Once upon a time, I swore I’d never have kids. Then I landed in a late-in-life marriage to a single dad with the world’s most amazing children and BOOM! My love of family-friendly Bend travel was born.

Lucky for us, Bend’s the best spot for family activities. There’s so much to do with kids of all ages, from hiking to caving to snowshoeing to canoeing. 

Asking yourself what to do in Bend with kids? Here are my top picks!

Explore, discover, and learn!

The first time I suggested the High Desert Museum to my kids (then ages 5 and 9), they said they’d been there the week before. I assumed they’d have no urge to return right away, but realized my mistake when they ran to the car and shrieked, “let’s go!”

Youngsters never seem to tire of watching the otters, scouting streams for fish, pointing at snakes in terrariums, or learning about the culinary habits of foxes and hawks. Creatures aside, there’s always a cool selection of new exhibits designed to appeal to visitors of all ages.

If organized tours are more your family’s speed, there are several great options with an element of education rolled in. In the winter months, Wanderlust Tours offers moonlight and starlight snowshoe tours perfect for active kids ages 8 and up. The price includes snowshoes, instruction, the guidance of a nature-savvy guide, transportation, and most importantly, hot chocolate.

Another great Wanderlust trip that’s awesome anytime of year is the cave tour. Kids  love donning headlamps and exploring the nooks and crannies of Central Oregon’s lava tubes, and Wanderlust’s professional naturalist guides do a great job with stories and trivia that’s interesting for kids 5 and up. 

For families with an artsy side, the Roundabout Art Route is a great way to check out Bend’s amazing collection of public art. Pick up a map at the Bend Visitor Center, cruise the collection at your own pace, then quiz each other about your favorite pieces.

If you’re willing to travel just a few short miles east of town, Petersen Rock Garden offers an eclectic sightseeing option. Kids will love crawling around on rock creations, inspecting crystals in the on-site museum, and admiring the peacocks that stroll the four-acre property. 

Seeking more ways to mix fun and education? Teach your kiddos the value of sustainable travel and the importance of leaving places better than you found them with a family perusal of projects funded by the Bend Sustainability Fund. Look for things that pique your interest, from the Big Sky Bike Park to Rimrock Trail restoration to summer hiking trails at Mt. Bachelor, or look ahead to projects like renovations at the Museum at Warm Springs. Read up on what’s happening, then plan a family visit to enjoy all the good work being done, thanks to your visits to Central Oregon. Way to go, fam!

Run ‘em ragged!

For families with a taste for outdoor adventure, Bend is a veritable paradise. Cog Wild offers incredible mountain bike tours ranging from half-day trips to multi-day adventures packed with great food and all the fresh air and gorgeous scenery you can handle. They have a huge fleet of bikes to rent, and offer tours that range from expert to brand new newbie. You can even pedal in wintertime when fat bikes get you out on snowy trails.

Speaking of winter, Bend and Central Oregon boast tons of great options for ice skating. From family skate sessions at the Pavilion to more intimate skate experiences at smaller rinks in Sunriver and at Seventh Mountain Resort, you’ll have the kids gliding around the ice in no time.

If you’re craving indoorsy activity, check out Sun Mountain Fun Center where you can choose from bowling, arcade games, billiards, or bumper cars. The warmer months offer outdoor mini-golf, go-karts, or batting cages.

Need to get the wiggles out? Bend trampoline parks like Mountain Air and Trampoline Zone are great spots for kids to bounce themselves silly before naptime rolls around. For older kids, the K1 Speed go-kart track is just the adrenaline boost they’re craving after a long road trip.

If playgrounds are your jam, we’ve got more than six-dozen Bend parks. They run the gamut from massive playgrounds with climbing walls to little pocket parks to forested acreage filled with streams and trails. We’ve even got off-leash dog parks for those with pups in tow.

You’ll find oodles of options for family-friendly hikes on Visit Bend’s hiking page, but my personal favorite is Pilot Butte State Park. This 500-foot cinder cone juts up from the center of the city, and offers 360-degree views from the top. It’s an easy hike even for younger kids, who’ll enjoy it even more with a bag of apple slices for snacking and a bottle of bubbles to blow and chase at the peak.

Feed the beasts!

At some point, children inevitably require fuel. Go figure.

And let’s just say it—kids can be picky and it’s tough to feed families without spending a fortune and still pleasing everyone, but you know what? Bend’s dining scene knows this.

As a family town, we’ve got tons of great picks for kid-friendly dining. Popular food truck pods in Bend include Podski, MidTown Yacht Club, The Lot, River’s Place, On Tap, and tons of others. The upside of food cart dining is a chance for everyone to pick a fave and then dine in a central spot. Bend food carts offer everything from vegan to Mexican to sushi, plus covered and heated spaces for eating and wide open spaces for kids to run. 

If choices galore appeal to you, but not so much with the food cart thing, check out The Grove. It’s an indoor food hall filled with gobs of great restaurants, plus central tables for family dining.

Want to hit the Bend Ale Trail but you’re not sure it’s kid-friendly? Relax, and let me assure you…it is. Not only that, but tons of Bend brewpubs like Bend Brewing Company and Worthy Brewing have amazing kids’ menus and grassy areas for kids to run.

If your family has special dietary needs, you’ll find tons of great gluten-free fare at NW Raw or (if you’re feeling fancy) Zydeco. Vegan and vegetarian families will dig the offerings at Salud, Active Culture, and incredible food carts like Toasty and Broken Angel.

And if you’re hunting for good ol’ fashioned hamburgers, try Mountain Burger, Bend Burger Company, Dandy’s Drive-in, or even old standbys like Red Robin in the Old Mill District