If you love Bend just as much as we do, you may have seen a lot of what there is to do in the area. When that happens for the locals, they enjoy taking a short day trip away from the city and exploring other parts of Oregon. Bend is a great home base destination, as there are quite a few popular day trip locations nearby. Take a look at the best ideas for a day trip to Bend, Oregon that locals actually recommend:
Crater Lake National Park
If you are looking to check off national parks on your bucket list, you simply cannot pass up the opportunity to visit Crater Lake National Park. This is the furthest recommended day trip from Bend, as it is almost two hours away. While the drive may be long, you will find that the destination and journey are well worth it. Crater Lake National Park is exactly as it sounds: a large crater found deep within in its park perimeter. Crater Lake was formed by a volcanic explosion that erupted over 7,000 years ago. Since then, the crater has formed what is now the deepest lake in the United States.
A visit to Crater Lake National Park is a wondrous experience that everyone should see with their own two eyes. The lake surrounds a landmass in the middle that gives it a unique and incredible perspective. On top of that, the water is the bluest and clearest lake water you will find. There are plenty of ways to enjoy your visit to Crater Lake National Park. You can explore the 90 miles of hiking trails that will take you through the forest environment. One of the most popular ways to enjoy the visit is to drive along the historic 33-mile Rim Drive that circles around Crater Lake. You can stop off at over 30 overlook spots to find the perfect picture landscape. More advanced planning can also provide you with stargazing and fishing options too. You will pay a single vehicle fee to enter the park or use your national park annual pass if you have one. The park has snow most months of the year that can restrict some trails and overlooks so plan your visit accordingly.
Smith Rock State Park
Another outdoor day trip that can be found a bit closer to Bend is Smith Rock State Park. This local park is the complete opposite of Crater Lake National Park and is instead found in the high desert environment. You will arrive and be greeted by deep canyons and towering rock formations. Simply put you will be surprised that you are still in Oregon! Smith Rock State Park is only about 35 minutes outside of Bend is where locals go to enjoy rock climbing and hiking. In fact, you will find thousands of climbs here in the park. There are a variety of hiking trail difficulties from easy to challenging. The most popular trail, the Misery Ridge Trail, is considered moderate to challenging due to initial steep inclines and elevation. However, you will be rewarded with incredible views of the park. Other trails to look out for include River Trail, Canyon Trail, and Wolf Tree Trail among others. Smith Rock State Park is hotter than other day trip destinations so make sure you start your hiking early and bring plenty of water with you.
Sisters
While Bend is not the biggest city out there by far you may still find yourself wanting to explore a smaller, historic town. When the locals are feeling this they will make the short drive over to Sisters. This charming town is found west of Bend and is best known for its western theme. Here you will find the Sisters Rodeo, the “biggest little show in the world” that continues this western theme. Some events that take place in Sisters include Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show and Sisters Folk Festival. You will find that The Barn Food Carts & Beer Garden is a great place to try local food vendors while having a craft beer. The High Desert Museum features exhibits focusing on the area’s natural and cultural history. Walk around downtown where you can find locally owned restaurants and boutiques. There are plenty of outdoor activities too including hiking and scenic drives.
More Fun to Be Found Around Bend
All of these day trips are within reach when you book a stay at one of our Bend vacation rentals. Enjoy lavish amenities and close proximity to the best that Bend has to offer. Find your favorite vacation rental with us today and get to planning.
If you are on the lookout for a great time to visit Bend, look no further than Memorial Day Weekend. This holiday is always the unofficial start to the summer season. Many kids are finally done with school for the year and adults tend to have some days free from work. Bend features many exciting summer activities and events that can be found over the weekend. Take a look at what to expect on your Memorial Day in Bend this year:
Deschutes Memorial Gardens Service
Memorial Day is an annual holiday where we remember our armed forces and those who have been lost in their service. Bend hosts the annual Deschutes Memorial Gardens Service that takes place each year here in the area. This all-day event begins at 8:00 AM and is a live reading of the names of soldiers lost during the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts since 2001. Each fallen solider has their name, age, and hometown read out loud and takes over 15 hours to complete. Stop by at any point in the day to pay your respects to the nearly 7,500 soldiers lost in this timeframe. This is a great way to be a part of the community and respect Memorial Day.
