Just Around The Bend

For those of you who have never heard of Bend, thats okay, us either. That is until we were invited to a good friend’s wedding there. So of course we had to make a little trip out of it. And let us tell you, Bend is full of surprises! Booming with art, culture, good food, beautiful nature, and no shortage of activities…Bend is every bit as charming and adventurous as we could have hoped. As Bend is becoming more and more of a popular destination, we are excited to share our favorite spots and things to do.

This is a long one with lots of info, so if you’re only here for one thing, click the links below to jump ahead to the section you’re looking for!
Where is Bend
Getting There
Where To Stay
*The Oxford Hotel
*Bluebird Day Airbnb
*McMenamins Old St Francis School
The Fun Stuff
*Breweries
*Night Life
*Nature Adventure
Conclusion

*Disclaimer- We are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the parties below. We have provided links for your convenience, and do not receive any commission or incentives from them. These are our opinions solely based off our experience*

Where is Bend?📍

Getting There ✈️ 

Half the fun is getting there, isn’t it? Well not always, and definitely not for us. Which is why it is important to do your research and know all the information before booking your travel arrangements, as Bend can be a little tricky to get to. Our trip was pretty last minute, we did not have flexibility on dates due to the wedding and our work schedules, and our options were limited. We had to take three flights with some hefty layovers, but don’t let this scare you away from visiting Bend. Even with the long travel days it was definitely worth the trip. And you can plan ahead to make better travel arrangements than we did. Here is what we learned and everything you need to know:

When it comes to flying, there are two main airports that can be used. The closest airport and one we ultimately flew into is Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM). It is a small airport located about 20 minutes outside of Bend. It is serviced by American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Avelo Air, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines with direct flights to Burbank, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Portland, Santa Rosa, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle. Some of these destinations are only offered seasonally or on certain days of the week, so again, researching ahead of time is key if you are planning to fly into RDM.

The second option is the Portland International Airport (PDX). PDX is a large airport located about three and a half hours from Bend. It is serviced by 18 different airlines with over 70 nonstop destinations. Needless to say, you can get a flight to PDX fairly easily from nearly any region of the country.

Both of these airports have their pros and cons. If you choose RDM, Ubers are very easily accessible, and you are only a short 20 minute ride from the center of town, but flight options are limited. If you choose PDX, you will need to rent a car and embark on a 3.5 hour drive after already flying, however the drive is very scenic and can be a highlight of the trip, plus there’s an abundance of flight times and options to choose from. Price is also a factor. Smaller airports like RDM tend to be pricier than international airports like PDX, but flight prices are always changing and you just never know what you might find. Our biggest tip when booking flights is to use a site like Expedia to check prices for all possible dates and airports being considered, and then use that information to book your flight directly through the airline.

Ultimately, we preferred the option of flying right into RDM for the overall convenience of it. Once you finally make it to Bend, it is super easy to get around. The town is extremely walkable so restaurants, bars, and things to do are all easy to get to by foot. We did not have a car, so to access anything a bit further Uber was the easiest option, and we found an Uber was never more than a few minutes away. Biking is another great way to get around, and of course public transportation is an option as well.

Where To Stay 🏬🏡🏫

While we were only in Bend for a short amount of time, we had the pleasure of experiencing three different accommodations; The Oxford Hotel in downtown bend, an airbnb right outside of town, and McMenamins Old St Francis School. Each of these offered a different view of Bend and a vastly different experience.

The Oxford Hotel
The Oxford Hotel ( https://www.oxfordhotelbend.com/ ) is by far the most upscale of these options, which also comes at an upscale price. Don’t get us wrong, the hotel is stunning, and you certainly get what you pay for, but if ballin on a budget is your thing, this is not the hotel for you, skip to the next section. However if classy and refined eco-friendly luxury is your thing, and money is not a problem, read on!

What’s really cool about the Oxford is how eco-friendly it is. The hotel is run on 100% renewable energy and equipped with energy efficient heating, cooling, and mechanical systems. Recycled and sustainable materials are also used throughout the hotel to create the eco-chic vibes. This even extends to the guest suites which feature all natural mattresses, hypo allergenic and organic bedding, and eco friendly amenities throughout.

