Teresa & Oliver
Things To Do
McMenamins Campus
This campus is a Bend classic, and our favorite place to go the movies. McMenamins is the Old St. Francis School transformed from 1936 Catholic schoolhouse to a hotel complete with classrooms-turned-hotel rooms, a pub, brewery, a movie theater, live music, and a soaking pool. The property features extensive artwork that pays homage to the history of the school and the surrounding community. Photos, memorabilia, artists' renderings and students' artwork adorn the walls, making the hotel a unique gallery of sorts. And in the Art and Ed Houses, wander slowly to discover secret hallways, secret rooms and a secret bar! In downtown.
Float the Deschutes
Floating the river through town is one of our favorite, "hot day" activities in Bend. Because of its proximity to downtown Bend, it’s no surprise the Deschutes River is incredibly popular. On a hot July day, the section of river through the Old Mill District becomes a sea of colorful tubes, especially by the afternoon. Kayak, SUP, and tube rentals available through tumalocreek.com/rentals/. Come enjoy the lazy river float and the splash and giggle rapids! 0.8 miles from downtown.
The Last Blockbuster
Miss renting movies? Bend, OR is home to the very last Blockbuster! 1.0 miles from downtown.
Shopping in Bend
Bend isn't very big, but if you're looking for some local shopping, the Old Mill District is the a great place with shops, restaurants, and a movie theater. Downtown Bend also has fun bookstores, shops, and places to eat. If you are looking for souvenirs, consider visiting the Workhouse where local artists sell their work (50 SE Scott St #6, Bend, OR 97701) If you have forgotten items, you'll find stores like Target/Kohls/Ross/etc north on the 97.
First Street Rapids Park
On a hot day, you'll find half the town (including us!) lounging in and around the river at First Street Rapids. Crossing both east and west sides of the Deschutes River, First Street Rapids Park is a popular river access point for canoes and kayaks. The park is located at the end of NW First Street as well as the end of NW Revere Ave with the Deschutes River Trail running through the park. The park’s north and south points along the river are well-known for wildlife activity including river otters, beavers and a multitude of bird species including trumpeter swans, bald eagles, ospreys and migratory birds. 1.1 miles from downtown.
Deschutes River South Canyon Trail
Located from Farewell Bend Park and Riverbend Park through the South Canyon, this section features trail on both sides of the Deschutes River connected by a footbridge approximately 1.5 miles upstream of the Farewell Bend Park bridge. On this seemingly instant escape from the hustle and bustle of Bend’s activity, you’ll enjoy traveling through a beautiful canyon, with the river cascading over rocks and logs. 2.3 miles from downtown.
Bend Rock Gym
Visit our local climbing gym! Central Oregon's premier indoor climbing facility has diverse climbing terrain for all ages and experience levels. 2.5 miles from downtown.
Phil's Trail Mountain Biking
Phil's trail network is a classic mountain biking area and somewhere we frequent all summer! Phil’s Trail is a complex of intersecting trails of every level of difficulty offering hundreds of miles of singletrack. The trailhead is still just minutes from downtown Bend, but the opportunities for exploration are endless, as riders span out west toward Mt. Bachelor. 4.2 miles from downtown.
Shevlin Park
Featuring Tumalo Creek, Shevlin Park is home to miles of trails through its old-growth forest and high desert sage-covered lands. Trails include: 1) a 6-mile "Loop Trail" along the canyon rim with old growth pines and Tumalo Creek. 2) Tumalo Creek Trail (2.5 miles) which joins with the Deschutes National Forest trail system. 3) The "Mountain Bike Trail" following the canyon and linking with Mrazek Trail. 4.4 miles from downtown.
The High Desert Museum
The site of our very first date, the High Desert Museum boasts 135 acres and more than 100,000 square feet of exhibit space in the Museum, and is a “must see” for anyone travelling through the region. Encounter native wildlife, learn about Native American culture and history, and delight your children with one of many fun, hands-on programs that bring history and science to life. 7.2 miles from downtown.
Lava Lands Visitor Center
Lava Lands Visitor Center is the interpretive hub of Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Visit the state of the art exhibit on area geologic and cultural history, view a variety of films scheduled daily, walk the Trail of Molten Land and the Trail of the Whispering Pines, travel on the fully accessible 5.5 mile Sun-Lava paved path, attend a ranger talk, and walk to the top of Lava Butte for a spectacular view of Central Oregon. 11.9 miles from downtown.
Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory
Nestled next to Lake Aspen and surrounded by eight acres of diverse habitats, SNCO offers activities for everyone—day or night. During the day, visit the Creature Cave, where you can discover snakes, lizards, frogs, and salamanders. Explore the botanical garden, visit live owls and hawks, and enjoy wildlife watching at Lake Aspen. At night, the observatory—one of the largest in the country—offers breathtaking stargazing opportunities. With minimal light pollution and over a dozen telescopes, you can see everything from our moon to distant galaxies. 18.5 miles from downtown.
Tumalo Falls Hike
This 97-foot waterfall cascades down a dramatic cliff face in the heart of the Deschutes National Forest. Experience this 6.4-mile out-and-back trail near Bend, Oregon. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 24 min to complete. 13.5 miles from downtown.
Tumalo Mountain Hike
Tumalo Mountain is a moderate 4 mile round trip trail with spectacular views of the Three Sisters, Broken Top and Mt. Bachelor accessible during all seasons. Because it is short and with its close proximity to Bend, this hike extremely popular not only in the summer season, but also in the winter season when folks head up on a clear day with their snowshoes, skis or snowshoes. 21 miles from downtown.
Mt. Bachelor Resort
Visit our local ski resort! Although Mt. Bachelor is widely known as a winter destination, it also has downhill mountain biking and scenic hiking during the summer. Check out Todd Lake or Tumalo for scenic hiking near Mt Bachelor. 21.3 miles from downtown.
Sisters, OR
Named for the trio of towering peaks to its west, Sisters is a vibrant, artsy community with charming 1880s facades and small-town ambience. A unique place to shop with its many specialty stores and galleries, Sisters also boasts hiking, mountain biking, fishing, golfing, horseback riding, and the oldest rodeo in Oregon. 22 miles from downtown.
Crescent Moon Alpaca Ranch
This Alpaca Ranch & Boutique near Smith Rock State Park is open to the public seven days a week. It's free to walk the loop and $5 for a bag of food to hand feed the alpacas! 22.3 miles from downtown.
Smith Rock State Park - Rock Climbing & Hiking
Smith Rock is a nationally renowned climbing area located just 30 minutes outside of Bend -- when we climb outside, this is where we go! Thousands of routes attract climbers from every part of the globe, including more than a thousand bolted routes. Cliffs of tuff and basalt are ideal for rock climbing of all difficulty levels. There is trad and sport climbing, bouldering, hiking, and mountain biking with opportunities to spot golden eagles, prairie falcons, river otter, and beaver. Easy, drive up access. Hiking ranges from easy to difficult depending on trail chosen. 26.0 miles from downtown.
Maragas Winery
A beautiful winery overlooking Smith Rock State Park, Maragas Winery is rooted in the deep wine-making and drinking traditions of the Old World. With unique, agriculturally rich setting in the high desert of Central Oregon, they uncork old-world winemaking for a contemporary planet, with new grape-growing innovations and fresh ways to connect with fellow wine lovers. 27.2 miles from downtown.
Santiam Pass Scenic Byway
If we were to pick one drive that captures the essence of Oregon, this would be it. This scenic byway follows the path of an 1860s wagon route, emerging from the forest at Windy Point to a jaw-dropping vista of Mount Washington and a 65-square-mile lava flow. When you reach 5,325-foot McKenzie Pass, you're enveloped by lava on all sides. Take a few minutes to climb up to the Dee Wright Observatory, a lava rock structure constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935. From the observatory, you can take in six Cascade peaks on a clear day. Easy, drive up access. ~50 miles from downtown.
Sahalie & Koosah Falls
Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls are located along the McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass and West Cascades National Scenic Byways off Highway 126. The Waterfalls Loop Trail, part of the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail, connects the two waterfalls and offers up close views of the wild McKenzie River. These falls mark the terminus of two thick flows of basaltic andesite lava that dammed Clear Lake and moved into the McKenzie River 3,000 years ago. The results are two breathtaking waterfalls with foaming white water cascades in between. Both sites feature parking area, interpretive panels that tell the story of area geology, restrooms and observation points. 61 miles from downtown.
Crater Lake National Park
One of the most famous sites in Oregon, Crater Lake National Park features Crater Lake, a volcanic lake in south-central Oregon famous for its deep blue color and water clarity. With a depth of 1,949 feet it is the deepest in the United States. The lake partly fills a 2,148-foot-deep caldera that was formed around 7,700 years ago by the collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama. No rivers flow into or out of the lake; the evaporation is compensated for by rain and snowfall at a rate such that the total amount of water is replaced every 150 years. Easy, drive up access. ~90 miles from downtown.