At the conclusion of a recent business trip to Portland, Oregon, I decided to extend my visit to the Pacific Northwest with a trip to Bend, in the central part of the state. I was intrigued by all the research I had done which seemed to support the claim that Bend is the “outdoor playground of the West.” I set out to discover the things to do in Bend Oregon.
After a bit of a shaky start driving across the Mt. Hood pass during a snowstorm in a rental Kia Soul without chains (shhhhhhh!), I arrived in Bend – much more beautiful than I had anticipated. It took a bit of creative scheduling, but in just a few short days, I was able to do everything on my wish list… and then some. Here are my top ten recommendations.
Riding in the Iditarod dogsled. Oh, what fun!
Race a dog sled
What a thrill! Whisking through a forest of towering, snow-dusted hemlocks juxtaposed against a bright periwinkle sky while tucked snuggly into a bright red Iditarod sled was simply magical. The Oregon Trail of Dreams sled ride was my favorite thing to do in Bend Oregon.
Taking a break from the snowshoeing to make a snow angel… and catch my breath.
Go snowshoeing
Much to my surprise, I was better at snowshoeing than I thought I would be. From running down the snowy hills to making snow angels to learning about the natural wonders from my guide from Wanderlust Tours, we forged our own path uphill until we reached a semi-summit.
It really helped that they’d provided me with quality equipment. Check here for a guide on how to find the best boots for snowshoeing.
The stunning vista of the Cascades.
Arriving at that clearing, we were rewarded for our aerobic efforts with a stunning vista of the Cascade Mountain Range.
The luxurious and eco-friendly Oxford Hotel in downtown Bend.
Pamper yourself at the Oxford Hotel
The only boutique hotel in downtown, the Oxford Hotel is easy walking access to restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, galleries, shopping, and theaters. The luxurious suites are very large, tastefully decorated in contemporary themes.
The utterly scrumptious Cuban sliders and a glass of white sangria at Barrio.
Eat at Barrio
There are numerous opportunities for gastronomic glee in Bend. My favorite was the small and quirky but über-friendly Latin bistro, Barrio. My Cuban Sliders – pork belly, pork carnitas, eschabeche, Jack, mustard, on Gordon’s bun were out-of-this-world. Don’t believe the rumor that I licked my plate… I actually used the last morsels of bread to sop up the tangy sauce.
Not gonna lie, I’m not a big fan of beer, but Crux’s “Freakcake” was very tasty!
Try a craft beer
I’ve never been a fan of beer, but since Bend is renowned for its microbreweries and unique craft beers, I decided to give them a try. My favorite was the “Freakcake” at Crux Fermentation Project, which is fermented with sour cherries, raisins, cranberries, figs, dates, and currants and not bitter at all.
Another fun brewery to try in Bend is Boneyard Beer.
The high-energy party scene at Seven.
Take a salsa lesson at Seven
If you’re at Seven on Wednesday, you can participate in the free salsa dance class. Other days bring other specials like karaoke, or just dance the night away at this popular nightclub, where you can even dance in their famous “cage.”
Hmmm… this throttle thing was a blast! Now I know what the attraction to motorcycles is…
Ride an electric bike
I really had a lot of fun. I’d never driven anything with a throttle before and loved riding it through downtown with Kim from Let It Ride who regaled me with the history and tales of Bend.
Take a dip in the inviting European-style soaking Pool (Photo ©McMenamins)
Take a public bath
For $5 you can soak in the grand Roman-style soaking pool at McMenamins. Renovated from the old St. Francis School, McMenamins houses a small hotel, movie theater, and a brewery, along with the soaking pool.
The Old Mill District offers a great shopping venue in a scenic location.
Go shopping
Bend has two great shopping venues – the Old Mill District, which as the name suggests, is an area of refurbished old mills situated along the banks of the scenic Deschutes River. The other location for shopping is downtown, laid out in a grid, and chock full of specialty shops, eateries, and parks.
The retro Tower Theater is an iconic landmark in downtown Bend, day or night.
See a show at the Tower
The attractive retro neon sign of this historic building is enough to draw you in for a closer look. In the middle of downtown, the Tower offers live music, drama, comedy, and dance performances, as well as classic movies.
Disclosure: The author was honored to be the guest of Visit Bend during her stay, but as always, the opinions, reviews, and experiences are her own.
About the Author
Patti Morrow is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.
She is also the star of the upcoming TV series “Destination Takeover” which is scheduled to premiere in the new few months.
Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled extensively through six continents looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.
22 comments
Comment by santafetraveler
santafetraveler February 24, 2014 at 7:42 pm
Bend looks totally neat. Did not know that OR had dog sledding. Would love to get there sometime!
Comment by luggageandlipstick
luggageandlipstick February 24, 2014 at 7:59 pm
I was surprised that I liked it so much! The dogsled ride was without a doubt the highlight.
