Updated: July 31, 2023

22 Fun Team Building Activities in Portland, OR

Here is our list of the best team building activities in Portland, Oregon.

Team building activities in Portland are ideas that put teammates into a new environment and encourage interaction. Examples include obstacle courses, scavenger hunts, and board game events. These ideas aim to get teams intermingling and working together in the city.

The purpose of these outings is to improve cooperation and create a positive work environment. These ideas are similar to corporate event ideas in Portland and Portland company outing ideas.

This list includes:

  • team building activities for small groups in Portland, OR
  • team building activities for large groups in Portland, Oregon
  • team building activities for adults in Portland
  • corporate team building ideas in Portland

Here we go!

List of team building activities in Portland

From DIY Bar to Bottle & Botega, here is a list of the most fun Portland team building ideas.

1. The Great Guac Off™️ (Team Favorite)

Guacamole making competition

Teams can show off their creativity and culinary skills through The Great Guac Off! This one-of-a-kind experience puts teams head-to-head in a guacamole-making contest.

Here is what you can expect:

  • a 90-minute session with a highly talented facilitator
  • tasty guacamole ingredients and chips for dipping
  • an optional secret ingredient to challenge participants
  • exciting avocado facts, mini-games, and trivia
  • a fast-paced guacamole mash-off and judging round

To make planning easy, we will bring all the needed supplies right to your venue. The Great Guac Off is a celebration that fosters creativity, collaboration, and friendly competition.

Learn more about The Great Guac Off.

2. Field Day (Popular)

With Field Day’s interactive outdoor games and competitions, you can ignite your team’s spirits!
During this captivating experience, teams will boost trust, strengthen relationships, and develop crucial workplace skills.

Field Day includes the following:

  • 90 minutes with a world-class host
  • nostalgic activities to unleash players’ inner child
  • classic games and innovative competitions
  • chances to capture memorable team photos

Additionally, we will bring all the game equipment to the venue of your choice. So be sure to add Field Day to your agenda to improve communication in a fun outdoor environment!

Learn more about Field Day.

3. Superhero Academy (Highly Rated)

superhero academy

Your team can embark on an immersive comic-book adventure that will transform them into heroes! In the extraordinary world of Superhero Academy, teams can enhance their skills and foster lasting friendships.

Superhero Academy offers the following:

  • a 90-minute team building session led by a talented host
  • engaging games and activities that challenge participants’ skills
  • in-depth storytelling that brings attendees into the realm of real-life heroes
  • exciting challenges that highlight the unique strengths of each team member

Also, we will bring all the necessary materials to your chosen venue. If you are looking for an environment that can help your team learn to conquer challenges, then check out Superhero Academy!

Learn more about Superhero Academy.

4. Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade and Bar

Teams can have a blast while enjoying tasty drinks at Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade and Bar! This venue features classic cabinet arcade games and pinball machines alongside their bar. Players will find loved games like Donkey Kong, Galaga, and Ms. Pac-Man. If you are a pinball fan, you will enjoy cabinets like AC/DC and Ghostbusters. While you are playing, you can grab some bar snacks like nachos and sandwiches. For drinks, Ground Kontrol offers fun themed cocktails, such as Princess Peach and Falcon Punch. Additionally, this outing is affordable, as the games typically cost less than a dollar per play!

Learn more about Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade and Bar.

5. Steven Smith Teamaker

Oregon locals know and love Smith Tea, and you can bring your team to visit! Smith Tea prides itself on sustainable and transparent sourcing of ingredients, which visitors can check on the website. Teams can go to one of two tasting rooms to enjoy drinks like blackberry jasmine lemonade or hibiscus mango tea. One notable choice is Smith’s tea flights, which let you try four different varieties of the delicious house-made blends. If you are looking for a snack, you can also grab one of the tasty pastries made by Farina Bakery. Be sure to stop by for a refreshing drink!

Learn more about Steven Smith Teamaker.

6. Fubonn Shopping Center

Fubonn Shopping Center is a large Asian mall featuring unique shops! The largest store is Fubonn’s grocery store, which has plenty of delectable choices. Teams can grab tasty canned drinks, yummy snacks, and even meals from the food court in the store. The mall is also home to a bakery, which has pastries flavored with taro and turnovers filled with barbecue pork. Shoppers can also peruse clothes, decor, and beauty products from the other shops. Once you are done shopping, you can stop by one of the surrounding restaurants, like Bun & Pho House and SokongDong Tofu & BBQ.

