Got an extra week’s worth of time on your hands and frequent flier tickets burning a hole in your pocket? Sometimes a last-minute getaway can make all the difference in your energy, and if your last-minute travels bring you to our beautiful hometown of Bend, well, a stay in our Oregon retreats at Bend Vacation Rentals is a reward that will make your travels so much more comfortable! Offering luxury, comfort, and style without an exorbitant price tag, our properties will be a soft place to land after a day filled with adventures we have listed below.
Shorter Wait Times
Last minute doesn’t mean you will be stuck waiting in long lines at the restaurants, especially as fall, and more specifically September and October, are the slower months in Bend. The crowds are at home doing their work and school stuff, prices are lower, and the weather will be as close to perfect as possible, and the wait times at our favorite restaurants reflect that less frenetic pace.
The Victorian Café, 1404 NW Galveston Avenue
The Victorian Café is open every day for breakfast and lunch, and we highly recommend going back for lunch, but it is their breakfasts that we can’t stop dreaming about. Offering a new twist to your favorite breakfast dishes (Big Easy Benedict made with prawns, andouille sausage, and peppers? Yes, please!) this café has been voted “Best Breakfast in Bend” 15 times over the years. And even during its busiest moments, in the fall months, wait times are rarely longer than 15 minutes.
Ariana Restaurant, 1304 NW Galveston Avenue
Even last-minute vacationers can enjoy next-level meals, and Ariana Restaurant offers the best meals in town. This fine dining restaurant does require reservations to sit at its tables, but if you are in the area and are ok with eating at the bar, no need to do any pre-planning. It is worth making a reservation, however, especially if you can partake in their Chef’s Tasting Menu, offering six courses of seasonal favorites. And because the crowds are gone, it will be easy to get a reservation and could be something you do at the airport while waiting for your flight to board.
Shopping in the Old Mill District
Lumber was a hot commodity in Bend, perhaps the only commodity, in our early days, but today the buildings that housed one of the premier sawmills has been transformed into a shopping and entertainment district, open every day of the week and requiring nothing in the way of preparation, aside from getting in your rental car and driving to its buildings. Also offering concerts, car shows, and a variety of events you may be interested in experiencing, the shops range from Amejko Artistry to Zumiez, providing all manner of treasures that you won’t want to live without.
Take a Hike
This time of year is truly one of our favorites, and the cool and crisp air combined with the vibrant beauty of the trees will make you want to get out and play as often as possible, so why not take a hike? Hike along the Deschutes River, taking the South Canyon Trail, and add the serenity of water to your adventures. This trail is an easy one, made of a combination of crushed gravel, wood boardwalks, and even some paved areas, and should take about an hour to complete. For those who seek challenges from their hikes, the Tumalo Mountain Trail stretches out over 4 miles and offers an elevation gain of close to 1500 feet. The views from this hike are worth the extra effort, so don’t forget your camera!
Drink a Beer (or Four!)
Oregon is known for its breweries, and the Bend area is home to a surprisingly large selection of the best, including fantastic places such as the Goodlife Brewing Company (located at 70 SW Century Drive Suite 100-464), and Sunriver Brewing Company (57100 Beaver Drive Building 4). Offering local brews that are sure to become your favorite, Sunriver Brewing Company is also a gastropub, offering up a taste of Oregon that won’t soon be forgotten. There’s a simple luxury that can be found sitting at a table (preferably on patios), sipping local brews, and savoring the crispness of another beautiful fall day, and we encourage you to experience it as often as you can during your visit.
Exploring the Comforts of Your Oregon Retreat
The best parts of your last-minute getaway may take place in the comfort of our luxurious Oregon retreats. Offering a peaceful ambience that will quiet the noise in your brain, windows that reveal some of the best Bend views, and all the comforts your tired body will crave, these spaces will provide your favorite memories. Reserve your favorite escape today!
If there is anything kids hate with passion, it is the thought that schools are opening in the next few days. However, you can make their last days at home memorable by flying them out for a vacation. Of all places, Oregon’s city of Bend ticks all the right boxes thanks to its natural and vibrant setting. Here’s why a vacation to Bend is the ideal back-to-school holiday destination of choice.
