Guidebook for Bend
Essentials
Voted best market in Bend! They have unique local gifts, liquor, sushi, coffee, quick/slow excellent food, employee owned, and staffed with vested folks. Everything in here is yummy and fun, decorated from the ceilings to floor! Great store to bring home gifts, grab a picnic, great wine, beer, head to mountain or river for the day!
149 personas locales recomiendan
Newport Avenue Market
1121 NW Newport AveVoted best market in Bend! They have unique local gifts, liquor, sushi, coffee, quick/slow excellent food, employee owned, and staffed with vested folks. Everything in here is yummy and fun, decorated from the ceilings to floor! Great store to bring home gifts, grab a picnic, great wine, beer, head to mountain or river for the day!
Hiking, biking, snowshoe, snowboard, downhill ski, dog sled tour, X-ski, bikini tube, snow tube, ice skating, pickleball, shed hunting, snowmobile, paddleboard, fish, festivals, music!
Not everyone comes to Bend to board, ski, sled, on Mt. Bachelor. Fly fishing the Deschutes is best with a guide, and so is rafting. Floating the river is walkable, and so are quality tube rentals and shuttle service.
Shoulder season, plan or hiking, mtn. biking, or rock climbing when the mountain melts. Harvest moon kayaking or paddleboarding is awesome at Elk Lake. Try a tour of an abundance of breweries, wineries, food trucks. If you need a mountain pass, they are available at Pine Mountain, is walkable, voted best bike store in Bend. They have current conditions and recommendations for equipment and gear for the mountain. Even in the winter, some of these trails, are good for hiking, snow shoeing, to see the ice waterfalls, animal tracks, frozen lakes, breathe some mountain air. There are warming cabins with wood fires in the winter which will be obvious or hidden in the woods, and bring a thermos or beverage in your pack.
FYI, make sure you have a good charge on your phone before heading out in the hills, and map where you parked your car. Don't be caught unprepared. I recommend Trail Forks as an app to download if you are into mountain biking or hiking.
I would head to Newport Market, load up on 9a.m. sushi coming fresh out of the kitchen, grab a bottle of plum wine with the plums inside, and take your time exploring alongside the well marked river trail headed up to East Lake. Its a 5-6 mile loop.
47 personas locales recomiendan
Paulina Lake
I would head to Newport Market, load up on 9a.m. sushi coming fresh out of the kitchen, grab a bottle of plum wine with the plums inside, and take your time exploring alongside the well marked river trail headed up to East Lake. Its a 5-6 mile loop.
This is a great place to rent a patio boat in summer, even for half a day. The hike along the river is manageable, and I recommend a good snack, picnic, and beverages. There is a potty at mile 3, and the trail coming back is about 2.5, is good to X ski, snowshoe, or bring snowmobiles, with an experienced guide!
8 personas locales recomiendan
East Lake
This is a great place to rent a patio boat in summer, even for half a day. The hike along the river is manageable, and I recommend a good snack, picnic, and beverages. There is a potty at mile 3, and the trail coming back is about 2.5, is good to X ski, snowshoe, or bring snowmobiles, with an experienced guide!
Shaded in the heat of summer, a good 4-5 mile up and back, multiple falls, a nice hike, or just park and take a selfie! You can X Country ski and snowshoe here in winter too.
214 personas locales recomiendan
Tumalo Falls
Shaded in the heat of summer, a good 4-5 mile up and back, multiple falls, a nice hike, or just park and take a selfie! You can X Country ski and snowshoe here in winter too.
If you want to go fishing, don't just be that guy standing on the side of the river, looking good in your gear, making the fish laugh so hard they wont hit your "Wooly Bugger." Hire a guide! They will take care of you, and show you all the good nuckerholes!
Fly and Field Outfitters
35 SW Century DrIf you want to go fishing, don't just be that guy standing on the side of the river, looking good in your gear, making the fish laugh so hard they wont hit your "Wooly Bugger." Hire a guide! They will take care of you, and show you all the good nuckerholes!
Rent a some good gear, grab a map, and don't forget your mountain pass! They are stocked with snowshoes, bikes, are year round dirt/snow trail experts. They know their stuff!
37 personas locales recomiendan
Pine Mountain Sports
255 SW Century DrRent a some good gear, grab a map, and don't forget your mountain pass! They are stocked with snowshoes, bikes, are year round dirt/snow trail experts. They know their stuff!
2 and 4 hour guided snowmobile tours, leaving from Wanoga, up and around the Mt. Bachelor trail systems. They can take 6 at a time! I highly recommend Jeff, the 4 hour tour, is extensive, varies per client, abilities, comfort level. It was snowing buckets! Bring $$ so you can have a hot treat, beverage in the lodge at Elk Lake, on the 4 hour booking. And don't leave your cell phone on the table like I did!
Central Oregon Adventures Inc
Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway2 and 4 hour guided snowmobile tours, leaving from Wanoga, up and around the Mt. Bachelor trail systems. They can take 6 at a time! I highly recommend Jeff, the 4 hour tour, is extensive, varies per client, abilities, comfort level. It was snowing buckets! Bring $$ so you can have a hot treat, beverage in the lodge at Elk Lake, on the 4 hour booking. And don't leave your cell phone on the table like I did!
