| A lively mix of students, professionals, hippies and blue collars, EUGENE is Oregon's second largest city and a liberal enclave where the late Ken Kesey and some of his Merry Pranksters came to live after their retreat from central California. On a slightly different note, the town was also the filming location for much of the movie Animal House. Although short on sights, Eugene is an energetic cultural center, to which the University of Oregon in the city's southeast corner lends a youthful bohemian feel, especially along hip 13th Avenue just west of campus. The Hult Center for Performing Arts, Sixth Avenue and Willamette Street (tel 541/682-5746, www.hultcenter.org), is home to several arts organizations including the Eugene Opera, Eugene Symphony, Eugene Ballet Company, and renowned Oregon Bach Festival. The city has two big markets: the weekly Saturday Market, around Eighth Avenue and Oak Street (Apr–Dec 10am–5pm; www.eugenesaturdaymarket.org), is a thirty-year institution and something of a neo-hippie carnival, thanks to the live music and street performers. Tie-dye and wholefoods set the tone, but rastas, skateboarders, punks and students join in, too. Fifth Street Market is a staid boutique mall, with a handful of interesting arts, crafts and clothes stores. Eugene is also a prime spot for sports. Trails and paths abound for walkers and cyclists in the city center, along the river banks, and up imposing Spencer's Butte; you can rent bikes from Pedal Power, 535 High St (tel 541/687-1775).
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