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A passion for recreation is what brings many people to Bend, Oregon. Located in the high desert of central Oregon, Bend is famous for its many forms of outdoor recreation. Kayakers and rafters shoot through the exciting triple waterfalls of the Deschutes River. The Deschutes, Metolius and Crooked Rivers also offer fantastic fly fishing, with more than 500 miles of streams and rivers stocked with trout and steelhead. Golfers have over 20 top-rated courses nearby, offering every kind of golf challenge. Mountain bike cyclists can choose off road riding in uncrowded lush forests, high mountain peaks, lava fields or desert.
Mt. Bachelor's ten alpine lifts, six of them high speed, give skiers 3,683 skiable acres of slopes, with 1,600 acres groomed daily. Parks and pipes for snowboarders are a priority, making Mt. Bachelor one of Oregon's premier snowboarding areas. Cross country skiing on the 56 kilometers of trails on Mt. Bachelor is a popular winter sport. Snowmobilers have 560 miles of groomed trails to choose from in the Deschutes National Forest, with 175 miles of that in the Bend District. Snowtubing, snowshoeing and sled dog rides are also exciting and memorable activities for your family.
World class rock climbing and miles of hiking trails at Smith Rock State Park makes it a popular retreat for climbers and hikers. Backcountry hikers and campers head into the solitude of the Three Sisters Wilderness, while others take a hike in the more than 2.5 million acres of national forests in the Bend area. Parks and picnicking abound in and around Bend. Almost all of the parks, lakes and rivers in the area have picnic areas. Bend has recreation fun for everyone!
Walking, shopping or dining in historic downtown Bend enhances your recreational experience. Drake Park's Mirror Pond, the jewel of downtown Bend, is a small lake with ducks, Canadian geese, and a pair of swans from Queen Elizabeth's royal swannery in England. The wide stretches of green grass provide a restful counterpoint to the old brick and masonry buildings that compose Bend's business area. Galleries, restaurants, outdoor eateries, boutiques and specialty shops are all within easy walking distance. Farther from the downtown area, the Old Mill District, located on a site previously used for lumber mills, features upscale shopping, trendy restaurants and an outdoor amphitheater which is used for summer concerts. A selection of shopping malls and factory outlet shopping is available in the areas outlying Bend.
For a panoramic view of Bend and the volcanic peaks around it, take a walk or a drive to the top of Pilot Butte. From this 511 feet high volcanic cindercone, you can see a vista of the high desert region, including nine snowcapped Cascade peaks. A few of the peaks you'll see are the Three Sisters, Broken Top Mountain and Mt. Jefferson. An even finer view can be found at the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. This monument stretches from Paulina Peak to the Deschutes River and includes hiking trails, lava formations, obsidian fields, and waterfalls, as well as incredible scenery. Also in the Newberry Monument area is the 18 square mile Newberry Crater, which includes Paulina and East lakes, two of Oregon's best mountain fishing lakes.
Spelunking, also called caving, in the lava tubes at Skeleton Cave, Arnold Ice Caves or Lava River Caves will show you how the underground half lives. Lava River Cave, Oregon's longest continuous lava tube, is a good beginner cave for families to explore. Geocachers can look for the Earthcache located at this site. All cavers should bring their own light, and wear warm clothing and boots - the cave temperature is approximately 40 F.
No one can accomplish all there is to do in Bend in one visit. Choose a few of the many opportunities waiting for you, and then, plan what you will do on your next trip to this recreation mecca.
26 comments:
Very beautiful photos of the rainbow. Did you find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? :)
I too hope the same!
Lovely shots!
Beautiful! I especially love the last photo.
I like the last view of the rainbow. It's nice to see it in relationship to your town. It is indeed a symbol of hope.
Check out that rainbow! Very nice & that sky is pretty cool too!!!
We sure love see the WONDERFUL rainbow, and thank you for sharing. We believe that if others could see from their hearts, what you have pictured, we would have that POT-OF GOLD. blessings to you both!!!
Hope you found what you were looking for! That parking lot rainbow is my fave, it´s so pure and hopefull.
loved your photos and interpretation!
When you see a rainbow always make a wish for the future. Nice photos.
I like rainbows! They are always a promise to something great and good.
wishing you peace, happiness and fortune in the new year. Judi
Lilli: Let us just hope for an improving economy. Nice capture of the rainbow.
Those are wonderful rainbow shots.
That is such a lovely thought for the New Year.
Great shots. I especially like that last one. I've yet to capture a rainbow.
A rainbow is such a lovely way to start 2009!
Nice rainbow, hope all is better now.
What a wonderful time to see a rainbow! Great shots!
Nice rainbow pictures. I have never been able to find the ends of the rainbow. Hope you were luckier.
Yep, it's the season for rainbows. You got some great captures.
These are Gorgeous sweetie! Happy picture taking!hughugs
How lovely to start the new year with a rainbow.
Beautiful photos.
A spectacular shot!
Awesome photos!
That's lovely. I don't often see the full arch like the one in your final picture.
I love rainbows. We've had lots of rain lately but without much sunshine there haven't been many rainbows. Thanks for sharing. - Margy
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