Hike Up to Tumalo Falls
Memorial Day Weekend is also a great time to enjoy the summer activities with your family here in the area. Oregon is known to have some stunning waterfalls here in the state and one of its most popular is here around Bend. Tumalo Falls is an incredible 97-foot waterfall that is a joy to see in person. Visitors are able to pull up to the base of the waterfall and enjoy the stunning views. One of the best ways to experience Tumalo Falls without the summer crowd is to hike up closer to the top.
Tumalo Creek Trail to Tumalo Falls is a 6.4-mile-long hike that takes most individuals around less than two and a half hours to complete. The trail is a moderately challenging hike that will reward trekkers with some of the best waterfall view they have ever seen. There are picnic areas so you can bring up a meal to share with the family. There is also a bathroom located at the falls too. This beautiful maintained trail can have dogs on a leash as well. Come experience Tumalo Falls this Memorial Day.
Paddling on Tumalo Creek
The summer season calls for a little bit of time out on the water. During your visit head on over to Tumalo Creek to enjoy kayaking or paddle boarding. This is a calm spot for the Deschutes River allowing most individuals to easily take to the water and begin exploring. The best way to do just that is by picking up a rental from Tumalo Creek Rentals that offer stand up paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, and more. You will find their rental check out to be easy and cost friendly. This is a great way to experience the Deschutes River.
Fishing at Hosmer Lake
Another great outdoor activity that will help you relax over Memorial Day Weekend is fishing. Hosmer Lake is nearby and offers a great spot to fish up Atlantic salmon, brook trout, rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout. This stillwater lake has been known to be a fantastic spot for fishing especially when you have a fishing guide. Fly and Field Outfielders are the local fly fishing experts who know the lake like the back of their hand. Hosmer Lake is just under 200 acres in size making it fairly smaller with fly fishing being the only acceptable fishing only. Fly and Field will show you the best spots to fish from and provide the equipment and required license too. You are sure to reel up a trophy size catch with a little bit of patience. Book a reservation with a guided fishing experience today.
Hit the Bend Ale Trail
One great way to cool off for the holiday weekend is by hitting the Bend Ale Trail. It is no secret that Bend offers an abundance of local craft breweries some of which are state favorites. The famous Bend Ale Trail connects these breweries that are close enough to walk to. You will find local favorites including Deschutes Brewery, Crux Fermentation Project, and Boneyard Beer all close by our vacation rentals. Stop by for a pint or trying out a tasting flight to enjoy a little bit of everything.
More Fun Is Here in Bend for Memorial Day
All of this and so much more can be yours this Memorial Day Weekend in Bend. Secure one of our vacation rentals today before they are all reserved for the popular travel period. You will find Bend to be one of your favorite travel destinations.
Each year, we make a new resolution to find the best version of ourselves. Sometimes these resolutions are for health related reasons. Sometimes these resolutions may be unrealistic and hard to achieve. This year, make the resolution that you will treat yourself and the family to a wonderful vacation getaway that is well deserved. Of course, we are talking about making your way here to Hood River. Our Oregon community is an ideal destination to visit and offers tons of fun for everyone. Discover what New Year’s in Hood River has to offer for your next Oregon vacation:
Brewery Haven
The state of Oregon is known as a craft beer mecca, but Hood River is on a whole other level. Hood River and the surrounding communities feature plentiful breweries all around that are family friendly. These breweries include some big names found at your local grocery store along with smaller mom and pop places. Make sure to check out the local breweries during your visit to see what the fuss is all about. Local favorites in the area include Hood River Brewing Company, Full Sail Brewing Company, Double Mountain Brewery, and many more. Each location produces hand crafted beer with all of your favorite styles on hand. You can also expect to find seasonal favorites that rotate throughout the year. You can also book a brewery tour with local tour companies that will take you to several spots and learn how craft beer became such a hit here in Hood River.
