Five Portland Area Attractions for Your Out of Town Weddings Guests
While I can’t find any proof of this claim in my Google searches, I’ve been told by several specialists in the wedding industry that Portland, Oregon has become one of the most popular destination wedding locations in the U.S. I found this hard to believe at first, not because I don’t think Portland is great but because when I think of destination weddings, I think of places like Hawaii or Bend, Oregon — places that are more well known as a draw for tourists...and let’s be honest, places that are known for being a bit sunnier.
Turns out the promise of sunshine isn’t what’s most important to everyone, and Portland does have a great deal to offer including ridiculously beautiful and unique indoor and outdoor venues, a plethora of delicious food catering options, no sales tax (woot!), and a diverse array of activities and attractions to entice your weddings guests to make the trip.
There truly is SO much to do in the Portland area, it’s hard to pick favorites but these are the top five places and attractions I most often share with out of town guests.
Visit the Columbia River Gorge
The Columbia Gorge is worth the trip to the Portland Area in itself. There is SO much to see and do and it’s nothing short of breathtaking. At a minimum, it’s a must-do to just drive east on I-84 and take in the views of the Gorge. I recommend driving all the way to Cascade Locks and crossing The Bridge of the Gods. Once across, you can choose to continue on and loop back to Portland on the Washington side of the river or turn around and drive back across the bridge (totally worth the $2 toll each way) and stop for lunch at Thunder Island Brewing Co. where you might run into some hikers en route on the Pacific Crest Trail. I like to sit outside on the patio overlooking the river and daydream I’m tough enough to hike the PCT (I’m definitely not tough enough.).
For wedding guests that are up for a bit more of an adventure, there’s the ever-popular and often VERY crowded Multnomah Falls (get there first thing in the morning to avoid the crowds), and other gorgeous hikes like Angel’s Rest and Dog Mountain (on the Washington side and pictured above with the spring wildflowers). Most hikes in the Gorge can be really busy in the summer and some require a permit on weekends so I always suggest getting there early and checking out the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area website for all the latest info. The Friends of the Columbia River Gorge website also has a ton of great info and hike recommendations.
Have Brunch at Broder
I love taking out of town visits to Broder Söder for brunch. I’m a big fan of all things Nordic so I’m partial to the whole Broder experience, but the food is also delicious and unique. There are several locations to choose from. We usually go to Broder Söder because it’s closest to our house and we love visiting the Nordia House, but the other locations are just as great. There’s also a location in Hood River attached to the Hood River Historic Hotel so if your guests are headed up the Columbia River Gorge and they’re up for a bit more adventure (or maybe an overnight) they can keep on driving to Hood River, have brunch at Broder Øst, and if it’s summertime, they’ll definitely want to head to the river to watch the windsurfers. Everything I’ve ever ordered at Broder has been delicious so you can’t really go wrong but please, PLEASE, make sure you order some Æbleskivers.
Wine + Olive Oil Tasting at Durant Vineyards
There are so many beautiful vineyards and wineries in the Portland area whether you’re guests make a trip into the Willamette Valley wine country or the Columbia Gorge wine country, they really can’t go wrong. But if I had to pick a favorite, it would be Durant Vineyards at Red Ridge Farms in the Willamette Valley. The view is spectacular, especially if it’s a sunny day with the crystal clear view of Mt. Hood above the vineyard. They have a grassy lawn with adirondack chairs to lounge in while you take in the view and sip your glass of rose in the sun. They also have a ton of great events year-round, a few hiking trails that are open seasonally, AND they mill their own olive oil, which you can sample in the gift shop (my favorite is the basil-infused...yum). If your guests are looking for a romantic overnight, they also have some wonderful lodging options.
P.S. You could also get married there...and have The Swig Rig out to serve some cocktails, espresso, or ice cream floats while you’re at it.
Get Ice Cream at Salt & Straw
Is a trip to Portland really complete without a visit to Salt & Straw? It just really has to be done. Over the past few years, Salt & Straw has opened several west coast locations and just announced they’re expanding to the east coast. However, Portland is their birthplace and each state has flavors unique to their geographic area. It’s not just a scoop of ice cream, it’s an experience. The lines can be long, but it’s worth it. Go with a group of people, embrace the waiting in line, taste all the flavors (even the weird ones), and settle on a scoop (or two) of your favorite(s). You could also go for the tasting flight if you can’t narrow it down to one or two choices.
What’s my favorite, you ask? Strawberry & Coconut Water Sherbet. I try to tell myself to get something different. I taste the new flavors each month, but I always end up with my favorite.
Photo Credit www.pinestreetpdx.com
Get lunch at Pine Street Market
There are so many delicious places to eat in Portland, it can sometimes be a bit difficult for a group to agree on what and where they’d like to eat. This is one of the reasons I love taking visitors to Pine Street Market — Portland’s first indoor food hall. There’s truly something for everyone here and every option is delicious — ramen, pizza, burgers, smoothies, tacos, rotisserie chicken, açai bowls, bibimbap, and so much more! I’ve eaten at several of the restaurants and I’ve never been disappointed. So far my favorite is the Vegan Shoyu Ramen at Marukin Ramen. And, you’re in luck, because you can also get dessert at Wiz Bang Bar, Salt & Straw’s only soft serve location!
If you choose to have your wedding in the Portland area, your guests will certainly have no shortage of fun things to do, beautiful places to see, and yummy food to eat!