Guidebook for Bend
Arts & Culture
The exhibits rotate here. Hands on for kids. I like this museum because it's about local history and animals.
284 locals recommend
High Desert Museum
59800 US-97The exhibits rotate here. Hands on for kids. I like this museum because it's about local history and animals.
This is the old school building. Cost is donation, run by volunteers. Lots of local stuff piled into this building.
29 locals recommend
Des Chutes Historical Museum
129 NW Idaho AveThis is the old school building. Cost is donation, run by volunteers. Lots of local stuff piled into this building.
Shopping
Down town offers a variety of places to eat and shops to poke into. The area is about 7 city blocks and on the West side is the river trail and a lovely park. Shops include card, elite running gear, shoes, oils and vinegars, jewelry, art, photography, handbags, clothing, locally made items, etc...
Restaurants: there are so many excellent ones. Two Thai, steakhouse, sushi, middle eastern, breweries, yum! Oh and food carts
11 locals recommend
Downtown Bend Library
601 NW Wall StDown town offers a variety of places to eat and shops to poke into. The area is about 7 city blocks and on the West side is the river trail and a lovely park. Shops include card, elite running gear, shoes, oils and vinegars, jewelry, art, photography, handbags, clothing, locally made items, etc...
Restaurants: there are so many excellent ones. Two Thai, steakhouse, sushi, middle eastern, breweries, yum! Oh and food carts
Lovely mall to stroll along right along the river. There is a beautiful bridge over the river. You can watch people floating on the river, or listen to concerts during the summer. There is frequently fairs and activities along the river. Numerous restaurants with seating along the water front.
292 locals recommend
Old Mill District
520 SW Powerhouse DrLovely mall to stroll along right along the river. There is a beautiful bridge over the river. You can watch people floating on the river, or listen to concerts during the summer. There is frequently fairs and activities along the river. Numerous restaurants with seating along the water front.
Bend Factory Stores
61334 S Hwy 97Not a big mall but great sales.
More of a local place. . We go there for Jamba Juice, Trader Joes, great meat at the grocery store, and Marshall's.
18 locals recommend
Cascade Village Shopping Center
63455 N Hwy 97More of a local place. . We go there for Jamba Juice, Trader Joes, great meat at the grocery store, and Marshall's.
Essentials
More a local place that a tourist place. Costco, Whole foods, dollar tree, safeway and Barns and Nobel book store.
Hola is an excellent Mexican restaurant, and Baldy's is a great BBQ place.
7 locals recommend
The Forum Shopping Center
2550 NE Hwy 20More a local place that a tourist place. Costco, Whole foods, dollar tree, safeway and Barns and Nobel book store.
Hola is an excellent Mexican restaurant, and Baldy's is a great BBQ place.
Food Scene
Great coffee and baked goods. Can't go wrong. We love their breakfast pockets along with a number of their sweeter options.
45 locals recommend
Nancy P's Cafe & Bakery
1054 NW Milwaukee AveGreat coffee and baked goods. Can't go wrong. We love their breakfast pockets along with a number of their sweeter options.
Local dive for huge home cooked type meals. You can easily share a meal. They charge a little extra to spilt a meal but they add extra hash browns or fries. I love their omelets. Their cinnamon rolls are huge and wonderful.
12 locals recommend
Jake's Diner
2210 US-20Local dive for huge home cooked type meals. You can easily share a meal. They charge a little extra to spilt a meal but they add extra hash browns or fries. I love their omelets. Their cinnamon rolls are huge and wonderful.
Their breakfast bagels are awesome. I love the bacon bagel. But you really can't go wrong.
44 locals recommend
Rockin' Dave's Bistro & Backstage Lounge
661 NE Greenwood AveTheir breakfast bagels are awesome. I love the bacon bagel. But you really can't go wrong.
Hard to find, but worth it. excellent fresh food. Traditional American dishes.
18 locals recommend
Palmer's Cafe
645 NE Greenwood AveHard to find, but worth it. excellent fresh food. Traditional American dishes.
There are two but we like the one on the West side. It's in a funky old grocery store. Great coffee. Healthy upbeat menu.
