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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Horseback Riding in Sunriver, Oregon
For many, exploring new trails and breathing in the fresh mountain air is best done on horseback. And what better place to get in the saddle than in beautiful Sunriver, Oregon. Here, trail rides meander along the Deschutes River, offering mountain views and showcasing the natural beauty of the region. Enjoy corral rides, pony rides, lessons and guided trail rides on horses selected specifically for the comfort and ability of the rider.
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Best Family Friendly Restaurants in Sunriver
With an endless amount of activities available it’s no surprise that Sunriver has been a go-to destination for families for decades. From golf courses to stunning bike trails to water slides, every member of the family is bound to be entertained.
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Explore the History of the Cascade Mountain Range Near Bend, Oregon
t’s no exaggeration to say that Central Oregon would not exist as we know it today without the Cascade Range. The Cascades, after all, act as a rain shield that gives us sunny skies in all four seasons. Volcanic activity formed the myriad peaks that we hike, ski, and camp on all year long—and left behind the lava flows that have dazzled generations of visitors. The Deschutes River, in many ways the backbone of our region, has been moved and rerouted numerous times by volcanic activity that began high in the Cascades and far underground.
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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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Adult Adventure Time: Summer Outdoor Clinics in Central Oregon
Warm weather is on the horizon, and we’re trying to make the absolute best of it by getting outside as much as possible. Sound familiar? Here’s a tougher question – when was the last time you learned new skills outside, and let someone else do all the planning for you around a fun adventure? (Deep breaths, type A’s! We got you.) Luckily, here in Central Oregon, we are no strangers to an outdoor playground. Whether kicking up dust with our trusty mountain bikes, paddling into the sunset, traversing up volcanic rock, or saluting our beers to the campfire, we know adventure here in the high desert.
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Your Guide to an Epic Lake Billy Chinook Day (plus time well spent in Culver)
Just 35 miles north of Bend and 10 miles south of Madras lies Culver, Oregon—the staging ground for adventures on sparkling Lake Billy Chinook and The Cove Palisades State Park. And while the options on the expansive lake are many, Culver, a sleepy town of less than 2,000, also sits surrounded by world-class golfing, quiet camping, jaw-dropping scenery and excellent wine tasting. Here’s what you need to know for enjoying a jam-packed day or thrilling weekend around Culver and Lake Billy Chinook.
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A Weekend of Wellness in Bend & Sisters
When was the last time you treated yourself? Wellness shouldn’t be a once-in-a-while practice. Meditation, yoga, massage, fitness classes, and pampering reduce cortisol levels, calm the heart rate, boost those happy hormones, and empty our minds. So, safe to say, it’s pretty important. Lucky for you, we made it easy to plan a full weekend reset in Bend and Sisters so you can jumpstart your healthy habits. Read on to get relaxed.
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Planning a Trip to Oregon
Windswept bluffs and craggy sea stacks. Alpine lakes and snow-capped peaks. Colorful hillsides and cosmopolitan vibes. Starry night skies. The deepest lake in the United States. These various landscapes and atmospheres all come together in one place that’s unlike anywhere else: Oregon.
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Best Mountain Towns in Oregon
There’s something magical about visiting a charming mountain town. You get to spend your days hitting the slopes, hiking trails to stunning viewpoints, or paddling crystal-clear alpine lakes. You can while away an afternoon around the fire pit at a neighborhood brewpub, then you can take an evening to dine at cozy restaurants and enjoy historic downtown cores—all with snow-capped peaks towering above.
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Trail Running in Bend & Central Oregon
Bend and Central Oregon are home to resplendent landscapes—including khaki-colored high desert, towering mountain forests, and winding waterways through it all. And with hundreds of miles of trails exploring those scenic sites, the region has become a hotbed for trail running in recent years.
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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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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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Spring day trip from Redmond to Terrebonne
There’s something undeniably special about a Central Oregon day trip in spring. The snow melts, the landscape comes to life with piney scents of juniper and ponderosa, and the mountains are just waiting to be hiked. As the days warm up, it’s the perfect time to plan a day trip.
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The Ultimate La Pine Getaway
Central Oregon is all about balance. Small towns, big recreation. Quaint corners, cascading views. Where endless serenity exists right outside your back door coupled with humble communities that are tough to beat. Take La Pine, for instance. Rural, friendly, relaxed, and charming with a side of soaring mountains, the sparsely populated La Pine, Oregon is an unlikely getaway that leads with boundless forests and top-tier recreation.
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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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Epic Central Oregon Day Trips: Madras and Warm Springs, Oregon
If you’re spending a weekend in Central Oregon and want to explore beyond Bend, look no further than the eclectic offerings in Madras and the community of Warm Springs. There you’ll find heart-pumping mountain bike trails, cafés dishing fresh fare, important museums and more.
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Ideas for Planning the Best Oregon Road Trip
Planning a road trip through Oregon? We don’t blame you: The Beaver State is home to dramatic landscapes that include rugged rock formations on the Oregon Coast, lush forests and thundering waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge, expansive high deserts in Central Oregon, and the impossibly blue hue of Crater Lake.
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Redmond, Oregon's Food Scene
The city of Redmond, Oregon, is a haven in Central Oregon’s high desert, surrounded by farms, ranches and outdoor fun aplenty. In recent years, Redmond’s dining scene has greatly grown as the city continues to see new and innovative bars, restaurants, breweries, food trucks and more. From classic drive-in burger joints to authentic Mexican cuisine, craft cocktails and farm-to-table eats, Redmond surely has something for you to savor.
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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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A Guide to Bend's Whitewater Park
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.