The key to any event is the connections that you make with your fellow attendees. In the Eugene, Cascades & Coast Oregon region, there is a belief that it’s important to escape from the ordinary and experience an out of this world adventure. So, what are you waiting for? Explore five different ways to stimulate your group and think outside the boardroom!
1. Drinking Games
Awarded “Wine Region of the Year” by Wine Enthusiast, the Willamette Valley wine country is easily accessible from Eugene – Springfield. Play Pinot Bingo and visit a cluster of six wineries to the south or tour five wineries gracing the scenic northern stretch. Limousine service and guided wine tours offer local lore, including side trips to historic covered bridges. With six urban tasting rooms, some within walking distance of conference hotels, wine tasting with Pinot Bingo can fit into any agenda. One can’t visit the area’s wineries without talking about craft beer. The local craft beer scene is amazing. From brewer ingenuity to cool tasting rooms, the beer experience is one-of-a-kind. Follow the Eugene Ale Trail to a dozen craft breweries, with several of them close to conference hotels. Hop on the pedal-powered Pacific Pub Cycle for an extra fun group tour.
2. Take a Walk on the Wild Side
Try a hike to get out of the boardroom and into nature. Explore the multiple waterfalls and rivers throughout the region from easily accessible trails. There’s a waterfall and river hike for every person’s tastes, many within an hour of the metro area. Oregon's rivers are known for world-class whitewater rafting and fly fishing adventures. With so many rivers here, there is an extraordinary concentration of preserved covered bridges for those looking to enjoy the more scenic aspects of the outdoors.
3. Play in a Big Sandbox
Ride a dune buggy across the amazing Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. This 40-mile stretch along the Oregon Coast extends from Florence all the way to Coos Bay. The ever shifting sand creates mountains up to 500 feet high, encircles coastal lakes, melts into flat ocean beaches and harbors extensive wildlife. Dune buggy tours are one of the best ways to see this other-worldly, natural terrain and make for an exhilarating group experience.
4. Eat & Shop to Happiness (All Tax-Free)
A 100-mile radius around Eugene - Springfield encompasses the agricultural bounty of the Willamette Valley. This area offers verdant foraging, fishing and hunting in the Cascade Mountains, and fresh seafood from the Pacific Ocean. The cultural opportunities make for culinary experiences that melt in your mouth. After you’ve had a divine meal try post-meal shopping. Oregon is known for unique gifts and many locally made products. Delight in original merchandise from resident artists, mom and pop manufacturers, and small local businesses. There is no sales tax, so shopping here can save you money.
5. Discover the Oregon (Bike) Trails
From the sparkling Pacific coastline, through the gentle Willamette Valley, and into the thrilling Cascade Mountains, Oregon's climate and topography are aptly suited for cycling of all kinds. Home to three of Oregon's official scenic bikeways and Oakridge's renowned mountain biking trails, this region is a delight to see from a bicycle seat. Bike Magazine even went so far as to name Eugene in their "5 Best Mountain Biking Towns."
For more information contact: Janis Ross, CMP Vice President of Convention & Sports Marketing, Eugene, Cascades & Coast; Janis@EugeneCascadesCoast.org or (541) 743-8753.
www.EugeneCascadesCoastMeetings.org
Travel Lane County markets and promotes the Eugene, Cascades and Coast region as a destination for travel, conventions, sports, meetings and events. It serves as a private, nonprofit association dedicated to economic development through visitor spending, which pumped more than $633 million into Lane County's economy in 2015.
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