Beyond Albany
Albany is perfectly located to be your base camp for exploring Oregon. Our historic nickname is "Hub City"--a nod to Albany's central location on train, riverboat, and stagecoach lines. It's been a while since the last stagecoach rattled through, but our location--midway between city and country, mountains and beaches--still makes Albany a hub for traveling Oregon.
Cities
Oregon's largest city--the ever-vibrant Portland--is just over an hour north of Albany via Interstate 5. The Portland TrailBlazers basketball team, the popular Portland Timbers soccer franchise, a happening food scene and multitudes of cultural opportunities await. A train or bus departing daily from the Albany Station can get you to Portland for $15 or less. South of Albany is Eugene, Oregon's TrackTown USA. Fans of the Oregon Ducks as well as fans of the city's free-spirited culture can make their way to Eugene in just 45 minutes. The state capital city, Salem, is 25 minutes north of Albany. Rich in history and home to the state's beautiful capitol building, it's another destination easily accessible from Albany.
Countryside
Albany sits in the middle of some of the prettiest countryside you'll ever see. Rivers and lakes, meadows and forests, waterfalls and gardens--they're all easy to find when you're visiting Albany. Visit the Trails to Linn website for details on the county's scenic riches.The larger region, the Willamette Valley, is a 132-mile long swath of the most fertile and beautiful land in the state. Blueberries and hazelnuts, grains and seeds, and one of Oregon's premier crops: wine grapes. While you're in Albany, plan a wine-tasting trip and sample Oregon's distinctive Pinot Noir; visit a hop farm and taste our famous craft beer; or pick your own produce and be rewarded with its unrivaled flavor. If it's delicious, it probably grows in the Willamette Valley.
Mountains
Albany is flanked by mountains on two sides. To west are the gentle slopes of the Coast Range; take an easy, family-friendly hike up Marys Peak and you'll be rewarded with views that stretch to Mt. Hood in the north and the Pacific Ocean in the west. On the other side of the valley, the Cascades rise up, forest-covered and waiting to be explored. It's just under an hour from Albany to the hiking trails and protected wilderness areas of the Oregon Cascades.
Beaches
The Oregon Coast is a treasure you don't want to miss. Don't be fooled--it's not like the beaches you'll find on the East Coast or in Southern California. Think of wide, sandy stretches, pebbled coves, towering rock formations, and tide pools teeming with life. You won't find crowds of sunbathers or busy amusement parks. You will find the most scenic ocean vistas you'll ever hope to see--and it's all free and open to the public, thanks to Oregon's landmark 1967 Beach Bill that declared the Oregon coastline belongs to the people of Oregon forever. It's less than two hours by car from Albany to the Oregon Coast, or you can hop on the Coast-to-Valley Express for daily bus service to the beaches.
No matter what your pleasure, you can stay in Albany and head out in any direction for uniquely Oregon adventure. The staff at the Albany Visitors Association can help you plan your getaway: 541-928-0911 or info@albanyvisitors.com