All year-round, there is much to do while visiting Bend, from attending local, regional or national events such as Bend Farmers Market, the Wheeler County Bluegrass Festival, Wells Fargo Bend Summer Concerts or Old Fashioned July 4th Celebration, to visiting fitness, spas and massage venues, or the indoor skateboarding Park.

Bend is a city with entertaining for the entire family, having fun with amazing outdoor events, and world-class activities, such as biking, hiking, golfing, or skiing, among many, many others. The Pedicab service offers downtown transportation, with scenic and historic tours.

This unique Bend’s Cycle Cab service (phone (541) 408-6363) is your ticket to special event entertainment. For family-fun entertainment, Acrovision Sports Center offers martial arts, gymnastics and climbing wall at 63255 Jamison Rd., phone (541) 388-5555.

Speaking of sports, those people who like them can visit Bend Elks Baseball; just sit outdoors at historic Vince Genna Stadium, SE 5th and Roosevelt Ave. phone (541) 312-9259. Here you can watch and enjoy the best old-fashioned baseball the way it used to be played in past times.

However, nature is the trademark of Bend, a city with a large number of parks, trails, golf courses, indoor and outdoor multi-sports facilities. Bend’s Metropolitan Park and Recreation District manages around 48 miles of trails and 71 parks, including other venues for recreational activities such as the following:

- Bend Theatre for young people, phone (541) 419-1395

- Central Oregon Indoor Soccer Center, 20775 High Desert Ln.

Located in Northeast Bend in the Brinson Business Park, phone (541) 330-1183

- Children’s Music Theater Group, 20 NW Greenwood Ave., phone (541) 385-6718

- Central Oregon Skateboarding Union Local 5-0, 1331 NE 1st St., phone (541) 388-0121

- Central Oregon Indoor Sports Center, 20795 High Desert Ln.

Located in Northeast Bend in the Brinson Business Park, phone (541) 388-3808

If you prefer the adventure, take a train, but not a common one. The Crooked River Dinner Train (phone (541) 548-8630) , running from Redmond to Bend, is a 1800’s Western theme train that features entertaining activities, including murder mystery and line action with cowboy cook-outs, train robberies, and wagon train rides.

Golf enthusiast will find convenient locations with a large number of facilities and amenities, including championship courses, practice areas, stunning views, full service restaurant and bar, as well as challenging natural hazards. The following is an overview of some of the Golf facilities available at Bend:

- Aspen Lakes Golf Course, 16900 Aspen Lakes Dr., Sisters, phone (541) 549-GOLF-4653

- Awbrey Glen Golf Club, 2500 NW Awbrey Glen Dr., phone (541) 385-6011

- Bend Golf & Country Club, 61045 Country Club Dr., phone (541) 322-5771

- Black Butte Ranch, 8 miles west of Sisters off Hwy 20, phone (541) 595-1500, 800-399-2322

- Crooked River Ranch, 5195 NW Clubhouse Rd., Crooked River Ranch, phone (541) 923-6343, 800- 833-3197

- Eagle Crest Resort Golf Courses, 68397 Cline Falls Rd., Redmond, phone (541) 923-5002, 877-818-0286

- Kah-Nee-Ta Golf Course, 6823 Hwy 8, Warm Springs, phone (541) 553-1112, 800-554-4786

- Lost Tracks Golf Course, 60205 Sunset View Dr., phone (51) 385-1818

- Meadows Golf Course-Sunriver Resort, One Center Dr., Sunriver, phone (541) 593-1000, 800-547-3922

- River’s Edge Golf Course, 400 NW Pro Shop Dr., phone (541) 389-2828, 800-547-3928

- Widgi Creek Golf Course, 18707 SW Century Dr., phone (541) 382-4449

- Woodlands Golf Course-Sunriver Resort, One Center Dr., Sunriver, phone (541) 593-1000, 800-547-3922

Of particular interest, is the Quail Run Golf Course, a semi-private facility built in 1991, designed by Jim Ramey, and ranked the number two 9-hole golf course in the United States, according to the Golf Digest Magazine. Located at 16725 Northridge Dr., La Pine, phone (541) 536-1303, 800-895-4653,

Quail Runhas wide, tree-lined fairways and small greens. Because this course is located near Newberry National Volcanic Monument, the terrain is hilly and very scenic with some uneven lies. Water hazards come into play on at least 3 different occasions, and the season is open from May 15 to November 15.

