Don’t rack your brain this year trying to come up with the perfect Father’s Day gift. We’ve got you covered; just schedule a long weekend in Bend with your dad! It’ll be the best gift he’s ever gotten for Father’s Day, maybe even ever. Let’s start planning and book one of our vacation rentals in Bend!
Book our Vacation Rentals in Bend Below
Get Him Outside
Dad can hike or ride mountain bikes, golf or fish, wander along calm lakes and rushing rivers, and through alpine forests and high mountain prairies. No matter what your dad enjoys, it’s here in Bend.
Start with the popular Tumalo Falls hike or hike around scenic Sparks Lake. (one of the most photographed lakes in the state). Pilot Butte is a dormant volcano located right in the heart of Bend, and a hike up will end in an amazing panoramic view of Bend and the surrounding mountains. Walk or bike the popular, paved Deschutes River Trail as it winds through downtown and alongside the river. The trail exists on both sides of the river and connects to trails in the Old Mill District and several city parks. A few other trails to try are The Farewell Bend Trail, the Oregon Desert Trail and Phil’s Trailhead. Choose from trails winding through lush old-growth forests or through dusty high deserts, level and paved paths or rocky, steep ascents, and everything in between.
Dad can take a leisurely kayak ride, float or fly fish along the banks of the Deschutes River. If dad wants a bit more excitement, the Deschutes River is home to some heart-pounding whitewater rafting. From gentle Class I rapids to exhilarating Class V rapids, you’ll be speeding through steep canyons, around boulders and splashing through whitewater spray. Book a whitewater rafting adventure, or a leisurely tubing tour, either way, dad will love it.
Does your dad like to golf? Book him a tee time at one of Bend’s golf courses where he can play down fairways lined with towering junipers, craggy boulders, and lava outcroppings. Try the Jack Nicklaus designed Nicklaus Course at Pronghorn Golf Club or Widgi Creek Golf Club.
Book an Outriders Northwest’s ATV Tour and you both can explore the cool lava beds in the Deschutes National Forest. At Newberry National Volcanic Monument, the two of you can wander over lava beds, past crisp cool lakes and waterfalls, around the rim of the Newberry Crater and the Big Obsidian Flow. Imagine you’re one of the original Apollo astronauts training for the first moon walk as you hike over the lava flows. Also in the park, Newberry Caldera has 12 trails, fishing and water sports in the caldera’s two lakes, and even a few hot springs. The Newberry National Monument is also home to the Lava River Cave, an amazing mile-long lava tube.
Send dad up in the sky when you book a helicopter tour with Fly Cascades. For an amazing aerial view of the lava lakes and the caldera, take the Bend City and Lava Lands Helicopter Tour, or the fun Bigfoot & Sasquatch Helicopter Tour. Deschutes National Forest is one of the top places for Bigfoot sightings in the world!
Have a Cookout!
Whether or not dad is acting as grill master or you order take-out, it will all taste better out on the back deck overlooking the snowcapped Cascade Mountains. Pick up delicious BBQ at South yo Mouth, Pop’s Southern BBQ, or the Manzanita Grill. Primal Cuts Market has locally sourced meats, prepared foods, and growlers, and The Meat Locker specializes in smoked meats. Be sure to pick up some house-made sausage for breakfast while you’re there.
Grab Dad and hit the Bend Ale Trail, the largest beer trail in the area. Take a guided tour or wander on your own. Just be sure to stop at the Deschutes Brewery for the tour and a taste of their Black Butte Porter, one of the most popular craft brews in the area. And if dad’s not a craft brew fan, try a tour of one of the local wineries or distilleries like Oregon Spirit Distillers, and be sure to make a stop in their tasting rooms. Oregon Spirit Distiller has usual offerings of whiskeys, absinthe, dry gin and vodka, and exclusive seasonal spirits like the Oregon Spirit Autumn Harvest (distilled from Halloween pumpkins then aged) and favorite One-Eyed Jon Spiced Rum.
It’s Okay to Stay Inside
After a long day hiking over lava beds, it’s time for movie night in one of our fantastic vacation rentals in Bend. And it is dad’s choice, so no groaning when he picks his favorite old action film. Or make it family game night, where dad picks the game. Maybe this is the night dad teaches the kids poker!
Father’s Day in Bend
Staying in Bend for Father’s Day and enjoy a family getaway together is really the best gift ever. And if dad didn’t have time to do everything this year, there’s always next year. Let us help you schedule your first or second trip here for Father’s Day. Our knowledgeable staff can help with suggestions for setting up your dad’s own Bend Brew Tour or other fun activities. We have an incredible selection of vacation rentals in Bend for your next getaway. Give us a call today!