Had some free time in Salem and thought this could be an interesting museum, and it did not…read moredisappoint! It's not a huge museum but I didn't mind - there was lots of info and stuff to look at. I thought the exhibits were very well done and really interesting to read the different stories of people who stayed there and worked there. It was $8 for entry which I think was a fair price.

What an amazing educational place. I absolutely loved finding this gem and exploring the history…read more The volunteers are so sweet and guide you through the history. Highly recommend and love the move to show the progress in mental health treatment over the years.

We made the 1 hour drive here and it was 100% worth it! It was $16 for ages 1 and up which is the…read moresame price for a regular indoor play place but this place was SO MUCH MORE FUN! They had 2 rows of free parking under the bridge and another free lot on the same side of the overpass and some street parking spots. There were 2 whole houses of various themed play areas to explore, including an area for littler ones. One big house for all things creative and DIY, and the best part was the outdoor space with a sandpit, bubble house, and a huge tree house structure. You can spend all day here! In fact, you really should because once your wristband and stamps are on, you can come in and out all day. Side note, they also have a coffee shop called Play Cafe with delicious drinks with very reasonable pricing! If we lived close we definitely would be members and visit all the time. We can't wait to come back again to explore more!

We love Gilbert House! The staff is always kind and efficient and the times I've visited, the play…read moreareas have been well-kept and clean. My kids love the outdoor playground too. We love the bubble room and exhibits, and could easily spend the day here. Pro-tip, if you have a LINCC Library card, you can get a cultural pass and come here once a month for freeeee!

Came here for a late afternoon performance and has a great time. We arrived at 1pm to give us time…read moreto check out the animals and ride some rides. Loved visiting with all the sheep, pigs, and other farm animals. Then we bought $50 worth of tickets (120 to be precise), and most rides cost 12 tickets. Kids had a lot of fun. And visiting a fair wouldn't be complete without an elephant ear, which was tasty but much softer than I'm used to, plus cotton candy, an Amish donut, a gyro, burgers, and a corn dog. The lines for parking were atrocious so we parked off-site and walked, which worked out well. We'll be back!

best thing this year: draft horse shows were so well curated and exciting…read more worst thing: AI everywhere including actual fair signage :( depressing to look at

Took my grandson today and it was very fun and informative for both of us. Great effort was made to…read moremake it fun for children as well. Lots of hands on activities. We will visit often.Thank you

An exceptional effort for a small town in one of Oregon's poorest counties. The young woman often…read moreon duty is, I believe, a degreed professional in museum management, and it shows. Admission is free, but there is a plastic receptacle near the entry station for donations. I am elderly, grew up around here, and can tell you that the displays capture aspects of valley life that have vanished forever.

What a beautiful old theater in downtown Salem, Oregon. The Elsinore is a lovely reminder of the…read moreglitzy and glamorous days gone by, and I'm here for it! Thank you to everyone in the community who has done their part to maintain this jewel over the years. The theater boasts a grand lobby with lots of space for concession and merch lines. There doesn't seem to be the bottleneck one often sees at older venues such as this. The seats are spacious and comfortable in the auditorium, and there doesn't seem to be a bad seat in the house in terms of sight lines and visibility. The balcony doesn't hang so far over the main level that folks in the back feel claustrophobic. I've sat in multiple locations on this level and was pleased with each of my seats. The stage is mid-sized, however, it's beautifully framed by golden architectural detail that helps it seem far more grand. And the acoustics are such that sound travels nicely throughout the auditorium. Visitors can make use of street parking throughout downtown, with free parking after 6 PM. There are also several large, paid parking lots in the vicinity as well.

This theatre is beautiful! Parking in parking garage nearby is easy and close and there are food…read moreand bars options nearby. The staff and volunteers at the theatre were all really kind and friendly and the music sounded good! Check out the lovely art and stained glass while you're there. Beautiful historic building. My only complaint has nothing to do with the theatre itself, but the crowd... no one stood or danced for an amazing band (Sierra Hull) which is awkward and weird to me.

I love this place, it's fun and a great way to unwind or let go of some stress and be creative. Ann…read moreand employees are always so helpful and create a warm, welcoming and supportive environment. Would recommend this place to all ages wanting to create some memories!

Such a great spot for a solo, friend, or family date! Super spacious and kind staff. Nice…read moreenvironment to spend an afternoon in! Prices are very reasonable!

FREE ADMISSION! A…read morehidden gem that feels like stepping into someone's dream, and they invite you in. This review is long overdue. We stopped here last November on our way back from the coast, and it turned out to be one of the most unexpectedly peaceful and inspiring stops of our trip. The property is spacious, serene, and filled with artistic wonder. Throughout the garden, there are multiple man-made waterfalls that add a gentle, calming soundtrack to your walk. Every sculpture, path, and water feature is created with care. They build and design almost everything themselves, which gives the space a truly personal and handcrafted feel. We had the pleasure of meeting Linda, the artist's mother, who was incredibly warm and welcoming. Talking with her added a beautiful personal touch, you're not just walking through a sculpture garden; you're stepping into a family's living, breathing creative space. You can easily spend 30 minutes to an hour here, taking your time to explore, take photos, and just breathe. It's also very kid and family-friendly, with plenty of open space and interesting sights to keep little ones engaged. Bonus highlight for travelers: there's a heated restroom in the working/storage barn, complete with a toilet seat cover. You don't realize how much you appreciate a heating restroom until you step into one after a chilly drive down the coast. If you're ever passing through, don't miss it. It's calm, creative, and unforgettable. You won't regret the stop.

Honestly, what a fun spontaneous find literally on the side of the road! As I was headed towards…read morethe coast, I happened to see a sign for a sculpture garden peeping not too far off the highway. I decided to take a little swerve off of the highway to turn into on the road less traveled. I went down a gravel road and parked on the side of a road behind a line of cars. What I didn't realize was that I had actually missed the parking lot for the Gardens, but it honestly didn't matter because it was a pretty quick walk there. Upon entering, we were greeted by a receptionist who explained the layout and basically let us free. The inside houses a mini gallery display of sorts. There are lots of interesting pieces that they make and sell. The cool part is definitely the gardens. After walking through the interior, an innocuous door leads you to the garden in the back. Although the interior space is small, the outdoors is actually quite large. There are lots of interesting trees, plants, and, as the name suggests, sculptures displayed all around. It was really fascinating to see how they chose to organize things throughout the garden. Because it was a weekday, we were the only people there. Not sure if they are typically super busy, but it was a fun place to come out and stretch our legs!

Located on the grounds of the historic Bush estate, the free art museum is a wonderful place to see…read moreart exhibits and installations at the Bush Barn Museum by local artists and by handmade jewelry, soap, bags, and other gifts that are all works of art in their own right. It's also where tickets can be bought to tour the grand Bush House, a museum house in Salem built 100 years ago! The park is also a lovely place to walk around and hang out.