30 Best Fun Things to Do in Bend, Oregon Visual Story

By Andrew Sayles

Introduction

30 Best Fun Things to Do in Bend, Oregon Visual Story

This list of fun things to do in Bend, Oregon will satisfy nature lovers, foodies...

THING TO DO 1

Grab a craft beer at Bend Brewing Company

Bend is a city that loves craft beer and has the highest number of breweries...

THING TO DO 2

Take a drive along Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway

The Cascade mountain range extends from Northern California all the way through Oregon, Washington, and...

THING TO DO 3

Enjoy river sports at Bend Whitewater Park

Surfing is one of the top Bend attractions despite being over one hundred miles inland...

Irina274/Depositphotos.com

THING TO DO 4

Take a hike in Deschutes National Forest

Bend sits in Oregon's high desert but is almost completely surrounded by national forests. The...

THING TO DO 5

Become a "Bendite" in Downtown Bend

When the city at the "Bend" of the Deschutes River was incorporated in 1904, it...

THING TO DO 6

Take a break in Drake Park

This park is central to Bend, both in geographical terms and in its commitment to...

THING TO DO 7

Go paddling or fishing in Mirror Pond

Created by Bend Hydro Dam, Mirror Pond is the standout feature of Drake Park, and...

THING TO DO 8

Learn about the region at the High Desert Museum

The High Desert Museum on the south side of Bend is an incredible project that...

THING TO DO 9

Feel small in Newberry National Volcanic Monument

Found in the massive Deschutes National Forest, the Newberry National Volcanic Monument is a mind-bending...

THING TO DO 10

Shop in the Old Mill District

Like many towns and cities in the twenty-first century, Bend has had to walk the...

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THING TO DO 11

Climb at Smith Rock State Park

Smith Rock State Park in nearby Terrebonne is one of the most popular things to...

THING TO DO 12

Go off-grid in Oregon Badlands Wilderness

If it's open spaces you're after, you'll love Oregon Badlands Wilderness. This public land is...

THING TO DO 13

Get 360-degree views at Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint

An old cinder cone called Pilot Butte rises from the Earth just east of downtown...

THING TO DO 14

Climb Tumalo Mountain

In a land of towering, glaciated volcanos, Tumalo Mountain provides a great summit opportunity without...

THING TO DO 15

Hike to Tumalo Falls

For an even less intense hike in the region, taking the trail to the thundering...

THING TO DO 16

Hit the slopes at Mt. Bachelor

Just outside of Bend, Mt. Bachelor offers world-class slopes with over a hundred unique runs...

THING TO DO 17

Take a snowshoeing and bonfire tour

Residents of Bend appreciate each of its four distinct seasons, making a pair of snowshoes...

THING TO DO 18

Go fly fishing

Bend has been rated one of the top ten fly fishing towns in the United...

THING TO DO 19

Go mountain biking

With all of the surrounding peaks, it should come as no surprise that mountain biking...

THING TO DO 20

Eat, drink, and be merry at Munch & Music

Munch & Music at the Drake Park amphitheater brings together food trucks, craft beer, and...

THING TO DO 21

Go on a Whitewater Rafting tour

The rapids of the Deschutes River provide adventure-minded travelers with a memorable whitewater rafting half-day...

THING TO DO 22

Take a day trip to Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake National Park is consistently ranked as one of the best National Parks of...

THING TO DO 23

Get inspired at BendFilm Festival

The BendFilm Festival is a small but growing celebration of independent movie-making. If you're an...

THING TO DO 24

Rent a movie from "The Last Blockbuster"

Before gaining fame from the Netflix documentary (the irony!), the last Blockbuster on Earth had...

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THING TO DO 25

Cowboy up at Sisters Rodeo

While Bend is typically seen as a modern cultural center in the region, the signs...

THING TO DO 26

Take a riverside horse ride

Horses were the main mode of transportation in Bend not that long ago, and today...

THING TO DO 27

Visit the Sunriver Nature Center and Observatory

Nearby Sunriver Nature Center and Observatory is a wonderful place to visit. It is one...

THING TO DO 28

Learn violent geology at Lava Butte

The eruptions that formed Lava Butte to the south of Bend 7,000 years ago would...

THING TO DO 29

Play pickleball

Pickleball has quietly taken the world of recreation by storm, being named one of the...

THING TO DO 30

Visit raptors at Eagle Watch

The high desert provides an ideal environment for birds of prey who make their roosts...

Conclusion

Conclusion

Bend and its surroundings offer a near-perfect balance between feeling the pulse of society and...

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