Travel Oregon recognizes that when the mantra of your largest city is Keep Portland Weird, Oregon is basically the “dad jokes” of travel destinations. And, when you are waiting with anticipation to welcome your neighbours to the North back to Oregon and the Canada-U.S. border is closed to non-essential travel until (at least) June 21, 2020 – a.k.a. Father’s Day – the irony is not lost on you.
So this Father’s Day, Travel Oregon is encouraging Canadians to adopt a little of the tongue-in-cheek sense of humour Oregon is known for, embrace the cliché gifts of the occasion and plan now for a future Father’s Day getaway to Oregon, or another family vacation on which your dad can embarrass you by wearing socks with his Portland-made KEEN sandals. He’ll feel right at home in Oregon.
Beer
Oregon owns craft beer. With over 270 breweries, Oregon boasts more craft breweries per capita than any other destination in the U.S. Upon your return to Oregon, plan to take Dad to The Prodigal Son Brewery in Pendleton or Pelican Brewing on the Oregon Coast for a Father of All Tsunamis. Until then, did you know that beer from Central Oregon’s beloved Deschutes Brewery is sold in most provinces in Canada? Cheers Dad!
BBQ
Whether it’s hot dogs or burgers, steak or salmon, does your dad consider himself a grill master? For dozens of sizzling recipes, order Dad a copy of Around the Fire, the cookbook from Chefs Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton, owners of Portland’s Ox Restaurant. Or, consider a gift certificate for a future dinner at the Cowboy Dinner Tree in Southern Oregon. Located along the Oregon Outback Scenic Byway this restaurant is an experience serving 32 oz. sirloin steak dinners.
Ties
We’ve been giving Dad a tie for Father’s Day since the dawn of time, but never did we expect that tie would one day have to match his face mask. Portland’s Wildwood & Company makes custom ties, bowties, pocket squares, suits and, yes, now matching face masks for the stylish businessman. Created by former attorney and Oregonian Joe Mueller, Wildwood & Company has grown to represent more than 25 skilled artists and craftspeople from Portland and beyond.
Golf
Canadian golf courses are open from British Columbia to PEI. When Dad tires of teeing off at home, Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in the Tualatin Valley is the place to go. Home to two 18-hole championship golf courses, the Robert Cupp-designed Ghost Creek course is hailed as one of the U.S.’s premier semi-private courses, was host to the NIKE Tour Championships and has been named to Golf Magazine’s “Top 100 Places You Can Play in the U.S.” Fore! Dad can take this 360° tour until he can tee-off in person.
Fishing
The Lower Deschutes River in Central Oregon has been known as a must-fish destination for generations of anglers. Not only is the setting beautiful, with towering canyon walls and clear waters, but it is one of the very few U.S. designated Blue Ribbon fisheries for both native trout and wild steelhead salmon. Until Dad can go fishing in Oregon, he can cast a line with this virtual tour of fishing the Lower Deschutes River.
If you can’t bring yourself to give your dad one of the clichéd gifts above or another coffee mug that reads “World’s Greatest Dad,” consider these additional ideas:
Most Eligible Bachelor
Whether your dad is single or not, Mt. Bachelor, the beloved Central Oregon ski area, boasts one of the longest ski seasons in the United States. Mt. Bachelor actually isn’t a mountain at all, it’s technically a butte which allows for 360 degrees of skiing off the summit. Mt. Bachelor is new to the 2020/21 IKON Pass so Canadians who have it can now enjoy up to seven days of skiing or snowboarding with no blackout dates.
Fireman for a day
OK, so your dad probably doesn’t look like he stepped off the pages of a firemen’s calendar, but he has probably always wished he could be a fireman for a day. Southern Oregon can offer the next best thing. Sleep in a forest fire lookout! Book now to overnight at Summit Prairie for when it is safe to do so.
Turn the page
If your dad is a bookworm, he likely knows that Portland is home to Powell’s City of Books – the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world. Powell’s is encouraging visitors with a love of reading to donate to a local literacy charity and win a chance to have the entire store to yourself on a future visit to Oregon.
Barbershops in the ballroom
Could your dad use a haircut after quarantine and always admired a perfectly groomed beard like you’d see on a Portland Hipster? The Jupiter NEXT Hotel in Portland has partitioned its ballroom off into safe working spaces for independent barbers, hair stylists, massage therapists and tattoo artists. Book now for a future stay and leave it to Dad to consider a tattoo in addition to a little off the top.
For more father-friendly Oregon travel ideas, visit www.traveloregon.com.
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Issued by the Travel Oregon Canadian Press Office.
For more information and/or high resolution images please contact: Heather McGillivray at Canuckiwi on +1 250 888 5687 or email heather@canuckiwi.com.
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