OMG, what a mountain biking paradise! Lower Whoops trail is my favorite! Download Trail Forks App, and track your trails, time, stats, and get a great full suspension bike rental at Pine Mountain Sports if you don't already have one. The trails are user friendly, for all levels, and there are well marked signs for "black diamond" trails, and "green diamond" alternates to get back to your vehicle safely if you want a fun ride instead of an ER visit. No pedal assist or Ebikes allowed.
81 personas locales recomiendan
Phil's Trailhead
OMG, what a mountain biking paradise! Lower Whoops trail is my favorite! Download Trail Forks App, and track your trails, time, stats, and get a great full suspension bike rental at Pine Mountain Sports if you don't already have one. The trails are user friendly, for all levels, and there are well marked signs for "black diamond" trails, and "green diamond" alternates to get back to your vehicle safely if you want a fun ride instead of an ER visit. No pedal assist or Ebikes allowed.
Food scene
Arianna, a (future) Michelin Star, an opinion of mine, as well as prior guests, is where you go for a special celebration. Brunch, with beverages, best pastries, I will list below, as well as food trucks, and walkable watering holes that are local favorites!
Award winning beers, brewery, offering fresh, creative, sustainably sourced food, with fire features, shade, is dog friendly, available in Eugene, Sunriver, and in NW Bend, on Galveston/soon to be opening another nugget on East Side, May 5, 2022!
64 personas locales recomiendan
Sunriver Brewing Co. Galveston Pub
1005 NW Galveston AveAward winning beers, brewery, offering fresh, creative, sustainably sourced food, with fire features, shade, is dog friendly, available in Eugene, Sunriver, and in NW Bend, on Galveston/soon to be opening another nugget on East Side, May 5, 2022!
Enjoy this place, don't worry about choosing one thing, just order the price fix 5 course chef menu, and add the recommended wine pairings. I prefer the first seating. Service and quality is exceptional. Prior guests felt this was a secret, and I agree.
81 personas locales recomiendan
Ariana Restaurant
1304 NW Galveston AveEnjoy this place, don't worry about choosing one thing, just order the price fix 5 course chef menu, and add the recommended wine pairings. I prefer the first seating. Service and quality is exceptional. Prior guests felt this was a secret, and I agree.
Immersion Brewing
550 SW Industrial WayFish and chips, with rainbow slaw!
The Lot
745 NW Columbia StGood walkable food truck, heated, watering hole!
When they are open there is always a line, and there is a reason!
6 personas locales recomiendan
Tacos Pihuamo
950 SE Cleveland AveWhen they are open there is always a line, and there is a reason!
This is close to Costco, and there is an Ahi Taco served here that is excellent, topped with shaved fried onion crunchy things, and a good sauce. Its unique, clean, delish!
18 personas locales recomiendan
River's Place
787 NE Purcell BlvdThis is close to Costco, and there is an Ahi Taco served here that is excellent, topped with shaved fried onion crunchy things, and a good sauce. Its unique, clean, delish!
Cafe Brunch with Beverages! Always a wait list and worth it!
23 personas locales recomiendan
The Lemon Tree
718 NW Franklin AveCafe Brunch with Beverages! Always a wait list and worth it!
Walkable, heated outdoor space, brunch cocktails, popular!
149 personas locales recomiendan
The Victorian Café
1404 NW Galveston AveWalkable, heated outdoor space, brunch cocktails, popular!
Walkable, the shaved ham/guyere croissant sells out daily, and they serve fast good coffee. Their bread is interesting, and addicting!
27 personas locales recomiendan
Village Baker
1470 SW Knoll AveWalkable, the shaved ham/guyere croissant sells out daily, and they serve fast good coffee. Their bread is interesting, and addicting!
Depending on the time of year, the spiciness varies, but my favorite is the tempura stuffed jalepeno poppers pictured above with spicy tuna tartare on top!
NorthFresh Sushi Food Truck
Depending on the time of year, the spiciness varies, but my favorite is the tempura stuffed jalepeno poppers pictured above with spicy tuna tartare on top!
Monkless Belgian Ales
803 Southwest Industrial WayPopular, with river views!
Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails
919 NW Bond StBrown butter roux shrimp!
Chow
1110 NW Newport AveBrunch, with craft beverages and eggs benedict!
Recently expanded, cult following, cocktails and clean food with awsome sauce!
234 personas locales recomiendan
Spork
937 NW Newport AveRecently expanded, cult following, cocktails and clean food with awsome sauce!
El Sancho Taco Shop West
1254 NW Galveston AveAlways crowded, popular, cult following
Great walkable indoor/outdoor food and beverage place if you get the "munchies".
Cheba Hut "Toasted" Subs
Great walkable indoor/outdoor food and beverage place if you get the "munchies".
Consejos para la ciudad
Costumbres y cultura
High altitude + and local beer advice "don't's..."
This beer here will make your head thunder if you don't hydrate more than you think you should. You don't have to have every beer in town on your first day!
Altitude is 3500-4000 which isn't a lot, but athletes come here from all over to train, and there is a reason. If you are not an athlete, you will go slower, feel more sluggish, especially up in the mountains, and it's ok, but be prepared to not go as fast, and hydrate with a crispy lighter ale to break up the substantial IPAs!