Bend is well known for its Beer Culture. The famous Bend Ale Trail put on by Visit Bend takes you to 18 breweries that meet certain guidelines, but there are at least 18 other breweries alongside the Ale Trail! If you’re new to Bend, here are a few breweries I recommend you visit,though of course almost everyone in Bend can advise you about their personal favorites!

Crux Fermentation Project

I almost always recommend Crux to anyone new to Bend because of the wide variety of flavorful beers they serve–you’re likely to find one you like. Even the food is good! The Grilled Cheesy at Crux is pretty famous among locals. Come by for Sunset Hour, when you can drink a beer, let your dog relax on the lawn, enjoy a snack from the summer food carts, and watch the sunset on the Cascades. In winter, you’ll enjoy the large fireplace and classy interior.

Ale Apothecary

Ale Apothecary is incredibly unique in the way that they brew their beers. I recently tried a beer that was brewed in a pine barrel, giving it a flavor unlike any beer I’d ever tried, and I mean that in a good way! Their dedicated staff knows how each beer is made and it is incredibly clear how much passion everyone there has for craft beer. Stop by to experience a whole new depth to your beer! 

Deschutes Brewery

It goes without saying that Deschutes is a Bend and Oregon classic as far as breweries go, and therefore deserves to be recommended every time. They’ve been perfecting their beers for a long time and continue to make improvements. Their public house downtown provides a nice setting, and the food is always amazing if you are looking for a fancy dinner. Their Brew House off of Colorado offers tours of the brewery if you wanted to know more about the in’s and out’s of beer making!

Ten Barrel Brewery

Ten Barrel is on this list not just for its beer, but for its amazing variety of sours! If you are with a beer lover yet you are more into sours, then Ten Barrel would be the perfect compromise. Each one of their sours are incredibly unique. You may have seen their sours, such as their cucumber sour, in the grocery stores, but you’ll find more exciting flavors at their brew house. At one point they had a rose petal sour, which had a beautiful floral taste paired with a rose aroma! 

Avid Cider

If you are looking for something lighter than a beer and love cider, look no further! Avid cidery has a wide range of options for you to try. Their fireplaces and fun atmosphere make this a great place for hanging out!

Boneyard Brewery

I believe Boneyard needs to be on this list because of their RPM IPA, which can be found at almost any bar in town! In general Boneyard rocks the IPA scene in town, so if you are a fan then Boneyard is definitely worth a visit.

Fall in Bend is a season filled with changing color, cooling temps, sunny skies and golden light. Surprisingly warm days (often in the high 60s or even low 70’s)  and crisp nights make it a great time to enjoy all that Bend has to offer. Mt. Bachelor Village, just above the Deschutes River and tucked in amidst evergreen fir trees, pinecone-laden pines and Aspens that turn bright yellow each Fall, is even more beautiful than usual this time of year and makes the perfect home base to experience the season in Central Oregon. We gathered our Guests’ top favorite ways to savor Fall on -property (or very nearby!) when staying at Mt. Bachelor Village. 

Book a River Ridge Home, and spend as much time as possible on your deck facing the Deschutes River. Once you check-in to these River-facing, light filled homes, you will not want to leave! Perched just above the Deschutes you can watch the Fall Color Show play out for miles and see trees of every color! Sunrise is spectacular, with the cool air seeming to make the colors even brighter. And the evening light changing the skies every few minutes is better than any movie you could watch inside your cozy home. 

Walk the Deschutes River Trail and see Fall up close. Let nature be your guide to exploring Fall at Mt. Bachelor Village. Right outside your door you can access the beautiful Deschutes River trail and see and hear the rushing of the River, the changing of the maple and Aspen trees and all that golden light across the landscape. This trail is suitable for hikers of all experience levels and family-friendly, too. 

Want to see even more Fall Color? Head to Nearby Drake Park! Drake Park is a local favorite with good reason, it’s beautiful and offers something for everyone. In the Fall, the park is also one of the best places to see the Fall color show because of the vast variety of trees that were planted there when the park was built.  The park features a half mile of riverfront, acres of open green space, charming views over Mirror Pond and picnic tables for visitors to enjoy.

