Michelle Kehm

Downtown Salem is undergoing a renaissance, and it’s stacked with cute boutiques, provoking galleries and public art sculptures, modern and historic shopping malls and top-notch eateries. Here are 20 top spots to check out on your next visit. 1. Self-Guided Art Walking TourExplore Salem’s amazing public art at your own pace. Download the map to see the dozens of sculptures, paintings, wood marquetry and other pieces by Oregon artists are on display around the city’s core. 2.

Feel like immersing yourself in the fascinating culture and heritage of Oregon’s capital city? Salem’s scene is exciting, diverse and offers something for visitors of all ages, interests and abilities. Whether you’d like to dive into stories from the Oregon Trail, spark your kids’ imagination with adaptive educational experiences, or celebrate global cultures through art, food and music, you’re sure to learn something new at one of these city hot spots or events.

If you’re a wine lover planning a romantic getaway to the Salem region, winter is an idyllic time to visit. January through March is Willamette Valley cellar season, when the vineyards outside are mist-covered and dormant, but the tasting rooms are alive with stoked fires, first sips of new releases, gourmet food pairings and passionate conversations between friends — and winemakers.