203 locals recommend
Jackson's Corner
845 NW Delaware AveThere are two but we like the one on the West side. It's in a funky old grocery store. Great coffee. Healthy upbeat menu.
A remodel house on the river. Nice selection on the menu, stuffed french toast, fruit, eggs, etc.. You can sit out on the lawn when the weather is nice or inside by the fireplace when it's cold.
123 locals recommend
McKay Cottage Restaurant
62910 O. B. Riley RdA remodel house on the river. Nice selection on the menu, stuffed french toast, fruit, eggs, etc.. You can sit out on the lawn when the weather is nice or inside by the fireplace when it's cold.
Sightseeing
They offer free tours but you want to go on line and reserve your spot, they fill up quickly. At the end is free sampling. We have taken kids on this tour. The facility is very Green, my kids loved hearing how they interact with the environment.
70 locals recommend
Deschutes Brewery
901 SW Simpson AveThey offer free tours but you want to go on line and reserve your spot, they fill up quickly. At the end is free sampling. We have taken kids on this tour. The facility is very Green, my kids loved hearing how they interact with the environment.
This Butte is in town and offers wonderful views on clear days. You can drive or walk up. At the top is a sun dial with all the butte's and mountains marked with the distance away they are. A nice place to take breakfast of dinner and watch the sun rise or set. It is closed during winter due to icy roads.
141 locals recommend
Pilot Butte
This Butte is in town and offers wonderful views on clear days. You can drive or walk up. At the top is a sun dial with all the butte's and mountains marked with the distance away they are. A nice place to take breakfast of dinner and watch the sun rise or set. It is closed during winter due to icy roads.
Parks & Nature
The city is working on making this a continuous trail from Sun River through Bend. It is currently in 5 segments. Some are pave and flat, perfect for wheelchairs, others are dirt and a climb. look up deschutes river trail, Bend Park and Rec for details on each segment. Absolutely beautiful.
64 locals recommend
Deschutes River Trail
Deschutes River TrailThe city is working on making this a continuous trail from Sun River through Bend. It is currently in 5 segments. Some are pave and flat, perfect for wheelchairs, others are dirt and a climb. look up deschutes river trail, Bend Park and Rec for details on each segment. Absolutely beautiful.
Entertainment & Activities
You can rent a tube and life jackets at the park and float the river. A favorite activity when it's warm. A total local favorite activity. You will see air mattresses, paddle boards, tubes, etc, ice coolers floating behind. Definitly go to the Bend Park and Rec "floating the river" web site for safety, map, and other great information like shuttle bus.
47 locals recommend
Riverbend Dog Park
799 SW Columbia StYou can rent a tube and life jackets at the park and float the river. A favorite activity when it's warm. A total local favorite activity. You will see air mattresses, paddle boards, tubes, etc, ice coolers floating behind. Definitly go to the Bend Park and Rec "floating the river" web site for safety, map, and other great information like shuttle bus.
This is our public fitness center. Indoor and out door pools, weights, child care, fitness classes. Wonderful facility. Go to the web site for cost, hours, classes.
31 locals recommend
Juniper Swim & Fitness Center
800 NE 6th StThis is our public fitness center. Indoor and out door pools, weights, child care, fitness classes. Wonderful facility. Go to the web site for cost, hours, classes.
Ice skating and Hockey at this outdoor covered venue. Go to web site for hours and prices. Weekends and evenings are crowded so if you have a choice choose weekdays.
26 locals recommend
The Pavilion
1001 SW Bradbury DrIce skating and Hockey at this outdoor covered venue. Go to web site for hours and prices. Weekends and evenings are crowded so if you have a choice choose weekdays.
A fun spot on the river to watch or try. This feature was a bonus that was put in a few years ago when the city improved the safety along this segment of the river. There is a small section when suffers go to practice. I see them there all year. It's fun to watch from the bridge.
36 locals recommend
Bend Whitewater Park
166 SW Shevlin Hixon DrA fun spot on the river to watch or try. This feature was a bonus that was put in a few years ago when the city improved the safety along this segment of the river. There is a small section when suffers go to practice. I see them there all year. It's fun to watch from the bridge.