Salem, located on the Willamette River in the northwest part of the state, is the capital of Oregon. This growing city depends on state government and agriculture for economic support. This city of over 157,000 always has something going on - a festival, museum show, or some entertainment from the several colleges hosted in Salem. It has a park system with 46 parks encompassing over 1800 acres. The climate is ideal for retirees, relatively mild winters and great access to outdoor activities. The Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Mountains are close. Photo of Willamette College Library courtesy of and per license of Wikipedia and Cacophony. |