Not all of my travel is me gallivanting around the world even as much as I would like it to be. Next up I have a three week blitz hitting up home, Portland, Vegas and Chicago. If you are asking yourself “what is taking Jenna to Portland?” the answer is the 2013 Oregon Brewers Festival.

The Oregon Brewers Festival is one of the nation’s longest running and best-loved craft beer festivals. Situated on the west bank of the Willamette River, with towering Mt. Hood as a backdrop, it is the ideal venue for anyone who loves craft beer. With a laid back attitude and scores of award-winning beers, the festival reflects the essence of the city of Portland, aka Brewvana.

The festival’s focus is craft beer, but there’s more than sampling involved. The event features live music, beer-related vendors, beer memorabilia displays, beer writers and publishers, homebrewing demonstrations, and an assortment of foods from a variety of regions. The Crater Lake Root Beer Garden offers complimentary handcrafted root beer for minors and designated drivers. Minors are always welcome at the festival when accompanied by a parent.

I get to spend the weekend with my good friend Kathy and her husband and may even be able to throw in some wine tasting while I am there. For those of you who have not been to Portland, you are missing out. The no sales tax makes it a shopping mecca but there is a lot to do and if you are a beer or wine person you are set. But don’t take my word for it. Here are a few fun facts about Portland:

– Portland is the birth place of Wiki.
– The city of Portland won its name from a coin toss between Francis Pettygrove, from Portland, ME; and Asa Lovejoy, from Boston, MA. Portland could have been named Boston, Oregon!
– There is a long and vibrant underground hip-hop, techno and house music scene in Portland

Pictures from the festival will be on their way as soon as I go. I’m looking forward to an exciting end of July and early August.