Things to Eat, Do, and See in Bend, Oregon

Written By Lindsay Gilmore

Hi friends! Tourist season is upon us here in Bend, so I thought I'd put together a list of my family's favorite restaurants, shops, trails, etc. for anyone planning to visit! Let's get into it…

Coffee/Brunch

Lunch

  • Active Culture: our kids' favorite spot! There's an indoor AND outdoor play area and lots of yummy bowls and smoothies.

  • Americana: the best smash burger you'll ever have in your life and it's only $8.

  • The Grove: a great food hall with lots of yummy options. 

  • Spork: globally-inspired yumminess.

  • Jackson's Corner: cute restaurant/grab-and-go market.

Dinner

Tap Houses with Food Trucks

  • On Tap: our family's go-to. over on the east side and a very local feel!

  • Midtown Yacht Club: also on the east side, also very local feeling. great vibes!

  • The Lot: head here after floating the river. 

  • The Podski: home of the Americana Food Truck (see above in the “lunch” section). They also serve GIANT beers here. :)

  • The Bite: technically in Tumalo. Stop here to or from a visit to Sisters!

Breweries/Cocktails 

  • Silver Moon Brewing: one of my favorites! I love their beer and off-the-radar vibe.

  • Bevel Brewing: also a little off the radar on the east side. great beer, great food trucks, and lots of space if you have a big group!

  • Bend Brewing Company: they have a LOVELY spot right on the river and some great beer.

  • Sunriver Brewing: LOVE their IPAs and Pales.

  • Dogwood: delicious cocktails and some yummy food trucks.

  • Flamingo Room: yummy cocktails and PLANTS EVERYWHERE. 

Around Town

  • Float the river!: grab a tube and put in at Riverbend Park, hop out at Drake Park. 

  • High Desert Museum: sweet museum with lots of animals. my kids love it! p.s. you can find my prints, cards, puzzles, and stickers in the gift shop. :)

  • Farmers Markets! There's one Downtown on Wednesdays and one in Northwest Crossing on Saturdays

  • Stroll and shop through Downtown, The Old Mill, or Northwest Crossing (see shop recommendations below!)

  • Catch a concert at Hayden Homes Amphitheater.

  • Keep your eye out for special events or festivals. I recommend subscribing to The Bend Buzz for all the latest!

Shopping

  • Vanilla: my go-to for clothes! my studio is basically across the street, which is very dangerous.

  • Evrgreen: another super cute clothes shop downtown!

  • The Workhouse: a hub for local artists and makers! you can find a huge selection of my work here!

  • Staghorn Mercantile: super cute downtown shop with affordable gifts, plants, homegoods, etc. you can also find my prints here! 

  • Somewhere that's Green: the plant shop of all plant shops

  • Iron Horse: my favorite vintage/second-hand store!

  • Iris and Stout: the cutest shop run by my friend Chelsea!

  • Want to find my work around town? Here's a list of all the shops that carry it! Or! Come by the studio! We're on the second floor of the Old Mill District above the Sisters Coffee. :)

Playgrounds/Parks

  • Drake Park: huge park right downtown with tons of walking paths around the river/grassy areas to hang out.

  • Columbia Park: my kids lovingly call it “Pirate Ship Park”. Pair this one with a trip to Active Culture for lunch.

  • Harmon Park: my kids call this one “Boat Park”. Pair it with lunch or beers at The Lot after a float down the river.

  • Farewell Bend Park: start at the Old Mill and walk the loop around the river with a stop here for the kids.

  • Alpenglow Park: this one has a splash pad!!

Hikes

(There’s a new permit system for many of the hiking areas. Be sure to check if the hike you’d like to do is permitted and book ahead accordingly)

  • Deschutes River Trail: a gorgeous 4 mile hike right along the river from the Old Mill District. I jog this one multiple times a week. If you see me, say hi! :)

  • Pilot Butte: a quick and steep in-town hike with panoramic views from the top!

  • Green Lakes: 9 miles roundtrip with beautiful river views and crazy mountain landscapes

  • Canyon Creek Meadows: Beautiful wildflowers en route to base of 3 Fingered Jack with stunning views

  • Broken Top/NoName Lake: Incredible geology and panoramic views. Make sure to go up the moraine at the end for a breathtaking view. We've never attempted the road to get to the Broken Top Trailhead…we usually do this one as a trail run starting from the Todd Lake trailhead.

  • Moraine Lake: steep one with an incredible payoff. Gorgeous views of South Sister and Broken Top!

  • Tumalo Mountain: quick and steep climb for glorious views of the mountains!

  • Tumalo Falls: You can reach the falls basically right from the parking lot (good for little kids or older family members who can't hike far). Continue up the trail as long as you'd like for repeated, stunning waterfalls.

  • Misery Ridge: Crazy quad burner at Smith Rock with incredible views

  • Todd Lake: Short walk around a beautiful lake in the mountains. A GREAT one for kids!

Mountain Bike Rides

Beginner

Intermediate/Advanced

Sites

  • Sparks Lake: Stunning views of South Sister across emerald lake near Bachelor

  • Elk Lake: Another gorgeous lake to paddle or hang out by! There's a resort here as well as some hiking trails.

  • Suttle Lake: Beautiful lake with one of our favorite post-hike hangs at the lodge. The food, drink, and views are the best.

  • Paulina Lake Hot Springs: Huge Caldera with cute, rustic lodge and beautiful views and natural hot springs.

  • Lava Lands Visitor Center: Paved Trails in lava flow with stunning views and interesting geology. Lava Tubes are super fun to explore.

  • Crater Lake: Stunning national park south of town

And that’s what I got, folks! This is just the tip of the iceberg…there are SO many amazing things to do and see here in Central Oregon. But I hope this list at least gets you started! Thanks for visiting (both Bend and my website!) and hope you have a lovely trip. :)

Much love & respect,

Lindsay Gilmore
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