Speaking of amenities, there is no shortage with your stay. The Oxford’s restaurant, Roam, is fantastic. It boasts a seasonal menu with flavors from around the globe featuring fresh local ingredients. We especially enjoyed the small plates and craft beers. The Oxford also has a sauna, steam room, and hot tub, as well as a fitness center with Peleton Bikes. And if you need help getting around town, they even have complimentary cruiser bikes available to guests. The list goes on and on, so for a full list of everything the Oxford offers, head to their website linked above.

All in all the Oxford is a great stay with a wealth of amenities. It offers a nice retreat in the heart of town. Walkable to many popular destinations, it truly provides everything you could possibly want in a hotel. But ultimately, it was too expensive for us for an extended stay.

Bluebird Day Airbnb
We then spent two nights at a cute little airbnb situated right outside of town called Bluebird Day (https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/13348741). The two bedroom, one bath cottage sleeps up to six people and comes with all the basic amenities for a homey and cozy stay. It is modern enough to be comfortable but still manages to maintain its historic charm. The most memorable features are the high speed internet and the saltwater hot tub out back, perfect for relaxing or unwinding under the stars.

While Bluebird Day is right outside of town, it is an easy walk. We were pretty much able to get anywhere we needed to go on foot. The cottage also offers a pair of cruiser bikes with the rental, so these are available if you don’t feel like walking or need to get somewhere a bit further.

We found the cottage to be very reasonably priced. As with any airbnb, there are cleaning and service fees that should be accounted for, and the price can vary depending on the dates, but this can all be checked ahead of time using the property’s link above. Bluebird Day does require at least a two night minimum stay, so just keep that in mind. The best part about the price, though, is that it can easily be split between two couples or a group of friends, making it very affordable!

If you are looking for something more low key, budget friendly, and don’t care about things like an on site restaurant or access to a gym, this airbnb is a phenomenal choice.

McMenamins Old St Francis School
We spent our last (and best) night at McMenamins Old St Francis School Hotel (https://www.mcmenamins.com/old-st-francis-school). The Old St Francis School has SO MUCH to offer, so this is going to be a lengthy section. But we want to make sure we share just what makes this place so awesome and why this was hands down our favorite play we stayed (and drank, and hung out).

First and foremost, the whole idea of McMenamins in itself is awesome. To give a little more insight, here is a quote from their website; “McMenamins is a family-owned company in the Pacific Northwest serving our own handcrafted beer, wine, cider, spirits and coffee alongside good, honest pub fare since 1983. Steeped in art, history and a sense of place, locations range from neighborhood pubs to historic hotels where live music and history talks are the norm, and soaking pools, movie theaters and other fun prevail”. Basically they take old buildings, like an old school, and convert them into something awesome while still preserving the culture and history. And it doesn’t hurt that they brew their own drinks which are all delicious.

So back to their specific location in Bend, The Old St Francis School. Before diving too deep into the property and all it has to offer, here’s a map- we think its quite helpful!

There are five restaurants and bars on site. The Old St Francis Pub, O’Kane’s, Fireside Bar, The Theatre Bar, and last, but certainly not least, we have our top pick of bars; The Broom Closet! This secret speakeasy style bar is every bit as artsy and cool as we could’ve hoped. Although it is tiny (and we mean tiny), the atmosphere is great, the service and drinks are awesome, and the overall experience was 10/10.

If you don’t want to hit a bar or pub for a drink, you can always grab one of McMenamins canned brews available for purchase in the lobby. This was super convenient and we took advantage of this on multiple occasions. Their beers, wines, and ciders are top tier, so definitely don’t skip out on trying as many as you can!

Okay now for our FAVORITE part of staying at the Old St Francis School, the saltwater soaking pool. This was absolutely heavenly and so magical. The gorgeous tile art, stained glass windows, and architectural fountains create the most incredible ambiance. We were fortunate enough to have the entire place to ourselves for hours. We grabbed a few drinks from the lobby and head in to relax. Oh, and remember that theatre bar we mentioned earlier? Its right outside, so whenever you need a refill, its only a few steps away! The vibes in here are truly immaculate, and the photo ops even better.

Lastly, and to some people possibly more importantly, how are the rooms? The rooms are quirky and a definitely a little different, but in the best way possible. They are super cozy and fit the vibes of the whole place. They offer everything you could possibly want or need while transporting you into another place and time.