Go Hiking
The first activity that makes this city ideal for your back-to-school holidays is the miles of hiking grounds that await out there. With the beautiful Cascade Mountains in the periphery, you already have a rough idea of what awaits in Bend’s wild setting.
Bend’s natural setting has everything for your kids to see. From the multiple free-flowing rivers to the dense forest covers, nature is well represented here. Also, the hiking trails in the city are suitable for a wide range of ages. Novice hikers have their challenging routes to explore as kids have fun on the less problematic trails.
Float on the Deschutes River
Once the first phase of the adventure is done, the time is right for you to explore what the iconic Deschutes River has to offer. On normal occasions, rivers are ideal for swimming and fly fishing. The Deschutes River, however, brings extra flavor thanks to the nature of activities available for you and your family to explore.
Floating on the river is one of the iconic ways to celebrate your holidays in the city. Depending on the exact location, some sections of the river move faster than others. For your kids, the slow-moving sections will be best suited for their adventure. For young adults who have the guts to tackle more nerve-jerking moments, activities like whitewater rafting will suit them best.
Visit a Family-Friendly Escape Room
A family adventure in Bend is not complete without spending a day in an indoor gaming arena. Such setups are different from your usual home settings where kids have to play with game consoles with no challenging activities to tackle.
Escape rooms in the city allow kids to have fun while still exercising their critical thinking skills. With the multiple puzzles available, a day may never be enough for this activity. Better still, even parents join them and help find answers to the puzzles.
Wrap up the experience with a deserved practice session at the golf course. You may also want to explore activities such as tennis and basketball.
Spend Time in Parks
From wildlife parks to theme parks, there are plenty of options for you to explore in the city. A visit to any of the national parks in the city gives your kids a chance to see some of the creatures unique to Bend’s wild.
Away from the wildlife, this city is home to multiple themed parks where vacationers can go to have fun. They are picnic areas where families come to relax and wash their troubles away. With activities such as bike riding available, your kids will never have a dull moment in these parks.
Dining in the Wild
Dining is the other exciting part of your adventure in the city that you can’t ignore. Unlike most parts, Bend doesn’t subscribe to a particular way of dining. Instead, it is a city where food from across the globe mixes. It is the best place to be to sample virtually all the delicacies of this world.
From the typical American soul food to the foreign options available on your menu, each day comes with a new delicacy. You may as well decide to hit the road and hunt the best street food in the city. Interact freely with locals and make a date with the joints they frequent.
Home of High-End Holiday Rentals
Your back-to-school trip is more than just an adventure. The hospitable nature of the city easily converts your day trip into an incredible vacation experience. Within the city are multiple holiday rentals spread out across different locations. Whether you would like to spend the night out there in the wild or you prefer locations closer to the lake, you have it all to choose from.
Vacation homes in Bend are designed to suit a wide range of adventurers. For solo vacationers, the studio and one-bedroom set-ups are a perfect fit for your case. Huge families have properties with over four bedrooms for them to book.
Properties in the city feature high-end amenities that complement your holiday experiences in the area. From the lavish living rooms to the gourmet kitchens, you are in the right place for a family-oriented vacation.
Contact Us
Finding the right property for a family-based holiday experience in Bend can sometimes be a daunting task. It takes a team of professionals to identify what’s best for you. With us is a detailed selection of properties perfect for your family outing in the city. Contact us today to book your stay!
The early months of the year are such a wonderful time to come and visit Bend. The city is at its most lovely, the surrounding landscape is awash with winter beauty, and the city is alive with fun. Check out the upcoming events that we’re most eager to participate in when 2020 rolls around with vacation rentals in Bend:
Winter PrideFest
Jan 30, 2020, 4:00 PM – Feb 2, 2020, 7:00 PM
Bend, OR
Come join us for this year’s Winter PrideFest – an LGBTQ ski weekend at Mt. Bachelor. You’ll find yourself surrounded by a loving community and fun-filled events such as the “Welcoming Snocial,” an interesting panel discussion with LGBTQ athletes, dance parties, and more. This event is all about bringing us together, so grab your spot today!
