How do you float the river in Bend, Oregon?
May 29, 2024
10 minute readOver family dinner the other night (Mio Sushi in the Old Mill District, in case you’re wondering!) we got on the subject of the perfect day in Bend.
As you might imagine, the answers are different between an 18-year-old female, a 22-year-old male, their 51-year-old father, and me—a soon-to-be-50-year-old mom living in Bend since 1997, who makes a living writing about fun things to see, do, and explore in this amazing mountain oasis.
Want to know what made my list? Here’s my guide to the best itinerary for a day in Bend.
6:30 a.m.: Let’s hit the dog park
I’m a morning person, and so are my dogs (though they hide their personhood with fur and tails). It’s been years since Dog Fancy magazine named Bend the nation’s dog-friendliest city, but you know what? The designation stands. My favorite spot to start the day is the Bob Wenger Memorial Off-Leash Area in northeast Bend. It spans 17 fully-fenced acres filled with trees, trails, grassy areas for fetching, and even a spray park to frolic in when the weather is warm. It’s a great spot to stroll and enjoy the sunrise and a whole ‘lotta fresh air to start the day.
8ish or 9ish a.m.: Time for breakfast
Decisions, decisions! Am I in the mood for a sit-down breakfast where we linger over scrumptious omelets, biscuits and gravy, waffles, and bacon? If so, we’ll likely head for McKay Cottage, Cafe Sintra, or Chow. I can count on any of those spots for fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and creative twists on breakfast classics like hash or eggs benedict.
If we’re more in the mood for a grab-n-go meal to take on our road to adventure, I’ll pick up breakfast burritos at Los Jalapeños or a tasty breakfast sandwich from Mother’s or Nancy P’s. With our bodies fueled, let’s get to the meat of this amazing day—playing outside!
10 a.m.: Bring on the outdoor adventure
As my mother would tell you, I’ve been obsessed with getting outside since I was a baby. The time of year determines my next move for the perfect mid-morning activity. A warm day in summer? I’ll bust out my standup paddlboard or maybe float the river with the fam.
A clear day in early autumn? I’ll take advantage of snow-free trails and crowd-free conditions to hike around Paulina Lake at Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Or maybe, just maybe, I’ll try to score a last-minute Central Cascades Wilderness Permit to hike a high-elevation trail like Green Lakes. If I don’t get one, it’s not a problem—there are dozens more trails up there that don’t require permits at all.
In wintertime, I’ll stick with lower-elevation hikes in the desert landscapes I love so much. The Flatiron Trail in the Oregon Badlands Wilderness is a personal fave, but the Tam a Lau Trail or Chimney Rock in the Crooked River Gorge might also make my shortlist if it’s not too icy.
And if springtime flowers are in bloom, the trail between Prineville Reservoir State Park and Jasper Point might call my name, or maybe something closer to town like Riley Ranch (that’s assuming my pups can stay home, since Riley Ranch is a wildlife preserve where dogs aren’t allowed).
1 p.m.: Who’s ready for lunch?
Ask any member of my family “where should we have lunch?” and in a glorious display of family unity, we’d all yell “Active Culture!” There’s tons to choose from for the vegetarian kid, who gravitates toward acai bowls or salads, but I’m more fond of savory selections like nachos or their scrumptious Quinoa Lentil Bowl. If it’s a sunny day, we’ll get it to go and head for Drake Park or Farewell Bend Park to eat at a sunny picnic table by the river.
If it’s a chillier day, someplace like Blissful Spoon or Jackson’s Corner might summon us to their cozy dining spaces. Both have a warm, welcoming vibe and lots of locally-sourced, healthy food that’s delicious. I also won’t rule out the possibility that food cart dining might sound appealing. If that’s the case, we’ll head for Podski, where a bounty of options—from burgers to Thai to seafood to vegan chow—means everyone eats what they like. If I’m pretending to vacation in my own town, I might even grab a beer from their expansive tap list, because why the heck not?
