About Bend Oregon
Outdoor enthusiasts will be hard pressed to find a destination with more natural beauty and opportunities for adventure than Central Oregon. Bordered on the west by the Cascade Mountain Range Ponderosa Pine forest and on the east by the semiarid scrublands and prairies of the high desert, Bend has long been hailed as a geographically diverse, year-round hub for outdoor recreation.
With an ever-growing population near 76,000, Bend is largest city in the region. Home to a thriving yet quaint downtown, close to 500 restaurants, dozens of galleries and boutiques, specialty shops, and the upscale Old Mill shopping district, it’s no wonder that so many people come to Bend for our great recreation and stay for our cultural events, independently owned shops, and delicious dining options. Bend is also a proud beer and wine town, with a variety of wine bars and several microbreweries, such as the Deschutes Brewery, located within city limits.
Tourism is one of Bend’s largest sectors, and it’s no wonder why. Kayakers and rafters flock from near and far to battle the white waters of the Deschutes River, while opportunities abound for fly fishing, canoeing, and swimming on the Deschutes, Metolius, and Crooked Rivers, as well as at the mountain snow-fed Cascade Mountain Lakes.
Smith Rock offers world-class climbing and hiking in the summer months, and in the winter Mount Bachelor graces skiers, snowboarders, and snow tubers with Olympic level slopes. Backcountry hikers and campers are sure to enjoy the solitude of the Three Sisters Wilderness, as well as the more than 2.5 million acres of national forests in the vicinity. Horseback riding, golfing, and cycling are also extremely popular.
A week doesn’t go by in Bend without a variety of festivals, concerts, or events to attend—from the up-and-coming Bend Film Festival in October and weekly Munch ‘n’ Music at Drake Park in the summer months, to the Cascade Music Festival, nationally touring musical acts, slam poetry, and live jazz at local nightspots throughout the year.
With close to 300 days of sunshine a year, and a generally mild climate, Bend is an ideal location for adventures of all sorts. Whether the mood strikes to explore the shops and local artisans of Downtown on foot, float down the crisp mountain waters of the Deschutes, or enjoy fantastic mountain views while listening to a live outdoor concert, you’ll never run out of ways to have fun and relax.