Comment by Nancie
Nancie February 24, 2014 at 7:45 pm
Wow!, what a great place for a getaway. I would love to race on a dog sled!
Comment by luggageandlipstick
luggageandlipstick February 24, 2014 at 7:59 pm
Even a weekend would be great. The dogsled ride through the forest was magical!
Comment by Patti
Patti February 24, 2014 at 8:33 pm
Bend is a great place to visit as is the whole of the Pacific Northwest – beautiful country! Glad you enjoyed the experience and I’ve heard wonderful things about the McMenamins.
Comment by luggageandlipstick
luggageandlipstick February 24, 2014 at 8:45 pm
I was actually surprised by how much I liked it. The people were extremely friendly, a lot to do, beautiful scenery.
Comment by Marilyn Jones
Marilyn Jones February 25, 2014 at 12:02 am
Looks like a great winter destination!
Comment by luggageandlipstick
luggageandlipstick February 25, 2014 at 10:24 am
I was actually very surprised by what a great time I had in Bend!
Comment by Donna Janke
Donna Janke February 25, 2014 at 10:07 am
Bend looks like a fun place. I’d like to try both the dogsled and the electric bicycle.
Comment by luggageandlipstick
luggageandlipstick February 25, 2014 at 10:24 am
There were a lot of fun winter activities in Bend! The electric bike was a blast — even with snow on the road.
Comment by Irene S. Levine
Irene S. Levine February 25, 2014 at 3:53 pm
Looks like a perfect destination for winter sports!
Comment by luggageandlipstick
luggageandlipstick February 25, 2014 at 3:59 pm
I’m usually more of a warm-weather person, but I have to admit, winter activities in Bend were a lot of fun!
Comment by Suzanne Fluhr
Suzanne Fluhr February 26, 2014 at 4:06 am
Driving over a mountain in a Kia while it was snowing…..I never would have made it. I would not have been able to stop thinking about the Donner party. (For non-United States readers, you can Google Donner Party or you can just take my word for it that it was not a fun party). It must have been nice to be in a place this winter where they actually like for it to snow.
Comment by luggageandlipstick
luggageandlipstick February 26, 2014 at 8:55 am
I have to admit, two years ago I left a lifetime of New England snow behind to move to the south, and didn’t think I’d relish “playing” in it again, but Bend was really a lot of fun, and it gave me a lot to write about.
Comment by Catherine
Catherine February 27, 2014 at 11:35 am
Bend sounds like so much fun! Would love to try snow shoeing!
Comment by luggageandlipstick
luggageandlipstick February 27, 2014 at 4:51 pm
It was more fun than I thought it would be. And if you have to be in a cold, snowy climate, why not make the best of it? You know, when in Rome….
Comment by Nancy Thompson
Nancy Thompson February 27, 2014 at 4:55 pm
I love Bend and have been visiting for over 20 years. It has changed and re-invented itself many times to become the great travel destination it is today. Your post really hit the highlights! I live in Portland and avoid going over the mountain in winter (although I used to) so I commend you for your bravery on the road and I’m glad it was worth the effort. If you go back that way, the little western-themed town of Sisters has a lot to offer including the beautiful Five Pines Resort and Shibui Spa. Barrio sounds delicious!
Comment by luggageandlipstick
luggageandlipstick February 27, 2014 at 5:13 pm
Nancy, I originally tried to drive over the Cascades from Salem a day earlier. That was scary! It started snowing pretty hard, but not being from the area, I had no idea how bad a mountain pass can get. I got to a spot where a bunch of cars were stuck, and proceeded to get stuck myself. Two very nice guys in highway patrol truck stopped to help me and told me it was actually against the law for me to be driving in that area without chains. So I turned around, drove to Portland for the night and tried the Mt. Hood pass the next morning. There’s very little that can stop me once I have my mind set on something!
Comment by Suzanne (Travelbunny)
Suzanne (Travelbunny) February 27, 2014 at 5:41 pm
Bend looks fabulous – wish I lived a little closer!
Comment by luggageandlipstick
luggageandlipstick February 27, 2014 at 6:19 pm
Really was a lot of fun. If you get the opportunity, I highly recommend it. Lots to do in the summer, too.
Comment by Amy D
Amy D February 28, 2014 at 6:04 pm
Absolutely love your recap of things to do in Bend–in the winter no less! Shows at the Tower are fantastic, my husband and I love making a night of it and going to dinner. Glad you included one of the Best Restaurants in Bend Oregon, Barrio. I have never tried the Cuban and probably should! The paella and sangria are to die for!!! 🙂
Comment by luggageandlipstick
luggageandlipstick February 28, 2014 at 7:32 pm
I would go back to Barrio again and again. I still think about the incredible symphony of flavor in those Cuban sliders! There were so many delicious-sounding things on the menu. And I enjoyed chatting with the waiters — I think their names were Benny (tall) and Chris.