2 p.m.: Let’s do some shopping
Full disclosure: 95% of my clothing comes from Bend thrift stores. It’s partly that I dig bargain hunting, and partly that it feels like the ultimate form of recycling. No matter the reason, I love Bend’s abundance of consignment shops and thrift stores like REgroup, SuperThrift, City Thrift, and the Humane Society Thrift Store. For higher-end consignment, I’ll try Cosa Cura, Nikki’s Nearly New, or Runway Fashion Exchange.
Bend consignment shops and thrift stores
When I’ve had my fill of thrifting, I’ll scratch the shopping itch at some of the cool local shops in Downtown Bend or the Old Mill District, where the sparkling Deschutes River is just a few steps away to grant me another hit of nature. I’ll grab tea or an ice cream and stroll by the water while patting myself on the back for my bargain hunting prowess.
4 p.m.: How about another hike?
Not all hikes involve lacing up boots and studying a topo map. When I’m hungry for another breath of fresh air, I might do an urban stroll from the Old Mill District upstream along the Deschutes River Trail. It’s teeming with wildlife and stunning canyon walls juxtaposed against the sparkling river. Other close-to-town favorites include Shevlin Park, Sawyer Park, Drake Park, or the hike from Tumalo State Park to Riley Ranch. If it’s close to sunset, I might time out my early evening stroll for a trek up Pilot Butte to watch the sky turn pink and orange (donning my headlamp for the hike back down!) This short burst of activity gets me ready for the next stage of the game.
5 p.m.: Did someone say happy hour?
As you’ve gathered from the thrift store interlude, I love a good bargain. Bend happy hours pop up all over town starting with some of the earliest like 900 Wall kicking off at 3 p.m. I’m madly in love with their deviled eggs, beef carpaccio, and tasty happy hour specials like their greyhound made with freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice. Other local favorites include Bar Rio and their swoon-worthy chips and guac, or Rapa Nui Tiki Bar in the Old Mill District when I want to be transported to a tropical paradise.
6 p.m.: There goes the dinner bell
If the kids are joining me for this epic Bend evening, we’ll opt for someplace casual like pizza at Cibelli’s or Pinky G’s. Now that they’re older with more refined palates, we might step it up a notch by taking them to Zydeco for barbecue shrimp (the stuff of legends!) and a host of other gluten-free fare. Jackalope Grill is another great pick, since we all love sitting in the flowery courtyard on warm summer nights.
If we’re flying solo and feeling more like a grownup date night, Rancher Butcher Chef is one of our go-to spots for mouthwatering steaks and one of the best salads I’ve ever had in my life (radicchio with bacon lardons, manchego, and a seven-minute egg). If I’m craving Italian, we’ll hit Bosa, Nome, or Trattoria Spandati, or maybe Korean fare sounds like the ticket? In that case, we’ll head straight to Yoli. No matter what, I’ll wind up with a full belly and happy taste buds.
8 p.m.: Can I rally for the evening?
Like a lot of morning people, I peter out later in the day. But if I plan ahead and scoot my timeline back a couple hours, I’ve got time for one of my favorite evening adventures in Bend. It’s a running joke with my husband that whenever we travel and search for organized tours, one of us asks, “where’s the Wanderlust?” What we’re looking for isn’t specifically Wanderlust Tours (a bend-based company operating for more than two decades) but the kind of experience they provide with friendly, knowledgeable naturalist guides and tours that run like well-oiled machines. They provide all the gear, transportation, and snacks, whether you’re joining them on a moonlight canoe tour, a starlight snowshoe adventure, or something extra-special like the Forager Tour where you trek into the wilderness to find the makings for a dinner you’ll savor in the forest. Either way, I truly can’t say enough good things about the quality of the experience you’ll have with Wanderlust. I’ve been adventuring with them for 14 years now and I never get tired of heading out with them to explore Bend’s backyard.
But if I’ve filled my quota for outdoor play, I might opt for a more low-key evening adventure. Something like ax throwing at Unofficial Logging Company or an hour of vintage video game play at Vector Volcano might sound more my speed. I’ll also scan the Event Calendar for live music at one of the breweries along the Bend Ale Trail, or maybe there’s something playing at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater.
No matter what, I’ll head home at the end of my perfect day feeling satisfied and blissfully exhausted. That, my friends, is a perfect day in Bend.
