Salem, the capital city of Oregon and its second largest city, lies in the center of the lush Willamette River valley, 47 miles from Portland. The city is home to Willamette University and Corban College, as well as the main city in the Salem-Keizer School District. The state of Oregon is the largest employer in the city, with Salem Hospital as the largest private employer. Surrounded by green pastures, fields of flowers, gardens, vegetables, orchards and vineyards, Salem’s year-around and summer farmer’s markets overflow with locally raised produce and hand-crafted products. Salem is the perfect base for a tour of Oregon’s wine country or a visit to any or all of the many extraordinary gardens in the city and the surrounding area.