Eugene loves seniors

Travel America, May-June, 2004 by Pat Woods

Eugene welcomes seniors to the annual Oregon Bach Festival from June 25 to July 11. The Discovery Series--informal hour-long afternoon concerts--combine a lecture-demonstration with a performance. Tickets are $13 for seniors. Details: oregonbachfestival.com or (800) 457-1486. A clean college town, Eugene offers many senior friendly attractions, including the Oregon Air & Space Museum, Cascades Raptor Center (nature center/hospital for birds of prey), and the University of Oregon Museum of Natural History.

Downtown, don't miss the Fifth Street Public Market and Saturday (crafts) Market. Eugene boasts a riverfront biking/walking trail, beautiful parks, and hundreds of huge trees. Stroll through the Owen Memorial Rose Garden, home of 400 varieties of roses and the nation's oldest black cherry tree. Stay a short walk from the Willamette River in a spacious suite with separate living/sleeping areas, plus full kitchen, at the Residence Inn by Marriott (800-331-3131, www.residenceinn.com). To learn more about the area's wineries and other attractions, request the free Lane County Visitor Guide from (800) 547-5445 or www.TravelLaneCounty.com.