FROM THE USAPA
is called the Willamette Valley, known for blending urban life with the beautiful outdoor landscape. Combine that with being the home to Oregon’ s wine country and you’ ve got another wonderful destination to spend a few days wining, dining and playing great pickleball.
Eugene is known as TrackTown USA because of its tight relationship with the University of Oregon and its nationally ranked track and field program. No doubt, Hayward Field has hosted its fair share of the most prominent track meets this year including the NCAA Track & Field Championships, U. S. Olympic Track & Field Trials and the annual Prefontaine Classic – the nation’ s premier track & field meet.
If you’ re looking for a good game of pickleball, you may find yourself on the court with a National Champion, or 81-year-old Buzz Summers. Summers was a tennis coach at the University of Oregon for 30 years and loves pickleball; you’ d better come ready to run or he’ ll beat you every time. For the best opportunities, visit the“ Places to Play” page on USAPA. org
Other Things to Do in Eugene
• Watch a Eugene Emeralds Game: A Class-A Short Season minor league baseball team affiliated with the Chicago Cubs( season: June-September).
• Hang out at the University of Oregon: As a member of the PAC-12, the Ducks compete in a range of sports. The university is located along the Willamette River just east of downtown. There are events happening all the time on campus( during the school year). If anything, the campus is a wonderful place to take a late evening walk.
• Drive out to Oregon State University: Another member of the PAC-12, the OSU Beaver campus is located in Corvalis, just north and within striking distance of Eugene. If you’ re staying in the area, you should see what’ s happening on the OSU campus; you might be able to catch a late-night baseball game or music performance at the world-renowned LaSells Stewart Center.
EXPLORING NORTHWEST OREGON
From the USAPA’ s perspective in breaking up the districts in Oregon, the hub of activity in the northwest is centered in the Portland area. As you leave Eugene, head north on Interstate-5 along the Willamette Valley. If you look at the interactive map on the USAPA’ s“ Places to Play” page, there are plenty of places to stop for a game between Eugene and Portland. Straight through, barring any traffic issues( which are plenty), it should take you about two hours to get to your destination.
In the Portland area alone, there are more than 15 places to play pickleball – on both indoor and outdoor courts. Tom Widden is the USAPA District Ambassador in Northwest Oregon; he would be a great resource for anyone traveling on business, or pleasure, and wanting to get a few games in during their visit.
BEST HIDDEN GEMS IN PORTLAND
• There Be Monsters: According to locals, the fish and chips are amazing. You have to go just to verify if they’ re as good as the ones from your favorite spot.
• Rocky Butte Park: You’ re not going to get a better view than on this hilltop just east of town.
• Khao San: This little Thai place is known for good cocktails, excellent food, and amazing ginger pale ale. It has 4.5 stars on Yelp and is affordable for most customers.
• Lovejoy Fountain Park: Hidden away just east of Portland State University, the tranquility you’ ll find here is unmatched. A perfect place to just sit, relax and listen to the rushing water of the fountain.
• Toast: Considered one of Portland’ s best-kept breakfast secrets. There’ s nothing like sitting down for a nice big breakfast after a few epic rallies on the pickleball court.
After visiting Portland, you might consider heading north and visiting Washington. If you have extra time, you may want to head north on Highway 30 to 101 and then travel south along the Oregon coastline. There are a few great places to play pickleball, such as in Warrenton, Seaside, Depoe Bay, and Newport. There are also amazing places to hang out for a few days, including Cannon Beach, home of Haystack Rock.
If you’ ve never visited the West Coast, you will be amazed by the beauty that lies within Oregon’ s boundaries— from Hells Canyon to the east, Cannon Beach to the west, and the Willamette Valley in the north. It has quickly become one of the nation’ s top pickleball hubs, whether anyone outside of Oregon knows it or not. In regard to pickleball and its natural treasures, it is easily one of the Pacific Northwest’ s best-kept secrets. •
22 TO SUBSCRIBE CALL 724.942.0940 OR GO TO THEPICKLEBALLMAG. COM