Other attractions in Bend include whitewater rafting, skiing, snowboarding, and mountain biking. In fact, the Bicycling Magazine named Bend number one for riding. Once arriving to Bend you will find that bikes can be rented on nearly every corner, including on mountains and parks.

Phil’s Trail System has put Central Oregon on the Mountain biking map with its more than 300 miles of single and double track trails forming a triangle, with a difficult level ranging from easy to arduous. However, access is only available to bikes and a Northwest Forest pass is required to park at the trailhead.

Mount Bachelor is Bend’s center of winter and summer activities, taking a lift ride to its 9,065-foot summit, biking its Nordic Trails, hiking with the US Forest Service Naturalist, or Horseback Riding and Rock Climbing.

China is the world’s fourth largest country for inbound tourism. The number of overseas tourists was 50 million in 2008. Foreign exchange income was 41.9 billion U.S. dollars, the world’s fifth largest in 2007. Local China travel tourists totaled 1.61 billion, with a total income of 777.1 billion yuan. Absolute China Tours is one of China’s most renowned travel agencies, offering customized and pre-packaged China Tours for individuals, groups and families.

Bend Oregon History

We can easily say that Bend’s history dates back to the early 19th century, when only Native Americans, who found the right setting for hunting and fishing, knew the region. It was not until the winter of 1824, when members of a fur trapping party were led to visit this region, guided by Peter Skene Ogden.

Skene Ogden was a Canadian explorer of the American West, later credited for his expeditions exploring the part of the states of Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. Farewell Bend, the name originally given to this region, remained uninhabited for several years after those early expeditions.

Later, Dr. John Strong Newberry, John C. Fremont, and other American military officers and explorers, arrived to the region, heading farther west, and went through the area and next forded the Deschutes River at Farewell Bend. All those pioneers explored the area but no settlement was recorded during the 1800s.

The railroad service hastened the start of 2 pine sawmills on either side of the river, south edge of Farewell Bend, staying as a rough-hewn mill region, until the turn of the century when the first settlers arrived here, lead by the hand of Alexander M. Drake,

Drake was the founder of the Pilot Butte Development Company. Pilot Butte is an extinct volcano located in Bend, and one of only two extinct volcanoes located within the boundaries of an American city. The other extinct volcano located of this kind is also located in Oregon but is Mount Tabor, Portland.

The small community developed around the bend in the river was incorporated to the Pilot Butte Development Company in 1904 by a general vote of the 300 residents living in the region. By January 4, 1905, Bend had 500 inhabitants, held its first official meeting as a city, and incorporated municipality, appointing A. H. Goodwillie as the first mayor.

On April 27, 1905, the first fire occurred, destroying the O’Kane Saloon, after a revolver was fired accidentally while its owner was sleeping on a billiard table at the saloon. Community Volunteers had to battle the fire using wet blankets, but the loss to the saloon was $4,000. Later that year, Bend received its first fire protection system costing $1,395.50,

Bend became the county seat of Deschutes County in 1917 from the western half of Crook County, On February 24, 1919, by resolution of the City Council, Bend’s Fire Department was formed, and in 1927, the Pilot Butte State Park was acquired by the city covering nearly the entire Pilot Butte plus 100 acres.

In 1929, Bend amended the charter adopting the manager and council form of government, while Pilot Butte became a popular hiking venue that requires an ascent of 511 feet to reach the top, with an elevation of 4,130 feet above sea level.

Bend’s original settlement was known as Farewell Bend, but the US Postal Service, established in 1910, renamed the city as only Bend, a shortened form of the former name. Bend, is home to David Stoliar, the sole survivor of an attack on the Struma, a ship carrying Jewish refugees from the holocaust, sailing from Romania to Palestine in 1942.

