Plan a Southeast Salem Weekend Around The Grove

When The Grove was built at 3955 Outward Road SE, the mature trees on the land stayed put, and the community took its name from them. They still shade the buildings. Around them, this corner of southeast Salem keeps adding new homes while the long-running local spots stay busy, which makes it an easy place to fill a weekend. The plan below runs from Saturday morning to Monday afternoon and keeps the driving short.

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Saturday, 9 a.m.: Nine Holes Along Pringle Creek

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Woodmansee Park covers 30 acres, and its 9-hole disc golf course threads through the forest along the West Fork of Pringle Creek. Nine holes makes a gentle opener. Pack a racket or a ball as well, since the park also has tennis, pickleball lines, and basketball for anyone in the group who prefers a different game.

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Saturday, 1 p.m.: The Full 18 at Cascades Gateway

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After lunch, move up to Cascades Gateway Park. It runs about 100 acres, with a full 18 holes of disc golf, a fenced dog park, and fishing at Walter Wirth Lake. The city has closed the east side for repairs, and the west side, where the disc golf, the dog park, and the lake access sit, is open. A quick look at the city's page before you leave is a smart habit.

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Add the morning round and you have 27 holes in one day without leaving the southeast side. Your dog can ride along for this half and spend it in the fenced park while you play.

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Saturday, 7 p.m.: Three Taprooms

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Evening belongs to the local taps, and each of these has its own personality.

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• For Tomorrow We Die Brewing Co.: opened in 2022 across from the Salem airport. Expect pinball, bar food from a converted trolley car, and a table with a tree growing up through its middle.
• Santiam Brewing: a British-style brewpub pouring cask "real ales" and house ciders next to plates of fish and chips and savory pies.
• Half Penny Public House: a south Salem pub named for Dublin's Ha'penny Bridge, with live music, weekend breakfast, and a "buck a bone" ribs night.

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Pick one for dinner and save the other two for coming Saturdays, since each one rewards a repeat visit.

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Sunday, 11 a.m.: Brunch on Liberty Road

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McMenamins Thompson Brewery & Public House occupies a house built in 1905 for Civil War veteran Franklin Thompson. In 1989 it became the first Salem brewery to open after Prohibition. On a sunny morning, take a seat on the deck or out in the yard. Pets are allowed on the patios, so the dog gets a second outing.

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Sunday afternoon suits the weekly shop. Costco and the other stores near Kuebler Boulevard are a five-minute drive, and Fred Meyer and Trader Joe's are a little farther out on Commercial Street SE.

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Monday, 1 p.m.: The Clubhouse Shift

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The workweek starts a short walk from your door. The clubhouse has co-working space, study nooks, and a coffee bar, and residents can reserve it outside office hours. Remote workers can book it for an afternoon of calls. Students at Chemeketa Community College or Willamette University get a quiet room for coursework. Between meetings, a lap of the grounds under the trees clears the head.

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A lunch break can cover the rest of the property. There's a heated pool, a 24-hour fitness center, a community garden with space for tomatoes and herbs, and a dog park with agility equipment. The floor plans carry tree names too, from the 750-square-foot Willow one-bedroom to the 1,189-square-foot Sycamore three-bedroom. Homes have vaulted ceilings, granite countertops, laundry in every unit, and keyless entry you manage from your phone.

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Good to Know

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Getting downtown

‍Downtown Salem is about 12 minutes away by car, and Cherriots buses serve the area.

‍Parking and bikes

‍Each home has one assigned parking space, guests have their own parking, and every building has a bike rack. Security patrols the community at night.

‍What's coming nearby

‍The 275-acre former Fairview Training Center site is being redeveloped as a mixed-use area under the city's Fairview Plan.

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Monday, and Every Week After

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A good weekend plan is one you can run again without thinking about it. Here the whole loop stays close, so the second Saturday needs no planning and the tenth turns into a habit you look forward to. Monday then opens at a desk you reserved, with coffee down the hall and the pool waiting for later. If that rhythm sounds right, come by for a tour and bring a disc for Woodmansee on the way home.