Oregon is filled with cultural options in the form of venues and experiences to enthusiastically punctuate meeting itineraries.
When convening in one of the state’s group-friendly destinations, planners will find everything from museums and theaters where delegates can both gather and be entertained to wine and beer trails that beckon to be explored.
Following are 10 great options.
1. Portland Art Museum, Portland
www.portlandartmuseum.org
With performance venues that stage everything from ballet to indie rock concerts, a praised culinary scene and artwork throughout a variety of galleries and museums, visiting groups will be amazed at Portland’s extensive arts and culture scene, says Brian McCartin, executive vice president of convention and tourism sales at Travel Portland.
The Portland Art Museum, a popular off-site venue located in the heart of downtown’s Cultural District near award-winning restaurants, shops, hotels and the city’s mass transit lines, offers indoor and outdoor options for large and small groups to create memorable events, according to Marcus Hibdon, spokesperson for Travel Portland. He says the building’s architecture is as interesting as the artwork itself, and its 9,000-square-foot Kridel Grand Ballroom, which sports 40-foot ceilings, is “exceptionally stunning.”
“The museum will bring in beautiful pieces of art from its collection specifically for events,” he says, explaining that gatherings here “give guests the feeling that they are seeing a special, secret side of the museum that regular visitors never experience.”
2. SakeOne, Forest Grove
www.sakeone.com
Situated between Portland and the Oregon Coast, Washington County has a mix of rural and suburban settings that combine to offer a broad range of cultural options, from wine tasting to agricultural experiences, according to Sylke Neal-Finnegan, spokesperson for the Washington County Visitors Association.
“There is a pioneering spirit that abounds here,” she says. “A visit to SakeOne best represents the entrepreneurial spirit of the destination.”
As the only American-owned and -operated, large-scale sake brewery in the world, SakeOne has tapped Oregon’s pioneering spirit by creating organic and herb-infused varieties of the Japanese beverage.
“A tour and tasting is a great experience because visitors can learn about how sake is made, from the polishing of the rice all the way to the fermentation and bottling process,” Neal-Finnegan says. “It’s fascinating and is a highlight for many groups that we take there.”
3. Hult Center for the Performing Arts, Eugene
www.hultcenter.org
Lane County is distinguished by a wide variety of culturally rich offerings surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenic landscapes in Oregon.
“It’s the perfect mix,” says Lisa Lawton, director of community relations at Travel Lane County. “Delegates could be exploring a century-old lighthouse on the Oregon Coast during the day and then attending the Eugene Symphony at night.”
Lawton Says the Hult Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Eugene has been a cornerstone of cultural activity in the region for three decades, offering everything from opera and ballet to the Grammy-award winning annual Oregon Bach Festival.
The 50,000-square-foot venue includes a 2,500-seat theater and a 500-seat theater, as well as a lower-level art gallery that hosts exhibits, receptions and other special events.
4. Historic Carousel and Museum, Albany
www.albanycarousel.com
Located in the heart of the Willamette Valley, historic Albany features more than 700 historic buildings in four districts, giving visitors a glimpse into what life was like for early Oregon settlers.
The Historic Carousel and Museum is a must-see for visiting groups.
“In the late 1800s, they were one of the top companies that made carousels,” says Wendy Kirbey, president of the Historic Carousel and Museum, of the Dentzel Carousel Company. “You can see many of the Dentzel animals at the museum, and the historic mechanism, built in 1909, is here, too.”
Visitors are also able to watch the carousel artists’ complete process, from beginning sketches to the carving and painting of each animal, according to Kirbey.
“It’s a great behind-the-scenes opportunity for visitors to discover what goes into making an authentic carousel,” she says.
5. Corvallis Wine Trail, Corvallis
www.oregonwinecountry.org
Like Eugene, another college town down the road is Corvallis, home of Oregon State University, which features cultural activities ranging from theater and music performances to a variety of intercollegiate athletic events, according to David A. Gilbert, executive director at Visit Corvallis.
Beyond the university’s offerings is the increasingly popular Corvallis Wine Trail.
“A favorite event is a barbecue hosted by wineries within 20 minutes of the conference facilities,” Gilbert says.
The trail’s vintners include Tyee Winery, which was once a dairy farm with a vintage milking barn that stands today and serves as an art gallery adjoining the tasting room, and Belle Vallee, located on Corvallis’ historic riverfront walk.
