Stories from Central Oregon
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New Restaurants in Bend, Oregon
The dining scene in Bend, Oregon is constantly evolving, as new restaurants, cafes and pubs open up to feed the community and serve as lively gathering spaces for breakfast, lunch or dinner out on the town. New restaurants are often under development and construction to keep up with Bend’s growing population and visitor base…
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More inspiring stories, adventures, and tips & tricks for planning and experiencing the best Central Oregon has to offer.
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Fun and Scenic Bend Attractions You Can't Miss
The city of Bend is surrounded by some of the top sites and must-visit family attractions in Central Oregon. After all, where else can you hike through an ancient lava tube, summit an extinct volcano, bask in the misty glow of a nearly 100-foot-tall waterfall, and rent an honest-to-goodness DVD—all before dinner?
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The Best Hiking Around Sunriver, Oregon
Sunriver, Oregon is known for two things that might not come as a surprise: ample sunshine, and plenty of rivers and waterways. Nestled in the Deschutes National Forest at the base of the Cascade Range, Sunriver is a perfect destination for people who want to explore and see the best of the local landscape. The surrounding area is filled with tall pines and forested lands with meadows dotted throughout. The forest often gives way to a dry and volcanic landscape, contrasted by the refreshing rivers, lakes and ponds that can be enjoyed on a hot summer day. Want to get going? Here are five jaw-dropping hikes for you to try in and near Sunriver.
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A Locals Guide to Golfing in Bend
Central Oregon is known for its gorgeous weather and sunny days. Bend, Oregon, the most populous city in the region, sits on the border of the Deschutes National Forest and the expansive high desert, at the base of the Cascade Mountains. With so much sunshine and such a varied landscape, golf near Bend has become a nationally recognized activity, featuring nearly 30 courses of all shapes and sizes, for all skill levels within 30 miles of Bend.
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Tetherow — Still Firm and Fast
Nestled where the Cascade Range meets the High Desert, Central Oregon has given some of the world’s most renowned golf course architects an opportunity to show off their creativity. The result has been a nearly impossible diversity of golf courses.
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Discover Sunriver Resort’s Secret Season
Summer is undeniably the most popular time to visit Sunriver Resort—and for good reason. It’s when families splash around in the boisterous aquatic center, couples crisscross the community’s roughly 40 miles of paved bike paths, and groups come together over farm-to-table fare in several elegant restaurants. But we wanted to let you in on a little secret: Fall is one of the best times of year to visit Sunriver Resort.
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Complete Guide to Food Trucks in Bend and the Surrounding Area
Over recent years, Bend, Oregon has become a foodie paradise. Aside from the nationally renowned chefs and the blossoming restaurant scene that offers tons of dining options, foodies now flock to Bend for a more indie dining experience. The food truck trend has proven to be much more than a trend, as more and more pods of deliciousness pop up around town. These pods typically include a variety of food trucks situated around a central location that more often than not acts as a tap house. Many of them offer indoor and outdoor seating, a variety of beer, wine and cider along with firepits, stages for musical performances and more. With so many spots each offering different food trucks to try, it might be tough to figure out where to start. Read on for a list of some highly recommended spots to try out, and start your own foodie adventure.
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Top Reasons Sisters is Worth Visiting
It’s impossible to mention the city of Sisters, Oregon, without acknowledging its Old West stylings—and the way those flourishes capture the imagination of visitors from around the world. Public bathrooms, after all, are labeled as being for “Cowboys” and “Cowgirls”. Frontier architecture brings wooden sidewalks and false-front facades to the sides of modern buildings. And more than a few businesses around town sport swinging saloon doors that usher visitors out of Central Oregon and into the community’s storied past.
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Top 10 Must-Do Activities in Sunriver
Over the years, the location of present-day Sunriver has been many things to many people. Local tribes lived amid the area's ponderosa pine forests and open meadows as far back as 11,500 years ago. During World War II, the forested area along the Deschutes River was a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers training center called Camp Abbot.
