The annual Christmas card photo is a beloved tradition, but you may be feeling that the poses in yours are looking a little tired and the smiles on the faces you love appear to be forced, but that doesn’t mean you need to stop the tradition. You can shake up your favorite tradition by changing the location, perhaps taking the photos on the road to Bend during your annual family vacation and even if you pose in matching pajamas in front of a roaring fire, in much the same way you have done for years, doing so in the cozy comfort of our Bend Vacation Rentals holiday hideaways will be an important change. This guide to where you can take your family holiday photos while vacationing in Bend will give you many more ideas on how to make family photos in Bend this Christmas shine brighter than all others!

Bend Community Tree Lighting, December 6

Magic is in the air, a magic that will be reflected in every photo you take as you gather around the Bend Community Tree, watching as with a flick of the switch it lights up the night. Offering Christmas carols performed by local choirs, hot cocoa, and a celebrity meet and greet (and by celebrity, of course we mean old St. Nick himself), this joyful celebration will provide many incredible photo opportunities, with the resulting photos helping to remind you of the fantastic time you had during your holiday getaway to the Northwest!

Tumalo Falls in the Deschutes National Forest

When we look through our Christmas family photos throughout the years, the ones that stand out are often made more unique because of the background, and you can’t get more unique than a family photo posed in front of the iced-over Tumalo Falls. Located just 14 miles from downtown Bend, the crystalline beauty of the frozen water adds a “Frozen” quality to your photograph and provides a stunning backdrop to the colorful winter clothing you all will be wearing. This spot isn’t accessible by car in the winter months, but it IS accessible by snowshoes or cross country skis via a relatively easy hike.

The City of North Bend Christmas Parade, December 7

Now it is true, it can be difficult to take pictures at night, but as the lighted Christmas Parade passes by your spot on its route, it may be the perfect time to take a candid shot of your kids. All the colors of the rainbow will be reflected on each face, vying for attention with sparkle in their eyes as the magic of Christmas lives on in their tiny souls, and when you take the shot from the side, capturing the profiles you love so much, as well as a blurry portion of the lighted floats that have already passed, we think you will find that THIS is the ideal shot to grace your annual Christmas card.

Drake Park, 777 NW Riverside Boulevard

Although not as popular today, when we were little, snow globes were a whimsical part of the holiday, and as we carefully shook them, making snow fall on whatever scene was in the center of the globe, we often wished we could climb inside and play. During your Bend adventures, you may discover your globe dreams can come to life as you pose in front of a frozen Mirror Pond while the limbs of the trees bend against the weight of the snow piled upon them and perhaps even more snow gently falls to the ground around you. While not technically a snow globe, it will feel as if you climbed inside one, and the pictures taken here will have a dreamy quality that truly reflects the spirit of the season.

SantaLand, Old Mills District, Weekends from November 29th Through December 23

Starting the Friday after Thanksgiving, the Old Mills District becomes North Pole South on the weekends, offering the North Pole Express mailbox, the Tree of Joy, and of course, Santa Claus, who is waiting to pose for pictures with your good little boys and girls and getting a head start on what to direct the elves to build in preparation of the most exciting night of the year. The pictures taken in SantaLand are sure to be filled with all the excitement of the season and will be even more so the closer we get to Christmas.

Photo Ops at Home with Bend Vacation Rentals

Still have your mind set on a Christmas photo in front of the fireplace? Our properties at Bend Vacation Rentals offer fireplaces in rooms with windows that stretch from floor to ceiling, ensuring that the lighting will be just about perfect for your holiday photo tradition. Bring out the matching jammies, dress your pooch in a Christmas hat and scarf (many of our vacation rentals are pet friendly ones!), and pose for pictures filled with light, joy, and not a single forced smile. Reserve your favorite escape today!

Bend is beautiful this time of year, and there’s no better place to take your loved one on a well-deserved and well-timed vacation. Here are some suggestions for romantic Bend activities you can do together while you’re here for Valentine’s Day 2020.

