Quirky Facts
Downtown Eugene is centered around the little hill called Skinner's butte. Principal Skinner from "The Simpson's" was named after this inconspicuous mound.

Geography
Eugene, Oregon is located in the Central Willamette Valley. It is 8 hours drive north of San Francisco by I-5 and 5 hours south of Seattle by the same road.

Accommodation
There is a youth hostel on 2352 Willamette street. Rates are $12 a night or $85 per week. (541.349.0589).

There are many middle of the road motels that can be kinda dirty, but are cheap in the $20-$40 per night range.

Hilton Hotel has a massive structure for the spenders.

There is a cute little B&B in downtown Eugene called the Oval Door Bed & Breakfast.

Transport
Eugene is one of the main stops on the road between Seattle and San Francisco. All buses and trains stop here.

Lane Transit Department (LTD) has an extensive bus sytem throught the Eugene/Springfield area. Rides cost a $1 US or if you buy a pack of tokens, 75 cents each.

Money
US currency. A minimum budget for Eugene would be around 0 dollars per day if you slept outside and begged for food. If you want a roof over your head and cook for yourself at the hostel, $20 per day would be reasonable.

August in Eugene
The theme of this month is take advantage of the sun while it lasts in Oregon. Many of this month's events are based outdoors.

Cycling
Tour de Lane 1-6 August
Path-Finders offers a week long cycling tour around Lane County. Averaging 50-odd miles a day and offering camping or motel accommodation, this tour is a great way to experience this picturesque area of the Willamette Valley. Path-Finders also offers other cycling tours throughout July to September on their website. Bring your wallet though, these tours start from $300.

Baseball
Eugene Emeralds
Eugene's minor league Single-A team, the Emeralds, continue their season during August. They have home games at the Civic Stadium on the 5-7th, 14-18th and 28-30th. Games start at 7:05pm except on Sundays when it is an hour earlier. Tickets are only $4.50, so it's a great way to experience this very American sport.

Extra reason to go during August is pitcher Ben Christensen. He's the #1 pick by the Chicago Cubs. This is newsworthy because he hurled a 90mph fastball at the head of a batter standing in the on-deck circle. He ended that batter's baseball career with that moment of madness, so don't expect too many cheers when his name os announced.

Fairs and Markets
Lane County Fair 17-22 August
This fair offers all sorts of activities and exhibits. From the Hall of Technology, Lion's Club mobile screening unit and Cruide for Calcium Tour to gardening displays, petting zoos and "Try It Out" sports area for kids, including free ice-skating. Tickets cost $7.50 per day or $12 for a 5 day pass. Children under 5 are admitted free.

Saturday Market continues every Saturday in August. If you want a real slice of Eugene, this is the place to go. Live music, exotic foods, hemp products and great people-watching.

Music and Theater
Oregon Festival of American Music 5-14 August
This year, the annual festival presents "How Sweet the Sound - From Gospel to Swing". Concerts and seminars are being held at the Hult Center and Cuthbert Amphitheater. Most of these are free and well worth checking out.

Concerts
On August 22nd, the Cuthbert Amphitheater plays host to Santana. Tickets are $34 and can be ordered online.

Eugene Women in Theatre Festival 29th August
Running from 1-9pm, this event features some of Lane County's most innovative women performance groups. The festival will be held at the WOW Hall (cnr 8th & Lincoln) and is a fund raiser for Little Apple Productions. Tickets are available at the door on a "pay as you like" arrangement. For more info, you can e-mail Carol Horne.