Group tours are often combined with visits to local galleries, including the Art Center and the Dana Marie Art Gallery.
6. Historic Elsinore Theatre, Salem
www.elsinoretheatre.com
Salem is a “marvelously art-friendly town,” according to Travel Salem. From museums and wineries to music performances and theater productions, planners will find intriguing options.
The circa-1926 Historic Elsinore Theatre, which began as a livery stable site and today hosts performances ranging from concerts and ballet to plays and silent movie screenings complete with live organ accompaniment, is a standby venue for off-site entertainment and gatherings.
Meeting spaces here include the 1,290-seat auditorium and the lobby, which can accommodate up to 250 people for a standing reception.
Visitors quickly notice and appreciate the theater’s castle-like architecture, artwork, stained glass windows and fantastic acoustics.
7. The Bend Ale Trail, Bend
www.bendaletrail.com
While many people visit Bend for its abundance of hiking, rafting and skiing opportunities, beer has quickly become one of the most popular cultural features of this high-desert mountain town, according to Tawna Fenske, spokesperson for Visit Bend.
Visit Bend launched the Bend Ale Trail in June 2010, she says, to showcase the unique craft brewery culture of Central Oregon.
“Using a Bend Ale Trail Map and Passport, guests can track their route between eight local breweries and earn prizes for visiting all of them,” Fenske says, explaining that participants will learn about cutting-edge brewing techniques and meet the artisan brewers who have launched the Bend beer scene onto the world stage.
Deschutes Brewery is one of the stops on the trail that also offers event facilities for off-site group gatherings.
Fenske says several local companies offer guided tours, including the GETIT Shuttle and the Cycle Pub of Bend, offering cycling tours to the breweries.
8. RoxyAnn Winery, Medford
www.roxyann.com
A cultural diversity that includes theater, music, wine and culinary creations—all surrounded by mountains, the Rogue River and nearby Crater Lake—is what makes Medford and the Rogue Valley a desirable destination for groups, according to Angela Wood, convention sales director at the Medford Visitors and Convention Bureau.
One popular venue for group visits and gatherings is RoxyAnn Winery at the historic Hillcrest Orchards, which has been producing fruit for more than 100 years. Wood says the on-site barn and gardens, including a large tent, are available for special events.
“The barn has been converted into a wine shop and tasting room large enough for groups yet quaint and cozy,” she says, adding that attendees can taste award-winning wines poured by knowledgeable staff, stroll the gardens, and take cooking classes from local chefs in the kitchen area inside the tasting room.
RoxyAnn Winery stages concerts on Fridays during the summer and at the Hillcrest Friday Growers Market from June through October.
9. Finders Keepers Program, Lincoln City
www.oregoncoast.org/finderskeepers
Japanese glass floats have long been found on the beaches of Lincoln City, so in 1999 the community established the Finders Keepers Program to highlight the tradition.
Every year since then, says Sandy Pfaff, director of the Lincoln City Visitor and Convention Bureau, “float fairies” put more than 2,000 hand-crafted floats on the beach between mid-October and Memorial Day for beachcombers to find and keep.
In 2005 the program was expanded to include the opportunity to blow a glass float or make a paperweight at the Jennifer Sears Glass Art Studio, Pfaff says.
“As a special treat for groups, we can stage special float drops on the beach and fund one or two glass-blowing experiences,” she says, explaining that teams of two to three people generally work together so there is a team-building component while creating floats or paperweights.
10. South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, Charleston
www.southsloughestuary.org
The Coos Bay-North Bend area has a rich tribal, timber and fishing history that provides plenty of activities for groups, including working forest and fish hatchery tours, and outings to the Oregon National Dunes Recreation Area, according to Katherine Hoppe, director of promotion and conventions at the Coos Bay-North Bend Visitor and Convention Bureau.
In a cultural sense, she says, the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve was once the home where native tribes hunted, fished and lived. Today, it’s a protected and favored area for artists, photographers and outdoorsy types to enjoy.
“The 4,700-acre South Slough Estuary is one of our hidden gems,” Hoppe says, explaining that it has many trails suitable for novice to advanced hikers and kayakers, bird-watching opportunities and catered educational classes. “One of the most popular classes is an ornament-making class that started as a kids’ activity, but we quickly learned adults had a desire to play and create their own keepsake.”
A meeting space suitable for up to 50 people and overlooking thick forest and trails is available.
Carolyn Blackburn is a frequent contributor to Meetings Focus West.
