The Salem area boasts recreational activities and events throughout the entire year. Travel and visitor guides, highlighting all the elements that make this area a unique experience for visitors and residents alike, are available at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and at Travel Salem's Travel Cafe.

Visit world-famous iris and tulip farms, walk through acres and acres of lush public parks and gardens, and tour award-winning wineries.  Discover the Willamette River from the deck of the vintage Willamette Queen sternwheeler. Drive the surrounding countryside to explore the area’s covered bridges and river ferries, historic churches and farms, and the agricultural magnitude of the valley. Experience community theatre in a rustic setting, see world-class entertainment on a gothic stage, or listen to classic Bluegrass along the banks of the Willamette River ...Salem has it all.

Sports enthusiasts and families can enjoy minor-league baseball at the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes Stadium (1998 Pacific Northwest Champions) or catch the Cascade Surge Soccer team at McCulloch Stadium in the 24-acre Bush’s Pasture Park. Wallace Sports Complex, which sits along the Willamette River, regularly hosts local, regional and national softball and soccer competitions and other sporting events, bringing in over 3.5 million dollars to the local economy. Bush’s Pasture Park was selected to host the 2001 National Soapbox Derby.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Salem has a everything from golfing to cycling to fishing and boating, as well as an abundance of wildlife viewing. With mountains all around and the ocean only an hour away, snow skiing, hiking, scuba diving, surfing, beach combing and much more can all be done in a day.

The Oregon Garden, a 24-acre world class display garden east of Salem in the Silverton foothills, recently opened to the public and will eventually showcase the region’s entire ornamental and agricultural landscape. Garden workshops and educational events are ongoing and the attraction features a special children’s garden, as well. The facility, which hosts outdoors concerts and offers a pavilion suited to private events such as weddings and receptions, is expected to draw over one million visitors per year.

Located in western Oregon’s coastal foothills, 30 miles west of Salem, Spirit Mountain Casino is the favorite destination for travelers in Oregon. Ranked as the state’s No. 1 tourist attraction, Spirit Mountain draws over 3 million visitors a year, offering the largest selection of games in the region, along with several restaurants and buffet, live entertainment, a well-appointed lodge, meeting/banquet facilities, and activities for children. Getting to the casino is also made easy by a number of complimentary transportation options. The casino is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The casino is owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

Nestled in the beautiful forests of the south Salem hills just off I-5, the Enchanted Forest theme park offers fun for all ages. Started in the 1960’s by Roger Tofte, the park is still family-owned and operated. The unique and enchanting park boasts the biggest log ride in the Northwest, live theatre, a water-light show, an English village, a western town, roller coaster, haunted house, storybook lane and hosts nearly 200,000 visitors per season.

Salem's downtown Riverfront Park, with its outdoor amphitheater, is host to a variety of events and is home to Salem’s Riverfront Carousel, with exquisite wooden horses hand-carved and painted by hundreds of community volunteers. Also at Riverfront Park, young and old alike enjoy the hands-on adventures in the sciences, arts and humanities at the A.C. Gilbert Discovery Village - the Pacific Northwest's largest children's museum - named after Salem native, Erector Set inventor and Olympic pole vault gold medalist, Alfred Carlton Gilbert. The Discovery Village features indoor and outdoor interactive displays and exhibits and is home to the nation's first authentic toy museum, The Toy Hall of Fame.