We could truly go on and on about The Old St Francis School. It is by far the most unique place we have ever stayed, and definitely one of our favorites. We found the price to be fairly reasonable, in between a budget hotel and upscale hotel. With so much offered right on property, this is a don’t miss if you are visiting Bend.

The Fun Stuff!🍻 

There is literally so much to do in Bend. Whether you’re a big foodie, art and culture buff, or nature and adventure are more your thing, there is something for everyone. As we mentioned earlier, we were in Bend for a wedding, so a good bit of our time was taken up with wedding events and festivities, but we used the free time we had wisely, and are excited to share a few of our top picks and recommendations for Bend!

Breweries
Bend is riddled with breweries, not that we’re complaining about that! It has so many, theres actually something called the “Bend Ale Trail” where you can use a passport to track your visits to all the different breweries throughout the area. There are different rules and actually some prizes too, so if you’re a big craft beer drinker, check out their website for the details: https://bendaletrail.com/. Our favorite of the breweries we visited was Worthy Brewing (https://www.worthybrewing.com/), located less than ten minutes outside of downtown. While the beers were delicious, and the food actually quite good as well, this brewery being our favorite has nothing to do with the brews, and everything to do with something called the hopservatory. This hopservatory is essentially a big metal silo perched on the roof containing a 16 inch research grade telescope. The whole thing is whimsical and incredible, perfect for dreamers and science lovers alike.

Below we are standing on the spiral stair case that leads up to the hopservatory after drinking maybe a few too many beers.

Night Life
If you prefer craft cocktails over beers, we loved Velvet (https://velvetbend.com/) in downtown Bend. This was our favorite late night spot. It got pretty popular into the evening, but was never so crowded that we had to wait forever for drinks or couldn’t get service. With two levels to explore, the wooden accents, touch of greenery, and funky furniture gave all the right vibes. And the best part is the convenient location; it’s easy to stumble back home after a night of fun.

Off Road Nature Adventure
I know we’ve used the word “favorite” quite a few times already, but when we say it this time, we really mean it. Our absolute, hands down, favorite thing we experienced during our trip to Bend was our off road ATV adventure with Octane Adventures (https://octaneadventures.com/). They offer a few different options for guided tours, but we opted for the self guided option.

We booked ahead online, so when it came time for our tour, all we had to do was show up. We took an Uber which was very easy. When we arrived at the meeting spot, an employee was waiting for us with our vehicle, goggles, and equipment. He explained to us how everything worked, told us about some of the best stops and viewpoints, and sent us on our way.

The vehicles have a large gps preloaded with all the trail maps, viewpoints, and destinations clearly marked. This made navigating a breeze. We decided on what we wanted to see, and hit the trails. We made three major stops along the way.

The best part of this tour is that we were able to experience all of these incredible sites just the two of us. There were no crowds, tour guides, or groups of tourists buzzing around us. While we did pass a few other vehicles on the trails, each stop we made, we had completely to ourselves. We also really enjoyed being able to do things at our own pace. We could drive as fast as we wanted, stay places and explore for as long as we wanted, and move on whenever we were ready. There is an option for a four hour or eight hour self guided tour. We elected to do the four hour and thought it was just the right amount of time, but if you have more time to spare, you could definitely pack a cooler a make a full day out of this.

We had an absolute blast on this adventure and would without a doubt recommend it to anyone visiting the area. For more on our amazing off road adventure, including pictures and videos, check out our tiktok here https://www.tiktok.com/@zach.and.lyss/video/7176702048216550702!

The Last One on Earth…
Bend is also home to the very last Blockbuster left on earth. It is still fully functional, so you can stop in and rent movies just like the good ol’ days. They also have a selection of merch and memorabilia for sale. It’s not anything outstanding to see, but for anyone around our age, its super nostalgic, and of course it’s the last one left on earth, so its at least worth a drive by and a picture.

Conclusion

Bend gets a strong yes from us. We visited in the fall, but are looking forward to an opportunity to go back during another of time of year and experience more. If you are visiting, we highly recommend checking out our suggestions above, but we barely tapped the surface of all Bend has to offer, so feel free to leave any recommendations for our next trip to Bend in the comments down below!

Here’s to always chasing your next adventure, and doing it with someone you love by your side

❤ Zach and Lyss