Tim Neville, the Lead Storyteller for Visit Bend, has spent more than two decades bouncing around the globe writing about adventure travel for some of the country’s most prestigious magazines and newspapers, but his favorite place in the world is right here at home.

Whether you’re ready to boogie at an Old Mill concert or swill some of the best craft beverages on the planet at the inaugural Bend Brews & Beyond, Memorial Day weekend 2025 in Bend comes packed with the events you need to kick your summer off properly. That’s not all. In between those showstoppers, you’ll have plenty of time to sample the “little things” that make this town truly great. Here are some tips to get you going on your best start to summer yet. 

Best hike to start your morning

It’s green season in Bend, a time when the spring rains coax high desert grasses and wildflowers out of their brown and into a showy color display. Time to head east. Swing by Burrito Hooch on your way out of town and ask for the off-menu breakfast burrito special—$6!—one of the best deals in town. From there it’s about a 20-minute drive southeast to the Oregon Badlands Wilderness, a 29,000-acre swatch of ancient juniper trees and strange lava outcroppings. Park at the Flatiron Rock Trailhead and hike a mostly flat, 3.5-mile sandy loop to look for lilies, larkspur, and blooming bitterbrush. 

Best hike to end your day

Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint rises over the east side of Bend like an ancient gumdrop of lava and cinder. This is Bend’s go-to spot for awesome sunsets. You can drive (or walk) the milelong road to the top but the best way to reach the summit is to hike one mile and 480-vertical feet up the Nature Trail, a dirt path that corkscrews its way up and through an ever-evolving 360-degree view. From the top on a clear day you can see all the way to 11,240-foot Mount Hood, Oregon’s tallest peak. Sunsets here are outstanding. Resist the urge to linger. The park closes at dusk. 

Best way to get around Bend

Memorial Day is typically one of the busiest times in Bend, if not the busiest, which means you’re going to face traffic no matter what you do. Our advice: Get out of the car as much as you can and walk or bike instead. Bend is bursting with great places to stroll and roll. Check out our walking map for some suggested routes.

• By Bike: Pedaling around Bend will be so much more fun (and often faster) if you’re moving between downtown and the Old Mill. On two wheels you can roll right up to, say, Spiceland, a new Indian restaurant, or Pho 88, a new Vietnamese place, instead of fighting for parking. Attending a concert at Hayden Homes Amphitheater? The Old Mill has racks for at least 300 bikes. 
• On foot: For an easy urban walk, stroll the ¾ of a mile from downtown along Mirror Pond to Galveston Avenue, where you’ll find plenty of excuses to stop and refuel. Don’t miss Boss Rambler Beer Club. This is the last summer to enjoy sitting outside with a craft beer at the breezy establishment—the popular brewery will be closing soon. 

Speaking of things coming to an end: time is running out to collect your set of Bend Ale Trail tasting glasses. (New prizes coming soon!) Once gone, they gone. 

Here are some tips for biking with kids and where to rent a bike or any other gear you might need.

Head to Bend Brews & Beyond in style and float the river from Riverbend Park to Drake Park, where you’ll find a bike/stand-up paddleboard/inner tube valet service. Silver Moon Brewing and LOGE are also offering round-trip shuttles to the festival.