Located about 45 minutes north of Bend in Terrebonne, Smith Rock is one of the places we recommend visiting if you have a car. Buy a day pass at the park for $5 and enjoy a beautiful (and steep!) walk around Smith Rock State Park. There is limited shade during mid-day so remember to bring water and sunscreen. Don't forget your comfortable walking shoes! The most popular trail is Misery Ridge, and the trail definitely lives up to it's name and is rated difficult. For an easier walk, just stay along the river and enjoy watching all of the rock climbers at the birthplace of sport climbing.
Part of Newberry National Volcanic Monument, the Lava River Cave is the longest continuous lava tube in Oregon. If you haven't experienced volcanic landscape before (and you're not afraid of the dark), this is another highly recommended place to visit. Advanced reservations are required and passes are per car. We recommend spending the extra $5 to rent one of their powerful flashlights as your phone light or a headlamp are not going to be bright enough for you to fully experience the cave. One last note is that the temperature INSIDE the cave generally stays around a steady 45-50 degrees F so we recommend bringing a sweatshirt to wear while inside.
While you do need a forest pass to utilize this parking space (they can be purchased online for $5 - click the view link below to bring you to the pass purchasing website) you can either park lower on the access road for a little hike or drive directly up to the parking and walk around beautiful Tumalo Falls. There are options to hike up and around the falls also.
You can park at Farewell Bend Park, Riverbend Park or at the Old Mill Shopping center to hop on the Deschutes River trail. This is a beautiful trail that you can choose your desired length to walk from 1.5 to 3.5+ miles. As you go past Farewell Bend Park, the trail is no longer paved. There is slight elevation change but overall this walk would be rated easy.
Wild Rose - Family style Thai food (reservations recommended) Spork - Counter service Asian fusion restaurant, our favorite drink is the mint apple lemonade Hawkeye and Huckleberry - enjoy a quick drink or bite on the patio or check out the beautiful indoor dining space, an elevated western interior with BBQ and country foods. Kitchen Window Sourdough Pizza - A walk up window (or call ahead) with thick sourdough crust pizzas is one of our favorites in town. Can't forget an order of their donut holes! Kanpai Sushi - Our favorite sushi place (reservations recommended) Salute Italian - Ask for the local's special, a 3 course dinner for $34 (reservations recommended)
Lemon Tree - sit down brunch spot that opens at 9. They don't take reservations so expect to wait at least 30 minutes but you can walk in the park and they'll text you when the table's ready McKay's Cottage - Another great sit down breakfast/brunch location. They also do not accept reservations but you can order a drink and hang out in their lawn space while you wait Thump Coffee - We believe they have the best bagels in town! They have a downtown location and NW location. Sparrow Bakery - We will be providing some goodies from Sparrow at our Sunday brunch but if you want to check out their full menu this is has been voted the best bakery in Bend multiple years in a row! M's Bakery - A new bakery located in the Old Mill Looney Bean - Grab coffee and breakfast and sit in their back yard along the river for breakfast with a view
Food truck lots are gaining popularity across the US and Bend is definitely known for their food trucks! Great to stop by for lunch, dinner or just to grab a drink! Podski's - one of our favorites, location of the #1 seller of Rainer beer in the USA! (A tall glass for only $4). Americana burgers are our favorite in town. The other trucks include Thai, Italian, vegan and perogies Midtown Yacht Club - Pizza, Mexican, sushi, sandwiches, tots, vegan The Grove - indoor food court on the NW side with ice cream, Thai, seafood and more
Bend Brewing Co. - Located downtown right on the river this is one of the best spots to hang outside and enjoy a tasty beer or cocktail. 10 Barrel - With East and Westside locations, this is one of Bend's most popular breweries. The spot on Galveston (west location) is smaller but a much more exciting environment. Good beers and great pub food also. Good Life Brewing - Grab a drink and a lawn chair in the side yard to enjoy some of our favorite beers in town. They also have a good food menu - secretly our favorite chicken wings in town Deschutes Brewing - Another famous Bend brewery with downtown or west side locations Sunriver Brewing - Visit the west location for more of a downtown experience or the east side for a large outdoor seating area