Weekend Exploring Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon

Spend a weekend exploring Bend, Oregon. Whether it’s with your special someone or a girls trip,  you will have no problem finding fun things to do and see. Bend is a great place to connect with the outdoors no matter what the season. From hiking and paddleboarding in the summer, to hitting the slopes in the winter, there is always something to explore when you visit. If you want ideas for your Bend weekend getaway, keep reading.

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Where to Stay

Picking a place to stay in Bend can be overwhelming. There are so many choices. One of my favorite places to stay is Sunriver. The area has hiking trails, a pool, and so much more. Many of the places have hot tubs, which are magical in the winter months when the ground is covered with snow. It can be a little pricey and since it is not right in Bend, there is a bit of a drive if you are looking to take in Bends nightlife.

For a place right in town, and budget friendly, I recommend Hampton Inn & Suites Bend. It is about a 5 minute walk to the Old Mill District (I’ll talk about that later). The rooms are clean, they have an indoor pool, although it was closed when we were there due to COVID. If you want to hit the nightlife in downtown, it was a quick Uber ride there and the drivers will give you advice on where to eat and where to soak in the nightlife, if that’s your thing. All you have to do is ask them. Find an accommodation that’s right for you

Where to Eat

By far, my favorite restaurant is J Dub. The menu is fun, the food is delicious (my favorite item is the lobster roll with a house salad and lemon vinaigrette). The staff there is super friendly and down right fun too! If you bring your dog, they even have a dog menu with doggy beer! How cool is that?

Another favorite is Pastini’s Great for a nice Italian meal on the Deschutes River. The outdoor dining over looks the river. Sunset is a perfect time for a beautiful view and atmosphere. Beware of the cocktails, they are strong, at least they were for us.

For lunch, I enjoyed the tacos and specialty margaritas at El Sancho Taco Shop. There are a few locations in Bend. We went to the East location. The multi colored umbrellas over each table were a festive vibe that I very much enjoyed even though it wasn’t anything too special, and the food was great!

The Nightlife

Girls on the town. The Bend night scene was a fun experience for my friends and I, at least better then on our hometown. After enjoying our dinner at J Dub, we simply walked across the street to a bar call Astro Lounge.

If you are looking for somewhere to dance, there is SEVEN. It is just a block away from Astro and J Dub. It was a bit too loud in there for me. I personally preferred Astro due to the ability to actually hear what my friends where saying.

Shopping

Near our hotel, there was the Old Mill District. It a s shopping center along the Deschutes River in the heart of Bend. It is easy to spot due to its skyline of a mill above it’s anchor store, REI. Pastini’s is located there as well. There is, obviously, shopping, but the Old Mill District is also a nice place to take a walk. It is beautifully landscaped. There are also the Les Schwab Amphitheater which is a live music venue. We did not get to experience this.

In Old Town, there are cute shops all over the place. There are also breweries everywhere. We enjoyed a tasting at AVID Cider Co. They have flavors like Acai Lemonade, Pineapple Mango, and Dragonfruit. I tried the Dragonfruit one. It was goooood!

Connecting With the Outdoors

Where do I start. The list of outdoor activities in the area is endless. I will just touch on the places I have actually been to, but there are so many more that I hope to visit in the future. Explore Bend Caves.