The Beaver State provides no shortage of elite facilities for successful sporting events, complemented by the state’s outdoor recreation amid lush natural landscapes and plenty of dining and cultural activities. Oregon is easily accessible by plane via Portland International Airport (and other smaller airports statewide), as well as by car or Amtrak if your team is in the mood for a scenic ride.
Venues: The Sport Oregon website makes it clear what teams are getting when holding an event in the Beaver State: “We believe there is no better place in the world for sports than Oregon.” That’s quite the claim, but when you see the wide range of venues, it makes sense. Oregon offers world-class indoor and outdoor facilities at the University of Oregon in Eugene; mountain biking at Spence Mountain near Klamath Falls; and soccer, baseball, and softball at Lithia & Driveway Fields in Medford.
Activities: In Portland, planners will find many fun activities, including the Oaks Amusement Park, Oregon Zoo, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and jet boat excursions on the Willamette River. Young athletes also might enjoy a Portland Trail Blazers NBA game or a soccer match with the NWSL’s Portland Thorns FC or MLS’ Portland Timbers. And if shopping is on the agenda, the Portland area houses the North American headquarters of Adidas, Nike, and Columbia Sportswear Co.
Dining: Oregon offers diverse dining options that are group- and kid-friendly, and some craft breweries are kid-friendly as well. Portland is known for its food-cart pods, permanent groupings of food trucks that provide several culinary options in one place. Elsewhere in the state, the 5th Street Public Market in Eugene brings a bunch of area vendors together under one roof, with accommodations nearby.