Infinite Moment: Burning Man on the Horizon
Sat, Feb 1, 10 AM – 4 PM
High Desert Museum
59800 US-97, Bend, OR
Come and explore the newest exhibition opening up at the High Desert Museum in February. This display will be an exploration of the art and culture surrounding Burning Man, one of the most enigmatic and famous events in the world. Get a fresh understanding of it all at our favorite museum in Oregon.
Polar Plunge Bend
Sat, Feb 8, 9 AM – 2 PM
Riverbend Park
799 SW Columbia St, Bend, OR
A Polar Bear Plunge is an event held during the wintertime where the participants shed logic and jump into a cold body of water (regardless of the temperatures of the water or the great outdoors) in order to raise money for a charity. In this case, come and join us for this fun icy dive for Special Olympics Oregon, and warm up with some hot coffee in town afterward.
Oregon Winterfest 2020
Feb 15 – 17, 2020
SW Shevlin Hixon Dr, Bend, OR
Visit Bend and in the heart of February, you’ll find Oregon’s annual Winterfest. Over 40,000 people are expected to attend this year, and you can be one of them! We’ll have everything from ice carving to a fire pit and fire sculpture competition. With a Play Zone for your kids to let loose in, food vendors, and even a wine walk, you can easily attend this festival all three days and still not see it all.
Make Vacation Rentals in Bend Your Biggest Event
Wherever you go during your Bend getaway, you’ll want somewhere comfortable and warm to rest your head at the end of the night. Head over to our catalog right now to get a head start on your 2020 vacation by picking out one of the vacation rentals in Bend that’s right for you.
The 2010s are coming to a close, and we’ll be heading into the next decade together with vacation rentals in Bend. This is a big New Year’s to celebrate, so why not make the most of it and take a trip to a city as beautiful as our lovely Bend? Come and do the countdown with us and bring in your new year with the wonders of winter.
Redmond: Countdown to Noon, New Year’s Eve Party
Redmond Library
827 SW Deschutes Ave, Redmond, OR
Tickets: Free
This is a great way to start off your Bend New Year’s eve day and celebrate the turning of the year if you have a family, and especially if you have young kids who can’t stay up until midnight. This party runs from 11:00am – 1:00pm on Bend New Year’s Eve, and you’ll get enjoy winter crafts, a countdown, and an apple cider toast.
New Year’s Eve Dinner
Elk Lake Resort and Marina
60000 Century Dr, Bend, OR
Tickets: $55
Begin your evening with fine dining before heading off to your midnight event. For just $5 extra you can upgrade to the lobster option and really revel in the luxury. They offer kids plates for $27 ($30 for lobster) as well, which makes this dinner a great family option.
2020 New Year’s Eve Celebration
McMenamins Old St. Francis School
700 NW Bond St, Bend, OR
Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door
Come and enjoy and night of live music with two different shows: Tony Smiley and Sugar Mama, both playing from 9:00pm – 12:30am. Tony Smiley is an award-winning loop artist whose stylings will leave you in awe, and Sugar Mama’s dance-rock will have you grooving on your feet well past midnight. You’ll be dancing your way into 2020!
New Year’s Eve Masquerade Party
Brasada Ranch
16976 SW Brasada Ranch Rd, Powell Butte, OR
Tickets: $60
Try something different this year by attending a unique masquerade-style party with a twist. Dance to new wave, hip-hop, and more, all behind a mask per the style of the party! Raise your glass for a complimentary champagne toast when the countdown comes around.
Let Vacation Rentals in Bend Carry You into the New Year
Spend your holiday with us here at Bend Vacation Rentals. You’ll be so endlessly glad to have one of our vacation rentals in Bend to head home to after a fun-filled New Year’s Eve, and to be waking up in such a winter wonderland in the morning. Give us a call today at 541-385-9492 to get started.