Food + Bev

Go smell a Ponderosa. (𝖸𝖾𝗌—𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺!) On warm spring days, the bark smells like vanilla and sunshine. 👉 One of the best parts of spring in Bend—and a solid way to celebrate #ArborDay.

🚨🔥 Heads up, Bend! If conditions allow, firefighters from the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District will begin a prescribed burn of up to 450 acres today, about three miles west of town near Forest Service Roads 4610 and 4615. Ignitions could begin as early as 9 a.m. → Near Grand Slam + Ticket to Ride trails → Part of Grand Slam Trail will close → FS Road 4615 closed (FSR 800 to 4610) → Smoke likely from Bend + Cascade Lakes Highway, especially overnight and early morning 🔥 Why it matters: Prescribed fire reduces dense vegetation, improves forest health, and helps lower the risk of severe wildfires. → Supports forest resiliency → Helps protect homes, trails, and watersheds → Led by trained crews under carefully managed conditions ⁉️ What to expect: Some smoke. A few closures. And steady, behind-the-scenes work to keep this place—and the people who love it—safer for seasons to come. 🧭 For real-time updates and maps, check @centralorfire or visit centraloregonfire.org 📱 Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 for alerts straight to your phone

☀️ We’re not there just yet… But days like these? They’re humming in the air. 🎶 Lakeside concerts at @suttlelodge 🛶 A quiet paddle with nowhere to be 🌲 Balancing barefoot on sun-warmed driftwood Summer in Bend is so close 🫶✨

#EarthDay reminds us how lucky we are to call this place home—even if just for a weekend. Thanks to the Bend Sustainability Fund, every overnight stay helps restore trails, improve river access, and fund local projects that protect the wild spaces we all love. So if you’ve ever stayed here, you’ve already helped care for this place. 🌎