Albany is located in the heart of the Willamette Valley, and the Willamette River runs along the city. The Albany area is known as the "grass seed capital of the world". Linn County is the leading producer in the U.S. of ryegrass grass seed. Albany is centrally located with I-5 near and Highways 20 and 34 to for east and west travel. Portland, the Cascade Mountains and the Pacific Ocean are 1 1/2 hours away. Albany is credited by historians and architects with having the most varied collection of historic buildings in Oregon. This collection includes styles from the 1840s through the late 1920s and is concentrated within an area of approximately one hundred square blocks. The weather is mild year round. Winters are mild. Average rainfall is 42 inches. Average temperature during winter months is 58 degrees. Summer months are mild with an average temperature of 78 degrees. Humidity is low. Rainfall occurs from November through May. Albany's population within its city limits is over 42,000 and up. Albany is 16 square miles. Linn County covers an area of 2,297 square miles. Elevation for Albany is 210 feet. Albany has libraries, museums, art galleries, community theater, a variety of musical presentations and professional sporting events. Area parks include 562 acres in Albany, 785 acres of county parklands, and 5 National Forests. Within a 50-mile radius there are many beautiful campground and recreational sites, state, county and private parks. Along the 62-mile section of the Cascades' crest, from Mt. Hood south to the Mt. Washington Wilderness Area, there are more than 100 lakes, campsites, picnic areas, and historical markers. Fishing in the fall about an hour away, you can fish for: salmon and steelhead. 50 miles east of Albany, streams and lakes in the Cascades provide trout fishing in the summer. Warm water game fishing is available in ponds and backwater areas along the Willamette River. Albany skiers ......... Mt. Hood (2.5 hours) Mt. Bachelor (3 hours) and Hoodoo Ski Bowl (1.5 hours). Hunting for migratory waterfowl, quail, pheasant, deer and elk in season.
- Places of Interest -
Albany Regional Museum - 136 Lyon St. SW. (541) 967-7122. The Museum has rotating exhibits. Monday-Saturday, Noon-4, call Annual Interior Tour of Historic Home (Albany Visitors Center) Visitors have the opportunity to view the interiors of some of the city's finest historical homes. Historic Interior Homes Tour - Last weekend in July, 11am-5pm Several families will open their homes to the public for tours. Each home has been lovingly restored, and reflects the best of both historic architecture and modern function. Ticket price includes refreshments, live entertainment and trolley & horse-drawn wagon rides. Tickets will be available the week before the tour and starting at 10am on tour ay at the Albany Visitors Association. Call for more information. 541-928-5008 OR 800-526-2256 Monteith House (Albany Visitors Center) 518 SW 2nd Ave. Oregon's most authentically restored home, built in 1848 as the home of Albany founders Thomas and Walter Monteith. June 15th - September 8th, Wednesday-Sunday, noon-4:00 PM and on Saturdays in December call (541) 926-6829 or (541) 928-0911. Northwest Art & Air Festival (Albany Visitors Center) This unforgettable event is held around the end of July or the first of August. This event has an early morning Hot Air Balloon lift off at West Albany High School, Air show with vintage plane display at the Albany Municipal Airport and various activities for all age groups at Timber Linn Park. River Rhythms and Monday's at Monteith Concert Series The Albany Parks and Recreation Department offer two free summer concert series during July and August. The concert series provide a wide variety of music the entire family can enjoy. The concerts are held in the beautiful Monteith Riverpark in downtown Albany along the banks of the Willamette River. Albany Parks & Recreation - 333 Broadalbin St. SW Albany, OR 97321 (541) 917-7777 Flinns Tours Narrated heritage excursions via trolley, horse-drawn wagon or touring van are available throughout the year. Tours view Albany's three Historic Districts, pioneer cemeteries, churches, one-room schools and covered bridges. Self-Guided Walking/Driving Tour: Seems Like Old Times Seems Like Old Times is a self-guided walking tour of historic architecture in Albany's three nationally registered historic districts. Albany has the most varied collection of historic home styles in the state. To make a day of it, you might tour the Monteith Historic District on the west side of town in the morning, have lunch in the Downtown Historic District, and head to the Hackleman Historic District for the afternoon Self-guided Covered Bridge Tour Travel to the Bridges of Linn County, in the countryside surrounding Albany. Take a picnic lunch and visit one or all of the eight bridges in scenic Linn County. Pick up a brochure at the Albany Visitors Association Springhill Cellars Winery - 2920 NW Scenic Dr Albany, OR 97321 (541) 928-1009 or (541) 928-1009 Willamette Collectors Market - Linn County Fair & Expo Center 503-399-8506