Learn more about Fubonn Shopping Center.

7. Matt’s BBQ

For a slice of the South in the Pacific Northwest, check out Matt’s BBQ! This stationary food cart serves up delicious Texas-style barbecue. The food is so good, in fact, that it was featured on Guy Fieri’s show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives! Diners can enjoy amazing slow-cooked meats like brisket, ribs, and pulled pork. For sides, Matt’s offers options like potato salad, queso mac and cheese, and coleslaw. On top of this delicious food, you can slather house-made sauces like cherry chipotle, hog vinegar, and peach mustard. If that is not enough delicious food for you, then you can also check out the neighboring food carts! Matt’s is in a food cart complex, so diners can choose from nearby restaurants if they would like. The space also features a bar. Be sure to stop by for a delicious bite!

Learn more about Matt’s BBQ.

8. Splat Action

Splat Action offers three paintball experiences, including Woodsball, Hyperball, and Airsoft.

Woodsball takes advantage of Splat Actions’ 47 acres of forest and provides teams with 20 standard paintball game formats on various terrains.

Hyperball offers fields outside forested areas and is more fast-paced, using permanent bunkers and a non-standard tournament format.

Splat Action’s Airsoft option allows teams to play on any field of their choice with Airsoft equipment. Participants can either rent Airsoft equipment or bring their own.

For more information on Splat Action.

9. Live Laugh Love

Live Laugh Love Art hosts six team-building activities, including pottery, canvas painting, paint pour, glass fusing, custom soy candles, and wood signs.

For example, with a pottery activity, teams choose from over 100 bisque items and make a plate, bowl, or vase. This activity unleashes teams’ creativity and gives participants a project to work on while socializing. Live Laugh Love Art offers mobile events and will travel to you in addition to providing in-studio courses.

For more information on Live Laugh Love Art.

10. DIY Bar

One of the best team building activities for small groups in Portland, OR, is a DIY Bar experience. DIY Bar, a fusion of a craft workshop and bar, offers over a dozen DIY crafts. Teams receive the materials, tools, and self-guided tutorials for each project. Crafts include string art, macramé art, mason jar mug, and succulent pots. This provider also offers virtual versions as well as travel-to-you options.

For more information on DIY Bar.

11. Wildcraft Studio School

Wildcraft Studio School offers team workshops in traditional crafts, textiles, and Native American arts. Your team can spend the afternoon learning about Native art while doing different crafts like:

  • wood carving
  • leather working
  • spinning
  • natural dyeing

Your team can opt to do a full or half-day experience. The studio also offers a series called “Summer Field Trips” which revolves around spending the day outdoor crafting together.

For more information on Wildcraft Studio School.

12. Birdie Time Pub

Birdie Time Pub is one of the best team building activities for adults in Portland. Birdie Time Pub is where mini golf meets golf simulator meets bar. The pub offers team experiences that include:

  • 9-hole Mini Golf
  • golf and sports simulator with 13 interactive experiences
  • mini putting games
  • board games

When your team finishes playing golf, they can relax and enjoy Birdie Time Pub’s patio area and fire bar.

For more information on Birdie Time Pub.

13. Punch Bowl Social

Punch Bowl Social fuses games with cocktails at their 32,000-square-foot venue. Some activities that your team can partake in include:

  • table games like giant Scrabble, Ping Pong, billiards, and Foosball
  • classic arcade games
  • karaoke
  • bowling

Punch Bowl Social offers a host of alcoholic beverages, including draft, craft, and classic beers.

For more information on Punch Bowl Social.

14. 4T Hike Trail

You can get your team outside and moving with a 4T adventure. 4T stands for “trail, tram, trolley, and train”!

First, your team will experience a hike from the Oregon Zoo to the highest point in the city, then down to Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU). From OHSU, team members will board the Portland Aerial Tram and soar 3,300 feet down to the riverfront. Next, the team will hop on the Portland Streetcar into downtown Portland for shops, restaurants, and food carts. Finally, everyone will take the Max light rail back to the starting point for the last leg of the loop.

For more information on 4T Hike Trail.

15. Hollywood Theater Night

One of the best team building activities for large groups in Portland, Oregon, is a Hollywood Theater Night. The building is historic and aesthetically gorgeous, and the showings span a range of films to suit many tastes. You and your team can rent a theatre or participate in a public event. In addition, the theatre regularly hosts fun events like outdoor movies and B-Movie Bingo, where viewers mark off film cliches like “teamed up with a rookie animal.”

