Visitor Guide
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Green Eugene & Sustainability
A significant part of the product the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region has to offer is inspired by nature - the clean rivers, mountains, ocean and the land - with nature-based experiences available to our visitors - cycling, hiking, fishing, birding, sightseeing and photography along with enjoying the bounty from the fertile land of the Willamette Valley. Sustainability is absolutely one of Eugene's core values.From getting "up close and personal" with any number of local, organic farms to having innovative companies such as Aprovecho that creates low-cost technology, fuel-saving cooking stoves for developing countries, this region's commitment to the environment is integrated as well as edgy.
ACCOLADES
* Eugene's Earth-friendly policies, public health, open space and other factors have earned it the title of "Top Green City in America" in a recent environmental newsletter.
In 2006, the Green Guide ranked Eugene first out of 251 metropolitan areas, based on the city's environmental initiatives, including recycling, green-building design, electricity use and production, water quality and transportation.
The publication obtained information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Green Building Council and individual cities to determine its rankings. Here are the nine cities that trailed Eugene in The Green Guide's top-10 ranking:
- Austin, Texas
- Portland, Oregon
- St. Paul, Minnesota
- Santa Rosa, Californi
- Oakland, California
- Berkeley, California
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Huntsville, Alabama
- Denver, Colorado
* Eugene Earns Spot on List of Best Cities for Cycling *
Eugene is one of the top 21 cities in the nation for bicycling, according to Bicycling Magazine. In its March 2006 issue, Bicycling rated more than 250 cities based on population and "cycling-friendly" statistics.
It's not only great exercise, it's so romantic!
Called the number one "Green City" in America by the Green Guide and ranked "Silver" by the League of American Bicyclists, Eugene is highly regarded nationally as an outstanding place to walk and bike. To explore ways of making Eugene an even better place for walking and biking, the city has initiated a community-wide pedestrian and bicycle strategic planning process. For more than 30 years bicycling has been an important part of the community, and energetic bicycling advocates as well as a supportive City Council have resulted in bicycling being an integral part of Eugene's great lifestyle. Eugene has a well-coordinated system of bikeways which includes 30 miles (48-km) of off-street paths, 89 miles (143-km) of on-street bicycle lanes, and 5 bicycle/pedestrian bridges spanning the Willamette River.
Cottage Grove's Historic Row River Trail
The nearby town of Cottage Grove boasts the Row River Bike Trail, a 15-mile (24-km) paved trail that has replaced the tracks of the Oregon Pacific and Eastern Railway. Ideal for walking, cycling and horseback riding.
Oakridge Mountain Biking Climbs to New Heights:
Thirty miles southeast of Eugene on the west flank of the Cascade Mountains lies the mountain town of Oakridge. Here you will find mountain biking trails for beginners, intermediate, advanced and now - with the addition of gondolas to take riders up the extreme angles of Eagle Peak at Willamette Pass - trails for the very bravest. There is an estimated 500 miles (804-km) of single track for biking enthusiasts to enjoy.
Visit here for eco-minded discoveries designed for group and F.I.T!
