Animal of the Month

Happy October! We have a Pop Quiz!! Don't scroll yet!  

What is the world's fastest animal?

Do you know?? 

Most people would be able to guess that the African cheetah is the fastest animal in the world. (Hopefully you were one of them.) 

But the real question is about #2! 

Do you know the world's second fastest animal? It is also the fastest in North America... and it's a species that has been around for 20 million years. 

Do you know what it is yet??

This animal looks like a deer but is more closely related to the giraffe! 

Their eyesight is EIGHT times better than ours! 

Okay if you don't know it yet, I'll tell you. 

One of the coolest animals in central Oregon is the Pronghorn!

Photo from animalspot.net. Click the photo for more information.

They are one of the most beautiful and majestic animals in North America. They are also super fast! Their running pace is about the same as the speed limit on the Parkway though they can burst to about 65 mph. Though cheetahs and jaguars aren't chasing our Oregon Pronghorns, there are only about 1,000 left in the area. They love the wide open desert areas where they can roam and search for sagebrush, bitterbrush, wildflowers and more. 

Oregon Bitterbrush in the High Desert

Photo by vqronline. Click for more information. 

Look at the cool white stripes on their necks! Those stripes are a  beautiful and distinctive feature of the Pronghorn. While this group above may be migrating south for winter, Pronghorn Resort here in central Oregon stays open year-round! If you're looking to visit Bend soon, this is a great place to stay! 

We hope you are enjoying this change of season and change of pace. Keep an eye out for our friends the Pronghorn! 

What is 10th Month?

If you thought life in Bend was all about the outdoors, you're missing out! While we love our beer and bike rides, there is so much more! We also like to embrace the arts and have devoted an entire month to it. "Tenth Month" in Bend is a celebration of art, culture, film, tech, and business. This month-long series of events is definitely something you don't want to miss. A couple of events you don't want to check out:

• Bend Indie Film - 10/6-10/9
• Swivel Design Conference - 10/10-10/11
• Bend Venture Investment Conference - 10/13-10/14
• Bend Design Conference - 10/20-10/21
• TEDXBend Women - 10/29

Follow along and join in on the festivities! 

Then... drumroll... next month is Bend Ale Trail Month! Get a new passport or download the app and get started on the greatest beer tasting adventure you'll ever know! Complete the trail in November and win special prizes. 

Try Something New

With the first official day of fall coming this week, we'd like to share a list of a few new hobbies for you to try during the new season. The sun will be going down earlier and you need activities that will keep you interested through the cooler months of the year. This list is arranged by "required effort" from greatest to least. 

Rock Climbing: If you don't already rock climb, which if you live in Bend you probably do, ask anyone to take you on their next rock climbing trip. They're probably going tonight. While it's a great sport during the cooler months (you actually stick to rocks better - it's science), you can also start climbing in the gym. This is an all-body workout that will not only get you in great shape, but also keep you occupied for hours and days and years. 

Off-Duty Wanderlust Guides at Smith

Trail Running (or Trail Walking): The point is to get outside. Fresh air and quiet spaces are some of the best ways to start feeling better. It's a major plus if you can get in a workout at the same time! Skip the gym this week and head outside. Your body and spirit will thank you for it later.

Bike Riding: Go farther faster and get all the same great benefits of trail running - plus a bit of an adrenaline rush! We'd recommend booking a tour with Cog Wild. They'll make sure you have an amazing time. Hopefully you love it so much that you want to ride your bike everyday. And then, you'll start replacing your drives with bike rides and we're one step closer to saving the planet. Dreaming big here. 

Pie Baking: For those of you looking to bring the magic of fall straight to your kitchen. I don't know about you, but cooking and baking have always seemed like daunting tasks. All the measuring and setting timers were hard 

Beer Drinking: What? Is that a hobby? If you're in Bend it certainly is. There are so many types of beer; you really do need to try them all so you know what you like. The best way to learn about all the beer Bend has to offer is by completing the Bend Ale Trail. If you haven't been to all of them (where have you been?) get going! We offer the Bend Brew Bus as a great way to see four different breweries in an afternoon. There are new breweries popping up all the time - don't miss any! Speaking of new breweries, Immersion Brewing will be throwing their grand opening party next month! Get the details on their website or Facebook page. 

The Bend Brew Bus