From the middle 1950s to the present, visionary leaders began to develop a small tourism trading that eventually became a major resort industry, after the establishment of Mount Bachelor’s ski in the 1970s.

The economy model of the city left aside the timber in the 1980s. Since then, the city has developed into the top tourism destination and favorite retirees getaway that Bend is today, as one of the fastest growing city’s in the United States, home of many major national companies, including the following top employers listed by EDCO as of 2005:

- St. Charles Medical Center, 2,337 employees

- Bright Wood Corporation, 1,466 employees

- Les Schwab Tire Center, 1,142 employees

- Sunriver Resort, 870 seasonal employees

- Mt. Bachelor, Inc., 750 seasonal employees

- T-Mobile, 674 employees

- Beaver Motor Coaches, 654 employees

- iSKY, 625 employees

- Clear Pine Mouldings, Inc., 597 employees

- JELD-WEN Windows and Doors, 521 employees

- Eagle Crest Partners, Ltd., 500 seasonal employees

- Safeway, 490 employees

- Hap Taylor and Sons, 465 employees

- Bend Memorial Clinic, 460 employees

- The Lancair Company, 447 employees

- Wal-Mart, 445 employees

- Fred Meyer, 411 employees

- Woodgrain Millwork, 365 employees

- Black Butte Ranch, 350 employees

- Kah-Nee-Tah, 350 seasonal employees

From the times when the banks of the river were the gathering spot for Native American tribes, to the present, many companies has been established in this city, including Bend Research, Inc., Deschutes Brewery, IdaTech, LLC, American Licorice Company, Bend Linux Solutions, Columbia Aircraft of the Earth Clothing, Ruff Wear, and Full Circle Couriers, and more.

Bend Oregon Outdoors

The city of Bend is situated on the Deschutes River, just in the foothills of the majestic snow capped Cascade Mountains and Oregon’s High Desert, with dry temperatures and weather changing continually. Bend is a great city for outdoor activities, including at least 24 golf courses, among many other attractions and outdoors activities.

Great fun outdoors is provided by activities such as hiking, biking, fishing, boating, skiing and snowboarding. There is also a plethora of photographic panoramas wherever you look. A large number of Art galleries showcase top local and regional artists, in the middle of natural landscapes.

If you like nature, hiking and biking trails will take you on, off, and throughout the city, approaching you to recreation and sport facilities for tennis, swimming and even dancing. Bend has excellent bakeries and restaurants so you can be confident you will find a venue to enjoy tasty dishes.

Outdoors at destination resorts in a zone of about a 25-mile radius; provide new and exciting opportunities to enjoy the city’s privileged temperature and location. Shopping at Bend is an exhilarating activity, featuring a charming old downtown, with one-of-a-kind shops, 3 large malls and one factory outlet mall.

Located in central Oregon, Bend is easily reachable by road or airline connections from Seattle, Portland, and the Redmond Airport, only 16 miles from a city which main attractions are closely related to its natural setting, requiring clothing for warm days and cool nights to have some fun outside.

Wearing a good pair of shoes for comfort, you can take any of its hiking trails or simply go down the streets of Bend discovering living art and culture on every corner. Do not forget your visor or hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, a water bottle and snacks if you are planning a getaway to the mountains, lakes or the Pilot Butte State Park.

Because fun outdoors is not limited to forest, rivers and blue skies prepare for the challenge of socializing at one of the many Bend’s Coffee Houses, with nice people, delicious desserts and live music most of the time. Some of the most popular are:

