Bend, Oregon
Bend is exponentially trending being the third fastest growing city in the nation. From skiing and ziplining at Mt. Bachelor, to whitewater rafting and floating the river, Bend has options for all lifestyles. Not only are the outdoors full of opportunities, the Bend community is well known for being very inclusive and inviting. The culture in Bend is very tight-knit and the community is founded on local businesses. Being such a small close-knit community, folks who live in Bend are known to be quite happy. With 300 days of sun a year, there's so much to see outdoors!
Know Before You Go
Lakes, Lakes, Lakes
Thirty minutes outside of Bend you can find Elk, Devils, Todd, Sparks lake and more. Paddle board, camp, swim, hike, fish and more. My personal favorite is Sparks, as you get views of not only Mt. Bachelor but South Sister as well.
Breweries
One of the largest and most popular growing industries in Bend are breweries. Whether you choose to take a party bus through downtown stopping at each brewery, or stopping by a few, breweries are a large part of Bends community. Cycle-pub is another way to see breweries where you can get a tour of bend while cycling through Drake park in the heart of Bend, drinking local beers through the beautiful park.
Downtown Bend
Downtown has been around since the 1800s, and has great depths of history through older homes and the streets of Downtown. If you are looking for a great place to eat out, shop local, or simply just stroll through for hours, Downtown is a great stop to hit.
Phils Trail
Phils Trial is a beautiful dirt trail West Bend, full of biking trails and miles to roam. A great place to enjoy a longer hike outdoors with dogs and friends.
Waterfall Country
In a state known for its abundance of waterfalls, Tumalo Falls is one of a kind. Only 20 minutes outside of Bend, Tumalo falls can be as long of a hike as you prefer. While it is only a quarter of a mile hike to get above the falls, there are trails expanding for miles beyond the falls. While there is a trial down below the falls, you can get down to the river as well.
Climbers Welcome
Smith Rock is about 40 minutes outside of Bend, a moderate hike. Smith Rock has trails that take you about a mile up the beautiful large sediment boulders. A beautiful spot to hit for sunrise or sunset overlooking all the beauty around Bend and Tumalo.
Can’t-Miss Neighborhoods
Awbrey Butte
Awbrey Butte is a beautiful place to live/be considering the views and community. While it sits above the city, Awbrey Butte has wonderful views of the mountains. This is a great place to stay/live considering the location is only a few minutes to the river and downtown.
Tetherow
Tetherow is a very nice, modern, newly developed neighborhood right by Phils Trail. Tetherow is well known for the golf course, as well as having a pool and multiple restaurants. A great place to stay to keep all the family occupied in a lovely atmosphere with unbelievable views.
NWX
If you are looking for a very family friendly community, NWX is the place for you and your friends/family to stay. There’s a cute area to walk around right up the street with great restaurants and a park to hang out at as well, on weekends you can find the cutest farmers market as well.
When to Go
Summer and Winter are the best times to visit Bend. In the summertime, there are endless activities to enjoy outdoors, from being on the river to hiking, fishing, camping and more. As for the Winter, there is of course skiing and snowboarding up at Bachelor. Beyond skiing/snowboarding, you can go snow shoeing or snowmobiling around the lakes in the winter as well.
Featured Local: Sienna King
Sienna is a concert enthusiast and loves being outdoors. In her free time, she loves painting, drawing, singing, and taking photos of friends. Having grown up in Bend, she has watched what was once a small town greatly expand within the past decade. While she enjoys working at Jacksons Corner and Chow, she as well loves nannying. Some of her favorite places to get outside include laying by the river, hiking Smith Rock for sunrise, and painting in Drake Park. Proud to be a Bendite!
Sienna’s Must-Dos
Old Mill District
Originally a mill town, the Old Mill District has kept a few mills up in REI within the shopping district. Beyond the history of being a mill town, the Old Mill District is a great place to walk around and shop, grab a coffee, or walk along the river.
Float the River
Starting at Riverbend Park, which is right by the Old Mill Shopping District, you can get in and float on the Deschutes River right through downtown to Drake Park. While floating, there are man-made rapids that are floatable as well if you choose to go through them, or if not, there is a walkway to get out and continue through the river. While floating the river usually takes around two hours to complete, it is a great way to spend your day doing something that never gets old.
Sienna’s Recs
Jackson’s Corner
Open daily, all day, Jacksons Corner is very well known in Bend for not only its location right by Downtown and the river, but as well for the quality of food. Jacksons Corner has picnic tables outside for their guests to enjoy as well as indoor seating. Jacksons Corner is very proud of where all their food comes from, as every product they use is local, and they love letting you know where they got it as well. They offer local beers and kombucha on draft as well.
CHOW
One of the most popular breakfast/brunch places in Bend, CHOW is well known for their eggs Benedict, quality, and presentation of food. CHOW has been around for well over 20 years and is proud to serve those around their community, welcoming those from around the world to dine in and enjoy their live music and outdoor patio.
Parilla
This place screams the “best fish tacos ever.” Beyond being very well known for their fish tacos, Parrilla has super great burritos and tacos as well as bowls. Sitting right by the roundabout off Galveston, this is a must have while in Bend. Super easy to grab and go, or sit and dine in.
