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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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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Stay, Play, & Golf at Tetherow Resort
We all have our own way of heralding the arrival of spring. For some, it means swapping the cross-country skis for mountain bike pads and helmet. For others, spring is a time to get reacquainted with our garden and plan for the seasons ahead. But for others, this is the time of year to dust off those golf clubs and hit the links.
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The Ultimate Summer Guide to Black Butte Ranch
There’s never a bad time to visit Black Butte Ranch—the 1,800-acre resort community is a gem all year long—but there’s something undeniably special about summer. Maybe it’s the sun-kissed Cascade peaks that tower over the ranch, all the outdoor activities at your doorstep, crisp nights around the fire pit at your vacation home, or curated activities for everyone in the family.
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Discover Why Sunriver is Worth Visiting
To visit Sunriver, Oregon, is to relax, recharge, and escape the hustle and bustle of daily life back home. And how you rest up is up to you.
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Discovering Hidden Camping Gems Near Sisters and the Metolius River
Bend is beloved for its wide range of outdoor adventure—from well-designed mountain bike trails and scenic campgrounds to kayak-friendly lakes and laid-back river floats. It’s only natural, then, that the Bend Whitewater Park adds to the fun with thrilling challenges in the heart of the Deschutes River.
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Your Guide to Biking in Redmond, Oregon
Redmond, Oregon is located in the high desert between Bend to the south and Terrebonne—home of Smith Rock State Park—to the north. The city is perfectly situated to explore Central Oregon’s biking trails. As a lesser known destination for outdoor recreation, Redmond can sometimes feel like a local’s secret playground, featuring tons of trails to explore. From a pump track in town to the nearly limitless access to the nearby mountain biking trails of Central Oregon, avid bikers should consider a stop in Redmond for some adventure.
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The Central Oregon Mural Trail
Large-scale, hand painted murals have been growing in popularity in Central Oregon communities in recent years, following the updated city codes (the moral - more murals in public spaces). These bright engaging murals not only bring new life and color to once drab building walls, but they provide the communities and visitors with a sense of pride for their natural surroundings. And let’s not forget, they make great selfie backgrounds!
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The Last Blockbuster Video Store Located in Bend, Oregon
In the late 1990s, video stores were all the rage across the United States—so much so, trips to Hollywood Video and Blockbuster Video were events unto themselves. It was possible to peruse rows upon rows of DVDs dating back decades—while new releases lined the walls, in-store televisions played the latest trailers, and bags of popcorn and sugary snacks filled tubs near the cash register. Siblings bickered over what to rent, cinephiles found lone copies of rare titles, and families jostled to stop by before the last copies of “Men in Black” or “Armageddon” flew off the shelves on Friday night.
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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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Guide to Skiing Bend, Sunriver & Beyond
Visiting Bend, Oregon is a treat, especially if you’re a skier. Bend sits near the base of the Cascade Range, making it the perfect home base for all Central Oregon winter adventures. The city is blessed with light and dry high desert snow, the perfect type of snow for fun, powdery days on the mountain. Central Oregon is also known for its long ski seasons, which can stretch from November to May. With two ski resorts nearby and plenty of backcountry terrain to explore, there’s no shortage of opportunity for winter adventure. Ready to hit the slopes? Read on for a complete guide on skiing around Bend, Sunriver and beyond.
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Top State Parks to Visit in Central Oregon
A trip to Central Oregon is usually one with ample time spent in the great outdoors. From the expansive high desert landscape to the Deschutes National Forest and all the rivers, lakes and sometimes volcanos in between, Central Oregon is an outdoor adventurer’s paradise. What better way to explore the region than to take a tour of the local state parks? To get started, check out these six state parks to get an idea of what Central Oregon is all about.
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The Best Redmond Restaurants With Outdoor Seating
Redmond sits in the heart of Central Oregon’s scenic high desert—boasting views of nearby Cascade peaks and sitting a short jaunt from the likes of Smith Rock State Park and Cline Falls on the Deschutes River. With so much natural beauty and sunshine in all four seasons, Redmond has become a regional hotspot for outdoor dining—and options range from casual food-cart pods to family-friendly eateries to romantic nights out.
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Taste the Innovation at These Central Oregon Spots
Among the boundless list of things to do in Central Oregon, there are ample food and drink establishments dotting cities end-to-end. With so many options, finding a tasty place to fill up might be one of the easiest parts of a trip. But dig a little deeper, and visitors will find eateries and watering holes that are deviating from the norm, getting innovative and offering something a bit different. Excellent food is part of the program, as is ambiance, history and culture. These restaurants offer an allure for visitors to not only satisfy their taste buds, but to have an experience that is exceptional. -
Made in Central Oregon
Whether souvenir shopping is on the agenda during a trip to Central Oregon, or the holiday gift giving season is once again creeping up, there is no shortage of shopping here in the high desert. While it has become easier than ever to shop from behind a screen, there’s a special feeling that comes with shopping local—whether it's for art, local specialty foods or experiences that showcase the best of Central Oregon.
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Why Sunriver Cabins are Perfect for Couples
Whether you’re taking a break from the hustle and bustle of summer, looking to unwind in the heart of winter, or are looking for a Valentine’s Day getaway, you’ll find plenty of romantic outings around Sunriver Resort in the heart of Central Oregon.
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Discover Redmond's Best Golf Courses
Redmond, Oregon, is a bustling community that shares the same amazing views and landscape that the rest of Central Oregon has, but with a smaller population that gives way to quiet courses less likely to develop a crowd. The area’s milder weather grants golfers the opportunity to hit the links nearly year-round, all while enjoying the many amenities Central Oregon offers, like farm-to-table dining and some of the best craft beer, cider and wine around. You can’t really go wrong with golf in Central Oregon, but read on to discover some amazing golf courses in Redmond.
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Smith Rock Ranch & Other Fall Experiences in Terrebonne and Beyond
If you grew up in Central Oregon, chances are that you picked your perfect jack-o-lantern pumpkin at Smith Rock Ranch—a huge pumpkin patch with spectacular views located in Terrebonne. But this Central Oregon pumpkin patch wasn’t always so grand. Farmer Matt Lisignoli grew up as a city kid in northeast Portland, and dreamt up the idea to start his first pumpkin patch on a rented farm in Redmond in 1998. While some people thought Lisignoli was crazy to farm pumpkins in the high desert, the operation, then called Central Oregon Pumpkin Patch, was a success.
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Local's Guide to the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway
Views of the Cascade Range abound all over Central Oregon, but are never more dramatic than from along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway—a seasonal highway that heads southwest of Bend and into the heart of the mountains. Along the way, visitors can swim or paddle in more than a dozen alpine lakes, admire views of the snow-capped peaks that seem to rise from their shorelines, camp under starry night skies and traverse some of the region’s best-loved hiking trails.
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Sunriver Resort Stay and Play Golf Packages
There are no shortage of outstanding golf destinations across Central Oregon—but few stand out like Sunriver Resort. Tucked amid a forest of ponderosa pine, the popular resort features a high-desert climate that translates to long golf seasons, mountain peaks just beyond the treetops, and award-winning courses for golfers of all skill levels.
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Whitewater Rafting Adventures Near Sunriver
A visit to Sunriver, Oregon calls for getting on the water and soaking up the sunshine. Sunriver is a community based around Sunriver Resort that lives and breathes outdoor recreation. Visitors from all over the world call Sunriver one of their favorite vacation destinations, and much of the reason belongs to the stretch of the Deschutes River that runs through town. When the summer sun is high in the sky, one of the best ways to cool off and get some thrills is to float a whitewater section of the river.