When travelers visit Sisters, Oregon, they’re not disappointed. Sisters is an idyllic little mountain town at the base of the Cascade Mountains near the Deschutes National Forest that offers tons of outdoor activities, luxurious accommodations, downtown shopping and annual festivals. Make a trip here to feel like you’ve been transported to a friendly Wild West town full of adventure, farm-to-table eats, local coffee, art galleries and so much more.
Enjoy Black Butte Ranch Resort
Visitors who discover Black Butte Ranch can’t wait to return. At the ranch, where mountains rise to greet you in the morning and time seems to meander like a lazy river, there are seemingly endless opportunities for adventure and relaxation. Enjoy the majesty of two different lakes, and paddle through to uncover wildlife like baby goslings, ducks and red-winged blackbirds. Golfers will love to spend the day on one of the two championship golf courses on the property, while enjoying the nineteenth hole at Robert’s Pub, where casual Northwest entrees are served with local craft brews and wines. Kick back and recharge at the spa, where massages, facial treatments and more await. Enjoy all this as well as hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, swimming and more, just a 13 minute drive from Sisters.
Hit the Slopes at Hoodoo Ski Area
Just a 26 minute drive from Sisters is one of Oregon’s favorite places to shred: the Hoodoo Ski Area. Sitting at the summit of the Santiam Pass in the Cascade Range, this resort offers visitors more than 800 acres of skiable terrain, 34 unique runs, five lifts and one of the largest tubing parks in the West. Don’t know how to ski? No problem! Hoodoo offers the Ski & Ride School, where winter sport enthusiasts of any age and experience level can go to hone their skills; skiers, snowboarders and even snow bikers are welcome to take lessons. Aside from downhill skiing, Hoodoo also has opportunities to Nordic ski, or ditch the skis altogether and pick up some speed at the Autobahn Tubing Park.
Explore the Metolius River and Camp Sherman
With camping, hiking, mountain biking, fishing and riverside trails to explore, Camp Sherman really offers it all for outdoor enthusiasts, and it’s just a 20-minute drive from Sisters. Sample the beauty of the Metolius River with a hike along the river trail, wandering past riverside cottages, with patient fisherman in and near the waters and colorful birds up above. Near Camp Sherman, visit the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery, where over 3 million fish are on display. Take a quick hike to search for the Oregon HooDoos, also known as balancing rocks or ghost rocks. These tall towers of stone are the remnants of ancient lava flow, and geologists say that one formation can take around 20,000 years to form.
Check Out Downtown Sisters
Downtown Sisters is an area that evokes Western nostalgia. Storefronts and restaurants are built in a way that resembles the old 1880s Western boomtowns, and driving through downtown feels like a trip through an old cowboy movie. Fitting to the theme, it’s no surprise visitors can find stores that offer custom leatherwork for hats and boots, as well as a forge that offers custom ironworks. Sisters is also home to a thriving boutique shopping scene. After shopping, check out the top restaurants in Sisters, including the Sisters Saloon and Grill, opened in 1912, and the modern Open Door, which serves five-star level lunch and dinner. A sweet tooth can be satisfied at the Sisters Bakery, while a caffeine kick can be acquired at the locally famous Sisters Coffee Company, the first coffee roaster in Central Oregon.
Attend an Annual Sisters Festival
There’s a lot to celebrate in Sisters, and plenty of opportunities to join in on the fun! Every year, Sisters holds several festivals with varying themes. In the warm summer month of July, stop by for the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, the largest outdoor quilt show on the planet. Hop-heads should try out the Sisters Fresh Hop Festival, which celebrates fresh-hopped beers each September. Also at the end of September is the Sisters Folk Festival, a three-day event featuring live music from dozens of folk musicians. There must be something about the cool and calm weather that September brings, because the Sisters Fall Street Festival, a display of art, antiques and locally crafted goods, also lands in this month.
Whether it’s winter or summer, snow or shine, a trip to Sisters, Oregon should be added to any Central Oregon traveler’s bucket list.
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