Taylored Benefits

Mom and dad will love the fact that the kids can learn about Eugene's history while getting some great exercise when visiting the Riverplay Discovery Village Playground. This is one of the largest playgrounds in the state and offers visitors a chance to experience the state's history and culture in a truly unique way. Creative play attractions and state-of-the-art features are the order of the day here, as the kids will enjoy climbing a 25-foot replica of Skinner Butte, uncovering fossils and exploring a replica of old pioneer villages.

A brisk walk is one of the best forms of exercise, and for outdoor lovers, taking that gingerly stroll down the Amazon Trail in Eugene is a great way to spend some quality time enjoying the area's natural beauty. The trail is located next to Roosevelt Middle School and offers a 600-meter, 1,000-meter and 1-mile loop. Whatever length of the trail you choose to tackle, they are all in the convenient figure-eight shape which proves to be a moderate challenge and keeps the pace for your walk interesting, too.

The Ridgeline Trail Loop begins at the base of Spencer Butte and follows the Ridgeline Trail across Fox Hollow Road, forms a loop, and then ends back at Spencer Butte Park. This recreation trail is mainly used for running but also accommodates hikers, mountain bikers and leashed dogs. The elevation is at 250 feet and the trail stretches for a total of 7 miles.

When you dig deep, you never know what you'll find. Getting below the surface of history and cultural traditions will allow you to gain a deeper understanding, and there's no better place to do that in Eugene than at the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Here, the past is present in so many colorful and multidimensional ways. You'll be able to experience an amazing 15,000 years of Oregon's cultural history as well as an equally stunning 200 million years of geology. Get ready, because the trip is a dramatic one, with adventure at nearly every turn.