Things to do
Bend is known for its outdoor activities, adorable coffee shops, great breweries, and excellent food. It is why we love it! Here is a compiled list to help make your Bend adventure epic. Each day there will be an event also organize hikes at the more well-known landmarks and a river float on the Deschutes River for you to join if you would like.
Activities
Biking
Easy Rides: The Deschutes River Trail around the Old Mill District has paved flat paths that are great for an easy bike ride. Sunriver (South of Bend) has a network of fun paved trails.
Or you can get adventurous with the copious local mountain biking trails. It gets as crazy as you want to get.
Whatever your skill or adventure level, there are options for you!
Bike rentals: Pine Mountain Sports
Hiking
Bend has awesome nature and hiking trails! Each day we will organize one easy afternoon hike for the crew to some of the more well known local attractions (see the Schedule tab).
The Deschutes River Trail in downtown Bend is kid friendly and easily accessible from the town center.
For more hiking options or more adventurous options, see the 10 best hikes in Bend on AllTrails.
Adventure hikes:
Moraine Lake via South Sister Climber Trail: 5.7 miles in the Three Sisters Wilderness. Views of South Sister and the surrounding peaks.
Bend Glacier and No Name Lake via Todd Trail: 13.3 miles in the Deschutes National Forest with views of Broken Top and South Sister.
Golfing
Bend has some excellent public golf courses:
River’s Edge Golf Course (Bend, OR)
Pronghorn Club (Bend, OR)
Thetherow (Bend, OR)
Meadow Lakes (Prineville, OR)
Aspen Lakes Golf Course (Sisters, OR)
Kid activities
High Desert Museum: A really fun museum of nature, history, art, and they have birds of prey. Kids always love this.
Lava River Cave: The longest continuous lava tubes in Oregon. Make reservations as this books up!
Tourist Attractions
The last Blockbuster in the US is located at the intersection of U.S. Route 20 and Revere Avenue in Bend, OR. Fun fact: the store continued to operate throughout the COVID-19 pandemic without laying anyone off!
Homeward Bound was partially filmed in Bend! There is a sign in Shevlin Park.
Our favorite places to eat & drink
Breakfast/brunch
Chow: Cute breakfast and lunch option in an endearing old house.
Jackson's Corner: Two locations. A great healthy place for breakfast or lunch.
McKay Cottage: Breakfast location in a 1916 cottage.
The Lemon Tree: Located in downtown this brunch/breakfast place is known for its craft cocktails and location right off the park.
Victorian Cafe: Breakfast and lunch location across the river from downtown this cafe puts a modern twist on brunch and has large bloody marys.
Breweries/brewpubs
Deschutes Brewery: Multiple locations. Nationally recognized brewery local to Bend. Kid friendly.
Worthy Brewing: Serves beer and cocktails and has a full menu. Also has a telescope and observatory (a hopservatory) within the brewery!
Midtown Yacht Club: Food truck pod with indoor and outdoor seating, fire pits, and a bar. Kid friendly.
Silver Moon Brewing: Local Brewery. Food trucks with indoor and outdoor seating, fire pits, and a bar. Check their events for live music and comedy. Kid friendly.
Crux Fermentation Project: Local brewery with some food trucks.
Blacksmith Public House: In the town of Redmond. Food truck pod with indoor and outdoor seating, fire pits, and a bar. Check their events for live music. A great food option after visiting Smith Rock. Kid friendly. This is also where our reception will be held.
Brother Jon’s Alehouse: Great food and drinks in downtown Bend.
Hattie’s BBQ & The Cross-Eyed Cricket Watering Hole: Bend’s best BBQ and a dive bar. A perfect mixture of Rob and Erica.
General eateries for lunch or dinner
The Grove: Indoor food hall with a variety of really good food options. Kid friendly.
Spork: Asian fusion that is good for lunch or dinner. Kid friendly.
Wild Rose Rose Northern Thai Eats: Thai food in downtown Bend.
The Rooftop at SCP Redmond: Rooftop cockatil bar and restaurant in Redmond.
Flamingo Room: Cocktail bar in Bend with snacks. Fantastic Old Fashioned.
There are a ton of local breweries in Bend. They all serve food and have great beer.