- Balay, (541) 389-6464

- Be-Bop Biscotti, (541) 598-3043

- Bellatazza, (541) 318-0606

- Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, (541) 312-8115

- Bend Mountain Coffee, (541) 317-4881

- Big O Bagels, (541) 317-3924

- Blue Sparrow Bakery, (541) 330-6321

- Chocolat Et Gateaux, (541) 318-8457

- Cold Stone Creamery, (541) 318-8757

- DiLusso Coffee, (541) 312-4036

- Goody’s Soda Fountain & Candy, (541) 389-5185

- Great Harvest Bread Company, (541) 389-2888

- Ka’va, (541) 330-5825

- La Piazza Café, (541) 788-8788

- Little Italy Gourmet Frozen Desserts, (541) 318-5552

- Nancy P’s Baking Company, (541) 322-8778

- Pegasus Gourmet Chocolates, (541) 330-2104

- Starbucks, (541) 382-9438

- The Village Baker, (541) 318-1054

- Third Street Coffeehouse, (541) 318-4504

Fine dinning and a joyful time at the city’s vibrant nightlife are another exciting activities outdoors, From BBQ (Barbecue) to Vegetarian restaurants, there is a large array of cuisine styles to choose from, including Italian, Mexican, French, Greek, Indian, Thai, Japanese and Gourmet.

There are also venues serving specialty cuisine, including Desserts, Pizza, Steak, Sushi, Seafood, Whether for takeout, delivery, catering, or on-site, for breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner, and even buffet, to eat all that you can. However, the taste of Bend is the American cuisine style, served at venues such as:

- Alpenglow Cafe, (541) 383-7676

- Applebee’s, (541) 318-5720

- Baldy’s Barbeque, (541) 385-7427

- Bernie’s BBQ, (541) 330-0227

- Black Bear Diner, (541) 312-8327

- Deschutes River Grill & Pizza, (541) 389-9600 ext. 290

- Jake’s Diner, (541) 382-0118

- Kasey’s Texas Style Bar-B-Q, (541) 389-0830

- Kayo’s Roadhouse, (541) 317-1070

- Krista’s at Widgi Creek, (541) 382-4449

- McKay Cottage Restaurant, (541) 383-2697

- Mercury Diner, (541) 330-0037

- Newport Avenue Grill, (541) 318-4768

- Original Pancake House, (541) 317-0380

- Outback Steakhouse, (541) 383-8104

- Pilot Butte Drive-In, (541) 382-2972

- Pine Tavern Restaurant, (541) 382-5581

- Red Robin, (541) 382-9234

- Rustic River Bar & Grille, (541) 389-4499

- Sargent’s Cafe, (541) 382-3916

- The Breakfast Club, (541) 312-8393

- Tom Tom Diner, (541) 318-0049

- Tumalo Feed Company, (541) 382-2202

Accessing the city by highways, railways, and bus, this is your chance for an outdoors scenic experience. Otherwise, there are 3 air carriers serving to the closer airports, Delta Airlines, Horizon Air, and United Express, with daily direct flights from Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and Seattle.

Wherever you want to go, the Bend Visitor and Convention Bureau, is your best friend for getting information, maps and suggestions on what to do and see indoors or outdoors during your visit, shop souvenirs, or take a coffee break reading your email at its free public internet station.

Bend Visitor and Convention Bureau, 917 NW Harriman, Bend, 97701 USA

Toll-Free: 800-949-6086, Phone: (541) 382-8048, Fax: (541) 382-8568

Bend, Oregon

Arts & Culture

Bend is popular as a cultural city and the beauty and sophistication in performing arts and art exhibits only confirm the fame of .the most populated city in central Oregon, capital of the art scene, and home to renowned painters, writers, filmmakers, musicians, and other artists.

Visiting Bend is an opportunity to approach the varied, art galleries, museums, theaters and venues all over the city, featuring a variety of cultural events as large as Bend’s natural environment. Art events are scheduled all year-round, and the whole area is a permanent exhibit of history and natural wonders.

Cultural and self-guided tours include artwork in public places, such as a school of trout, a bronze grizzly, or a flock of migratory birds decorating Bend’s public places, and The Bend Heritage Walk, a tour through the historical sites on this walk. Maps and Booklets are available at the Bend Visitor Information Center or the Deschutes Historical Museum, phone (541) 389-1813.