A PC Valentine’s Day

This blasé stage show looks like it’s going to be a real hit. Written by two local playwrights from right here in Bend, this show is a fun approach to Valentine’s Day in a world where the holiday can sometimes be taken a little too seriously. You’ll fall in love with this variety sketch style show featuring multiple stories. Catch the last two shows on February 1st at 7:00pm and February 2nd at 5:30pm. Tickets are only $20, which for Valentine’s Day Bend activities is a steal!

Attend Oregon Winterfest

This event is some of the most fun that Oregon gets up to all year long! Enjoy live music, local brews, and even a heated marketplace where you can warm up together from the February chills. General admission is $10, and that gets you into all three days of the festival, from February 14th-16th. However, you can also purchase access to addition fun events, such as the Wine Walk, the Hot Cocoa Run, and the Royal Run 5K. This is the largest winter festival in all of Oregon, so you won’t want to miss it. Attending a big festival is the perfect date!

Date Day at the Old Mill District

For another great Valentine’s day activity, head to Old Mill District and make an entire day of hanging out there, exploring the shops, grabbing food at one of the many establishments, and whiling the day away without worries or cares. Make the centerpiece of this day a wine tasting at VA Piano Vineyards Tasting Room. This classy tasting room experience will really make your Bend holiday stand out, and it’s a great way to end the afternoon with a bang. The atmosphere is both cozy and fancy, and the staff is very friendly. They’re always eager to make your experience truly special, which is exactly what you want on a special Bend holiday like this.

Choose a Romantic Rental and Enjoy the Best Bend Activities

However you decide to spend your days with your loved one enjoying romantic Bend activities, you’ll be just as excited to return home in the evening to your lovely and comfortable rental home. Head over to our catalog to pick yours out now and get ahead of the Valentine’s rush!

Family Activities to Enjoy Together

Thanksgiving Day & Dinner

Spend Thanksgiving in Bend with Bend Vacation Rentals

The year is whizzing by, and before you know it, it’ll be July 4th. Where should you be celebrating this year? Nowhere other than Bend, Oregon! This is an area that’s off the beaten path, for a cozy Bend 4th of July celebration unlike any other.

Pet Parade & Festival

This is an old-fashioned Bend tradition that has been going on since 1932 and is hosted by the city. A truly family-friendly event, everyone will have fun watching the pet parade and all of its adorable critters, from dogs to farm animals. There are over 8,000 participants and spectators to this wacky parade! There’s also lots of live music and games to play. This festival lasts from 11 am to 4 pm, so it is a great way to fill up some daylight hours before you head elsewhere for the fireworks.

Deschutes Historical Museum

At the Deschutes Historical Museum, they’ll be offering not only free admission on the 4th, but even free ice cream! Hurry over there early to snag a cone before they run out. While there, you’ll love looking at the exhibits on display, that show the entire history of the greater Bend, Oregon area. You may find out things you’ve never known, even if you’ve lived here for years, and you’ll love getting to be up close and personal with antiques like wood-burning stoves from the Bend founder’s home, and a Holsman Car from 1907.

Pilot Butte

The fireworks display takes place from the top of Pilot Butte promptly at 10 pm, so you’ll want to make sure you’re in the perfect spot to take them in by then. You can get a lovely view of the display in any area that has sight of Pilot Butte; city parks are especially nice, since you can pop a blanket on the grass to picnic with friends while waiting for the show. If you’re up for it, there are countless open hiking trails to explore before night falls, so you can get an unforgettable view of the show, from a more private area. That’s a pretty great payoff to a long hike.

Bend 4th of July Party

In this quaint and rustic area, you wouldn’t expect its 4th of July to be as much of a blast as it is. Surrounded by the great outdoors, friendly folks, and tasty food wherever you look, head to Bend in 2019 to celebrate the birth of our nation right. This is the traditional Independence Day you and your family will love! Contact Bend Vacation Rentals today to book your vacation rental and be sure you’re ready for a Bend 4th of July.