Things To Do
Portland
Portland is the biggest city in Oregon. It has all the amenities all major cities have, restaurants, sporting events, countless breweries, concert venues, zoos, and more importantly the international airport. If you have time to kill, or are flying in or out of PDX, most of the places we're recommending lie near Portland city.
The Grotto - Marian Sanctuary
There are three marian sanctuaries on this part of the world. One is the Basilica of Guadalupe in Guadalajara, Mexico. The second is Our Lady of Peace in Santa Clara, California. The third one is The Grotto, located right in the middle of Portland. The Grotto is a 62-acres sanctuary dedicated to our lady. Founded in 1924, it has always been a quiet oasis from the bustling city of Portland. Not just a religious site, but a beautiful and breathtaking landmark. Words can't adequately describe the beauty and peace of this holy place.
Mount Hood
Mt. Hood has is highest peak in Oregon, located east of Portland, during the summer it is an outdoor lover's paradise. We recommend heading over to Timberline lodge, from there many hiking trails await you of various difficulties and lengths. If you just want to take pictures and take in the beauty of the mountain, any drive towards the mountain itself will provide plenty of opportunities, our favorite is the Mt. Hood scenic byway. You can grab more information here; https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/trip-ideas/scenic-drives/mt-hood-scenic-byway/
Crater Lake
It's not every day you come across a crater, let alone a crater that's 7,700 years old, is 5 miles wide, and with a surface area of 20 miles. Here in Oregon? We have just the thing in our backyard. 3 hours south of Eugene lies the world famous Crater Lake. And if you're in town for a bit don't miss your chance to visit this spectacular natural wonder. And if you get there early enough, you can sign up for a guided tour on boat around Wizard Mountain .
Pioneer Courthouse Square
If you are in the mood for more concrete jungle, and less green forest, Pioneer Square has everything you may want. Right in the middle of Portland, day or night, you'll be surrounded by restaurants, music, breweries, and skyscrapers. And if you're lucky you might catch a local event happening there.
Hopworks Brewery - Powell Mothership
Family-Friendly brewery in the Portland area.
Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House
A local favorite, this brewery lies with Portland. If you do decide to stop by, we recommend their Obsidian Stout.
Cannon Beach
Are you a fan on The Goonies? If not, we would question your taste in pop culture. Just kidding. Cannon beach is as beautiful as it is hollywood famous. About three hours north from Eugene, or one hour west of Portland, if you can afford the drive, we highly recommend a visit. Hikes overlying coastal cliffs and fresh seafood await! Plus it is the site where The Goonie's end scene was filmed.
Multnomah Falls
This next landmark is just as popular and iconic as Crater Lake is. Multnomah Falls is about 40 minutes east of Portland. It's a beautiful waterfall and hiking trail with a unique bridge that puts you right in front of the waterfall. The best part? The waterfall is about a 5 minute walk from the parking lot. This hiking trail provides the reward before the actual hike! It doesn't get easier than that.
Tillamook
Are you a fan of cheese? Are you a fan of ice cream? Do you enjoy fresh cold beer? If you answered yes to all of the above, then we just became best friends (or we are family already!). Tillamook is a quaint little town right by the coast. In this small town you will find the Famous Tillamook Creamery! As well as the Pelican Brewing Co. Both Oregon grown companies, known for its dairy products and flavorful english-styles ales, respectively. Tillamook is about 2 hours away from Eugene. Come grab a beer, taste some cheese, and take a scenic drive to the coast all in one trip!
McMinnville
If you, or anyone you know, likes to enjoy a glass of wine every once in a while, or three at a time (Hey, we don't judge around here!). Then we recommend heading to McMinnville. Lying two hours north of Eugene, Mcminnville is the "Napa Valley" of Oregon. There are a total of 28 wineries surrounding this small farm town, with over 10 tasting rooms, and if you decide to stay within the town limits, there are over 15 tasting rooms that are within walkable distance from downtown.
Florence
Florence is the closest beach from Eugene. At about an hour away, Florence has many seafood restaurants, hiking trails by the coast, a military museum, and a local favorite: The Three Rivers Casino.
Silver Falls State Park
Have you ever been on a hike where after trekking for a while you get rewarded with a beautiful serene waterfall at the end? Now imagine doing that, but instead of one waterfall, it's TEN waterfalls. Now imagine yourself walking behind a waterfall. Sounds like something Tolkien would write about, doesn't it? Well Silver Falls State Park is not fantasy, it's very much a real place. This park has a hiking trail that connects to ten waterfalls throughout the trail, if you're willing to do the entire thing that is. Hiking it all takes about three hours with a steady pace. The easiest trail include only 3 waterfalls. If you are willing to drive an hour out of Eugene, we recommend Silver Falls State Park!
