Did you recently travel to Salem, Oregon to attend a wedding, meeting or other event at the Salem Convention Center? Or perhaps you're just passing through and want to take in the sights and sounds of Salem? If either of those are true, then this blog post is for you! There's a ton of variety in food, experiences and incredible views in Salem, Oregon. We love being so close to so many amazing eateries and beautiful outdoor areas here. While you're in town, take a day to take in the glory that is our state's capital and the things we get to enjoy every day. From morning to night, here's how to spend the perfect day around the Salem Convention Center. Bonus: All of these locations can be easily walked to or are just a short drive away. Morning Bigwig Donuts-3 Minute Walk from the Salem Convention Center This loved-by-many donut shop hit Salem's streets back in 2014, appearing as a pop-up in other shops around town. Fast forward five years later and Bigwig obtained its very own brick-and-mortar storefront! Mark Davis, the owner of Bigwigs Donuts, wanted to create allergy-friendly donuts that still tasted delicious-mission accomplished. This donut shop exclusively sells donut holes and they're all mouth-watering. All of the menu items, beverages included, are gluten-free and vegan too! If you're looking for something to appease your allergies-Bigwig has your back. Bearscat Bakehouse-3 Minute Walk from the Salem Convention Center Start your day with a unique treat from Bearscat Bakehouse. Bearscat Bakehouse gets its name from an old cowboy term. Giddy up; this term used by cowboys referred simply to donuts. Delicious, golden, circular dough treats. Tina and Kevin Cavanagh, the owners of Bearscat Bakehouse found that term to be so silly and fun that they named their shop after it. It's a perfect representation of the silly and fun donuts that can be found in this shop too. Have you ever tried gummy worms on a donut? You can at Bearscat Bakehouse! If gummy bears on a donut are a touch too adventurous, rest assured there are standard maple bars and glazed chocolate donuts available too. If a sweet treat hits the spot for you in the morning, this is a quick trip for a quick breakfast before you set out to explore the downtown Salem area. Ike Box-11 Minute Walk from the Salem Convention Center This coffee shop has a cup of coffee to warm your taste buds and a story that will warm your heart. The owners of Ike Box, “Isaac's Room”, had lost their son, Isaac, from a heart condition when he was just two months old. They chose to channel all of the love they would have given their son into loving the community and the younger generation that moves through it. They've set out to make this coffee shop a safe space for people to learn, grow and thrive. This environment makes it a great place to read or get some work done for the morning. Enjoy coffee and a dessert here to start your day in Salem. The lovely couple that owns Ike Box have another location, Isaacs, that's only a 6 minute walk from the Salem Convention Center. This breakfast spot has a warm and comforting atmosphere and breakfast is served all day long so you can fill up on bagels, breakfast sandwiches, quiche or more from their menu. Similar to Ike Box, this is a great place to catch up on some emails before you continue on your way. Afternoon Venti's Cafe & Beer Vault-5 Minute Walk from the Salem Convention Center Venti's has been serving up delicious food for the Salem area since 1996. With a menu that boasts exquisite flavors from appetizers to desserts, there's something for everyone here. This is a great spot to go if you're getting out-and-about a little later and are looking for a light and easy snack to start the day. There's also something here for the mac n' cheese lovers visiting Salem. Get your mac made vegan, spicy, straight up or more-there's plenty of variety here. And don't forget dessert! Menu items like creme brulee, flourless dark chocolate torte and a kombucha root beer float are amongst many tasty treats to try. If you happen to be here a day or two before the event you're attending, you can catch karaoke Thursday's here at Venti's Cafe & Beer Vault in the evenings. Belt one out or listen to some tunes sung by those who did not write them. If you're here on a weekday, it's worth stopping back in for dinner during Dinner Vibes on Wednesdays-you'll dine in to some lovely live music from the talented folks in the Salem area. Bush's Pasture Park and Rose Garden-15 Minute Walk from the Salem Convention Center Take a walk through the serene garden pathways that exist at Bush's Pasture Park in the afternoon. The scenery is incredible and unique to the Pacific Northwest with its sprawling lawns and bounty of trees. Other features of this park include activities like horseshoes, picnic tables for outdoor lunches, a playground for the kids and tennis courts. This park spans an impressive 90.5 acres and is a stunning space surrounded by rich forests and walking paths right in the heart of downtown Salem. You don't have to go far to see the beauty of Oregon! Reed Opera House Shopping Center-5 Minute Walk from the Salem Convention Center The Reed Opera House and Shopping Center is a great place to spend your afternoon in Salem. You can eat and shop for souvenirs all in the same space. This shopping center is in a historic building in downtown Salem and contains storefronts such as the 503 Sushi Bar, Chira's Restaurant & Catering, The Awkward Peach Boutique, Munchies Market and The Sun Bear Den Plant Shop. If you're hoping to pick up a memento to remind you of your time in Salem, this is a place you'll want to put on your itinerary. Come back at night for select event nights at the new Reed Underground-Comedy shows and other entertainers will be there! Evening Bo & Vine Burger-5 Minute Walk from the Salem Convention Center (Photo Credit: Bo & Vine Burger) This local PNW burger chain is mouth watering. Bo & Vine Burger Bar specializes in smash burgers and chicken sandwiches with tasty sides of salads, fries and fry piles. They put an emphasis on using fresh, local ingredients and meats so you're getting the best in every bite. While this burger joint only made its way into the downtown Salem area in 2017, it quickly made it into the hearts and stomachs of the locals and has earned its spot on our ‘Best Sights, Bites and Experiences' list. The portion sizes are quite large so be prepared to eat a big meal or split items with a friend. Finish things off with a hand-spun milkshake for dessert; classic flavors like vanilla, chocolate and strawberry are available alongside boozy beverage choices like a wine shake and an IPA & cream. Taproot Lounge & Cafe-3 Minute Walk from the Salem Convention Center Taproot Lounge & Cafe holds many titles: Earth-friendly experience, comfortable environment and one of the counties EarthWISE Businesses of 2021. Their menu is extensive with various drinks, wines, rotating tap lists and cocktails. If you hit happy hour, you can enjoy tapas with savory flavors; the Davocados are too good to pass up-they consist of beer battered avocado slices that are served with a vegan chipotle ranch dipping sauce. You may even get to take in some live music by some of the Salem area's finest musicians. Ritter's Housemade Foods-3 Minute Walk from the Salem Convention Center If you're a late night eater, this will be the place for you. Hours at Ritter's Housemade Foods range from being open till 10-11 PM depending on if it's a weekday or weeknight. If you're also a cheese lover, you'll want to see this restaurant. Menu items include a charcuterie board, cheese plate and a baked Brie with mushrooms on a baguette. More exotic flavors for main dishes that you'll see are a goat cheese & fig burger or a prosciutto, pear and arugula pizza. Dine in with a beverage of your choice and see what Salem is all about at this incredible dining spot! The Cozy Taberna-6 Minute Walk from the Salem Convention Center This new addition to the downtown Salem area is quickly gaining a great reputation for itself. This is the perfect place to come with friends for a “shared plate” experience. The menu at The Cozy Taberna is designed for mixing and matching Spanish flavors and taste testing multiple menu items. Give it a whirl with items like salt cod fritters, bacon wrapped dates, goat cheese dumplings or squid ink pasta. Finish the night off with a cocktail or Spanish inspired wine. Cheers! The Salem Convention Center is in such a central location in the downtown area and with so many stand-out spots to see, you'll want to take the extra time while you're here to check things out. We're always available to offer up additional recommendations to fit what you're looking for in the area and hope you'll enjoy these sights, bites and experiences as much as we do.
