If you’ve ever been to Central Oregon, you know they have a ton of winter activities in Bend. Central Oregon has all of the dry climate of the Great Basin, which provides low humidity, sunny days, cool nights, and plenty of great snow! Similar to a Salt Lake City, Utah winter, or even Glencoe in winter, they have a lot of snow-covered mountains and trails from October to April. It’s the perfect destination for a family to explore a winter wonderland and enjoy snow activities. I recently went on an unforgettable trip to Bend on a girl’s weekend. Here are some of the recommendations of things to do in Bend, Oregon.
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Family Friendly Winter Activities in Bend, Oregon
Stay at Element Bend by Marriott
As someone that goes on a lot of family vacations, I know a good, family-friendly hotel when I see one! Element Bend is owned by Marriott, but has a more unique feel than the typical chain. Our group of ladies stayed in a suite with four King sized rooms. The hospitality suite in the middle had a full kitchen (with a fridge and stove), a living room (with a couch and television), and a table for family meals. Each bedroom contained a private bathroom and the door to the rooms were locked, only to be opened with a room key. It was spacious and light in the space, and I felt at home!
Pro Tip: There is continental breakfast every morning. You can also do a “Grab and Go” breakfast option where a chef will make the meal of the day hot and ready. At 5 pm during weekdays, happy hour happens in the lobby where local wines and beers are served. All of these are complimentary!
Snowshoeing with Wanderlust Tours
If family is adventurous, then you should definitely take them snowshoeing! The activity can seem intimidating at first, but exploring the Deschutes National Forest near Bend, Oregon is the perfect place to start.
Honestly, before this trip, I had never been snowshoeing; even living in a place that gets plenty of winter weather! Despite being an avid spring/summer hiker, something about going out into the cold scared me. I was nervous that it would be more difficult or too freezing to have fun. However, I really enjoyed the adventure, even though we went at night when it was more chilly! The Babes That Wander went with a naturalist guide from Wanderlust Tours who was able to show us how to wear our snowshoes, where to go, and keep the magic real while we were under the night sky. We went at night for the Bonfire in the Snow tour, which included a midway stop at a fire pit, complete with snow seats, dugout by one of the guides, and spiked hot cocoa.
Wanderlust Tours provides transportation, and snow shoes. Cold weather clothing and footwear can be rented. Tours are all day, all winter. Recommended for kids 8 and older.
Pro Tip: You don’t have to overdo it on your outfit for snowshoeing. I didn’t wear my gloves the entire night trip and I was still warm. The important part is having close-toed shoes that are waterproof!
Visit Boyd Cave Lava Tube
Yet another adventure to go on is at Boyd Cave. The lava tube is estimated to be over 10,000 years old. As volcanos erupt, the top layer of lava forms a crust as the lower layer is cooler and remains flowing. This creates a tube as the river of lava below flows through and drips while drying. This is how Boyd Cave, a refuge for local bats, was formed.
Similar to the snowshoeing tours, Wanderlust Tours has adventures in nearby Oregon caves during the winter. While you can visit Boyd Cave on your own, it is nice to be provided with gear and have an expert guide. The Prohibition Cave Tour takes place near the Cascade Mountain Range in local lava tubes. It’s recommended for kids 11 and up, and based on personal experience, is for those that are comfortable climbing/hiking over rocks. This particular tour costs $120 per person, and includes transportation, a naturalist guide, helmet, headlamp, tour of the cave, light appetizers, and tour with tasting/cocktail at Oregon Spirit Distillers for 21+ up.
Pro Tip: Dress warm and wear closed-toe shoes. The cave has more climbing over rocks than you would assume. You can also take photos with headlamps, so a cellphone will work and you don’t have to bring a DSLR.
Winter Activities in Bend: Shopping
Alternatively, Old Mill District is a great place to take your family on a a week or weekend day for a more low-key activity! There are plenty of local stores where you can find Bend specific apparel and items to remember your trip from! Besides the local shops, there are big name stores to provide the full experience for a family shopping day.
