Crater Lake National Park is a national park of the United States located in southern Oregon about 3 hours from the wedding venue. Established in 1902, Crater Lake is the fifth-oldest national park in the United States and the only national park in Oregon. The park encompasses the caldera of Crater Lake, a remnant of Mount Mazama, a destroyed volcano, and the surrounding hills and forests.

The lake is 1,949 feet (594 m) deep at its deepest point, which makes it the deepest lake in the United States, the second-deepest in North America and the tenth-deepest in the world. There are multiple hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulties throughout the park. Cost is $30 per vehicle to enter.

Whether it is Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer Silver Falls State Park is a must see when visiting Oregon. Located near Salem, Silver Falls State Park is the largest state park in Oregon – and undoubtedly one of the most incredible. In the fall lush, colorful trees create an amazing backdrop to their many hiking and biking trails. Dramatic canyons, awe-inspiring waterfalls (there’s 10!), and rivers throughout make this wondrous spot the perfect place to escape into the beauty of nature. A large campground features tent, RV, and horse-friendly campsites making this a good spot for day use, or an overnight stay. While snow and ice is common in the winter, this great place is open year-round.

(About 2 hours north of the venue and an hour from Portland.)

If you love historical homes, look no further than the Pittock Mansion. A staggering 16,000 square feet in size, this French Renaissance home was constructed in 1914 for Henry and Georgiana Pittock. Mr. Pittock was a leader in the city and waited until old age to build his dream home. It is a fascinating place to visit for those who adore interior and architectural design as it has 23 rooms in total. You will see a large, well-stocked library, music room, sewing room, Turkish smoking room, refrigerator room, and an antique elevator! I especially love the elegant, angled staircase. To me, it looks like a staircase straight from the Titanic. Absolutely beautiful!

Portland is known worldwide for its roses. This is why the International Rose Test Garden is one of the most popular sites in town. The rose garden was created in 1917 for the purpose of preserving European roses from destruction during the first world war. In the garden, you will find over 10,000 roses dotted across five acres of protected space.

While you can visit the garden at any time of the year, you should visit during the late spring and summer if you want to see all the roses in full bloom. The view is stunningly beautiful! Even more interesting about this place are the gardens within the garden. For instance, the Miniature Rose Garden only contains the small rose blooms. And since Portland loves Shakespeare, there’s the Shakespeare Garden where all the roses are named after his famous characters!

It doesn’t cost a single penny to explore the International Rose Test Garden. Whatever you do, don’t forget your camera!