Welcome to the Big Ten!

[Sparty]

We (55 and 57) are coming out in October to see one of our newest members.

This will be stadium number 20 in which we have seen our Spartans play. This is our third time seeing them play Oregon, but the first in Oregon.

What are the highlights we should see and do in Eugene?

We will be in town from Thursday afternoon and have all day Friday until the game.

Our preference on food is wherever a current college student would go if they wanted a good burger and a beer.

Thanks in advance.

Go Green!

[OregonFan4Life]

For restaurants, I’m personally a fan of Chiefs Brewhouse in Coburg. But there are plenty of other good places around here for a good burger including:

-Cornucopia
-McMennimans
-Toxic Burger
-Killer Burger (with a location owned by former Oregon great, LaMichael James)
-Eugene Burger Company
-Little Big Burger (chain but there’s one on campus that students like)
-Bo & Vine Burger
-Fusion Burger
-Wayback burgers
-Giant burger
-The burger house

I’m sure there are more but those are just a few I could think of. I hope you enjoy your time in Eugene, but not too much cause that would mean the Spartans would win.

[UOducksTK1]

Should be a fun time! Did you visit Autzen the last time we played?

[Sparty]

Should be a fun time! Did you visit Autzen the last time we played?

I have only seen us play Oregon in East Lansing (2015) and in possibly the worst game ever in the Redbox Bowl (2018).

Oregon is one of 6 states I have yet to get to, so we are planning on exploring the state for 10 days, and are just using the game as an excuse to get out there.

[Alan]

You have a day on the west coast, you have to go to the Oregon coast, it only an hour away and great sights and eats!

[nogerO]

Well if you will be in Oregon for that long, Crater Lake in the southern Cascade mtns is definitely on your bucket list!

[Phalanx]

I'm curious what Spartan fans think of their new coach so far.

[Sparty]

I'm curious what Spartan fans think of their new coach so far.

Way too early to say. We got excited by the last guy and then it just turned out Kenneth Walker was a generational player and it ended in embarrassment.

For Smith, I will wait a couple of years before I make any judgment (unless he masterbates while on the phone with a rape survivor).

I am a little skeptical about anyone who leaves their alma mater for more money, but this might be a unique situation because OSU was on the sinking ship of the old Pac 12.

If we make a bowl this year, at least we are moving in the right direction.

We shall see . . .

[Sparty]

You have a day on the west coast, you have to go to the Oregon coast, it only an hour away and great sights and eats!

So far the trip is:

Silver Falls State Park
Eugene
Coast
Redwood National Park (CA)
Crater Lake National Park
Bend
Mt. Hood
Columbia River Gorge

Let me know if I am missing anything that I shouldn't miss.

[duckpoint]

You have a day on the west coast, you have to go to the Oregon coast, it only an hour away and great sights and eats!

So far the trip is:

Silver Falls State Park - Reasonably close to Eugene and a good day trip to hike around and see the many waterfalls. The nearby town of Silverton is a 'Norman Rockwell' postcard of a town and would make a great lunch stop.

Eugene

Coast - Eugene to Florence (check out the dunes) then north up the coast to Waldport (very scenic). Yachats is a great little coast town for a lunch stop and Tillicum Beach, Beachside, and Wakonda Beach are all great for a stroll. Back to Eugene through Corvalis (the western headquarters of the PAC 2) or continue north to Astoria?

Redwood National Park (CA)

Crater Lake National Park - Definitely a spectacular & unique bucket list type of place, but a bit isolated, though it could be a longer route to Bend.

Bend - An Outdoor Recreation, food & beer Mecca! Lots of tourist type options, but Tumalo falls could be a replacement for Silver Falls (not the same) and Newberry Crater is kinda like a poor man's Crater Lake (with 2 lakes in the crater). I would also encourage a drive east across the desert (about an hour) to Pine Mountain. Big desert & mountain views.

Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge - Many options here, but Astoria to Hood River (through Portland) could be a route to Bend. Multnomah Falls and lunch in Hood River.

Let me know if I am missing anything that I shouldn't miss.

Pre game, just explore and enjoy Eugene. Get out and walk on the river trail to stretch your legs, food, beer, etc...

Being that Michigan is in many ways similar to Oregon in it's outdoor beauty, I would suggest giving some focus to the things that Oregon has that Michigan doesn't, namely the coast, the mountains, the Gorge, and the desert.

See my notes to your trip list above. If anything strikes your fancy I or someone else can fill in more details.

[pezsez1]

Regarding the gorge, I'd say skip it unless you can go early in the morning. It gets so crowded during the summer that you'll struggle to find places to park unless you're there before maybe 9 a.m.

It is beautiful, though! Was my family's go-to spot during childhood. Cat's out of the bag now though and there are just so many more people here.

[TheDrake]

On the way to Crater Lake stop at Rogue River Gorge viewpoint just past Union Creek.

[duckpoint]

Regarding the gorge, I'd say skip it unless you can go early in the morning. It gets so crowded during the summer that you'll struggle to find places to park unless you're there before maybe 9 a.m.

It is beautiful, though! Was my family's go-to spot during childhood. Cat's out of the bag now though and there are just so many more people here.

Early October will be much better than peak summer. Fall colors too!

[UOducksTK1]

Regarding the gorge, I'd say skip it unless you can go early in the morning. It gets so crowded during the summer that you'll struggle to find places to park unless you're there before maybe 9 a.m.

It is beautiful, though! Was my family's go-to spot during childhood. Cat's out of the bag now though and there are just so many more people here.

I'd still say worth driving through and checking out Multnomah falls. But yes doing gorge hikes has been overcrowded for nearly a decade now.

[pezsez1]

I'd still say worth driving through and checking out Multnomah falls. But yes doing gorge hikes has been overcrowded for nearly a decade now.

Even then, get there before 9 a.m. or you need a timed-use permit (if you're accessing from I-84) with no guarantee you'll get parking. https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10089144

I took my son on the Old Highway a week or two before permit season on a rainy Saturday morning and most lots were already full including nearly the entire I-84 Multnomah Falls lot. It's crazy busy compared to the olden days.

If you drive to Mult Falls via the Old Highway, I don't think you need a permit but the small lot next to the falls costs $20 per car and is often full.