Things to do in Bend and neighoboring Area (Sisters, Metolius: hotel, restaurants)

[bkk1057]

We will be visiting Bend in the middle of June. If we want to "do" Bend what are some of the highlights? Places to visit, and things to do, etc. I searched for a similar thread but most threads were about moving to Bend. Thanks in advance.

[angelbug]

Originally Posted by bkk1057

We will be visiting Bend in the middle of June. If we want to "do" Bend what are some of the highlights? Places to visit, and things to do, etc. I searched for a similar thread but most threads were about moving to Bend. Thanks in advance.

When I stayed in Bend twice, my hotel had a helpful, small guide book called "Bend, Overall" in each room, which had just about everything you'd need to know as a visitor. I recommend picking one up before your trip. That way you can search by type of activity that appeals to you personally.

[Deezus]

What to do in Bend really depends on what kind of outdoorsy activities you like. It's Oregon's big mountain town, kind of like Colorado or Lake Tahoe. Here's a few highlights that I can think of:

-Drive the Cascade Lakes Scenic Highway--Take the road toward Mt. Bachelor, great views of the Three Sisters and Broken Top volcanos along the way. Lots of beautiful lakes and great opportunities for hiking into the surrounding mountains.

-the High Desert Museum--small but excellent museum detailing the history of the Central Oregon region and some outdoor wildlife exhibits.

-the Newberry Volcanic Monument--Interesting area with lots of cinder cones and lakes inside an ancient volcanic caldera.

-Smith Rock-This is a world-famous climbing area on the Crooked River, but it's great for just day hike as well, beautiful high desert scenery reminiscent of the Southwest.

You can also take organized rafting trips on the Deschutes River from a number of local operators. And there are some great spots for fishing (the Metolius is famous for fly-fishing), lots of golf courses, and some good restaurants in downtown Bend. Also about two hours away is Crater Lake, which is a must see if you've never been--one of the most beautiful spots in the entire US.

[Silverfall]

I was also going to suggest hitting the Metolius which is a beautiful river. If you have kids there is the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery there which my kids loved.

I have been rafting on the Deschutes and it is fun.

You can also go spelunking in some of the Lava tubes.

I think Smith Rock is a must out there and I agree that the High Desert Museum is interesting.

There is Tumalo Falls as well.

There is LOTS to do in the area, so maybe if you narrow down what you like to do, the folks on the forum can help point you in the right direction. There are several participants on the forum from Bend and many other Oregonians go and visit.

[delta07]

Originally Posted by angelbug

When I stayed in Bend twice, my hotel had a helpful, small guide book called "Bend, Overall" in each room, which had just about everything you'd need to know as a visitor. I recommend picking one up before your trip. That way you can search by type of activity that appeals to you personally.

This is a great guide book, and has all sorts of things, not just outdoor activities. I like how it breaks down how far you have to travel to each of the places in the book. It will help you to plan out your trip.

[John Shaft]

I just went to Benham Falls last weekend for the first time. It's just south of the High Desert Museum. The hike from the park to the falls is really short (.5 mile) on a very easy trail, so it's a nice low-impact stroll. The falls are more like a series of high-octane rapids. Pretty neat.

There's always the Mill District for the requisite shopping, although I find that downtown has a bit more character.

Hiking around (or up) any of the Three Sisters.

If you are into craft beer, do NOT miss the Deschutes Brewery brewpub. I'd highly recommend their Black Butte Porter and Obsidian Stout, or pretty much anything else...and it's all on tap.

Pine Tavern is a great restaurant, as is the Tumalo Feed Company north of town (steaks and some really good onion rings).

[bkk1057]

Thanks for all the great suggestions.