When it comes to planning a family getaway, you have a lot of boxes to check: What kind of overnight stay should you choose—hotel room or vacation rental? Will everyone in your family find something to keep busy and have fun? How can you make the most of your time if you want to check out the surrounding region?
Fortunately, Tetherow Resort renders the decision-making easy with a little something for everyone—making it a top family-friendly destination in Bend, Oregon. At the resort, which resides on the south side of Bend, you’ll find overnight lodgings for families of all sizes, plenty of on-site activities and nearby attractions, and kid-friendly fun at the year-round outdoor pool and relaxed restaurants. If anything, the hardest decision you’ll have to make will be how many nights to stay.
Here’s a look at what makes Tetherow such an acclaimed family destination:
Keep reading for the scoop on why your family should book a stay at Tetherow Resort when you visit Bend.
Family-Friendly Accommodations & Amenities
Families choose between two types of overnight accommodations at Tetherow.
The first is a luxurious hotel room outfitted with in-room fireplaces, private balconies, modern furnishings, and spa-style bathrooms. Many rooms also feature views of nearby Cascade Range peaks, and most of the resort’s top sites are within a short walk.
Tetherow’s other overnight offerings are well-appointed vacation rentals suited to families of all sizes—some homes feature up to five bedrooms and sleep up to 16—complete with fully stocked kitchens, modern appliances, large patios (with hot tubs and fire pits), and charming amenities (like built-in Bluetooth speakers).
Family-friendly offerings at Tetherow in Bend, Oregon, extend far beyond where you’ll sleep. The fun includes an on-site playground, several miles of paved and unpaved trails, and three restaurants dishing fresh fare crafted with locally sourced ingredients. And since Tetherow welcomes your whole family, dogs are welcome in certain hotel rooms and vacation homes; at check-in, they’ll even receive a special bed, water bowl, treats, and waste bags for use at the resort.
Fun for the Whole Family at Tetherow
Year-Round Heated Pool & Hot Tub
The Tetherow pool invites rest and relaxation in all seasons. The family-friendly outdoor pool area, which also includes fire pits and two hot tubs (one exclusively for adults), remains open all year long—yes, even in winter—and sits surrounded by lounge chairs and umbrellas. When the weather warms up, rent a cabana for additional shade and privacy. A poolside café serves light bites and drinks for when you’re too relaxed to leave.
Golfing with Finn Scooters
At Tetherow, a world-class round of golf awaits just outside your room. The resort’s 18-hole, semi-private golf course was designed by renowned course architect David McLay Kidd; the Scottish links-style course mixes rolling fairways, Central Oregon’s lava-shaped landscapes, and regular views of the Three Sisters, Broken Top, and other Cascade mountain peaks. Away from the course, Tetherow golf offerings include an on-site shop with clothing, equipment, souvenirs, and other accessories.
Add some fun to your game by renting an innovative Finn Scooter—a lightweight, motorized vehicle that was designed specifically for use on golf courses. The zippy scooter comes with secure club storage and delivers a smooth ride—wherever your ball might have landed.
For the ultimate golf experience, learn about unforgettable experiences when you stay, play, & golf at Tetherow Resort.
Nearby Outdoor Adventures
Tetherow resides along Century Drive at the southern edge of Bend, making the resort a de facto gateway to the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway and year-round fun on Mt. Bachelor. So if you’re looking to explore beyond your vacation rental or Tetherow’s pool, you’ll find plenty of outdoor adventures at your doorstep.
Between late spring and early fall, the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway takes visitors into the heart of the Cascade Range—and to the shore of several pristine mountain lakes. There, you can go kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding in the shadow of Mount Bachelor and South Sister, hike to emerald ponds and beneath jagged mountain peaks, stargaze and photograph at roadside pullouts, and more. See whether you might need a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit before heading out, and be sure your phone has enough storage for all the photos you’re about to take.
