If you have been thinking about how you can enjoy Bend, Oregon the right way, try to plan for an extended trip sometime this year. This Central Oregon city has plenty to do to keep you entertained for at least a week, if not much longer! And Bend isn’t just for adult ski enthusiasts either; it’s a great destination for the entire family. Here are the best family things to do in Bend Oregon:
Outdoor Family Things to Do In Bend Oregon
There is so much to enjoy when you have an extended trip to Bend. And really, no matter what your family’s favorite sport is, you can find it here in Bend.
The area’s center for winter sports, Mt. Bachelor is a short drive away and features all of the skiing, snowshoeing and snowboarding trails you could want along with six terrain parks for some extra fun. Plus, there’s snow tubing and dog sledding too. What kid (of any age) wouldn’t like to zoom down a snowy slope on a tube, or take a ride on a dog sled like something out of Call of the Wild? In warmer months, you can ride mountain bikes or hike the trails.
During the summer months, plan an excursion down the Deschutes River with a white-water rafting tour. This exhilarating experience will leave you wanting to do it all over again the next day. Book a guided tour for a few hours of whitewater fun or spend the whole day or an entire week (including overnight camping), shooting down whitewater river rapids. From gentle Class I to those heart pounding Class V rapids, you’ll slip through canyons, over and around rocks and shoot through that big, splashy whitewater. You can also book a lazy tubing trip down the river for a relaxing, gentler ride.
Take a half hour drive outside of town to reach the Lava River Cave, a mile-long lava tube that is perfect for self-guided tours. And while you’re at the Newberry National Volcanic Monument for cave tubing, take time to visit Lava Butte (a cool old cinder cone volcano) and the amazing, shiny Big Obsidian Flow. The surrounding lava flows and other geological features found in the park were used by Apollo astronauts in the mid-1960s to train for their moon walks. 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. You could spend a few days exploring this fascinating place.
If the weather isn’t cooperating, head to the Trampoline Zone & Adventure Park for indoor fun. There are more than 50 trampoline beds, six interactive climbing walls, a laser maze, and a Ninja Course! Sun Mountain Fun Center has bowling, arcade games, go karts, pool tables, bumper cars and more to keep your kids occupied, or everyone can go roller skating at Cascade Indoor Sports.
The High Desert Museum has exhibits on the area’s early inhabitants including Native Americans, fur trappers, miners, and loggers. Explore Lazinka Sawmill, a working sawmill since the early 1900s. Kids of all ages will enjoy the wild animal exhibits and raptor encounters in the museums’ Bird of Prey Center. And the museum’s Desertarium has smaller desert wildlife including cute burrowing owls, scary giant spiders, and rattlesnakes, big but slow desert tortoises and cool Gila monsters.
When you have more time in Bend you can plan for more intimate experiences such as the Night Sky Private Photo Tour. This private tour takes you in the air on a private aircraft as you tour the best areas around the city for picture perfect moments.
Where to Eat and Drink
The downtown neighborhood is your top destination when it comes to finding delicious food and drink during your stay. Specifically, the Old Mill District in downtown is located in an old lumber mill and features a variety of local establishments such as shops and eateries making it one of the best family things to do in Bend Oregon. Local restaurants use the freshest ingredients and host award-winning chefs.
For fine dining, 900 Wall provides locally-sourced plates of their New American cuisine. Bend is also known for its abundance of craft breweries in the area. Deschutes Brewery is perhaps the most well-known and has a vast taproom where you can try out all of their delicious craft beers. If you are traveling with a group of adults, consider the Bend Ale Trail, where you enjoy a self-guided tour of the area’s breweries and collect your stamps for a prize! Our vacation rentals are close by, letting you easily find a ride share back after a night on the town.
Your Week-Long Stay in Bend
You can enjoy these exciting activities during your weeklong stay in Bend and so much more. Outdoor enthusiasts will have a jam-packed itinerary when venturing throughout this incredible city. Book one of our vacation rentals online today where you can experience resort-like amenities and spacious home features. Let us be your home away from home in Bend. Give us call today to learn about the top ten things to do in Bend Oregon and to book your rental!
