Day Trips from Bend

Once a month we give you the opportunity to hear from some of our staff about what they do when they're not out on tour or booking activities in the office. This week, Bethany is sharing about two of her recent favorite getaways in Oregon. She has some pretty amazing pictures to accompany her advice. 

Here in the Wanderlust office, we often get people asking for recommendations on what to check out. We all have our favorite suggestions to make: Benham Falls, Tumalo Falls, Smith Rock, one of the Cascade lakes, Pilot Butte, one of the many breweries in town, shopping at the Old Mill, etc. The list of awesome, easily accessible spots goes on and on and on. And that’s definitely part of what makes Central Oregon so great!

Sometimes it seems like I send people to the same places over and over. I even find myself visiting places repeatedly. Recently, I’ve been trying to explore a little further outside of town. So for those willing to drive a little extra, here are a couple of day adventures you can take from Bend.

About 2 hours northeast of town lies the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.

The John Day Fossil Beds are by no means an unheard of destination; to be sure, many people head out to visit them. I finally made it out myself not too long ago and it definitely made me realize I shouldn’t be shying away from pointing people this direction if they’re looking for something to do.

The Painted Hills are quite stunning. There are several short hikes in this area that take you around and through the various formations. This trip is friendly to explorers of all ability levels.

The colors in the hills are the result of various mineral deposits from the area's tumultuous volcanic past. The red comes partly from iron oxides while the yellow is caused by reduced iron. 

A little bit more off the beaten path is a place called Crack in the Ground. This neat slot canyon is also about 2 hours from town located near Christmas Valley. Be advised that the last 7 or so miles of road heading north from Christmas Valley got rough in a few stretches.

Crack in the Ground is about 2 miles long and is formed by rock deep underground spreading apart. This causes the weak basaltic rock at the surface to crack apart. Normally fractures like this fill in with soil and debris but the arid climate and general rocky nature of the area have kept this canyon intact.

There are stretches of it that are quite easy to explore and a few sections that require a bit of scrambling and maneuvering. My favorite part of exploring the canyon was that it provided an escape from the heat of the day. It was significantly cooler, especially in the deeper sections. 

These are just two ideas from tons of day trip options. Let us know if you have any favorite destinations!

What is that?!

When you visit Bend, don't overlook the small stuff! Of course you're going to want to see the majestic mountains, cascading waterfalls, and rushing rivers... but there is so much more! We hope you enjoy this glimpse into some of the smaller life in Central Oregon.

Jewell Lichen and Wolf Lichen - Lichens are a symbiotic relationship between fungus and algae getting most of their nutrients from the clean air of Central Oregon.

Douglas Spirea - Nature's cotton candy that does a lot more than look pretty.

Subalpine Fir - They've acclimated so well to growth in higher elevations. Their shape and the way they reproduce have kept them strong in the harsh winter months.

Osprey - These birds are always cruising over water searching for the next fish to catch. How you know it's an Osprey? White underside (hard to see here because of the shadow) and that unique crook in their wings.

Screech Owl - Do you remember when Archimedes was found in our parking lot? Our friends at Coffman Vision Clinic spotted the injured owl and brought her to our office. We are so grateful for the hard work ofThe High Desert Wildlife and Rehabilitation Center. They were able to bring her back to health and set her free in the wild. 

Western Toad - How adorable is this tiny little guy?! If you hike Todd Lake in the summer, step carefully and you should see quite a few hopping across the path!

Garter Snake - Look at those amazing colors!! These snakes are harmless and even help out in the garden. Look for them along the Deschutes River (that's where this guy was found).

Find out more information like this by joining one of our naturalist guided tours or read about the Nature of Bend in LeeAnn Kriegh's book! (We sell it in our office!)

A Perfect Summer Day

Summer is in full swing in Bend, OR. The daytime temperatures are heating up, each weekend hosts concerts, festivals, and activities at the Les Schwab Amphitheater, and there is so much to do you just might be overwhelmed with choices. The truth is, you can't go wrong. Whether you choose to mountain bike at Phil's Trail everyday or hang out and read at Dudley's Bookshop Cafe, we're quite certain you're going to love Bend. 

So here, for your enjoyment (and mine), I'm putting together what I think is the perfect summer day. Please keep in mind that this is a REALLY difficult task because there is so much to do and it cannot all be done in one day! I strongly advise planning your second trip before you come on your first because you probably won't be able to get it all done. 

First off, breakfast at Jackson's Corner. If you're staying anywhere near downtown Bend, it's a short walk to the cutest neighborhood restaurant who prides themselves on serving seasonally inspired items that are sourced locally and organically whenever possible. They open their doors at 7AM so you can get an early start to your packed day. 

After filling the body with coffee and fresh eats, head out on the Cascade Lakes Highway to your next destination: Benham Falls. Bring your camera, hike around, and enjoy being out in the forest. Bring your pup to the trail too! (Don't forget to clean up after him/her!) Dogs do need to be leashed throughout the summer on these trails, but they will love being outside with you!! Read the posted information along the trails to learn about the area and watch for professional kayakers cruising down the river. 

As the afternoon starts to warm up, you're going to be ready to cool off. It's time to head down to a different part of the Deschutes River. First, a Wanderlust Tours favorite lunch stop is Pihuamo's Tacos on S Hwy. 97 (also called 3rd Street). It's quick, inexpensive, and has some seriously delicious tacos and burritos. Drive on down to the river with your floating device and jump in! Here are full instructions and safety on how to float the river. 

Photo from BendSource.com

After you dry out, the Wednesday Farmer's Market is a great place to taste and purchase all the most delicious fresh fruit of summer. It's conveniently located directly next to Drake Park which provides for people (and duck) watching and walking along the peaceful river. 

Next up, dinner at Wild Rose -- amazing Northern Thai food in a cute, eclectic restaurant. My personal favorite is the Kow Pad Boo (fried rice with Dungeness crab) and Thai iced tea. If it's the First Friday of the month, downtown is the place you want to be to walk around after dinner. 

And the icing on the cake: Moonlight Canoe Tour. End your perfect Bend day with a canoe tour under the light of the moon or stars, any night of the month. You'll learn about the surrounding area, look for wildlife in the forest, and enjoy hot cocoa or beer from Deschutes Brewery, and dessert from Sparrow Bakery. 

This could be you!! 

 Hope you have an amazing sumer! Tell me how it goes! 

Written by Casey
Marketing Mngr at Wanderlust