Bend Oregon: Places to visit, Fun Activities, and The Best Food & Drink Spots

Visiting Bend Oregon and need some ideas of where to eat, or what to do? You are in the right spot! I am a true Bend Local and have lived here my whole life, so you can trust that I have some great ideas on spots to visit and activities for you to try! And- at the end of this blog you can redeem a special offer if you make it through the end!

Explore Bend’s Natural Beauty

Bend is surrounded by breathtaking nature that invites exploration year-round. This includes biking, skiing, hiking, kayaking, camping, etc.

Sparks Lake

The photo to the Left was taken at Sparks Lake. The lake sits about 30-40 minutes outside of Bend along the Cascade Lakes Highway. This is a great spot to camp or hangout on a summer day. This spot is closed in the winter due to snowfall.

Mt. Bachelor

Also along the Cascade Lakes Highway sits Mt. Bachelor. This mountain is known for skiing and snowboarding but in the summer time they also offer zip lining and have bike trails all up and down the mountain. Check out their website for more info.

Smith Rock State Park

Smith Rock State Park is a breath-taking spot to hike or rock climb. Smith Rock is about 40 minutes outside of bend in a small town called Terrebonne. This spot is open year round and no matter what time of year you will get a stunning view.

Dive Into Bend’s

Food & Beverage Scene

Bend offers some amazing spots to eat and drink and here are just a few that I am in love with!

• Hawk & Huckleberry - A modern Western themed restaurant with lots of unique decorations and even a secret room. A great spot for a fancy dinner, or some apps and drinks with friends! (Higher Pricing.)

• The Lot - One of Bend's MANY food truck lots. This one has one of my personal

  favorite food trucks in town, known as A La Carte. They have the best (in my opinion) Carne Asada Fries. A great spot for a quick meal with lots of options for everyone! Pets are welcome here as well.

• Waypoint Bar - Located inside The Grove on the Westside of Bend sits a cozy bar with amazing cocktails. The staff are amazing & make some of the best cocktails in town! A fun spot to meet with friends, and the grove offers lots of food options.

• Dilly Dally Coffee Co. - Named after Dilly Dally Alley (A local Mt. Bachelor Run) is a coffee shop right outside of The Old Mill. This spot is open only M-F with cars and coffee every 1st and 3rd Sundays. A great space to get work done and meet new folks! You will feel like a true local visiting this shop ;)

• 10 Barrel Brewing - A great spot for lunch or dinner. One of Bend's most famous breweries that was eventually sold to Anheuser Busch. There are 2 locations, one being towards the Eastside and has a bit more service area, and the other being on the Westside not too far away from the river.

  
  

Activities and Places to visit

Family Activities In Bend Oregon

Bend Offers lots of family-friendly activities and here are just a few for you and your family to try while visiting!

Floating the Deschutes River

Floating the river in the summertime is one of the most popular activities to do in Bend. There are plenty of rentals for you to get from paddle boards to tubes. There are rapids towards the end of the river as well that can be chaotic but in a good way! You can also surf. boogie board these rapids as well.

Mt. Bachelor Tubing

Tubing at Mt. Bachelor is a popular activity in the wintertime. Head on up and rent tubes for the day and tube down the hill. Mt. Bachelor also has restaurants for you to grab a bite at afterwards!

Family Photos

Family photoshoots while on vacation are a great way to capture memories. I know you can get photos done at home anytime but getting family photos in Bend Oregon offers a variety of backdrops. A photoshoot is a great way to start or end your vacation and since you are already dressed up, it gives you a great excuse to grab dinner after and maybe even ice cream ;)

High Desert Museum

The High Desert Museum is a great spot to explore Bend Oregons local wildlife. Take the morning to go explore this museum, and there are lots of cool exhibits about the history of Central Oregon as well. Lots of fun for the kiddos!

Other Activities

Take a walk through Old Bend. Sitting right outside of Downtown Bend, there is a neighborhood that holds a lot of history and charm. This walk can be as short or as long as you want & it is super close to many bars and restaurants. The picture to the left is one of the most famous homes in Bend and there are some signs on the outside of it so you can read more about it.

The Amphitheater in Bend is located right off the Deschutes River and The Old Mill. Lots of artists come to perform there and it is such a fun venue. From Jack Johnson to Mt. Joy to Jason Aldean, there are plenty of genres to choose from. Have dinner at Greg's Grill or Lady Bird in the Old Mill and walk right over after.

The Cycle Pub is a fun group activity for adults. In Bend, you can rent a cycle pub and cycle through Downtown Bend. You get to stop at 2-3 local breweries or bars of your choice. This activity requires a minimum of 8 people and a maximum of 12. Must be 12 or older to

get on.

Redeem Your Photoshoot Discount

Thank you for reading this small blog about Bend Oregon and it's offerings. There are so

many other fun activities and places to eat or drink at but these are just a few of my personal favorites!

Now that you made it to the end- I wanted to offer you a discounted photo session while you visit Bend. This can be a family session, a couples session, or anything you want really! Click the Link below to redeem 20% off a session. You must be on vacation here/visiting and you must clarify that you read my blog to redeem!