This Small Oregon Town Has The Best Downtown
With nearly half of the state covered in forest, at least 50 named mountain ranges, and over 100,000 miles of lakes and streams, it’s pretty safe to say that Oregon’s nature is beautiful. Today, however, the focus is not on Oregon's wilderness but rather on its incredible downtowns, with the town of Silverton taking center stage.
This small town of roughly 10,000 residents sits along the eastern edge of the Willamette Valley, with Silver Creek winding right through its heart. In addition to the famed Oregon Garden, Silverton is speckled with art murals, creekside cafes, and cultural festivals that pack in plenty of character. As a bonus, it is just an hour south of Portland, making it the perfect destination for a weekend trip for those from the city! As you begin to plan your travels for the coming year, don’t miss out on the chance to explore the phenomenal town of Silverton.
Art & Culture
With more than 30 murals around town, Silverton's love for the arts can be found almost literally around every corner. The Silverton Mural Society is largely responsible for this incredible variety of murals, a local organization that has been preserving and expanding them since 1992. Some of the murals you can keep your eye out for as you wander through town include Bobbie the Wonder Dog, the Silverton City of the Falls Mural, and the Homer Davenport Mural. The society offers an interactive walking tour map available online for those interested in exploring them all.
Right on Water Street, you can also pop into galleries like the Lunaria Gallery, a contemporary gallery that exhibits works from both established and emerging artists. The gallery presents new art every month, featuring works by member artists near the front and guest artist exhibitions in the upstairs loft. Curious about how Silverton came to be? The Silverton Country Historical Society and Museum will tell you the story. Here, you can explore several rooms, each with special displays that depict life over the last century. Nearly the entire collection originated from the descendants of Silverton pioneers.
Downtown Events
Silverton offers a fairly robust calendar of events, many of which take place in the centrally located Coolidge McClaine Park. Since 1951, the town has been enjoying the annual Silverton Hills Strawberry Festival. Originally taking place in the Silverton Hills Grange Hall, the event has since been moved to the park, celebrating all things strawberries with delicious strawberry shortcake each June. A bit later on in the summer, the Homer Davenport Days festival takes place in Coolidge McClain Park as well. This eccentric event honors Homer Davenport, a Silverton native who was one of the most important political cartoonists of his time and a friend of President Theodore Roosevelt. Events throughout the weekend include a parade, arts and crafts, a beer festival, furniture races on Main Street, and plenty of live music. Around the third weekend of August each year, the same park fills with artwork for the annual Silverton Fine Arts Festival, giving you the chance to browse art from some of the area's talented artists.
Heading to the southwestern edge of town, meanwhile, you can do some holiday shopping at the Silverton Christmas Market. This event, held at the Oregon Garden Resort, is almost guaranteed to get you in a Christmas spirit, featuring a German-style artisan holiday market, 1.5 million Christmas lights, visits from Santa, fire pits, live music, food, drink, and more.
The Oregon Garden
If you love plants, the Oregon Garden is a must for your itinerary this next year. Located on the western end of Main Street, this garden is expansive, spanning over 130 acres and featuring more than 20 specialty gardens. Many of the plants here reflect the botanical diversity of both the Willamette Valley and the Pacific Northwest. A few of the gardens travelers can explore include the Conifer Garden, the Home Demo Garden, the Children’s Garden, the Northwest Garden, and the Pet Friendly Garden.
Several demonstration areas aim to educate visitors about the importance of sustainability, such as the Rediscovery Forest, which highlights the significance of Oregon’s forestry industry, along with some wetlands and a water garden that support the city’s water system. Smaller exhibits also explore topics such as home composting and permaculture.
Culinary Scene
Make sure to bring an appetite to Silverton, because the food here is outstanding! To kick off the day, head over to Little Leaf Cafe and Catering. This scratch-made cafe, located on Water Street, serves all kinds of hearty breakfast dishes. Depending on your appetite, a few of the items you’ll find on the menu include freshly baked pastries, avocado toast, yogurt and granola, biscuits and gravy, and breakfast burritos. The beverages available are equally delicious, serving specialties like house-made chai, espresso, cold brew, and house coffee.
You’ll definitely want to save room for lunch. Swing by Oso in the afternoon, a restaurant that specializes in Spanish and Mediterranean-style cuisine. Each dish is carefully prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, featuring dishes such as Greek meatballs, patatas bravas, shrimp and chorizo, Spanish fish and chips, and lamb birria tacos. To wrap up the day, enjoy some pub fare and a cold drink from The Noble Fox, a creekside restaurant and bar on the corner of Water and Main. This vintage-inspired pub serves some of the best cocktails in town, along with all your favorite classic dishes like burgers, mac n cheese, spicy tacos, and steak and fries.
Your Adventure In Silverton Awaits
Silverton is one of those towns that you can visit several times and still discover something new the next time. Between its festivals, murals, museums, and galleries, you won’t have a hard time filling your weekend with activities. And when you’ve seen all that the downtown district has to offer, head to the downtown’s southwestern edge for an entertaining afternoon in the gardens! So go ahead and pack your weekend bag. Who knows what other gems you might find during your adventure?