Pro Tip: there are a ton of colorful murals in this area. If you’re looking to take Instagram photos in Bend, Oregon, then you will feel at home at the Old Mill District.
Things to Do in Bend for a Girls Trip
Snowmobiling in Central Oregon
Although snowmobiling is limited to those that have a driver’s license, you can rent vehicles that fit one or more people. This allows for anyone under the age of 16 to ride with a designated driver. In Bend, you’ll find that most snowmobiling takes place in the Wanoga Snow Play Area Sno-Park. Bend gets 400-600 inches of snow every winter, so anywhere near Mt. Bachelor is a great place to snowmobile, cross country sky, or any other snow activities.
Pro Tip: we used Central Oregon Adventures to take us on a snowmobile excursion– which included helmets and a snowmobiling guide! The guide was informative and fit our needs as a group of six people with different abilities.
Winter Activities in Bend: Enjoy a Spa Day
After a week of outdoor winter activities, the ladies and I enjoyed a full spa day. If you’re headed to Bend on a girls trip, I absolutely recommend a pampering at Anjou Spa. It was voted Bend’s Best Spa in 2021! As a group of six, we were able to have a private relaxation suite with moody lighting, peaceful music, delicious snacks, and bubbly wine. We lounged in this room, soaking our feet, while each of us got individual massages and facials. I personally received a deep tissue massage and a facial with dermaplaning as an add-on. Between appointments, we had full access to the Hot Sand Room and Steam Room. It was the perfect end to our adventurous trip.
Pro Tip: check out the seasonal offerings for wintery treatments and specials.
Check Out the Last Blockbuster On Earth
Did you know that there is one more Blockbuster left in the world? Blockbuster in Bend brings in people from everywhere who want to feel the nostalgia of the old video rental franchise. Besides being able to buy BB memorabilia, you can still check out and rent DVDs from this location. It has all the same yellow and blue decor, so this is a fabulous location for any millennial traveler to get photos in!
Pro Tip: the cash registers are older systems, and sometimes the credit card machines go down. Plan ahead and have cash on hand to pay for anything you want to take home with you.
Restaurants and Bars in Bend, Oregon
Places to get Drinks and Have Happy Hour
Even though Bend, Oregon is a small town, there are plenty of places to drink and do tastings! Bend’s water is naturally filtered through lava rock, which makes it especially clean. Because Bend’s water is naturally soft and filtered, many distilleries and wineries want to be in Bend!
Before people understood that, Bend housed distilleries because of the caves. The caves around Bend act as natural refrigerators. During the prohibition, a lot of the nearby caves were used to not only create alcohol, but to store it. Domaine Serene Wine Lounge, Oregon Spirit Distillery, and Va Piano Winery, are all places to try alcohol or wine made in Oregon. Don’t miss out on trying some of the famous Crater Lake Hazelnut Espresso Vodka!
Pro Tip: Looking for a local favorite? I suggest Dogwood as a bar to visit while in town. They have cozy vibes with award winning craft cocktails. Go on a day when they have a DJ mixing the music!
Where to Eat in Bend
Luckily, there are also many good eateries in Bend. For a smaller town, they have a huge culinary scene! Some of the places that we visited while in town were:
- 900 Wall – they serve locally sourced plates in the historic Downtown Bend area. The food is American with heavy French and Italian influences to the tastes. This is a great place to grab happy hour bites and drinks with friends or family.
- Greg’s Grill – Another local favorite located in Old Mill District (next to the shopping center). Get a view of the Deschutes River while eating wood-fired meats at lunch. Don’t skip out on the seafood!
- The Lemon Tree – When I say not to miss brunch here, I mean it! The menu touts dishes with flavors from around the world and scrumptious pastries. I’ve been dreaming about the Nasi Goreng and Pear Cardamom mimosa!
- Joolz – For a family-style dinner, this Middle Eastern restaurant is the place to go! Share locally sourced plates and sides. A must-try is their famous Date Cake!
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