Oregon has long been a state known for breaking new ground, with a fierce pioneering spirit when it comes to exploration, technology, politics and even sustainability.
Groups gathering amid the state’s ample fresh air and unending scenery can’t help but get caught up in this spirit of endeavor, and planners pondering the Beaver State for their attendees will find infinite group settings and experiences worth investigating.
Meetings Focus has played Lewis and Clark on your behalf, and here’s our full report on eight can’t-miss Oregon explorations.
High Life Adventures
In the state’s northwestern corner, a recently added experience offers heart-pounding thrills amid some of the lushest forest imaginable.
“Since we opened in June 2012, High Life Adventures has been popular with corporate groups looking for exciting bonding opportunities outside their normal office routines,” says Sara Stewart, spokeswoman for the company. “Our experienced guides take teams through eight zip lines, building trust, confidence and healthy competition along the way.”
She adds that the tour takes about two hours for a group of 10, and no experience is necessary, so it’s easy and accessible for an afternoon excursion or retreat breakaway session.
Zip lines span as long as 1,600 feet, often flying participants over various bodies of water—including a scenic seven-acre lake.
Meetings in Motion, The Nines Hotel
Bored with boardrooms? The Nines Hotel in Portland has put together a special meetings offering that gets groups out from behind four walls and into more inspirational settings around the scenic city.
“The Meetings in Motion package at the Nines allows meeting attendees to conduct productive business meetings in an informal and recreational setting without the stuffiness of a boardroom,” says Laura van Daal, director of sales and marketing for the hotel. “Many business travelers never get the chance to explore the cities they visit for work, so Meetings in Motion allows them to discover the beauty and nature of Portland while on a business trip, and also leads to team bonding!”
Groups signing up for the package are supplied with a map taking them for an outing in nearby Washington Park. The map is loaded with info on the notable sites along the stroll, and groups can also choose to be led by a tour guide if they like. Following the walk, attendees are treated to a catered picnic at the Rose Garden or Japanese Garden. PageBreak
Hellgate Jet Boat Excursions
For groups seeking the thrills and chills of white-water rafting without all that added physical exertion, Hellgate Jet Boat Excursions is an ideal solution. The exhilarating outings on the Rogue River zip attendees through eye-catching canyons and whiz them past rugged river rocks, typically leading to an exceptional lunch or dinner outing that few will forget.
“We’re always exceeding group expectations,” says Tina Janke, spokeswoman for the firm. “And it really is fun for all ages.”
The touring company conducts outings from May through September, offering a mix of experiences. A daily “Country Banquet” dinner cruise, for example, zooms through scenic river stretches like Hellgate Canyon—a shooting site for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and the original Rooster Cogburn—before stopping for a lavish BBQ meal at the OK Corral, a charming open-air mountain homestead with marvelous views.
Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway
For active groups on the lookout for a do-it-yourself adventure, the newly created Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway in Washington County is a 50-mile stretch through the woodland canopies and pastoral farmlands comprising much of the northern Willamette Valley.
“The bikeway is good for groups because cyclists can determine their own routes, based on the ability of the group as a whole, and decide to complete the entire bikeway or to do specific sections of the route,” says Sylke Neal-Finnegan, director of marketing and communications for the Washington County Visitors Association. “A group ride along the bikeway also makes a good team-building exercise, as communication is key, especially for the lead cyclist, to help the others navigate the route safely.”
She adds that there are interesting stops along the route, including wineries, restaurants, a wildlife area and farm stores. And for planners on the lookout for meetings-friendly lodgings for the group, she suggests McMenamin’s Grand Lodge in Forest Grove, featuring ample event space. PageBreak
Mt. Hood Adventure
Attendees headed for northern Oregon will encounter a well-known winter wonderland at iconic Mt. Hood, but the pretty pinnacle known for its skiing fun is truly breathtakingly beautiful 12 months a year.
“Here on Mt. Hood you need to travel in groups, packs, herds, flocks or whichever friends you are exploring with that day, because there are so many sights to see—you don’t want to miss one!” says Greg “Chopper” Moreno, manager for Mt. Hood Adventure. “The good news is, although you are in a group, you can still take two steps into Mt. Hood’s magnificent conifer forest and feel all alone. A group on Mt. Hood can also disperse into different directions.”
Moreno says Mt. Hood is a year-round destination offering a variety of activities.
“Downhill skiing and snowboarding, hiking, horseback riding, snowshoeing, white-water rafting, golfing, rock climbing, hunting, fishing, birding, nordic skiing, mountain biking, snowmobiling—and the list goes on and on,” he explains.
ROW Adventures
ROW has been taking nature lovers on white-water outings and other jaunts since 1979 and was named the World’s Best Tour Operator for 2012 by Travel & Leisure. It has led more than 75,000 paddlers along rushing rivers ranging from Idaho to Chile—with the tremendous takeaway from the trips serving as a common denominator.
“Rafting trips are the ultimate bonding experience for groups,” says Peter Grubb, president of ROW. “While people may ride in different sorts of craft depending on their desires—oar-powered rafts where the guide does all the work, paddle rafts where everyone works as a team to navigate the rapids, or inflatable kayaks for the more daring—everyone is traveling down the same river together experiencing the same rapids, scenery, walks and activities. Nature and rivers have a way of stripping pretense and equalizing all players.”
Grubb adds that a white-water trip shifts everyone somewhat out of their comfort zone, which helps bring a sense of togetherness—including a need to count on and trust each other.
“Our guides are adept at creating a strong and supportive team environment and an atmosphere where everyone can let their hair down and play,” Grubb remarks. “All these factors make for truly memorable team and group experiences.”
The white-water adventures coordinated by ROW normally take three or four days, with lodgings arranged at comfortable western lodges. The group capacity is 23 attendees. PageBreak
Kah-Nee-Ta Resort & Spa
Nestled in Warm Springs between Portland and Bend, the meetings-ready Kah-Nee-Ta Resort & Spa is a bastion of outdoor wonders and diverse fun.
Groups can partake in serene treatments at Spa Wanapine, get into the swing of things on the popular golf course, or splash about in a spacious pool area. The resort is also home to riding stables, picnicking pavilions and plenty of hiking and biking options, and other excitement includes the nearby Indian Head Casino and Warm Springs Museum.
The property offers expansive meeting facilities, lodging choices include a number of room types, and RV camping is also a hit, but planners pondering an offbeat escape might want to consider the TeePee Camping on-site, where 20 dwellings can host up to 10 campers each.
Bend
Often overshadowed by hip Portland, collegiate Eugene and artsy Ashland, Bend—in the heart of the state—is a happening hub of outdoor exploration.
“A lot of people refer to Bend as ‘the outdoor playground of the West,’ and there’s a good reason for that,” says Tawna Fenske, public relations and communications manager for Visit Bend. “People who travel here seldom spend their days lounging by the hotel pool. They’re out white-water rafting with the folks from Sun Country Tours, kayaking lakes and exploring caves with Wanderlust Tours, or mountain biking with a guide from CogWild. You can also have plenty of fun on your own hiking along rivers, mountains and high desert terrain, or simply journeying the Bend Ale Trail gathering passport stamps and earning prizes for visiting a dozen craft breweries in the area.”
Groups gathering in Bend will also find some solid meetings-friendly lodgings for when business calls, including the Riverhouse Hotel & Convention Center, with 220 guest rooms, more than 30,000 square feet of event space and the popular Crossings restaurant, featuring special vineyard and brewery events monthly.
