Can I tell you something that might result in my Bend residency card being pried from my mitten-warmed fingers?

I don’t really love the cold.

That means winter sports like skiing and snowboarding don’t rev my engine like they do for some folks, and you know what? That’s totally fine!

Because the beauty of Bend in winter is that there’s still tons to see, do, and explore even for those of us not giddy to strap boards to our feet and slide down a mountain. 

Here are six reasons Bend feels magical in winter, even for non-skiiers.

Seize the excuse to drink beer and snuggle

People in Bend are naturally skilled at finding fun ways to stay warm in winter. Few things capture this spirit more than cuddling by a crackling fire while sipping something that warms your belly.

You’ll find dozens of fire pits scattered all over town, including an awesome collection of them around the Old Mill District. 

At Crux Fermentation Project, get cozy by a fire pit and enjoy malty pint of their Tough Love Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout, or hit the patio outside McMenamins Old Saint Francis for for a spot by the fire, a vacation cigar, and a pint of “Rubinator.” You won’t find that on the menu, but it’s what you get when you kindly ask the bartender to mix their Ruby Raspberry Ale and Terminator Stout to make a blend that tastes just like chocolate-covered raspberry sticks. Over at Bevel Brewing, they’ve got fire pits and food carts, plus Midnight Crave Triple Milk Chocolate Stout, which (speaking of beers that taste like dessert) is a dead ringer for delicious chocolate milk.

If soaking your bones sounds like a good way to beat the chill, you’ll find plenty of Bend hotels and vacation homes with on-site hot tubs.

Distilled spirits make another nice option for warming yourself from the inside out. Grab some spiced rum from Oregon Spirit Distillers to mix with hot cider, or try blending Crater Lake Spirit’s Hazelnut Espresso Vodka with warm cocoa and a dollop of whipped cream.

If you’re doing Dry January or not drinking at all, don’t fret that alcohol is required for a good time in Bend. Most Bend breweries make an n/a beer or two, plus we’ve got gobs of great mocktails on menus all over town. Try the Le Tigre at the newly-reopened Dogwood Cocktail Cabin (Seedlip spice, tamarind, black tea, honey, orange, and clove) or head to Hosmer Bar or The Dez where they sling mocktails guaranteed to make you swoon.

Get great deals on lodging and activities

For families on a budget or anyone else pinching pennies in post-holiday months, winter’s the best time to score a screamin’ deals on Bend lodging. 

Shoulder season in particular (October through early-December, and January through April) is when you’ll find Bend hotels and vacation homes at rock bottom prices.

From Bend vacation rental homes to cozy Bend hotels, you’ll have your pick of the perfect lodging during this slower time of year.

When’s the last time you had a snow day?

Does anyone else recall the thrill of waiting for texts (or if you’re my age, watching for TV alerts) to tell you school’s been cancelled for snow?

Few things feel more thrilling than a snow day, and you can recapture that magic in Bend.

Grab your toboggan and go sledding in Bend. Gather the family for a snowball fight at one of Bend’s nearby Sno-Parks. Get creative by building snowmen together or flopping on your back to make a snow angel.

Take a twirl around the ice at The Pavillion, Central Oregon’s only full NHL-sized ice sheet. It’s fully-covered and protected on the sides by translucent panels to reduce wind and sun exposure while maintaining an open air feel. You’ll also find smaller ice skating rinks at several resorts around Bend and Sunriver, plus a smaller municipal rink in Redmond.

After your cold-weather playtime, reward yourself with a hot cup of cocoa or a grownup alternative like coffee from one of Bend coffee shops or teahouses.

Try a low-octane winter activity

I’ll admit it—as I’ve aged, I’m less inclined to try sports with much risk of falling.

That’s why snowshoeing in Bend is my winter activity of choice. It’s kinda like hiking, but with spellbinding landscapes of frosted trees and fields of glittering snow.

If skiing holds some appeal but you’d like to keep things mellow, check out the Nordic trails near Bend for a slower-paced version of skiing. We’ve got lots of great cross-country skiing at Sno-Parks near Bend.

There’s even plenty of winter hiking in Bend, which often means snow-free trails if you stick to low-elevation areas near town. My personal faves are areas east of town in the Oregon Badlands Wilderness, or spots to the north near the Crooked River. The bonus? You’ll have them to yourself this time of year.

You don’t have to fly solo

If snowshoeing sounds fun but you’re not keen on trekking into the snowy woods by yourself, try a guided outing with a pro.

Book a snowshoe adventure with Wanderlust Tours and leave the gear, the planning, the driving, and the decision-making to someone else. Best of all, their naturalist guides will give you some awesome insights about our forests, the creatures in them, local history, and more.

Not so sure about snow? Wanderlust also does cave tours all year long!

If you’re looking for fun beyond snowshoeing, consider a snowy fat bike tour from Cog Wild. It’s a unique way to experience Bend’s winter wonderland on two wheels.

Or maybe try skiing or snowboarding 

If the only thing stopping you from visiting Mt. Bachelor this winter is that you’ve never tried skiing or snowboarding, now’s the best time in more than two decades to try it. That’s because Mt. Bachelor currently has the deepest base in all of North America, and some of the best snow conditions they’ve seen in years.

Mt. Bachelor’s Ski or Board in 4 is an award-winning lesson program designed for those “never-evers” who have not had previous experiences trying to learn to ski or snowboard.

It’s a four-lesson program with instruction by one of Mt. Bachelor’s hand-picked instructors based on their communication skills and overall success rate of coaching beginners. Included with each lesson is a ski or snowboard rental and daily lift ticket.

It’s a great—and surprisingly inexpensive—way to find out if you might be a skier or boarder after all.