4 Great Reasons to Visit Bend, Oregon

 

SNOW

Mt. Bachelor ski area just celebrated 60 years last December and is still going strong, with over 4,300 acres of lift-accessible terrain. Skiers love that the maximum run length is four miles and the average snowfall is 462 inches.

 

FOOD

A thriving restaurant scene has evolved as chefs migrated here from the big cities to make a name for themselves. Last year, Tasting Table listed Bend as an under-the-radar culinary gem, and sites like Eater and Thrillist have piled on the praise as well.

 

BEER

The Bay Area, for all its cred as a brewery mecca, has got nothing on Central Oregon. Locals have dubbed Bend “Beer Town USA” and “Beervana.” Diehard fans should mark their calendars for late February’s Zwickelmania, the statewide brewery celebration, and February 23 is a great weekend to hit the Bend Ale Trail, where breweries offer tours, samples and general revelry. See oregoncraftbeer.org for more information.

 

10 Barrel Brewing Co.

 

DOGS

According to Dog Fancy magazine [now defunct], Bend is one of the nation’s most dog-friendly cities. The locals love their pups, the city has 10 off-leash parks, and more than 40 restaurants and breweries are happy to accommodate your four-legged friend. For an extensive list that also includes hotels, check bringfido.com or visitbend.com.

 

Downtown Bend, OR.

 

This article originally appeared in Marin Magazine’s print edition with the headline: “Around the Bend”.

 


Mimi Towle

Mimi Towle has been the editor of Marin Magazine for over a decade. She lived with her family in Sycamore Park and Strawberry and thoroughly enjoyed raising two daughters in the mayhem of Marin’s youth sports; soccer, swim, volleyball, ballet, hip hop, gymnastics and many many hours spent at Miwok Stables. Her community involvements include volunteering at her daughter’s schools, coaching soccer and volleyball (glorified snack mom), being on the board of both Richardson Bay Audubon Center. Currently residing on a floating home in Sausalito, she enjoys all water activity, including learning how to steer a 6-person canoe for the Tamalpais Outrigger Canoe Club. Born and raised in Hawaii, her fondness for the islands has on occasion made its way into the pages of the magazine.