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A Guide to the Food Trucks in Redmond, Oregon
In recent years, food trucks have grown in popularity across the United States—and nowhere is that trend more evident than in Central Oregon. Here, food truck pods have sprouted up across the region, each dishing around-the-world cuisines in cozy environments that typically include plenty of outdoor seating, cozy fire pits, and the occasional on-site taphouse pouring local craft beers.
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Your Ultimate Guide to Sunriver's Pickleball Community
In recent years, pickleball has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States. According to USA Pickleball, the sport's governing body, roughly 13.6 million players picked up a paddle in 2023—and played on 50,000 courts across the United States.
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Top Mexican Restaurants in Redmond and Madras
The Central Oregon food scene has earned acclaim in recent years, thanks to an invigorating mix of creative food carts, fashionable fine-dining restaurants, and a growing number of globetrotting eateries that feature authentic cuisine from around the world. That eclectic selection includes a variety of taquerias and Mexican restaurants in Redmond and Madras, both of which host homegrown eateries that craft a mix of classic dishes, modern flavors, and innovative entrées.
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Why Central Oregon Is the Best Place to Stargaze in Oregon
Are you an astrotourist? While the word might make you think of futuristic travelers jetting off in a spaceship to the stars, astrotourism is actually an experience you can have right here, right now, on Earth.
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Top Breakfast and Brunch Restaurants in Redmond, Oregon
Redmond is full of—and sits surrounded by—all kinds of exciting adventures. Whether you’re hiking to nearby Cline Falls, heading underground at the Redmond Caves, visiting Smith Rock State Park, or strolling the community’s downtown core, you’ll find plenty of great reasons to visit Redmond.
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Top Ski Resorts and Lodging Near Bend, Oregon
When the first snow falls in the Cascade Range every autumn, outdoor enthusiasts across the Pacific Northwest dig out their skis, wax their snowboards, and start planning epic getaways to ski resorts near Bend, Oregon. Across the region, our slopes are dotted with fast-running, dry powder that caters to skiers and boarders of all skill levels—with a season that begins as early as November and continues until Memorial Day in May.
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Top Family-Friendly Resorts in Oregon
What matters most when you start planning a family vacation in Oregon? Are you looking for never-ending natural beauty where crystal-clear rivers wind through ancient lava flows and old-growth forests? Do you want to get outside for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding? Is it important to find a family-friendly town with great restaurants and year-round activities—indoors and out?
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The Best Breakfast and Brunch in Sisters, Oregon
Sisters, Oregon brings visitors back in time to an old-West inspired town and magical hikes just beyond the mountains. Another thing that the town promises is incredible food. Whatever your day looks like in Sisters, start it off right with these breakfast and brunch spots right in town.
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Top Unique Attractions Near Sisters, Oregon You Can’t Miss
Sisters is most obviously connected to the Wild West. After all, buildings around town are designed to look like they’re straight out of the late 1800s. But the charming community builds on that nod to history with an exciting present that encompasses outdoor activities, natural sites, cultural attractions, and culinary offerings.
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Camping In and Near Bend, Oregon
Bend is often called a paradise for any avid adventurer or lover of the outdoors, and the reasons are simple. Bend has incredible weather, boasting plenty of sunny days throughout the year, making camping in Central Oregon more enjoyable. Visitors and locals alike love to spend their time in amongst the many mountains, forests, lakes and rivers before resting their heads under the stars. Read on for some of the best camping around Bend and Central Oregon.
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Where to Wine and Dine in Bend, Oregon
Bend, Oregon has a reputation as a beer town, the local wine scene has exploded in recent years with several new tasting rooms and nearby vineyards producing award-winning wines. Bend’s wine scene is intertwined with its farm-to-table culinary scene, and as a result, tasting rooms across Bend offer menus featuring fine dining options made from local ingredients. These tasting rooms are often cozy and fire-lit, perfect for any winter time tour through Bend. In the summer, inviting outdoor patios become a lively spot for wine-tasting in the sunshine. Read on to discover some of our favorite spots to wine and dine this year in Bend.
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Six Car-Free Adventures You Can Have at Sunriver Resort This Summer
Summer is a time for kicking back, getting out of town, and making memories with the family. And if your travels bring you to Sunriver Resort this summer, you’ll find plenty of popular activities to enjoy at your doorstep—all without ever getting in the car.