Free-Time Forays
When attendees are faced with some free time in Eugene, the great outdoors are calling, in particular a wealth of waterfalls that make for breathtaking visits without taking your breath away.
“There are 20 waterfalls within a short drive of downtown,” said Metzler, who added that most of them are “an easy walk, with no huffing or puffing.” She particularly recommends Fall Creek Falls, where visitors can drive right to the top of it for a “spectacular” view, and Proxy Falls, reached by way of an easy one-mile trek, no hiking boots needed.
Metzler also encourages a downtime detour to Eugene’s trending Whiteaker neighborhood, also known as the Whit.
“The Whit is a hot new neighborhood with breweries, wine-tasting rooms and wonderful restaurants,” she said. A short stroll northwest of downtown, the locale is a great place for attendees to let their hair down and have fun in cool and casual settings. Local favorite Sam Bond’s Garage was hailed not long ago as one of the best bars in the nation by Esquire. Papa’s Soul Food Kitchen and BBQ, a hopping blues joint, is just across the street.
For something completely different, attendees can visit the Cascades Raptor Center on Fox Hollow Road, with a sprawling forested setting that is home to 50 birds of prey in large aviaries.
“We’ve got programs that we can do for groups, or personal tours for groups of no more than four people,” said executive director Louise Shimmel. “We have an amphitheater and a covered program space. And we do programs where we bring a bird or birds off-site to a classroom or other meeting space.”
Meeting attendees will also want to save some time to savor the bounty of the surrounding area at some of Eugene’s great local restaurants.
“We were farm-to-table in Eugene before it was even a fad,” Metzler said. “It’s just our lifestyle. You can get just about anything fresh here, and that’s what we grew up with here.”
Among Metzler’s top suggestions are the Excelsior Inn, an upscale Italian restaurant that even has its own farm on the outskirts of town; Grit Kitchen, which highlights colorful fare forged from the best ingredients of local farmers; Marche, a French establishment with outdoor dining spaces surrounded by herbs and edible flowers; and Rye on 3rd, a casually classy haven of eclectic cuisine and handcrafted cocktails.
Eugene, Oregon
Location: West-Central Oregon
Access: Eugene Airport
Major Meeting Spaces: Hilton Eugene, Valley River Inn, Lane Events Center, Venue 252
Hotel Rooms: Approximately 4,500, including Springfield
Offsite Venues: King Estate, Schnitzer Museum of Art, Hop Valley Brewing Company
Contact Info:
Eugene Cascades and Coast/Visit Lane County
541-484-5307
www.eugenecascadescoast.org
