Posted by Nancy D. Brown

A.C. Gilbert's Discovery VillageI'm flattered that Intelligent Travel selected "I Heart My City: Nancy D. Brown's San Francisco" to feature on their blog. As I've been doing a lot of short trips lately, I thought I'd offer favorite tips and locations for first-time visitors to the area.  Here's my take on Salem, Oregon. Thank you to Travel Salem's Anthony Tham for his assistance with this post.

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is the State Capitol.

When I crave Northwest cuisine, I always go to j.james Restaurant.

To escape work, I head to one of Salem's many parks including Riverfront, Wallace or Minto-Brown.

If I want to jet ski, I go to Wallace Park.

For complete quiet, I can hide away at Red Hawk Winery.

Silver FallsIf you come to Salem, get your picture taken with one of the ten waterfalls at Silver Falls State Park.

If you have to order one thing off the menu from j.james restaurant, it has to be the molasses pork chops.

Historic Downtown Salem is my one-stop shop for gifts.

When I'm feeling cash-strapped, I go to the Wednesday or Saturday Markets for farm fresh fruits, veggies and flowers.

For a huge splurge, I go to the Little Cannoli Bakery.

Photo ops in Salem include spring bloom, iris farms and tulip farms. The best vantage points are Capitol Mall area, Cooley's Iris Garden and Wooden Shoe Tulips.

The most random thing about Salem is that it has really wide streets (back in the day, covered wagons could make U-turns in the middle of the street.)

In Salem, an active day outdoors involves walking, biking, skating, jogging, hiking, golfing, tennis and softball.

Salem's best museum is A.C. Gilbert's Children's Museum.

My favorite jogging/walking route is Riverfront Park and over the Union Street Railroad Bridge.

For a night of dancing, go to Six Lounge or, for live music, check out the Ike Box.

The Brick is the spot for late-night eats.

To find out what's going on at night and on the weekends, read the Weekender.

You can tell a lot about Salem from visiting the Salem Travel Cafe.

You can tell if someone is from Salem if they don't get lost on the one way streets.

In the spring you should attend Ag Fest.

In the summer you should attend the Salem Art Fair & Festival.

In the fall you should visit a winery and take a vineyard tour.

In the winter you should attend the Festival of Lights Holiday Parade.

A hidden gem in Salem is the Elsinore Theatre.

For a great breakfast joint, try Busick Court.

Don't miss the World Beat festival in June.

St. Benedict AbbyJust outside Salem, you can visit Mt. Angel, home of the Oktoberfest and the Benedictine Monestary. The Oregon Garden in Silverton is a gardener's delight.

The best way to see Salem is to walk.

If you have kids, you won't want to miss the Enchanted Forest or A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village.

Legislative Sessions could only happen in Salem.