Sunny Day? Cruiser bikes! Surprise Snowfall? Snow shoes! Mt. Bachelor Village offers complimentary rentals to Meredith Lodging Guests no matter what the season! We know that our Guests love to get out there and see and experience all that Bend has to offer and we want to make that fun and easy and FREE to Meredith Lodging Guests no matter what the weather. We have cruiser bikes for the whole family and snow shoes and poles, too. And if you are lucky enough to be at MBV when the snow falls, check with our front desk about sleds and snowman building kits! And if some group game time sounds fun and the weather permits, we even have corn hole sets available for Meredith Lodging Guests to enjoy. No matter what the weather we love helping you make memories at Mt. Bachelor Village. 

Spend some time around the new outdoor fire pit with friends and family. Meredith Lodging spent the summer making upgrades and Mt. Bachelor Village Guests are putting our our new outdoor fire pit at the top of their favorites list! This cozy outdoor gathering spot is even seeing some daytime use by folks wanting to work on their laptops outside. Grab your s’mores supplies and come to the fire pit to enjoy the warm glow amidst the beauty of Mt. Bachelor Village! 

When the temperatures drop head inside and enjoy our remodeled lobby and Meredith Lodging Guest Lounge and Game Room! Need a place to tuck in to when the weather is cooler? Like to start your morning with a hot cup of coffee from local favorite Backporch Roasters? Kids need to get the wiggles out and you want to read a book? Look no further than the newly revamped Mt. Bachelor Village Lobby and Meredith Lodging Guest Lounge and Game room! From free morning coffee to cozy evenings spent by the indoor lodge-style fireplace while the kids play shuffle board, foosball, video games or board games nearby…we have your entertainment and cozy-lounging needs covered! 

Find your perfect fall escape at Mt. Bachelor Village by Meredith  Lodging Collection 

As the last days of Summer are heading undeniably toward Fall, it’s a good time to revisit rainy day activities for kiddos on the Coast.  Lincoln City has tons of options, and we have rounded up our favorites below. September, October and November can be gorgeous months on the Oregon Coast – and an ideal time to visit Meredith Lodging vacation rentals! On the off-chance you find yourself in stormy weather, pack up the kids and check out these kid-approved Lincoln City outings!

Read’s Candy

It will not be a tough sell to talk the kiddos in to visiting a candy store – rain OR shine! Read’s Homemade Candies is a Lincoln City institution and one of the only places on the coast that still makes their taffy by hand, in-house.  The kids will love watching the candy being made and listening to the whir-of the wrapping machines. Read also has lots of coast classics for the grown-ups too – even Seafoam!

Prehistoric

Do you know a kid that is obsessed with all things dinosaur? A kid who likes rocks and uncovering treasure? Pretty sure we have just described every kiddo we know.  When the rain hits, head to Prehistoric for hours of education and fun. From the baby T-rex greeting you at the door, to the extensive collection of rare rocks and crystals, to the chance to crack your own geode and mine for precious gems – Prehistoric really is fun for everyone!  Your kids will love spending a few hours in this unforgettable space.

Old Line Lanes

Bowling is always a good rainy-day idea…and bowling with great food and drink is even better!  Visitors love the remodel the owners of Olde Line Lanes completed a couple years ago and many choose to spend time in this classic space during any kind of weather!  The food is great and grown-ups will appreciate the chance to have an adult beverage with their pizza. Everyone will love the chance to get their bowling game on in this cheerful and inviting location.

 Lincoln City Glass Center

Take the kiddos for an arts-based outing and visit the Lincoln City Glass Center – where everyone can create their own piece of blown glass, alongside the talented (and patient!) instructors. Make glass floats, paper weights, votive holders – and you even get to choose your own colors.  Kids love to create something new and thanks to the expert instruction that comes with this activity, you will love displaying the end result in your home, or sharing it as a gift. If you aren’t feeling in the mood to make something, consider just stopping by and watching others as they create their own personal works of art.