Ski at Mt. Hood
Whenever you visit Hood River you will find a community that is all about exploring the great outdoors. One of the best reasons to visit Hood River is the chance to ski down Mt. Hood, our local skiing mountain. Mt. Hood is home to several different ski lodges and resorts with Mt. Hood Meadows Ski being the most popular in the area. Visit Mt. Hood Meadows Ski to find one of the largest ski resorts in the state of Oregon. Mt. Hood Meadows Ski is open for the 2024-2025 ski season already, with most ski seasons lasting several months long. The elevation of the mountain brings in tons of snow during the winter, making sure you have fresh powder to glide on down. A visit to the mountain is easy even if you do not have your own gear with you. Check out their rental shop where you can check out gear for the day including skis, boards, bindings, boots, helmets, and much more. There are also additional services on hand, including ski waxing. Check out the introductory lessons for a chance to catch up on your skills before heading down the more steep slopes on the mountain. You will find endless fun when you visit Mt. Hood during the winter for ski season.
Explore the Columbia River
Visiting Hood River is never complete until you have had a chance to take on the outdoor activity that the area is known for. The Columbia River runs through Hood River and a steady wind is typically on hand. This allows Hood River to be the windsurfing capital of the world. Windsurfing will have you taking on the waves of the river for a thrilling experience. Additional activities also include kiteboarding and sailing. If you prefer a quieter moment on the water you can always rent out local gear. There is nothing more relaxing than having a stand up paddleboard or kayak to explore the river shoreline with. Local shops have all the gear you need for a successful outing out on the water.
See Local Waterfalls
As you can tell, the natural surroundings in Hood River are absolutely breathtaking. One of the best things to see on an outdoor outing is checking out the local waterfalls. Hood River is surrounded by several different hiking trails that will take you past cascading waterfalls. Perhaps the most popular waterfall trail is the Tamanawas Falls Trail. This trail will take most hikers around two hours to complete from start to finish. Along the trail you find the namesake waterfalls. You can even climb up some rocks behind the biggest waterfall during your exploration. The hike is considered moderate due to its steep incline. Additional favorites in the area also include Starvation Creek Falls and Punchbowl Falls. There is plenty of exciting waterfalls to see here in Hood River!
Get Ready to Realize Your New Year’s Resolution
There is so much to enjoy in Hood River for the whole family that it is easy to see why it needs to be your New Year’s resolution. Find the best stay possible by reserving one of our vacation rentals here in the area.
Bend is calling your name for another exciting Oregon getaway. Finding the perfect lodging is as easy as choosing one of our most popular rental properties in the area. You cannot go wrong with Mountain House, a spacious and modern home featuring four bedrooms and four bathrooms. This property can easily sleep 10 guests under a single roof at any time.
Modern Bend Living
When you choose Mountain House for your stay in Bend, you are choosing a modern home that is expertly designed and features plenty of incredible amenities. You will immediately notice the space provided to you, as the home sits on 2.5 acres that surround the property. This multilevel home faces Mt. Hood for unprecedented views. As you enter the home, you will be amazed with the spacious layout that utilizes every inch of square footage just right. The main living area can immediately be found after walking inside Mountain House. You will find plush sectional seating placed around a gas fireplace and large flat screen TV. Floor to ceiling windows bring in natural lighting that highlights the incredible views of the nearby peaks. The open floor plan directly connects the gourmet kitchen and dining room to the living area. In the kitchen you will find luxury stainless steel appliances, granite countertops with built-in cutting boards, and all of the cookware you need. Enjoy your dinner at the spacious dining room table where everyone can sit down together at once.
Bedrooms and Bathrooms
You will be comfortable right away when you stay at Mountain House. The property has two separate master suites that feature plush mattresses and private bathroom suites. The steam showers will help your skin glow, especially after an exciting day of hiking the mountains. Additional bedrooms feature bunk beds, perfect for young children. Gaze out of the window of any bedroom for even more great views.
Property Amenities
As mentioned, Mountain House is on 2.5 acres, so make sure you explore this beautiful property that includes ponds and walking paths. The spacious outdoor patio features plenty of patio seating and even a hot tub complete with jets. Mountain House is in the perfect location, being just 15 minutes away from Hood River and 20 minutes away from Mt. Hood Meadows. Get out and explore the over 60 miles of beautiful mountains and lakes surrounding you in the Mt. Hood region.