Generations of families have visited Central Oregon’s destination resorts. Countless wedding parties have made lifelong memories here. Golf weekends, honeymoons, and family trips are taken here every year. Now it’s your turn.
In Central Oregon, you’ll find a destination resort for every traveler. Here, the backdrop for our restaurants, golf courses and family activities are stunning vistas — snow-capped mountains, towering Ponderosa pines and 300 days of sunshine, so you can get out into that crisp, clean high desert air. Winter, summer and in between, Central Oregon’s destination resorts welcome you with a seat by the firepit, ready to hand you s’mores and a craft beer, cocktail or amazing glass of Oregon wine.
Family Resorts in Central Oregon
Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort was a popular family destination for decades before closing in 2018—but has since reopened with updated amenities and is once again welcoming visitors in the community of Warm Springs.
As always, the natural hot springs are the star at Kah-Nee-Ta; soak up the mineral-rich waters in a handful of pools—including a few geared specifically to children—as well as a lazy river, small-group cabanas, and private tubs. Away from the pools, family activities include on-site hiking trails, pickleball courts, horseback rides, and a mini golf course. Book an overnight stay in Kah-Nee-Ta’s teepees, RV sites, or renovated lodge rooms.
For those traveling to Central Oregon with children, start with a longtime favorite. Sunriver Resort which for more than four decades has introduced visitors to the Central Oregon lifestyle and drawn delighted crowds from around the world. Centered around stores, restaurants and rental shops at the Village at Sunriver, the resort stretches out from there. Lodging ranges from traditional rental homes that can fit an entire extended family to rooms at the lodge, all connected by more than 40 miles of paved bike paths that allow visitors to get around with ease. Sunriver Resort serves as a perfect jumping-off point for a ski day at Mt. Bachelor. It also boasts four golf courses, horseback riding at Sunriver Stables, two heated outdoor pools with slides and lazy rivers, and in summer, the opportunity to rent a float or paddleboard from the marina and float down the Deschutes River as it cuts through the resort.
North of Sisters, Black Butte Ranch has been a tried-and-true family destination resort for decades. A quiet, comfortable spot tucked into the mountains and surrounded by towering Ponderosa pines, Black Butte Ranch has rental homes for every size party. You’ll find four-season outdoor recreation right in your backyard — from hiking and biking to fishing, golfing and horseback riding. In the summer, the Ranch opens five swimming pools around the resort. In the winter, it’s easy to head to nearby Hoodoo Ski Area for a day in the snow, then retreat to your vacation rental to soak in the hot tub before heading to the lodge for an upscale dining experience. You’ll do it all with views of Mount Washington and the rest of the Cascade range.
At the edge of Redmond, Oregon, Eagle Crest Resort is a perfect spot for the active family. Tucked along the edge of the Deschutes River canyon, Eagle Crest has a little bit of everything. You’ll find three golf courses, including a charming 18-hole putting course that will challenge every ability level. Add a spa, three sports centers and five pools, and you’ll never run out of things to do. Eagle Crest is a great starting point for a day trip to Smith Rock State Park, for a beer tasting tour of Redmond’s burgeoning brew scene, or a mountain bike adventure on one of the nearby trails.
Romantic Resorts in Central Oregon
When the order of the day is romance, Brasada Ranch is sure to steal your heart. Located in the tiny farming community of Powell Butte, Brasada is on the site of an old sheep and cattle ranch, tucked away amid juniper and volcanic tuff, with epic mountain views. Once you arrive, you won’t want to leave — not even for dinner or drinks. The property has a variety of lodging options, including the Ranch House, which has adults-only suites with hot tubs and private patios. Meals here are classic Central Oregon farm-to-table elegance, and you’ll find local craft beer and Oregon wine and spirits on the happy hour menu. An adults-only pool area keeps those on a romantic getaway far from the families who flock to the resort pool (complete with slides). A sumptuous spa, hiking and horseback riding trails, an 18-hole golf course and e-bike rentals round out this dreamy destination, which is also popular for weddings in Central Oregon.
For a romantic getaway with access to all the charms of a small town, look to FivePine Lodge in Sisters. This is a great place to stay in with a bottle of Oregon wine — modern cabins dot this woodsy property, and all the cabins have gas fireplaces, cozy quilts and bathtubs. Here you’ll find Shibui Spa on the campus to further up the romance ante. Or get out for a walk in the woods — there are dozens of nearby trails for hiking or biking in the Three Sisters Wilderness or along the Peterson Ridge trail network. At FivePine Lodge, you don’t have to go far to experience the fun of small-town Sisters — the Sisters Movie House shows first-run films in its red barn and Three Creeks Brewery pulls pints and serves up plates of great pub food. Just up the road sits downtown Sisters, with its eclectic mix of art galleries and shops, coffee houses and bakeries.
Top Central Oregon Golf Resorts
Golf is king in Central Oregon, and you may want to plan a vacation entirely around golf. The region’s 300 days of sunshine each year mean it’s easy to hit the links nearly year-round. Along the Central Oregon Golf Trail, you’ll find plenty of options. But for those looking for a well-rounded destination resort that boasts top-notch golf, Tetherow Resort is a must-visit. This links-style course designed by David McLay Kidd is a challenging round of golf amid sagebrush and juniper and was recently named a Top 10 course by Golf Digest. For a bit of fun, rent a GolfBoard for your round — a motorized surfboard on wheels that speeds you and your clubs along the course. Then belly up to the bar at The Row, a perfect 19th hole. While the golfers do their thing, others will find a home by the resort’s pool and fitness facility, and everyone will agree that the boutique hotel rooms are the coziest place to end a great Central Oregon day.
East of Bend you’ll find Juniper Preserve, which may seem like a mirage looming in the midst of the high desert. Juniper Preserve prides itself on being a gathering place, hub, and sanctuary guided by its natural landscape – the mind, body and spirit connection is very real here. Juniper Preserve has one of the region’s Golf Digest Top 100 courses, and so much more. The two golf courses on site have dramatic views, ghost trees and lava formations throughout. The stark landscape is perfect for a golfer looking for a new challenge. Aspiring golfers looking to take their games to the next level may want to check out Pronghorn Golf Academy, a full-service golf coaching program available for everything from half-day events to private lessons. At the end of a round, you’ll feel right at home in the resort’s new Juniper Lodge or one of the vacation rentals on the property. The lodge has a beautiful pool, thoughtful amenities and an excellent spa with treatments that feature the resort’s own signature scent. You’ll find plenty of luxury at Juniper Preserve, along with lots of fun — from lawn games to the elevated dining experience at Iris.