Located 90 minutes south of Portland, Eugene stretches out along the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers and has for years embodied the Pacific Northwest ideal: the outdoors minutes from the front door, a locally sourced food supply and obsession with food security, and green hills stretching in every direction, just like the wine regions and craft breweries. The tight-knit community makes its own fun, with am impressive #10 ranking in our diverse Programming category. The Culture subcategory, ranked #10 among America’s small cities, is big here, driven by the Hult Center, Eugene’s performing arts mainstay, as well as the University of Oregon’s wellspring of creativity and innovation. Another subcategory driving the impressive Programming performance is Shopping (for which Eugene ranks #12) due to a diversity of downtown boutiques and the 5th Street Public Market, which spotlights Oregon-made gifts and high-end fashion. With so many things to do, locals and visitors rarely lack anything to eat, in the #16-ranked restaurants, ranging from brew pubs and local favorites like Sizzle Pie to dessert destinations like Voodoo Doughnuts.