Known for its high desert climate and roughly 300 days of sunshine per year; unparalleled running, hiking, and mountain biking trails; and growing craft beer and restaurant scene, Bend, Oregon is rapidly becoming a must-visit destination. Poised at 3,623 feet and located about three hours south of Portland, it’s the ideal spot for a weekend getaway. Here’s what to do, see, eat, and more in Bend.
Where to Stay in Bend
Roughly an 18-mile drive from downtown Bend, Sunriver Resort is a veritable oasis with a cozy lodge vibe. Operating since 1968, it offers 245 rooms and suites; an array of vacation homes; four championship golf courses; and a spa and fitness center. The property also features pickleball courts, 40+ miles of paved paths, and eight dining options, which include Lodge Kitchen, helmed by Executive Chef Josh Hedrick.
At Campfire Hotel, you can enjoy the “roughing it” spirit without sacrificing modern conveniences. It boasts a location close to downtown Bend and newly refreshed rooms with vintage-inspired Bluetooth radios. Enjoy local coffee from Backporch Coffee Roasters for morning pour-overs, and if the mood strikes, borrow a guitar at the front desk. (They keep an assortment of musical instruments on hand for guests.) If the weather is good, enjoy a lounge session by the outdoor saltwater pool.
Where to Eat in Bend
Dreamed up by Chef Jonny Becklund and his wife, Irene, Dear Irene is outfitted with exposed brick walls, marigold-hued bar stools, sleek brass shelving, and mixed media works by Mexican artist Jose Cacho. For dinner, you can’t go wrong with the Oregon Dungeness crab arancini with arborio rice, parmesan, chives, and Calabrian chili lemon aioli, as well as the short ribs embellished with green peppercorn sauce. The cocktail options run the gamut from the Cafe con Maiz with coffee liqueur, cold brew, tequila, mezcal, chocolate bitters, and roasted corn husk to the gin-infused Pinkies Up with crème de mure, cocchi rosa, sparkling wine, lemon, and cardamom bitters.
Fueling up for a day of adventure? Don’t miss out on the local staple for breakfast and fresh baked goods: The Sparrow Bakery. Grab some chicken Waldorf sandwiches with apple and tarragon on a hand-rolled croissant for the road; to kick start your day, enjoy steel-cut oats with dried cherries and pecans. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, treat yourself to handmade French-inspired confections, like poppyseed baguettes, frosted cookies, and berry tarts.
What to Do in Bend
One of the city’s hidden gems, the High Desert Museum is worth exploring for a few hours, thanks to its extensive collection of visiting and permanent exhibits. Highlights include “Sensing Sasquatch,” an exploration by five Indigenous artists, and the indoor-outdoor Autzen Otter Exhibit with three extremely cute resident river otters.
Hear us out: It’s a quirky detour during a weekend in Bend, but the sole remaining Blockbuster is also a movie-lover’s dream. There’s a vignette of a living room from the 1990s with a rotary phone, beanbag, and bookcase lined with countless VHS tapes—oh, the nostalgia! Shop for movie snacks, check out the display with a Russell Crowe wardrobe item from “Les Miserables,” and wander through row after row of more than 21,000 DVDs, from old-school classics to new releases. This time capsule-y destination proves the past is far from over.
A historic mill-turned-outdoor emporium, the Old Mill District is outfitted with 40 shops, ranging from indie boutiques and specialty shops to chain stores like Lululemon and Anthropologie. When you need a break from shopping, there’s also a handful of art galleries and dining options.
For the outdoor enthusiast, Bend’s options for canoeing, kayaking, cave and volcano exploring, and hiking are hard to beat. We recommend a hike along Paulina Lake in the Deschutes National Forest; try booking a private or guided excursion with Wanderlust Tours. In the winter, try snowshoeing at nearby Virginia Meissner Sno-Park and Mt. Bachelor; for more of an adventure, reserve an overnight snow camping experience.
For more travel ideas, check out Visit Central Oregon.
