Stories from Central Oregon
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New Restaurants in Bend, Oregon (2024)
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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Find the Best Golf Courses in Sisters, Oregon
Sisters, Oregon, is an idyllic mountain town with tons of Western charm that sits at the base of the mighty Cascade Range, with access to both the Deschutes and Willamette National Forests. Golfing, a popular addition to the list of things to do in Sisters often means surrounding yourself with mature ponderosa pine forests, babbling creeks with wildflowers lining the banks, and fewer crowds and lines. You really can’t go wrong golfing in Central Oregon, but read on for a list of the best golfing in Sisters.
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Top Museums in Bend and Central Oregon
Bend is undoubtedly beloved for its outdoor recreation and world-class craft beer scene—but the city’s museums offer a rich exploration of regional history, culture, wildlife, and more. It’s possible, after all, to learn about the area’s earliest inhabitants, see birds of prey up-close, and gaze at the starry night sky—all in one day. More often than not, these museums are staffed by passionate docents and filled with fascinating exhibits, multimedia displays, and curious artifacts.
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Where to Eat in Downtown Bend, Oregon
Downtown Bend is the lively core of Bend, with many shops, activities, lodging and restaurants, all just a couple of blocks from the glittering Mirror Pond, part of the Deschutes River. Whether a visit takes you browsing through downtown stores, taking a stroll through Drake Park or walking through the nearby historic neighborhoods of Bend, you’re bound to work up an appetite. Fortunately, downtown Bend is adorned end-to-end with delicious breakfast joints, hole-in-the-wall eateries and upscale restaurants.
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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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Top 8 Things to Do in Sunriver in Summer
Whatever you’re looking for from a fun summer vacation, you’ll find it in Sunriver. Just 20 minutes south of Bend, the bustling community sits surrounded by forests of ponderosa pine and offers a full weekend of enjoyment for travelers of all stripes—complete with world-class golf courses, otherworldly natural scenery, lazy river floats and comfortable overnight stays.
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Meet the Coffee Roasters of Central Oregon
There’s nothing better than waking up to a clear, cool Central Oregon morning than with a steaming hot cup of locally roasted coffee. The high desert has had its foot in the door with local coffee for decades, and experienced the roaster boom in the early 2000s, with many of the original roasteries still standing today. Backporch Coffee Roasters, Sisters Coffee and Junction Roastery (being the most recent) are three Central Oregon coffee roasters with unique histories, built around community and great coffee. They have settled into the high desert roasting scene over the decades, beginning in the late eighties to 2022.
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An Adult-Only Escape: How to Spend a Weekend at Brasada Ranch
Just 20 miles Northeast of Bend, you’ll discover the 1800-acre property of Brasada Ranch. Once a working sheep ranch, the luxury retreat now hosts a variety of lodging options and activities across all seasons. And while you can certainly book a kid-friendly stay at Brasada, it’s also the ideal destination for an adult-only escape to experience and soak in the views of Central Oregon.
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Top Sno-Parks in Central Oregon Near Bend
Central Oregon sits at the doorstep of the Cascade Range, which is blanketed every winter in a scenic blanket of snow—turning the region into a playground for locals and visitors alike. Often, these play areas come in the form of Sno-Parks, which are exactly what they sound like: forested winter wonderlands where visitors can go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, hop on a snowmobile, or even try tubing and sledding on snowy hillsides. More often than not, these Sno-Parks are home to small warming shelters where visitors can step out of the cold and get cozy next to a roaring fire.
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2024 Roundup of Central Oregon Rodeos in Sisters, La Pine, Redmond, Prineville & Beyond
Central Oregon is renowned for its beautiful landscape, outdoor recreation and rodeo culture. Rodeos have been a part of the Beaver State’s heritage for over a century, and they continue to be a popular activity for both locals and visitors. Sharpen your spurs, grab your Stetson hat, and let’s take a gander at some of the upcoming rodeos in Central Oregon. Giddy up!
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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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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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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, helping the region to maintain a vibrant foodie scene with dishes of various cuisines and establishments with a variety of concepts. In the mood for something new? Try one of these new Bend, Oregon restaurants. Check restaurant websites for the most up-to-date hours of operation.
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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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Stay and Play Golf Packages in and Near Bend, Oregon
Every year, golfers from around the world hit the links across Central Oregon, and it’s easy to see why. On any given round, golfers might gawk at the region’s sweeping high desert and sun-kissed Cascade peaks, play through lava rock formations and fun water features, and relax amid forests of juniper and ponderosa pine.
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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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Best Waterfalls Around Bend That Are Worth Seeing
Arguably Bend’s most popular waterfall hike, Tumalo Falls is only a 30 minute drive from town up Skyliners Road to Forest Road 4603. When the falls are open in the summer, it’s an easy quarter-mile hike on the North Fork Trail. The trail–paved and wheelchair accessible at the observation deck–leads visitors to views of the spectacular 97-foot waterfall.
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Your Ultimate Guide to Prineville Reservoir
Prineville Reservoir sits where the high-desert terrain and grassy farmland of Central Oregon meets the foothills of the rolling Ochoco Mountains. A 3,000-acre, human-made lake snaking its way through dusty landscapes, forests of gnarled juniper, and dramatic rock formations; there’s nowhere else quite like it in Central Oregon, and the natural wonders at the reservoir’s shore bring thousands of visitors to the area every year.
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The Art Scene and Galleries in Bend and Central Oregon
For generations, artists from all walks of life have been drawn to Central Oregon's natural beauty—its snow-capped mountain peaks, the rolling hills and juniper forests of our expansive high desert, and the sense of stillness and contemplative beauty that pervades it all.
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Breakfast and Brunch in Sunriver
Sunriver, Central Oregon’s premier residential and resort community, has been a playground to Oregonians for over thirty years. Named for the abundant sunshine and beautiful Deschutes River that runs through the village, this small town has so much to offer. In order to fuel your vacation, which is sure to be full of outdoor activities, scenic views and family fun, you’ll definitely want to check out Sunriver’s dining scene.
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Elevation & Altitude in Bend, Oregon
When you visit Bend, Sisters, or other cities in Central Oregon, you might notice yourself a bit more out of breath than usual. Even those in good shape find themselves breathing a bit harder while hiking to alpine lakes, shredding our fast and flowy mountain bike trails, and snowshoeing through our peaceful forests.