In Bend, reconnecting with your family always seems easier. Perhaps it’s the relaxed pace of a friendly mountain town. Or maybe it’s the abundance of exciting and educational activities designed just for families. Whatever the reason, Bend continues to be the mountain town that’s got it all for families.
Start your day at the kid-friendly Westside Café where an electric train circles your table, then check out Working Wonders Children’s Museum in the heart of the Old Mill District. And when you’re done with that, jump into the mind-boggling variety of outdoor activities that kids love in Bend: visit the Lava Lands Visitor Center, mountain bike on Bend’s many gentle trails, go for a horseback ride, raft the Deschutes River, or take a scenic chairlift ride up Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort. And if your kids still have the energy, take a family hike along Tumalo Creek (don’t forget to pack a picnic lunch), fish for trout in the kids-only stocked pond at Shevlin Park, and tour a cave with Wanderlust Tours.
If your kids need a day of rest, don’t miss the children’s wing of the Bend Public Library or the outdoor water park at the Juniper Swim & Fitness Center. And don’t leave Bend without visiting the High Desert Museum, where your kids will get up-close and personal with the wildlife that calls Central Oregon home, have a face-to-face conversation with early settlers of Bend, and witness a working authentic sawmill from the 1800’s.