Surviving Winter in Central Oregon

Winter came in full force this year! Bend schools experienced 5 snow days and Bend sat under more snow than it has in a long time. Then, on February 2nd, Punxsutawney Phil told us we would have 6 more weeks of winter!! As you can imagine, most of us here at Wanderlust Tours love winter. We also love summer and spring and fall (but we're not talking about that today). In case you were starting to feel like there was too much snow this winter or that it was lasting too long, we're here to provide you with a short bucket list. "Things to do before spring is here" in Bend, Oregon. 

1. Stop and smell the ... TREES

For real. These Ponderosa pines are full of that yummy vanilla/butterscotch scent that will have you sniffing every tree along the trail. If anyone gives you a funny look, just invite them to sniff with you! 

2. Don't flip out!

Spring and summer will be here soon enough... but there's so much to love about winter! Strap on snowshoes and go for a hike. Join us for 

3. Go High!

When visitors come to town, Pilot Butte is the first place I take them (on a clear day). There's something really helpful about knowing where you are. When you see the geography of the land from above, it gives you perspective. And it's really pretty. Get yourself up to Pilot Butte for one of the best views in the city. Plus, it's apparently the best place for a selfie in Bend. For real, it won an award from the Source.

4. And Low..

Don't stop at the mountain peaks! Exploration awaits in Bend's underground lava tubes. Volcanic eruptions oozed out lava all over central Oregon and left us with tunnels waiting to be discovered. Join our Lava Cave Tour and we'll equip you with a light and a helmet and show you the amazing wonder of the underworld. No crawling required (but we think it's a blast!)

5. Go play outside!

Remember when you were young and your parents just wanted you to go play outside?! Maybe it was just because you were driving them crazy... but they may have been looking out for your health too. Spending time in nature is scientifically proven to lighten your mood and enhance positivity. If just being outside is good for you, can you imagine what a place like Tumalo Falls would do for your brain?!  

So there you have it! 5 tips for beating the winter blues. We can't wait to see you adventuring out there. 

A Wanderlust Valentine's!

Something pretty interesting happened on our Shoes, Brews, & Views Snowshoe Tour last Saturday and I asked one of our guides, Chaney, to share about his experience.

"One of my favorite parts of being a Naturalist Guide here at Wanderlust is that every single trip has the potential for wonder in many forms. Light changes, the weather shifts, and the group of fellow explorers is always different. Last Saturday, everything conspired to create a truly memorable trip out into the snow on Kapka Butte.

Our group had just completed our climb up the side of the cinder cone where we stopped for a break with a marvelous view west towards Mt. Bachelor. Blue skies made for a most photogenic moment, and everyone was posing for pictures at the geographic high point of our journey. Suddenly, gasps drew my attention to one couple in particular, where a man had just knelt down on one knee and was proposing to his girlfriend. She said yes, and our scenic vista transformed into a joyous overlook and a fine beginning to the Valentine’s weekend. We, of course, congratulated the couple, then celebrated with the “brews” portion of our Shoes, Brews, and Views trip.

Eventually, the time came for us to descend and leave our view behind. Final photos were posed for, but once more they weren’t all simply your average photos. For the second time, gasps led me to turn and see another proposal in action! The romantic question was again met with a resounding yes, the future husband and wife embraced, and we jumped right back into our congratulatory spirit. In a span of 30 minutes I’d gone from zero proposals on my trips to two! The two men, who I’m sure had nervously checked their pockets all the way up to make sure the rings were still there, joked with one another, making light of the fact that their engaging intentions had unwittingly but happily shared the same sunlit forest high on Kapka Butte.

I’m not usually one for selfies, but it was too momentous of a trip to pass on a group photo. We bunched up, smiled for the camera, and began our hike back through the snow with beaming smiles all around. It was an unforgettable adventure and an afternoon I’ll always think back on when I see Kapka Butte. Congratulations to both of the happy couples!"

A Capella Festival

What do you know about a cappella? I have seen Pitch Perfect and I listen to Pentatonix at Christmas so I though I knew about a cappella. Then the Bend A Cappella Festival came to Bend last year and I was blown away by how much I didn't know! Well, it's back again this weekend: February 10-12, and I don't want you to miss out! The Bend A Cappella Festival brings in the best musicians to perform, educate, compete and entertain! It's an amazing opportunity for aspiring artist to learn and for interested viewers to enjoy! Tickets are selling out quickly so go sign up today!   

The headliner for the event will be Naturally 7!  Naturally 7 has a distinct a cappella style they call "vocal play." With the unique ability to blend their rich harmonies and replicate the sound of instruments, Naturally 7 have gone from quiet success in Europe to the world stage. Their music incorporates a range of styles from R&B to pop, gospel to jazz. The groundbreaking "Ready II Fly" CD featuring the now famous Paris subway YouTube hit, "Feel It (In the Air Tonight)" led to the much-coveted opening slot for Michael Bublé introducing their ground-breaking style to over 4 million people worldwide. They have been invited to perform at the prestigious Royal Variety Performance, the TED conference, BET Honours and at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Week celebrations to mention a very few. Naturally 7 has also teamed up with Quincy Jones and Ludacris for Quincy's CD, "Soul Bossa Nostra."  The group has released 10 CD's to date with their most recent being "Hidden in Plain Sight." 

The Tower Theatre Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission it is to be Central Oregon's leading performing arts organization.  They work to provide cultural and educational programs that make essential contributions to the region's lifestyle and strength of community. Located in our beautiful downtown, the Tower Theatre is the crown jewel of the performing arts community in vibrant Bend, OR. This acoustically brilliant space features 460 seats, and has become Bend's most sought after venue for local, regional, national and international performers.

Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to watch, learn, enjoy, and/or perform! It's happening this weekend! Now go, buy your tickets right now! And then come practice your new singing skills inside a lava tube!