Culture is also the heritage of the following Bend’s Museums:

Working Wonders Children’s Museum, 520 SW Powerhouse Dr. #624, phone (541) 389-4500

An interactive museum for kids to discover, explore and learn, playing within a creative environment.

High Desert Museum, 59800 S Hwy 97, Bend, phone (541)382-4754

A unique museum with indoor and outdoor exhibits, including animal habitats and nature trails.

Deschutes County Historical Museum, 129 NW Idaho Ave., phone (541) 389-1813

Featuring permanent exhibits depicting the history of Bend and Deschutes County.

Whatever could be you favorite venue, there are a large number of places to enjoy diverse performing arts, from the Bend Theatre for Young People, (phone (541) 419-1395) to the Central Oregon Symphony Orchestra. (phone (541) 317-3941), art and culture can be found all over the city.

Mockingbird Gallery is a place in which visitors to Bend can find bronze sculpture, original paintings, art glass and wood furniture designed by established artists, located at 869 NW Wall St Ste 100, phone (541) 388-2107. Other popular performing arts places include the following venues:

- The Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., phone (541) 317-0700

- Cascades Theatrical Company, 148 NW Greenwood Ave., phone (541) 389-0803

- Midtown Concerts and The Domino Room, 51 NW Greenwood Ave., phone (541) 388-1106

- Second Street Theater, 220 NE Lafayette Ave., phone (541) 312-9626

In addition, The Cascade Festival of Music is the largest cultural musical event in Bend and all Central Oregon, held at 505 NW Franklin Ave., phone (541) 382-8381. Optionally there are 3 Broadway musicals a year during the months of November, March and August, performed by Children’s and Teen’s Music Theatre Groups, phone (541) 385-6718.

Photography and art galleries have their own special place, featuring diverse artwork from local, national and international artists, including the following:

- Alpen Exposure, phone (541) 948-9619, landscaping photography

- Art Impressions Gallery, phone (541) 382-2354, art and framing

- Arte Divino Gallery and Studio, phone (541) 693-4876, contemporary fine art

- Artscape Northwest, phone (877) 330-6534, regional craftsmen showcase

- Blue Spruce Gallery and Pottery Studio, phone (541) 389-7745, clay art

- Emerald Bay Photography, phone (541) 771-6670, stock-images

- Glass Chameleon Gallery, phone (541) 385-0834 framing and art rentals

- Kebanu Gallery, phone (541) 389-3131 fine craft, gold and silver jewelry

- Lahaina Galleries, phone (541) 388-4404, original paintings, sculptures and limited edition prints.

- Lava Gallery, phone (541) 990-8624, hand-blown sculpture.

- Lubbesmeyer Fiber Studio, phone (541) 330-0840, representational landscape

- Mirror Pond Gallery, phone (541) 317-9324, art and fine craft by over 150 local artists.

- Obsidian Stock, phone (541) 771-6670, stock-photography

-Tumalo Art Co., phone (541) 385-9144, fine art collective

However, there are many other cultural resources that you will find when visiting Bend.

Furthermore, the city features numerous workshops, usually held during the summer months at inspirational places with an elevation of 3,400 feet, some of them gateways to the Cascade Mountains, motivating the development of natural skills.

Such workshops include the learning and practice of diverse painting styles such as acrylic, oil, colored pencil, watercolor, and pastel, as well as drawing techniques, mixed media and watermedia. For people who enjoy outdoor settings, some art workshops feature painting classes into the forest or near Bend’s close rivers and lakes.

However, for those who love the unconventional, Jill’s Wild Tasteful Women and Friends is an original art gallery renowned in all of Bend for its sense of humor. The gallery focuses on the work of Jill Neal’s and her voluptuous “Ladies with Attitude”, but also glass works, pottery, and jewelry,

Jill’s Wild Tasteful Women and Friends also features the work from artists friends, including Jeff Leedy’s “Art that makes you laugh”, and Jamie Perry’s “Whimsical Cats with Attitude”, collections that only a city like Bend could exhibit at a time. This gallery is located at 920 NW Bond St Ste 107, phone (541) 312-4335

Bend Oregon Restaurants