Escape into a delightful, undiscovered world of Willamette Valley farms, small towns and waterfall hikes. Start your trip on Highway 99 paralleling the Interstate 5 just south of Eugene. You will arrive shortly in the charming communities of Creswell and Cottage Grove and encounter alpacas, movie landmarks and outdoor murals along the way.
Here are a few highlights you'll want to put on your list of things to do in Creswell and Cottage Grove:
Take out or dine in at Creswell Bakery. All road trips in this direction must include a stop at Creswell Bakery (ask any local and we're betting they'll say the same). Expect awesome breakfast treats, sandwiches and meat pies baked with farm-to-table devotion.
Golf at Emerald Valley Golf & Resort. Swing your club where the University of Oregon golf teams practice! Emerald Valley's beautiful 18-hole course is close to town but feels miles away. Students get discounted rates.
Creswell Clay Target Sports. Spend a day trying out clay target games at the region's premier shotgun club. Single-day memberships are available.
Try local wine and beer. Pick up a bottle of wine from Saginaw Vineyard. Or stop by Cottage Grove's local brewery, Coast Fork Brewing, known for their chicken pot pies and delightful farm shop.
Take a movie buffs tour. Cottage Grove's charming look first caught Hollywood's attention in 1926 when Buster Keaton filmed "The General" here. Today, pay tribute to movie classics like "Animal House" and "Stand By Me" with visits to filming locations around town.
Taj Barnhart Morgan is the Director of Content Strategy for Travel Lane County. A journalism graduate from the University of Oregon, Taj has two decades of special event management and hospitality marketing experience in San Diego, CA and Maui, HI. Passionate about mothering, and back to her Oregon roots, she is discovering the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region all over again through the eyes of her daughter.
