With the weather making a quick turn toward winter, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about creative ways to get cozy with your significant other.
And there might not be any better way to stop, take a breath and get away from it all than with an easy, romantic getaway where you two can cuddle up next to the fire, have a glass of wine and recharge the batteries for the winter season ahead. Here’s our picks for the top things to do near Bend for couples and the best places to get cozy together in Central Oregon.
Pine Ridge Inn – Bend
Located on top of the canyon overlooking the Deschutes River, Pine Ridge Inn offers an escape to tranquil settings right in the heart of Bend. With highly-appointed rooms that include cozy gas fireplaces, it’s a perfect spot for a quick retreat. The lodge offers a few different room options and a special “romance package.” There’s also some great stay and ski packages if you want to add a little adrenaline to your quiet weekend away.
FivePine Lodge – Sisters
Once you check in at the FivePine Lodge and enjoy a complimentary craft beer or glass of wine, the Romance Cabin (that’s actually what it’s called) is waiting for you. These cabins are super private – out on the back of the property nestled against the Deschutes National Forest. Enjoy some time in the soaking tub next to a stone fireplace before venturing out across campus for dinner at Three Creeks Brewing Co. or into town for classic comfort fare at Cottonwood Cafe.
Elk Lake Resort
There’s getting away from it all, then there’s getting away from all the people trying to get away from it all. At Elk Lake Resort, you’re bypassing the luxuries of, oh, being able to drive to the front door of the hotel to check in, take a dip in the heated pool and walking to the nearest restaurant for some food.
BUT, in return you get an extremely up close and personal look at Central Oregon’s beautiful backcountry in a crazy romantic cabin with access to a rustic lodge accessible only by snowmobile, Nordic skis or the very convenient Elk Lake Resort snowcats, which will pick you up at Mt. Bachelor or the Dutchman Flat Sno-Park parking lot. Once you’re there you can rent a snowmobile for some winter adventure, or just hang out at the lodge or in your cabin.
McMenamins Old St. Francis School – Bend
At McMenamins, you can relax together in a historic old Catholic school turned hotel and movie theater that also houses five different restaurants and bars. Fire pits can be found on a couple of different spots around the campus, including outide the O’Kane’s pub in the back of the building. The rooms are some of the quaintest in Bend, with king suites featuring two separate clawfoot tubs for a unique romantic experience.
After a couple of drinks by the fire, hit up a movie on site or take a stroll around downtown and grab a bite at one of the great restaurants on Wall, Bond, Minnesota or Oregon avenues. (While we’re on the fire theme, we’d suggest 900 Wall)
For a dreamy date night, head south to Sunriver for the community’s nightly light display. Learn more about where to see holiday lights in Bend and Central Oregon.
Backcountry Warming Huts
For another backcountry adventure sure to light a fire in your relationship this winter, check out one of the primitive warming huts in the backcountry. The huts include fireplaces that make for a perfect spot to thaw out in after a cold snowshoe excursion from the Virginia Meissner Sno-Park, just a short drive from Bend on the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway. The huts might be yours alone, or it might be a chance to meet some locals and find out their favorite spots to eat and drink.
There’s just something about a fire that warms the heart, and luckily finding one to cozy up to in Central Oregon is not hard to do. Many of the lodging opportunities here include rooms with fireplaces including Sunriver Resort, Tetherow Lodges and The Riverhouse.
For more ideas to inspire a romantic escape, see our round-up of unique places to stay around Bend, Oregon.
Other stories
More inspiring stories, adventures, and tips & tricks for planning and experiencing the best Central Oregon has to offer.
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Hoodoo Ski Area: The Feel-Good Resort Near Sisters
In 1938 Bend’s Ed Thurston looked out upon the craggy Central Oregon Cascades and decided to build a ski resort on Hoodoo Butte. And we’re sure glad he did. Now, 84 years later, Hoodoo Ski Area is well known for its comfortable down-home vibe as well as being “steeper, deeper and cheaper” than its competitors. Such a reputation, though, didn’t happen by accident. When Chuck Shepard took over as owner in 1999, he set about modernizing the beloved ski resort, which was originally built primarily from surplus World War II materials.
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Our Favorite Sledding Hills in and Near Sunriver
The town of Sunriver sits on the edge of Deschutes National Forest, surrounded by tall Ponderosa pines and, as the name suggests, plenty of sunshine and the meandering Deschutes River. However, Sunriver isn’t just a great spot to spend sunny days on the water. The town gets an annual 50 inches of snow, about 20 inches more than the nearby city of Bend receives, on average. Central Oregon weather can vary heavily within relatively small areas, and Sunriver is a huge benefactor of this. As a result, snow in Sunriver falls fast and hard, and leads to the perfect opportunities to break out winter sleds. Whether it’s an old school tobogan or something a bit more modern, be sure to visit Sunriver and the surrounding area for plenty of sledding options.