10 fun things to do this Memorial Day Weekend in Bend

Posted: 23 May 2013 04:05 PM PDT

Bend is a pretty spectacular place to be any time of year, but there’s something extra-special about Memorial Day Weekend. Maybe it’s that we’re all shifting our gazes to summer, or perhaps it’s the energy from all the out-of-towners flocking here for a long weekend.

Or maybe it’s just that there’s so freakin’ much to do. Here are 10 awesome happenings lined up for you between May 24-27:

Concerts at the Les Schwab Amphitheater with Cake (May 25) and Sigur Ros (May 26)

Picture yourself here watching Cake and Sigur Ros. Nice picture, huh?

Bend’s Memorial Weekend concert lineup is always impressive, and this year is no exception. American alternative rock band Cake will perform Saturday, May 25, with Boise-based indie band Built to Spill opening the show. On Sunday evening, Icelandic indie band Sigur Rós takes the stage with their ethereal sound and quirky use of bowed guitar. Both shows start at 6:30 p.m., and gates open at 5 p.m. Since it’s been a bit soggy in Bend this week, I recommend bringing a low-backed sand chair to keep your backside off the wet grass. For ticket info on either show, go here.

Catch the end of Central Oregon Beer week (May 20-27)

Cheers to Central Oregon Beer Week.

While locals are winding down at the end of a long week celebrating Bend’s craft beer culture, visitors can swoop in and enjoy the final days of Central Oregon Beer Week. The 2013 event runs May 20-27, so guests in town for the holiday can still enjoy plenty of beer-related festivities. You’ll find a complete calendar here, including fun stuff like growler fill specials, a “hangover breakfast,” beer education, a bottle release party at Crux, beer-themed canoe outings with Wanderlust Tours, and even beer week specials at Anjou Spa. Bottoms up!

Hit the wine trail at Maragas and Faith, Hope, and Charity

Had your fill of beer this week? No problem! Central Oregon’s wineries are offering something special for Memorial Weekend as well. On Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Maragas Winery will host a family-friendly celebration. Kids can roll in the grass while parents sip the vineyard’s new Pinot Noir from a commemorative glass. They’ll  have food, music, bocce ball, and complimentary wine tasting. Admission is $10, and kids get in free. You can buy food there or bring your own picnic, but no outside beverages. Just a few miles away at Faith, Hope, and Charity, they’re hosting festivities of their own both Saturday and Sunday. From noon to 5 p.m., the first 100 guests get a logo wine growler with their $10 admission/tasting fee. Fill it up with peach sangria, and enjoy the mountain views as you groove to live music.

Go hiking with Deschutes Land Trust

It’s a lovely time of year to visit the Whychus Canyon area (even if you can’t pronounce it).

Looking to do a little hiking this weekend, but don’t feel like setting out on your own? Sign up for a free guided outing with the folks from Deschutes Land Trust. They have several hikes scheduled this weekend, ranging from a wildflower walk in Whychus Canyon Preserve to a bird walk at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve. Most of the hikes are mellow and easy, perfect for those looking for a hassle-free outing with a knowledgeable guide. Spots fill fast and are totally free, so make your reservation today.

Catch a ballgame at the Bend Elks Youth Baseball Tournament (May 25-27)

Since 2005, the Bend Elks (our local baseball team) have hosted one of the northwest’s biggest youth baseball tournaments. Even if you’re not the world’s greatest fan of the sport, it’s hard not to be impressed by the backdrop of the Cascade Mountains and the sheer volume of high school athletes journeying here to play their young hearts out. If you’re just showing up to watch, you’ll be happy to know there’s no gate fee. Catch a game or two, eat a hot dog, and feel happy knowing proceeds from team entry fees help support youth baseball in Bend. You can find details and game schedules here.

Hit the grand re-opening of Petersen Rock Garden (May 27)

Frolicking in the sunshine at Petersen Rock Garden.

This folk-art tourist attraction just north of Bend has been a Central Oregon landmark since the 1940s. Petersen Rock Garden has been closed for several months for renovations, but this weekend marks the grand re-opening of this oddball collection of rock creations, museum, and gift shop. Gates open at 10 a.m. and you’re free to wander the grounds ‘til dark. Admission is on the honor system, but they recommend a $3 donation. This is a great place to let the kids run around burning off some energy, and the peacocks strutting the grounds are always my favorite part. To find it, head north on Hwy 97 toward Redmond. Hang a left on SW 61^st, left on Young Avenue, cross Canal Blvd, then quickly turn right on SW 77^th. Petersen Rock Garden is less than a mile on the right.