Near where the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway begins, Mt. Bachelor offers outdoorsy fun in all four seasons. Mt. Bachelor is most famous as the seventh-largest ski area in North America, with more than 4,300 acres of skiable terrain and 360-degree descents from its summit; its season, one of the longest in the Pacific Northwest, typically begins in late November or early December—and usually runs into late May. Summer activities on the slopes of Mt. Bachelor include 13 miles of lift-accessed, singletrack mountain biking trails, several hiking trails, scenic chairlift rides, and a zipline adventure that drops more than 1,300 vertical feet.
Shuttle Service to Bend & Mt. Bachelor
If you’d rather leave the driving, navigation, and parking to someone else, take full advantage of Tetherow shuttle services.
A free year-round shuttle is available to guests wishing to visit the Old Mill District, downtown Bend, and popular stops on Bend’s westside—such as the Box Factory shopping and dining complex; for trips to the Redmond Municipal Airport, Mt. Bachelor, and other destinations around Bend and beyond, a small fee will be charged. In winter, guests can book a shuttle to Mt. Bachelor’s West Village Lodge—with two departures and two pick-up times available daily.
Nearby Family-Friendly Activities in Bend
If you’d like to explore more of Central Oregon’s attractions while in town, Tetherow offers easy access to a bevy of family-friendly sites and activities.
One of the region’s most popular destinations is the High Desert Museum, where indoor and outdoor attractions cover the region’s Indigenous populations, early European-American emigration, historic industries, and native wildlife—with snakes, lizards, river otters, birds of prey and other live animals on display.
Mountain Air Trampoline Park, meanwhile, turns kids loose on 26 trampolines, a giant airbag, a thrilling sport court, and a special area exclusively for toddlers. Just across Highway 97, Sun Mountain Fun Center lives up to its name with bowling lanes, bumper cars, laser tag, arcade games, mini golf, and other fun attractions. Nearby, K1 Speed unleashes your inner speed demon with all-electric karts and a unique racetrack layout you won’t find anywhere else.
For slower-paced fun, bring the family to Farewell Bend Park along the Deschutes River. The park’s amenities include a lumber mill-themed play area (which pays tribute to Bend’s earliest days as a timber-focused community), a climbing and bouldering wall, a wheelchair-accessible pier that heads onto the river, a covered picnic shelter, and flat walking trails.
Learn more about Central Oregon attractions for other ideas to inspire your next family vacation.
Why Tetherow is the Ultimate Family Basecamp
As a parent, you have plenty of considerations when planning a family vacation—including the amount of space you’ll need for the whole crew, kid-friendly activities, and amenities that travelers of all ages will enjoy. You’ll find it all—and more—at Tetherow Resort.
Choose among 50 well-maintained hotel rooms or 40 luxurious rental homes—and round out the rest of your memorable trip with on-site restaurants guaranteed to please every palate, scenic rounds of golf, a family-friendly pool, and easy access to nearby activities around the award-winning resort. For more ideas on how to make the most of your trip to Tetherow, check out our guide to kid-friendly activities in Central Oregon.
Other stories
More inspiring stories, adventures, and tips & tricks for planning and experiencing the best Central Oregon has to offer.
-
Tetherow Resort
Many of Central Oregon’s resorts pride themselves on offering remote experiences, away from the region’s population centers.
-
Kid-Friendly Activities in Central Oregon
For many, Central Oregon is synonymous with spring break, summer vacation, holiday outings, and family gatherings. And it’s no wonder: The region is home to a variety of kid-friendly activities (indoors and out) that range from educational museums to speedy go-kart tracks. And that’s to say nothing of the region’s many parks, several of which host fun-filled playgrounds where your little ones can play to their hearts’ content.
-
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.
-
Bend
There's just something about Bend, Oregon. The high desert oasis has something to offer visitors year-round. From nearly every vantage point in Bend, it's easy to see why this town has become an outdoor paradise. Bend, Oregon has been on dozens of best-of lists, highlighting its livability, its outdoor opportunities, its pet-friendliness. When you'll visit, you discover that's all true. But dig deeper to find just how much this place has to offer.