For more information on Hollywood Theater.

16. Portland Food Tours

Portland Food Tours allow teams to experience the city’s culinary scene. Experiences currently come in three options:

  • Food Carts, Pods, and Patio Tours
  • Downtown Coffee and Donut Tour
  • Willamette Valley Wine Tour

The wine tour includes transportation and explores three different wineries. Meanwhile, the food tours span one mile of walking and four to seven stops. To keep the experience intimate, organizers cap groups at seven or ten, respectively. Thus, this option is more suitable for small teams. Attendees get the chance to interact with staff and owners and hear more about the business and the foodie history of Portland.

For more information on Portland Food Tours.

17. Rose City Rollers

Rose City Rollers is a roller derby rink that regularly runs matches. This high-intensity sport is thrilling and is a sure way to get employees’ blood pumping. The experience will surely be memorable, especially if employees have never watched a match. Not to mention, this outing is a great way to promote female empowerment.

You and your team can arrange for reserved group seating at a special rate or arrive early to find seats near each other in the crowd.

Pro tip: Consider becoming a sponsor and repping your company’s logo at the showdowns.

For more information on Rose City Rollers.

18. Portland Electric Boat

Portland Electric Boat offers stunning water tours of the city. Cruises are available in standard or luxury models and seat a maximum of ten or twelve passengers. The vessels are covered to protect from weather, and heating is available so that you can enjoy the activity during colder months. For especially adventurous attendees, the company offers the option of learning how to steer the easy-to-operate ships. The boats also include stereo sound so that you can play music and invoke a party atmosphere.

For more information on Portland Electric Boat.

19. PDX Fencing

At PDX Fencing, team members can safely learn the sport of fencing. This activity is excellent for stress relief and friendly competition. The venue provides all gear and allows participants to practice with foam or metal swords. An expert coaches class members in proper form and style and remains on hand to surprise safety measures. The venue also offers a meeting room and food options.

For more information on PDX Fencing.

20. Pats Acres Racing Complex

Pats Acres Racing Complex provides go-kart tracks for a day of team racing. The venue offers special packages to groups of ten or more, including a LeMans-style team endurance race. Team members can get behind the wheel and try to out-drive their coworkers during a day of competitive fun. Team races range from one to two hours. For additional bragging rights, the park posts track records on its website. The complex also offers motocross options on weekends.

For more information on Pat’s Acres Racing Complex.

21. Creo Chocolate Experiences

Creo Chocolate Experiences brings a hands-on candy-making experience to teams. The outing starts with a behind-the-scenes factory tour and ends with a chocolate bar-making workshop. Participants also often get to sample different chocolates. The experience is educational, interactive, and delicious and provides teams with a memorable shared experience.

Rates start at $25 per person.

For more information on Creo Chocolate Experiences

22. Escape Games PDX

Escape Games PDX offers five unique escape rooms, including:

  • Portlandia: This experience plays off the hit TV show Portlandia and pokes fun at the city’s stereotypes.
  • Film Noir: This room has a classic-detective-movie theme and includes tropes like the femme fatale. In this mystery, your team steps into the role of detectives and seek to uncover the city’s seedy criminal underbelly.
  • Amnesia: Players wake up in a white room with a vague recollection of registering for a clinical trial but no other memories. The game’s goal is to piece together clues and figure out what brought you to the room and how to get out.

Most challenges are suitable for two to eight players and last one hour.

For more information on Escape Games PDX.

Conclusion

Portland is known for its uniqueness and is a great place to highlight the individual personalities of your team. Exploring the city’s quirks is a shared experience that will bring colleagues closer together and give coworkers something to talk about back at the office. The city hosts a variety of activities suitable for all seasons and teams of all sizes.

Next, check out these lists of team building games and team challenges.

FAQ: Team building activities in Portland, Oregon

Here are answers about corporate team building activities in Portland.

What are some good corporate team building ideas in Portland?

Some good corporate team building ideas in Portland are indoor kart racing, Birdie Time Pub, and a Hollywood Theater night.

What are fun team building activities to do in Portland?

Some fun team building activities to do in Portland are First Nature Tours, PDX Fencing, and Bottle & Botega.

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Author:

People & Culture Director at teambuilding.com.
Grace is the Director of People & Culture at TeamBuilding. She studied Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, Information Science at East China Normal University and earned an MBA at Washington State University.

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