Happy Girl Half-Marathon, 10k, 5k, and Happy Little Kids’ Run (May 25-26)

Grab your girlfriends and get running! The scenic route starts along the Deschutes River, and includes a mix of gentle trails and paved surfaces. Women will be spoiled with a great goody bag and a fun pre-race expo, plus on-course support (including handsome pacers). Finishers get a cool custom necklace instead of a medal. The expo is Saturday, and the run is Sunday, and you won’t want to miss either. For details and registration, visit the event website.

Opening day for the Saturday Market (May 25-26)

It’s opening weekend for the Central Oregon Saturday Market, so you get a bonus day!

Kick off the 2013 season of the Central Oregon Saturday Market across the street from the Deschutes Public Library. Browse handcrafted jewelry, artwork, clothing, household goods, and more. Normally, this is a Saturday-only event (as you might’ve guessed from the name) but for Memorial Weekend they’re open both Saturday and Sunday. This is always a great spot to grab gifts to take home to friends and family, so bring an extra shopping bag.

Finale weekend at Mt. Bachelor (May 25-26)

I’m not even a skier, and I’m heading up to Mt. Bachelor for their final weekend of the season. This is the place to be if you’re looking to kiss winter goodbye with the ultimate panache. Check out the North American Pond Skimming Championship on Sunday, or enjoy live music and a cold one (or eight) at the annual Brewski celebration of Bend’s craft beer. There’s still plenty of snow for skiing and boarding, so this is your chance to carve a few final turns this season.

Grab your road bike for Bend Don’t Break (May 25) or giddyup on your mountain bike in the Sisters Stampede (May 26)

Only at the Sisters Stampede do horses and mountain bikes ride side by side.

Road cyclists rejoice on Saturday in the fast and furious Bend Don’t Break circuit course bike race. A beginner’s clinic that morning gives newbies a chance to prepare, or race hard in the more elite categories. The race is part of the 2013 Oregon Women’s Prestige Series, though there are plenty of men’s categories as well. On Sunday, head west to Sisters with your mountain bike strapped to your car, and get ready for the Sisters Stampede. This uniquely-Sisters event lets you race your bike on the beautiful Peterson Ridge Trail in Sisters. Now in its fourth year, this is Oregon’s largest cross country mountain bike race, with 32 different race categories, and a party at the finish line. Each racer gets a goody bag filled with cool schwag, and there’s $1000 in cash prizes up for grabs for the top three men and women in the Pro or Cat 1 categories. For event details and registration, go here.

Believe it or not, that’s only a sampling of events happening in and around Bend this weekend. For a complete list, check out the Visit Bend Event Calendar. You can search for cool happenings this weekend or any other weekend you plan to Visit Bend.

See you out there!

The post 10 fun things to do this Memorial Day Weekend in Bend appeared first on The Bend Buzz Blog by Visit Bend.

Where do I go for…? We’re answering 3 not-so-frequently-asked questions about Bend

Posted: 17 May 2013 03:27 PM PDT

If you’ve wandered around visitbend.com, odds are good you’ve stumbled across our Bend FAQ page. It’s packed with frequently-asked questions ranging from Bend history and elevation to Sno-Park permits and airports.

Useful stuff, to be sure. But the Visit Bend team fields plenty of less-commonly-asked question on Facebook, Twitter, or in the Bend Visitor Center. Many of them have to do with finding the best place for a particular activity. It might not be the sort of thing you’d see in a normal FAQ, but we think it’s worth sharing in case you have the same plans.

Here are three not-so-frequently-asked questions about Bend (along with the answers—because we’re helpful like that).

Question: Where can I find a place that’s open late, serves beer and wine, and offers free wi-fi?

Answer: Believe it or not, we’ve fielded this question more than once. Though a lot of free wi-fi spots are coffee shops that close a bit earlier, here are three excellent options for night owls craving an internet fix and an IPA.

Nighttime is the right time for free wi-fi and a good beer at Jackson’s Corner.