University of Oregon
Home of the Oregon Ducks! The university is Eugene's biggest appeal. Spanning over 250 acres, the university campus is full of events, restaurants, and walking trails. And if you're an Animal House fan, you will recognize various locations, including the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house, where the movie was filmed. Although the actual 'Delta Animal House' was demolished some time ago. We recommend UO Campus if you're feeling like taking an easy walk - no Toga required.
Autzen Stadium
The Legendary Autzen stadium. If you're a college football fan, you can't miss your opportunity to see the stadium in person. Although July is the off-season, Autzen is always a neat place to hangout, or take a stroll around the track if you're so inclined.
Spencer's Butte
A local favorite. This park contains various hiking trails, of various difficulties, that all lead to a beautiful view of the entirety of Eugene. If you are wanting a more laid back experience, consider this hiking trail and afterwards reward yourself with a cold brew at a local brewery.
Ninkasi Brewing Tasting Room
Ninkasi has been around since 2006 and quickly became a local favorite. Good food and delicious beer await, all within Eugene city limits.
Sunriver Brewing Co. - Oakway Pub
Right next to Autzen is the newer brewing company based out of Bend, OR. You can grab some food and some beer from this joint, especially if you're going to be around the university campus.
McMenamins North Bank
Are you a fan of history? And everyone's got to eat, right? McMenamins is an Oregon exclusive chain of restaurants, unlike anything you've ever seen. They take old abandoned buildings, such as; schools, churches, banks, bars, clubs, firehouses, government buildings, etc. And turn them into McMenamins eateries. Keeping the history of the building in tact. They also have a passport system, in where you can collect unique stamps at every location and along the way redeem the stamps for prizes. But the prizes aren't much the reward as is visiting all these cool restaurants that used to be something else entirely back in the day. We think it's a neat idea and you might too! This location in particular is right by the Willamette River.
Dorena Lake
30 minutes south of Eugene lies Dorena lake. A beautiful and serene spot for a picnic, fishing, camping, and hiking.
Tamolitch Falls (Blue Pool)
We bet you didn't expect to find turquoise waters around these parts, but think again! Tamolitch Falls, or Blue Pool as the locals call it, is a body of water found at the end of the McKenzie River trail. A natural curiosity, the water is turquoise and clear in appearance, hence the name. Organisms cannot reproduce in the water due to it's cold temperature year round, sitting at a chilly 38 degrees Fahrenheit. Located 1 hour east of eugene, this beautiful pool await all who are curious to check it out for themselves. Be advised, the hike takes about an hour to complete, although relatively flat and easy, it can take a bit of time to reach the pool.
Sahalie Falls
If you're in the mood to chasing waterfalls, Sahalie Falls will not disappoint. Located an hour and thirty minutes east of Eugene, and about ten minutes from Blue Pool, lies this beautiful and powerful waterfall. The best part? No hike required. The parking lot sits adjacent to this beautiful location.
Bend
If you're up for an adventure, and have some serious time to devote to exploring Oregon, we think you should consider heading over to Bend, Oregon. Bend is the last bastion of Civilization when heading east to the rest of Oregon. But don't let that scare you away, there's plenty to do out there if you know where to look. Mt Bachelor, Smith Rock State Park, campgrounds, high desert hikes, and breweries.. so many breweries. Bend is known as "Beer City USA" so if you like nature and beer, Bend will be right up your alley. Oh, and Bend is also home to the last operating Blockbuster Video, so there's that too.
Mt. Bachelor
Mt Bachelor is known for its ski slopes, but it's still a beautiful site during the summer. Located right next to bend, or about three hours away from Eugene. Mt Bachelor is beautiful location to visit, especially on your way to Bend.
Mount Shasta
We know what you're saying, "I thought we were exploring Oregon!?" But Mt. Shasta is only a stone's throw away from the southern Oregon border. And to those of you who decide to drive up to the wedding from California, you will undoubtedly pass by it on your way up the i-5 hwy. If you're up for it, Mt Shasta is a 4 hour drive from Eugene. And if you're driving down to Crater Lake, it's only a 3 hour drive from there. Mt Shasta is iconic as it is beautiful, and we think it's worth the visit if you can spare the driving time.