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!
As we enter the coldest days of winter, instead of hibernating in their homes and waiting for warmer temperatures, many of our Bend Vacation Rentals guests are realizing their biggest dreams: a winter vacation spent outside schussing down the slopes on two skinny sticks or one fat board! Winter fans are a different breed of people, bringing energy to our town and a feeling of kinship with the residents who also share their love of frigid temps,and if you are one who doesn’t feel alive unless you’re speeding down a mountaintop, this guide to skiing and snowboarding in Bend will make sure you don’t miss out on a single minute of snowy fun!
Mt. Bachelor is the Place for Skiing and Snowboarding in Bend
Located just 22 miles outside of Bend, Mt. Bachelor is famous for more than a few things, the most interesting being its volcano beginnings! And although it has been dormant for thousands of years, back in its prime this mountain was a blast of hot lava—literally! Today it is the highest mountain in the state, making it a popular winter sports spot for visitors from all over the world. Challenging enough to keep experienced skiers from losing interest but not so difficult as to scare away the novice skiers or snowboarders, it’s one of our favorite places for skiing and snowboarding in Bend no matter what the season!
First Time Skiing or Snowboarding?
Lessons are offered for skiers of all ages and skill levels and include a choice between inexpensive group lessons and a little pricier private lessons, both of which ensure that your day on the slopes will be safe and exciting! Featuring a beginner’s lift that is free to all who use it and kids ski free packages, this family-friendly mountain promises to be the most exciting part of your Bend getaway! With a season that begins in November and generally lasts through May and snow that is soft and fluffy (as opposed to the icy sleet and slopes found in many Northern ski resorts), winter sportsmen won’t want to come in out of the chill—until it’s time for après ski drinks, of course!
Come on Out of the Cold and into the Warmth
When your cheeks are cherry red and you can no longer feel your fingers and toes, coming in out of the cold will be a good thing when staying with us! Our Bend vacation rentals offer a classic escape that is cheerful, welcoming, and warm. Reserve your stay with us today!
Mt. Bachelor has been blessed with amazing conditions this winter. We enjoyed a big powder day at the end of January. The web site reported eight inches, but I can testify to at least a foot. By the end of the storm, we had over 30 inches of new snow!
One of the great things about Mt. Bachelor is the length of time the powder can last. We skied un-tracked snow the entire day, and pretty much the next five days. This past week has been high pressure, with the best groomers and off piste you will find in the West.
Bend Vacation Rentals is offering great lift ticket discounts, as well as our Kids Under 12 Ski Free program, even over holidays. I have noticed that other ski areas are offering many great discounts this year, and it allows families to enjoy outdoor sports during a long winter. Bend is such a great place to visit, not only because of all that Mt. Bachelor offers, but also because Bend is more than a ski resort. Snowshoe, sled, Nordic ski or just take a walk along the Deschutes River. This week, the snow sports industry will gather at Mt. Bachelor to demo the new 2013-14 equipment, and it looks like there will be great snow and weather for the event!