Planning a Portland wedding? Congratulations!
The pacific northwest is one of the best regions in the country to get hitched (fact), not only for the beautiful wedding venues and talented creative partners, but also for all of the local attractions for your out of town friends and family to enjoy.
Whether we're talking about the vibrant restaurant scene, the hundreds of breweries and wineries, or the beautiful natural landscape that area is known for, there are plenty of amazing activities & attractions to keep your wedding guests busy throughout the weekend.
To make things easy, here are our top 5 wedding weekend activities for your guests to enjoy. Let's go!
5 Wedding Guest Activities - Things to Do & See in Portland, Oregon
Get Outdoors
First things first, let's talk nature. The pacific northwest is home to some of the most beautiful state and local parks in the country. To top it off, most of it is easily accessible from wherever your guests are staying in Portland.
For guests that are unlikely to venture outside the city limits, have them check out Washington Park, especially if its June when the famous International Rose Test Garden blooms.
One of our favorite spots in the park is Hoyt Arboretum, which is home to one of the largest and most diverse tree populations in the world.
For some more local nature access, point your guests toward Forest Park. At 5,200 acres, Forest Park is one of the largest urban forests in the country. With over 80 miles of trails, long and short, it is also a local favorite for hikers, runners, bikers, and birders.
For guests that are feeling a bit more ambitious, and up for a short drive, they should look no further than the Columbia River Gorge. Not only is this the largest designated Natural Scenic Areas in the country, but it's also one of the most beautiful places on the planet (more facts).
Rather than visiting the amazing but overly crowded Multnomah Falls, we recommending driving a few minutes further down the road to Wahclella Falls.
Dine & Drink
Portland is known for its great restaurant scene, as well as breweries, urban wineries and coffee shops.
Whether we're talking food cart pods or chef's tasting menus, there is something for everyone when it comes to food & drink in PDX. Here are a few of our favorites:
Food carts & markets: Hawthorne Asylum, Cartopia, Cooperativa
Breweries: Great Notion, Breakside and Wayfinder
Cocktails: Teardrop, Deadshot, and Angel Face
Whiskey: Scotch Lodge , Multnomah Whiskey Library, Southland Whiskey Kitchen
Wine: Le Caves, Coopers Hall, Bar Rione
Sweets: Papa Haydn, Pips Original Doughnuts, Salt & Straw
Coffee: Barista, Sisters, Upper Left Roasters
Breakfast: Proud Mary, Jam, Tin Shed, Broder and Pine State Biscuits
Vegan: The Fermenter, The Sudra, Obon Shokudo
We could go on and on...Needless to say, Portland has a lot of great food & drink!
Get Weird
It shouldn't be news that Portland's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird".
While things may be getting more tame as the years go on (or not?) there are still plenty of peculiar and uniquely Portland things to do for your out of town wedding guests.
They can check out the smallest park in the world (Guinness Book of World Records endorsed!), pay a visit to the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium or check out a show at the Funhouse Lounge.
Some other weird favorites include the Wishing Tree in NE, taxidermy & animal specimens at Paxton Gate and Hippo Hardware.
Visit Oregon Wine Country
While it may not be Napa Valley, the Willamette Valley region in Oregon has made a name for itself in recent years for Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Riesling.
If your guests have access to a vehicle while in town, a short drive south may be the perfect pairing to your wedding weekend.
Argyle Winery In Dundee is one of our favorites. Lots of space, modern design, and delicious wine.
A few other top picks include Bella Vida, Rex Hill, De Ponte Cellars and Bells Up, but there are countless other amazing wineries to visit, as well as wine makers to checkout, throughout Oregon wine country.
Water Time
They call Portland 'Bridge City' for a reason!
With so many beautiful lakes and rivers in the Portland area, adding some water time to the weekend itinerary is always a great move.
For something easy, check out the Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown PDX, or head north of town to Kelly Point State Park.
If you are feeling a bit more ambitious, head outside of town to the beaches of Sauvie Island, and hit up all the local farm stands along the way.
For swimming, sun bathing, and all sorts of other water sports- head to the Sandy or Clackamas rivers'. Glen Otto Park and Milo McIver Park are two local favorites!
Whatever your guests are into, however they like to spend their time, there is plenty to do in Portland to fill your wedding weekend with fun & memorable activities.
Including some of these on your wedding website or in your weekend itinerary can be a great way to offer your friends and family suggests for how to make the most of your wedding weekend.
If you are looking for a Portland wedding DJ that knows the area well and can help plan your wedding, contact us today!
Have we missed anything? What are some of your favorite Portland activities & attractions? Let us know on social media!
Higher Ground Entertainment is a boutique DJ company based in Portland, Oregon, that services the entire pacific northwest and is available for events worldwide.
Let our team of event professionals go above and beyond to create the perfect vibe for your perfect event!
Comments