Popular tourist destinations in the Pacific Northwest like Seattle and Vancouver are so overrun with tourists that the constant jostling can ruin your vacation. If you want to give yourself a break from working in fitness clubs Toronto but don't want the hassle of touring a major destination, why not visit Eugene, Oregon? Eugene has the beautiful Pacific Northwest landscapes without the traffic and high rises to mar the views. And best of all, there's plenty to do here in town.

Arts

Eugene is home to some very creative people, as you can see from just walking down the street on the way to the cricket club. The public art program has erected many pieces throughout the city. If you want to see major collections, visit the Jacob's Gallery which showcases only local and regional artists. If performing arts are more your style, you can take in an outdoor concert in the park during the summer or visit the Hult Center for the Arts for shows and workshops in theater and music.

Outdoors

The outdoors is really Eugene's strongest draw. With two rivers, the Willamette and the McKenzie, kayakers, canoers, rafters, and fishermen are drawn to the area. There are also more than 100 parks and trails encompassing several thousand acres of green space and nature preserve to enjoy on foot, bike, or horseback. It's perfect for bird watching, camping, and wildlife photography. There are also skate parks, rinks, sporting fields, and playgrounds where recreation programs and youth hockey tournaments are held.

Shopping

You wouldn't normally visit a city as small as Eugene if you were only interested in shopping, but while you're here, why not take advantage of the quiet atmosphere to give yourself some day spa gifts or buy some souvenirs to take home? Some of the most interesting shopping destinations are the markets. The 5th Street Market and Farmer's Market showcase local products and crafts you can't get anywhere else. There are also some great boutique shops featuring everything from sporting goods to chocolate.

Food

When you get tired from all the excitement, head into one of Eugene's fabulous restaurants to refuel. If you want great barbeque, Toronto catering isn't your only option. Eugene can oblige. There's also fresh local seafood, berries, wine, and cheese. There are all types of restaurant from bakeries to feed your sweet tooth to pubs where you can get great microbrews to elegant multi-star restaurants with stunning views of the Cascades.