Oregon can be so many things to so many people. The landscape moves from coastal inlets to imposing mountain ranges, from crystal clear lakes and rivers to arid deserts. There’s a natural playground waiting to be explored, whether it’s floating down a river, hiking to a

secluded waterfall, or chasing fresh powder snow.

For the urban explorer, there’s world-class dining with a real focus on local, fresh produce; an underrated wine-growing region with some of the best drops in the country, and a vibrant

live music, nightlife and craft brewing scene.

Whatever your client’s taste, there’s an experience waiting for them that is uniquely Oregon.

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ABOUT

When you sit down to a meal in Oregon, there’s a good chance the food you’re eating was farmed not only in the state, but within driving distance of the restaurant. The chef may even know the farmer by name. The same goes with beer and wine - with healthy production of both in the state, the hard work of dedicated Oregonians makes any drinking and dining experience here truly unique.

CRAFT BEER

To say that craft beer is big in Oregon is an understatement; American craft beer was born here. With more than 230 brewing companies across the state, you’ll never be far from a brewery, brewpub or tasting bar - in fact, Portland has more breweries than any other city on earth. Oregon is one of the world’s biggest producers of hops - the ingredient that gives beer its bitterness and aroma - and fresh hop season comes around in October every year, when a bevy of new beers from the latest harvest come onto the market. No matter what time you visit, we recommend tasting your way around some of Oregon’s best brews - try Deschutes in Bend, Hair of the Dog in Portland, or Ninkasi in Eugene.

FARM-TO-TABLE

With fertile farmland throughout the state, Oregon has been at the forefront of farm-to-table dining before it became a popular trend across the globe. The desire to eat locally and support the farming industry means that menus are often designed based on what is available that week, ensuring the food is fresh and of the highest quality. While there’s no shortage of restaurants adopting this philosophy, we recommend trying Ariana in Bend for upscale American fare, Grit in Eugene with it ’s ever-changing seasonal menu, DOC in Portland for Italian food with a weekly menu, and Higgins in Portland - one of the pioneers of farm-to-table dining in Oregon.

FINE DINING

When there is an abundance of locally-grown ingredients on offer, from salmon, crab and tuna, to grass-fed beef, black truffles, walnuts and mushrooms, it attracts some of the best chefs in the country to open up shop. In Portland, head to Beast to experience their weekly six-course tasting menu, or meat-lovers should try Argentinian-inspired Ox. South of Portland in the fertile Willamette Valley, JORY offers high-end farm-to-table dining and excellent wine pairing, while sweeping ocean views are just as impressive as the menu at Restaurant Beck, located in Depoe Bay on the Oregon Coast.

WINE

With more than 700 wineries and 1,000 vineyards across the state, Oregon’s wine industry is one of the most significant - and underrated - in the USA. Pinot Noir is the most common varietal grown, where some of the best in the country is being produced in the Willamette Valley, south of Portland. It ’s not all Pinot here, with 72 grape varieties being grown in wine regions across the state, from Central and Southern Oregon to Columbia Gorge in the north. For those that want to stay closer to the city, Portland has an emerging urban winery scene, where young winemakers are making Oregon wine more accessible to those within the city-limits.

BEER, WINE & CULINARY

ABOUT

Oregon is a year-round destination for outdoor enthusiasts, from world-class skiing and snowboarding in the winter months, to outdoor music festivals in summer, fruit harvests and hikes amongst the Autumn foliage or fishing, whitewater rafting and wine tasting in Spring. The busiest period for visitation is summer, but with so much on offer, visitors can take advantage of quieter seasons too.

SUMMER

Summer is popular in Oregon, and for good reason; the scenery is beautiful, and the weather is perfect for getting out into nature. Scores of Oregonians will flock to the state’s abundance of clean rivers to cool off, with flotillas of locals enjoying a leisurely cruise down the Willamette River in Portland, Sandy River near Mt. Hood, or the Deschutes River near Bend. Summer is also music festival season, with Oregon’s reputation as a music mecca on full show with popular events such as Pickathon, Waterfront Blues Festival, Pendleton Whisky Music Fest, PDX Pop Now!, 4 Peaks Music Festival and Britt Music Festival. Whether it ’s a calm float down a river, or the chaos of the mosh pit, Oregon’s summer has something for everyone.

WINTER

Skiers and Snowboarders flock to Oregon to take advantage of some of the best conditions in the country. Just an hour and a half from Portland is Mt. Hood, with several ski resorts to choose from including the expansive Mt. Hood Meadows and iconic Timberline Lodge and Ski Area. In central Oregon, Mt. Bachelor is the go-to resort for locals and visitors to Bend - just 30 minutes’ drive west. It ’s not all skiing here in winter, with Depoe Bay on the Oregon Coast a great viewing point for the 20,000 grey whales that migrate south to warmer waters from mid-December to mid-January. Foodies will also want to head to the Willamette Valley, where the Oregon Truffle Festival runs annually in January.

