, 113 N. Water St. (tel. 503/873-7734; www.lunariagallery.com), painted some of these. Between mid-May and mid-September, you should be sure to stop at Havenhill Lavender Farm, 582 Drift Creek Rd. SE (tel. 866/430-8396 or 503/873-0396; www.havenhilllavender.com), which is about 7 miles outside Silverton (call for directions). The farm is open Friday through Sunday from 10am to 6pm.
Mt. Angel
Mt. Angel is best known as the site of Oregon's most popular Oktoberfest celebration, but should you be here any other time of year besides the second weekend after Labor Day, you might want to visit the Mount Angel Abbey (tel. 503/845-3303; www.mtangel.edu), which stands atop a 300-foot bluff on the edge of town and has peaceful gardens, an architecturally interesting library designed by famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, and a collection of rare books. Established by Benedictine monks in 1882, the abbey has a gift shop and offers tours by appointment. The abbey is also the site of the annual Abbey Bach Festival (tel. 800/845-8272 or 503/845-3066), which takes place each year on the last Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday in July, and usually sells out shortly after tickets go on sale in March. However, last-minute tickets are sometimes available.