• Jackson’s Corner in Downtown Bend offers delicious breakfasts, salads, pastas, and pizzas with a flair for locally-sourced products. They’ve also got a great selection of wine and beer, both on-tap and in the enormous bank of coolers lining one wall. Add all that with free wi-fi and hours of operation that span from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and you’ve got yourself a great spot for an evening of internet surfing. If you’re in the mood for pizza, grab the Bianca—it comes with pancetta, fresh mozzarella, olive oil, cream, and sage, topped with sea salt and pepper. Divine!
• McMenamins Old St. Francis Pub is another great spot for late-night sipping and internet surfing. With several pub and restaurant areas to pick from, you can set up your remote office Sunday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Friday & Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. They’re right in the heart of Downtown, and packed with cozy booths and quirky artifacts from the days this was a Catholic school. Added bonus—their double happy hours, which go from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and then again from 10 p.m. to midnight. Grab a pint of Ruby, a basket of Cajun tots, and settle in for the evening.
• River Rim Coffeehouse is the newest addition to this list, but their nice hours and unique location in southwest Bend make it a great spot for those staying outside the Downtown area. They’re open at 7 a.m. daily, closing at 7:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, ‘til 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and ‘til 5 p.m. Sundays. Though the name says coffeehouse, they have four beers on tap (all of them from Oregon) as well as a great selection of tapas and 15 or 16 wines by the glass. They often feature live music, so you’ll be tapping your toe while you tap the keyboard.

Question: Where can I go to watch the big game?

Answer: Though I’m not a fan of televised sports, I’m aware that there’s always a “big game” no matter what season it is. Luckily, Bend has a nice selection of sports bars offering you the opportunity to belly-up to the bar, sip a cold one, and watch men in tight pants run around on a field.

• The Summit Saloon is located in the funky, historic O’Kane building in Downtown Bend. They boast 10 high-definition flat screen televisions, as well as the largest HD projecting screen in town. If you get bored with that, they’ve also got some pretty cool gaming, including Golden Tee golf, Big Buck Hunter, Indiana Jones Pinball, and a tournament size pool table are available in the upstairs bar. They open daily at 11 a.m. and stay open ‘til 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and until 1:30 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. This is one of my favorite happy hours in town, so time your visit between 4-7 p.m. if you can, and order an extra hummus plate for me.

Admittedly, it’s not pretty. But the Dave Semenko Poutine at Hideaway Tavern – complete with smoked duck gravy, cheddar cheese curd, and scallions – is totally to-die-for.

• The Hideaway Tavern is tucked away on SE 2^nd Street behind Chan’s restaurant on 3^rd. If you’re looking for something a little more low-key than the Downtown scene, this is the spot for you. They offer eight flat screen TVs and a comfortable lounge area with couches, darts, shuffleboard, and more. Their real claim to fame is their creative culinary offerings. I dare you to try the Dave Semenko Poutine (house French fries, smoked duck gravy, cheddar cheese curd, and scallions) without swooning. Wait, do people who watch sports swoon? No matter. It’s really very good. So are the 17 beers they have on tap, along with a full bar. They open at 11 a.m. daily, except on Saturdays and Sundays when they open at 9 a.m. for brunch. Closing hours vary, but count on 11 p.m. most nights.
• Rivals Sports Bar is another great spot if you’re looking to be a bit outside the bustle of Downtown. They’re on Division Street just across from the river, and they’re open from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday , and ‘til midnight on Sundays. Besides offering 15 big screen TVs, they also boast a VIP room for those special occasions. Rivals also has daily poker tournaments and live cash games. I’m a frequent visitor on Friday and Saturday evenings, when I go to watch my friends do karaoke. When it’s warm outside, I adore the Stiegel Grapefruit Beer they have on tap. Hand me a plate of their cream cheese jalapeño wrappers stuffed with applewood smoked bacon, cream cheese, fresh green onion, and jalapeño, and I’ll be in heaven.

Question: Where can I take my dog to frolic off-leash?

Answer: You’ve come to the right place, in case you missed the news that Bend was named the nation’s dog-friendliest city by Dog Fancy magazine.

Tawna’s dog, Bindi, loving every minute of her time in the Deschutes River.

One of the key things that earned Bend the DogTown USA title is the city’s abundance of off-leash areas—seven, in total! DogPAC has an awesome map of them here. My favorite is the Bob Wenger Off-Leash Area in the northeast part of town. It features more than 17 acres of fenced terrain with trails and grass.

Don’t forget to review the dog park rules at Bend Parks & Recreation District website.

If you’re hoping to hike in the great outdoors without the constraints of fences or leashes, there are a few great options. In the winter months, Wanoga Trail is Oregon’s only groomed ski/snowshoe trail that allows dogs. During the summer months, check out the Three Sisters Wilderness between the South Sister climber’s trail and Broken Top.

Dogs are also allowed off-leash all year long while in the river from Meadow Camp to Benham Falls. The area between the Entrada Lodge and Widgi Creek Golf Course offers the best water access in the summer, with just a short hike to the river.

For all the best info on dog-friendly outings, check out Visit Bend’s pet travel page or visit DogPac.org.

The post Where to I go for…?
We’re answering 3 not-so-frequently-asked questions about Bend appeared first on The Bend Buzz Blog by Visit Bend.

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