SPRING

As the winter thaw begins, Spring is a great time to get outside and explore. Around Portland and Hood River, the Cherry Blossoms come to life, with the Tom McCall Waterfront Park a great place to explore the blooms from late March to early April. In southern Oregon, the Rogue River runs from the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific Ocean and is a top spot for kayaking, whitewater rafting and fly fishing. In May, the state’s wineries offer special events and tastings to celebrate Oregon Wine Month, while foodies will want to check out Portland Dining Month, with world-class restaurants creating brand new tasting menus for the event that runs annually in March.

AUTUMN

Autumn is harvest season for Oregon’s apple and pear orchards, and a great time to take on the Hood River Fruit Loop which takes visitors through some of the states best orchards, wineries and pumpkin patches. With cooler temperatures, this is also the perfect time of year to take a hike amongst the changing foliage. Try the Hoyt Arboretum Loop in Portland, Trail of Ten Falls at Silver Falls State Park or the Upper Deschutes River Trail in Bend. For those that prefer two-wheels, this is also a great time to explore the state on bike, whether it be a bicycle brewery tour in Portland, on the Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway near Eugene, or through wine country on the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway.

OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES

ABOUT

Oregon’s cities and towns each have something unique to offer visitors. Start with Portland’s array of live music venues, world-class restaurants and bars, or Eugene’s alternative culture, extensive network of bike paths and revitalised downtown. On the Oregon Coast, there’s a rich maritime and fishing heritage in Newport, while those who love the outdoors will flock to Bend in Central Oregon.

PORTLAND

The cultural centre of Oregon, Portland is famous for its craft beer, farm-to-table dining, dizzying array of food trucks, and incredible live music scene. Just outside of the city lies an outdoor paradise, with hiking trails, ski resorts, parks and rivers to explore. There are distinct neighbourhoods to experience in the city, including the compact and walkable downtown which is great for shopping and dining, Central Eastside, where a former warehouse district is filled with new restaurants, microbreweries and nightlife spots, Belmont with its vintage stores, coffee houses, bars and food carts, and Old Town Chinatown which is home to the Portland Saturday Market and foodie institution, Voodoo Doughnut.

NEWPORT

This coastal city is just over two hours south-west of Portland and has long been the epicentre of Oregon’s seafood industry. The bayfront area is filled with well established restaurants where visitors can enjoy fresh seafood sourced from the area. The South Beach Fish Market, just south of the Newport Bridge, is the place to go for fresh seafood direct from the boats, and to explore the bustling market where the day’s catch is sold. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is also located on the bay, and is one of the premier attractions catering to the whole family. North of the bay is Nye Beach, a compact and walkable neighbourhood that is known for its shopping, dining and thriving arts scene.

BEND

Located in Central Oregon, Bend is best known as Oregon’s outdoor adventure playground. This is the place to visit for anyone who loves spending time in the outdoors, whether it be skiing and snowboarding on the slopes of Mount Bachelor, paddling a kayak down the Deschutes River, or hiking through mountains, waterfalls, lakes and deserts. At the end of a big day of adventure, refuel at one of Bend’s eateries - try Pine Tavern for classic American fare or Spork for creative Mexican and Asian fusion, and wash it all down with a local brew from Deschutes, Bend Brewing Company or Boneyard Brewing.

EUGENE

Drive two hours south of Portland on the I-5 and you’ll find the city of Eugene - once a hotspot for alternative and hippie culture, the city still retains a sense of individualism that is distinctly different to that of Portland. The downtown has been revitalised over the last few years, and boasts an enviable collection of restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. This is a bike-friendly city - with an extensive network of bike paths, exploring the city on two wheels is a must. Beyond the city, getting out into nature is a big part of life for locals, when on a sunny day you’ll find them hiking and mountain biking in the nearby Cascade Mountains, or enjoying the Willamette or Mackenzie Rivers.

URBAN ADVENTURES

Running Y Ranch Resort, Klamath Falls5500 Running Y Road, Klamath Falls OR

Kimpton Hotel Monaco Portland, Portland506 Southwest Washington Street, Portland OR

Doubletree By Hilton Hotel Bend300 NW Franklin Ave, Bend OR

Celilo Inn3550 E 2nd St, The Dalles OR

Red Lion Hotel Pendleton304 SE Nye Ave, Pendleton ORz

Portland Marriott City Center520 SW Broadway, Portland OR

Elizabeth Oceanfront Suites232 Southwest Elizabeth Street, Newport OR

Valley River Inn, Eugene1000 Valley River Way, Eugene OR

ACCOMMODATION