Oregon Coast Aquarium

Technically this outing involves a bit of a drive – but a drive to something fun can be a good thing!  Located just South of Lincoln City, the Oregon Coast Aquarium offers and world-class educational experience for curious kiddos.  See Otters, Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, Octopus, Puffins and hundreds of other marine species all in one award-winning place. The underwater walkways of the Open Sea exhibit will have your child’s eyes wide with wonder!

Game Over Arcade 

With of 50+ arcade games and a myriad of pinball machines, Game Over is a gem when it come to rainy day activities on the Coast. Parents can partake in the action or can relax and take in some sports on the 10+ 70 inch TVs while the kids enjoy themselves. Visit Lincoln City’s gem on your next Oregon Coast getaway rain or shine.

Meredith Lodging has hundreds of vacation rentals along the Central Oregon coast – from Lincoln City beach vacation home and condo rentals to Depoe Bay oceanfront rentals to Devil’s Lake rental properties, you can find your perfect home away from home, and an ideal place to return after a day of adventures on the coast.  Visit our entire collection at MeredithLodging.com.

So you’re coming to Bend, but you aren’t sure what there is to do. Well here are five of the most “Bend’y” things to get yourself acclimated to the area. Don’t worry—once you’ve had an introduction to Bend, you will be back for more!

1. Pilot Butte and a Pilot Butte Drive-In Burger

One of the first things you’ll notice when you arrive in Bend—besides the excessive number of Subarus—is Pilot Butte. It’s that large cinder cone in the middle of town. Visiting the top on a clear day will allow you to see a full 360 degrees for miles and miles. A very handy geographical marker there will allow you to identify the different features around Bend. There are two ways up, a trail and a roadway. The road makes it easily accessible, but it is closed during the winter months. Luckily, the trail is always open. Whichever way you take, I recommend grabbing yourself a tasty burger from the Pilot Butte Drive-In at the bottom of the Butte and enjoying a picnic while you watch the sun set over the Southern Cascades.

2. High Desert Museum

Rain or shine, I always recommend guests to check out the High Desert Museum. If you have ever wondered about the formation of these lands and the people that have lived here 100s of years ago, then this is the place to go! The exhibits are incredibly informative, interesting and cover a wide variety of topics. It’s also an accredited zoo that includes otters and recovering birds of prey. It’s guaranteed to catch the interest of everyone in your family!

3. The Bend Ale Trail

The Bend Ale Trail is always a fan favorite, but you must be 21 and older to participate. The trail consists of 18 Central Oregon breweries, although you only need to visit 10 to be eligible for the Silipint prize, which you must redeem at Visit Bend! Visiting these breweries not only allows you to sample Bend’s beer culture—it will bring you to parts of the city you might not have visited otherwise. In order to visit all 18 breweries, you need to travel to Sisters, Redmond and Sunriver. If you only have a couple of days to do the trail, please remember that you can still receive a stamp without purchasing a beverage. For any designated drivers, make sure to own your role and receive the ‘DD’ stamp at each brewery, because you will get a special prize for staying sober!

4. Tumalo Falls

Tumalo Falls is definitely a Bend icon. It is the largest waterfall in the area at 95 feet tall, top to bottom. This waterfall is right off the trailhead, so it is not a day-long commitment if hiking is not your favorite activity. A beautiful trail follows Tumalo Creek for 3 miles (6 miles out and back), with more waterfalls along the way. The road to the trailhead is seasonal, so in the winter the road will be closed about 2.5 miles away. The falls is still accessible, though! Grab your yak tracks or snow shoes and some warm layers for a beautiful winter adventure.

5. First Friday

On the first Friday of every month Downtown Bend’s art galleries stay open later into the evening. These galleries often serve appetizers and adult beverages to encourage visitors to come in and check them out. While this is an enjoyable, family-friendly event, it is particularly fun going with a group of friends looking for an exciting night out on the town. Don’t forget that Bend has both Uber and Lyft as options to get you home.

Local Tip: If you aren’t in town during a First Friday event, then no worries! Just make sure to get into downtown in the afternoon to enjoy the galleries, then enjoy happy hour at one of the many excellent restaurants in the area. Ask your friendly Vacation Planning Experts at Mount Bachelor Village for their favorite Happy Hours in downtown if you need some suggestions!