Indoor Activities
Date Night Fun Around Salem and the Mid-Willamette Valley
Salem and the Mid-Willamette Valley are known for U-pick farms, scenic hiking trails, peaceful paddling spots, and other outdoor attractions. But we have plenty to offer indoors, as well—from dance lessons and ax throwing to hip barcades and challenging escape rooms. So, if you’re looking to duck out of the rain, stay cool, or enjoy a fun date night with your sweetie, we’ve rounded up some of the best indoor attractions around the region.
![](https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Oregon-Axe-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=e465fc51d788a487d0f5a4eac482b5da 320w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Oregon-Axe-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=0351cefd28d659a735a9478043906b11 540w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Oregon-Axe-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=9deece3f60cfa85bea8d6bf74507ddd0 768w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Oregon-Axe-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=8cb38b2718f51b1df1c120a77e3b0dda 1024w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Oregon-Axe-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=206a25b5035522e9deb1e8d91937f23f 1200w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Oregon-Axe-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=b604ec142f00852c846b8c39a47b861a 1362w)
Several communities around Salem started—and, for years, thrived—as timber towns. Connect with that past by enjoying a night of ax throwing with Oregon Axe Salem. Following a short tutorial with a knowledgeable ax thrower, you and your date can take turns seeing who can hit the target most often. (And if the loser buys the next round, you can grab drinks at the on-site lounge).
![](https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Oregon-Axe-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=11e786be477fe67b848c6fbf8b1cdd1c 320w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Oregon-Axe-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=9a8546a76d6f4415eeff3c84721a1cdc 540w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Oregon-Axe-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=e8b5f6856d33bd464dbb377afba33253 768w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Oregon-Axe-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=bc1a469e9ec7f7a56c0a85cab2de6079 1024w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Oregon-Axe-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=2fa4b4b60d1a5e94041a4897a0a68216 1200w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Oregon-Axe-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=de6315b4fafebe4b893dcc78810f6cbb 1440w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Oregon-Axe-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=5bd09ec9a6a4d0728777aaef8dbebe22 1820w)
What's better than a night at the arcade? A night at an arcade that also serves creative pub grub alongside beer, wine, and cider. The Coin Jam Arcade & Grill is a popular 21-and-older barcade that pairs your favorite retro games with an upbeat bar experience for a fun night out.
Prefer something a bit more active? Salem offers plenty of memorable opportunities to cut loose. The Rock Boxx, for instance, is an indoor bouldering gym that offers climbing walls up to 17 feet tall for climbers of all experience levels. Silver Spur, meanwhile, is a 21-and-older dance club that features Latin American lessons on Tuesdays and county lessons every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; keep an eye out for swing, line dancing, and other fun events throughout the week. And in Keizer, the locally run Toe 2 Toe Boxing works to liven up a typical cardio workout through boxing lessons—where you'll improve your balance, gain strength, improve your footwork, and work out major muscle groups along the way.
![](https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Rock-Boxx-Bouldering-Gym-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=87fc3d32632b19f0ffb35d531d299830 320w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Rock-Boxx-Bouldering-Gym-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=53b376629a7232c3067ba3d3cbb9ce30 540w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Rock-Boxx-Bouldering-Gym-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=7fe1804650874b4ce7219a5196920c42 768w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Rock-Boxx-Bouldering-Gym-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=3fbfc87964112a510d05b12d5057cfcd 1024w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Rock-Boxx-Bouldering-Gym-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=e21fb7f604e25b7ce1c27880c8a047ca 1200w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Rock-Boxx-Bouldering-Gym-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=2e96b4ea91cf2be9409fdcd627e68c54 1436w)
If you're on a double date or enjoying a night out with friends, Exitus: Salem Escape Room hosts an escape room that encourages your whole group to strategize, piece together clues, dust off those problem-solving skills—and have fun in the process. For more group fun, strap on a pair of bowling shoes at Starlite Lanes in Dallas, just a 20-minute drive west of Salem; the beloved bowling alley offers events throughout the week—including team matchups, glow-in-the-dark cosmic bowling, and karaoke nights.
![](https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Xicha-Brewing-Tacos.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=7f3e45cfd52764d3c6c6c63cea519273 320w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Xicha-Brewing-Tacos.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=bfeaa7763c48c26a141c5c02b0563dd3 540w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Xicha-Brewing-Tacos.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=810bcab9278bba23ab4f4b0a6829eab5 768w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Xicha-Brewing-Tacos.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=6d59d744c7d09b10569100ac410b03a6 1024w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Xicha-Brewing-Tacos.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=4cce82ed4f42d19566be91fee4b715d6 1080w)
Whatever you do, end the evening with a nightcap featuring some of the region’s best craft beverages. Xicha Brewing is Oregon's only Latino-owned brewery, slinging Latin American-inspired beers and food in West Salem; the brewery also hosts occasional cumbia dance lessons, game nights (featuring Lotería—a card game that plays similarly to Bingo), and DJ nights. And West Valley Taphouse in Dallas boasts a whopping 65 taps pouring ciders, craft beers, wines, kombucha, and craft soda—most of which come from nearby producers; you'll also find an arcade room with a handful of pinball machines and retro games (including Tetris and Street Fighter II).
![](https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Travel_Salem_Photos_394-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=4a698c2c95ea0d48d26ac259ab432105 320w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Travel_Salem_Photos_394-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=0f774b6d768eb9264b5fe82f0eb5794a 540w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Travel_Salem_Photos_394-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=5f2534c163c7f4e19c117dd0fc61d511 768w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Travel_Salem_Photos_394-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=8f9ee90de3aaf2d6866b67b976f14b9d 1024w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Travel_Salem_Photos_394-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=d067ff700394ba8e2a597c8b0ed1a171 1200w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Travel_Salem_Photos_394-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=bb929a241e83a9e036854ce679af9e2f 1440w, https://travel-salem.imgix.net/images/Travel_Salem_Photos_394-large.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=c6ca013ba47c99cb0945368a5046ee05 1920w)