When people think of Oregon, they may think of Portlandia and Portland’s quirky “weirdness,” but there is actually so much to do in Oregon for families. From the lush Columbia River Valley to the gorgeous coast to the scenic Mt. Hood Area, it could take weeks or months to explore it all. Last summer, we decided to spend five days just exploring Central Oregon’s High Desert.
Located east of the Cascade Mountains, and part of America’s Great Basin, the high desert landscape varies from volcanic wastelands, to desert buttes, to beautiful lakes and rivers – making it a perfect destination for families that enjoy the outdoors.
Getting There
You can either fly into Redmond, just 15 miles outside the main city of Bend, or into Portland and make the three hour drive down to Bend. If you are flying into Portland, plan it so that you can at least see the famous Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge before winding your way through the forests around Mt. Hood toward Bend.
Where to Stay
While Bend is a hip city with plenty to do, if you are visiting with family you would probably prefer staying in Sunriver, a vacation community located just 15 miles south of Bend, just east of the Deschutes River and at the foot of Mt. Bachelor.
You can stay at the Sunriver Resort, or rent your own vacation home with Discover Sunriver Vacation Rentals. Whichever you choose, be sure to enjoy the amenities of a Sunriver vacation including family movie nights, live music in the village, 35 miles of bike paths, two swimming pools, 26 tennis courts, two parks, a Nature Center and Observatory, Riding Stables, Mavericks recreation center, and an expansive water park and recreation facility.
What to Do
If you can pull the kids away from the outdoor wonderland of Sunriver, there is much to explore just a short distance away.
- High Desert Museum– a good place to start is the High Desert Museum, located just a few minutes away between Sunriver and Bend on Route 97. This beautiful museum is situated on 135 acres and offers over 100,00 square feet of exhibit space, both indoors and out. Here you will learn about the area’s Native American heritage, as well as enjoy the “Spirit of the West” exhibit, where you can follow the path of early settlers that crossed the High Desert on the Oregon Trail. The very detailed dioramas that depict this trail are accompanied by living history actors that helped us understand what life was like in Oregon in the 1800s. Kids will also enjoying see the museum’s otter exhibit and outdoor living history ranch and sawmill, as well as gazing at the lynx and bobcat that have been rehabilitated by the museum.
- Lava Lands Visitor Center– to learn more about the ancient history, a stop at Lava Lands Visitor Center is a bit like a visit to the moon. Actually, this volcanic site was once used to train astronauts for landing on the moon. Seven thousand years ago, the 500-foot Lava Butte erupted, creating the lava flow we see today at the Lava Lands Visitor Center.
At the entrance gate, you will be given a timed entrance pass to the top of the Lava Butte. There are only 10 parking spots at the top of the cinder cone and therefore each car is allotted only 30 minutes at the top of the Butte. At the very top is a lookout building, with sweeping views of the mountains to the south, including Mt. Bachelor. When you are done, be sure to stop at the Visitor Center and take a hike out into the lava flow and if you are lucky, join in one of the Ranger talks.
- White water rafting– After a hot hike through the Lava Lands, you’ll enjoy cooling off on the Deschutes River. Families will enjoy rafting the Big Eddy with Sun Country Tours. But if your family is up for these Class 3+ rapids, you can also go tubing or stand up paddle boarding in Bend along the Deschutes River.
- Day trip to Crater Lake– If you are staying in Central Oregon, a day trip to Crater Lake National Park is a MUST DO. The lake is absolutely breathtaking and there is a different view from every angle so it is easy to spend the entire day driving around the lake and stopping at the many viewpoints. I’d highly recommend that you stop at the grocery store in Sunriver village and pack a picnic before you head out on the two-hour drive.
If you want to hike down to the lake’s edge or have booked tickets for a boat ride in advance, when you arrive you’ll want to make a left onto the East Rim Drive to Cleetwood Cove Trail, the only place that you can hike down to the water and the site of the boat launch. Just keep in mind that the hike back up is extremely steep. Even without going down to the water, there are so many beautiful views to enjoy. I’d also recommend the short hike at the Sun Notch Trail for a great view of the Phantom Ship rock formation.
- Go underground– Just down the road from Lava Lands is the Lava River Cave, where you can explore a mile long lava tube. However, if you are feeling more adventurous and want to see a lava tube without the artificial lighting and walkways, you can take a cave tour with Wanderlust Tours.
- Go hiking– There are so many great hikes in Central Oregon but an easy family hike is a walk out to Benham Falls from Sunriver or the trail entrance near Lava Lands. There isn’t a lot to see along the walk next to the river but the payoff is worth it with the powerful falls, which is more like a series of white water rapids. If you are up for something more strenuous, take a day trip to Smith Rock State Park for some more challenging hikes. For the adventurous, make arrangements with Smith Rock Climbing Guides for a family rock climbing lesson.
Where to Eat
The perk of renting a vacation home is the ability to save some money by cooking some meals at home. However, if you want to get out for a bite, here are some restaurants that I’d recommend:
- Sunriver Brewing Company– a family-friendly brewpub located in Sunriver Village
- Zeppas Bistro– located in the Caldera Springs section of Sunriver, Zeppas is a casual bistro serving pizza and paninis but the highlight is the sunset view over Mt. Bachelor from the patio
- Café Sintra– perfect for a hearty breakfast before heading out for a day trip
- The Terrebonne Depot– located across from Smith Rock State Park, this casual restaurant is trendy and delicious, but also family (and dirty climber) friendly (try the pork belly lettuce and tomato sandwich)
- The Pine Tavern — casual dining on the patio overlooking the beautiful Mirror Pond — but go early if you want a seat outside
- Victoria’s Cafe— voted the best breakfast in Bend
- 900 Wall — Modern American fine dining in Downtown Bend
If you are like me, you’ll wish you stayed even longer because there is so much outdoor fun in Central Oregon that the entire family can enjoy.
Note: Tamara’s stay in Central Oregon was hosted by Discover Sunriver Vacation Rentals and the Central Oregon Visitor’s Association but opinions are her own.