About Bend, Oregon / Things To Do
About Bend
![]() From left to right, South Sister, Middle Sister, North Sister, and Broken Top
Bend is bisected by the Deschutes River. The Deschutes along with the lakes that feed it, offers world class Rainbow and Brown Trout fishing, kayaking, white water rafting, stand up paddle boarding, and float tubing. Miles of hiking and mountain biking trails are readily available to explore by people of all ages and skill levels. Mt. Bachelor offers superior skiing and snowboarding (Late November through April), and with winter accumulations of snow of 150" or more, it boasts the lightest powder conditions in the Cascades.
The city of Bend has a population of approximately 78,000 people, and offers many fine restaurants, hotels, shops, and art galleries to explore and experience. And, if you are a golfer, Central Oregon offers dozens of golf courses to challenge your skills. Find out why Bend is repeatedly named as one of the best 10 places in the United States to live or retire, and why it is often referred to as "the Aspen of Oregon."
Finally, but most important, the #1 reason to come to Bend, is that it is the home of the industry's best coffee business school, the Coffee Business School of the Cascades. Get quality information that will help you succeed in your new business, along with hand-on experience in making perfect beverages, while enjoying one of the most beautiful places in America! Things To DoYour class at the Coffee Business School of the Cascades will conclude on Wednesday. So, if you have the time, and can arrange your trip back home on Saturday or Sunday, you can explore some local sights and activities. Central Oregon is an outdoor lover's paradise, and a place of amazing beauty. A rental car will be necessary to visit many of the places suggested. If you don't want to rent a car for the entire time you are in Bend, you can rent a car for one or several days in Bend through the companies listed under the transportation section of this website. Here are some activities to consider: Shopping![]() Old Mill District shopping center
Check out the following website for Bend's best shopping centers, designer shops, unique one of a kind stores, and art galleries: Live Music & Entertainment![]() Quality live entertainment occurs in Bend on a regular basis. The Les Schwab Amphitheater, Tower Theatre, and the Athletic Club of Bend have hosted many famous entertainers, such as: Crosby, Still & Nash, Bruce Hornsby, Chris Issac, Beck, ZZ Top, Huey Lewis, Stevie Winwood, Al Di Meola, Bella Fleck, Ottmar Libert, Jewel, Bob Dylan, Doobie Brothers, Robin Ford, Pink Martini, Tommy Emmanuel, etc. Free Concerts are held in Drake Park at "Muchin Music," every Thursday evening during the summer months, with numerous local restaurants offering delectable food items from their food booths. Local clubs and restaurants also offer local entertainment on an ongoing basis. Check out the following websites to see if someone you might want to see will be in Bend when you are here for the Coffee Business School of the Cascades! The Source Weekly - Bend, OregonLes Schwab Amphitheater Tower Theatre Athletic Club of Bend - Summer Concerts Skiing & Snowboarding![]() Skiing on Mt. Bachelor
(Typically, the mountain is open from late November through the middle of May) 9,065 ft. high Mt. Bachelor offers over 3,683 acres of lift accessible skiing and snowboarding, with a 3,365 vertical drop from the summit. With a 150" to 200" base, Mt. Bachelor boasts the lightest powder conditions in the Cascades. For information about lift tickets, equipment rentals, and transportation to the mountain, check out the following websites: Mt. Bachelor Ski ResortMt. Bachelor Shuttle Schedule Golf![]() Crosswater golf course at Sun River
Central Oregon offers multiple worldâclass golf courses to challenge your skills. See the following website for more information. (Check with golf courses to see if they are open during the winter months) Bend/Central Oregon Golf GuideMountain Biking & Hiking![]() Check out trails to ride here ![]() Hiking on the beautiful Deschutes River Trail
Check out hikes here: Bridge over Bend, OregonTrail Directory Oregon Cascades - Central Hiking Fishing![]() Fishing in Central Oregon is legendary, producing some of the biggest trout found anywhere. While the "giant" pictured above is not an every day occurrence, one or more this size are pulled from the local lakes and rivers each year. Brook Trout and Lake Trout can be found in some locations, but the majority of fishing is for Rainbows and Browns. These typically range from 12" to 24" in size, with bigger fish lurking. There are plenty of locations to both angle and fly fish. Be sure to ask Ed Arvidson about best places to fish, what to use, and a private guided day of fishing. Bend Oregon Fishing ![]() Spring fishing on Lava Lake
![]() Claire Arvidson with nice 24" Brown Trout
![]() Fly-fishing on the Crooked River
White Water Rafting, Canoeing, Paddle Boarding, and Float Tubing![]() Guided whitewater rafting trips on the Deschutes River can be arranged through the Seventh Mountain Resort
Seventh Mountain River Company ![]() Tubing on the Deschutes River at the Old Mill District
Visit Bend - Lake and River Activities Microbrewery-Hopping![]() Microbrew beer sampler
Did you know that as of 2012, Bend has more microbreweries per capita than any other city in the world? True! Bend has 14 microbreweries (and counting) serving a population of 78,000, a brewery for every 5,571 persons! If you love great, handcrafted beers, then Bend is your place! http://www.visitbend.com/Bend_Oregon_Activities_Recreation/Restaurants_Food/Brewpubs-Microbreweries/http://www.wanderlusttours.com/Bend_Brew_Bus.htm?m=51 http://www.cyclepub.com/ Sightseeing![]() Crater Lake National Park
One of the best ways to explore the beauty of Central Oregon is to spend a few hours driving to see some of the local sites. Here are some places worthy of exploration. They are listed in order from shortest trips, to longest. Nearby Locations to Visit
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