Bend Oregon is known as the place to be for outdoor enthusiasts. Epic hikes, countless waterfalls, and extreme sports bring people from all over to this Central Oregon gem! But when the weather starts to turn colder and you don’t feel like hiking in the rain or driving in the snow, there’s still PLENTY of things to do for a fun weekend in Bend without having to brave too much weather.
If you’re like us and absolutely love getting out, but don’t always love spending your vacation wet and cold, we are here to offer the perfect solution. Bend Oregon may be known for outdoor life but that doesn’t mean we can’t find ways to spend time indoors!
TAKE THE BEND PLEDGE
No matter if you’re spending your time in Bend Oregon indoors or outdoors, you too can take the Bend Pledge. From the moment you arrive, you can tell that the city of Bend, its residents, and its visitors, truly care for others and their surroundings. It’s clean, well-kept, and people actually hold the door for you. You’ll be treated kindly everywhere you go as you visit Bend. And we think a lot of that is because they live by the Bend Pledge.
- Smile, say please & thank you, give right-of-way, and simply slow down.
- Adventure and explore in a manner that is respectful to the land, wildlife, and the people you share it with.
- Plan and prepare for your time on the trails, in the mountains and on the water.
- Walk more, drive less, and stick to established trails, routes, and parking areas.
- We must take care of the places that take care of us; we are all visitors here.
Follow these five simple actions to help keep Bend Oregon the amazing place it is! You can also TAKE THE BEND PLEDGE and at the same time enter to win a free Bend vacation!
BUT FIRST, COFFEE
One of our favorite ways to treat ourselves on a weekend getaway is with a slow morning, and that always involves a trip to a local coffee shop. The hardest part for us is when we find one we love, we keep going back over and over instead of trying anything new! These two definitely fit the bill… we will return.
KANONA CAFE
What is the perfect way to warm up on a chilly autumn morning? If you guessed a hot cup of coffee, you’re half right. The other half of the equation is Hawaiian vibes. Stepping into this cafe transports you to the Aloha islands from the surfboard decor to the Hawaiian-themed menu.
Kanona Cafe is a bit outside downtown, on the other side of Drake Park, but conveniently located by a couple of our other favorite places in Bend! This is a great opportunity to “walk more and drive less” (#4 on the Bend Pledge) by spending a day in this territory! The cafe has plenty of seating both indoors and on the porch, so plan to sit and soak in some Aloha.
THUMP GENUINE COFFEE
If you’re looking for a coffee shop right in Downtown Bend, Thump is where you need to go. We went on a couple mornings to try different coffees and each one was delicious! We tried flavored lattes as well as the Americano and were happy with every order! The food menu seemed limited but honestly the bagels and cream cheese were so good, they’re why we came back!
Inside has bar seating and a few tables, with additional tables outside on the sidewalk. This location is also very close to the Bend Visitor Center, so after you finish your coffee you can go pick up your Bend Ale Trail Passport! We’ll explain shortly.
IT’S ALWAYS BEER-THIRTY IN BEND
If you visit Bend without going to a brewery, we’d say you’re missing out. The vibes, the dogs, and the brews should not be skipped! Bend even has an Ale Trail Passport so you can collect stamps along the way and earn prizes if you conquer an entire territory! Here are a few of our favorites, since we can’t list them all.
BEND ALE TRAIL
The Bend Ale Trail is exactly as magnificent as it sounds. With 30 breweries, 17 drinkable diversions, and 21 perfect pairings, your getaway weekend will be filled with amazing spots to visit. Ale Trail Passports can be purchased at the Bend Visitor Center for $5.00, or you can download the app for free! Brewery locations are spread out across Bend into seven different territories – complete a territory to claim a prize!
10 BARREL BREWING
We visited the West Bend Pub location which has an AMAZING outdoor seating area with a firepit in the center of the patio that creates a perfect outdoor ambiance. If it’s really chilly out, they also have “personal” fire-pits that they can put by your table – that was the first time we’d ever seen it done! A great perk about 10 Barrel Brewing is that they offer great beer, a food selection, and craft cocktails, so there’s something for everyone in your group. And more importantly, if any of your group brings a dog, there will be plenty of pup friends out on the patio!
BEND BREWING COMPANY
Bend Brewing Company makes our list twice because the food is just as good as the beer! Outdoor seating with fire tables, indoor seating with TVs for all of your favorite sporting events, you can’t go wrong! With several beer styles from stouts to hazy IPAs, even a few cocktails, there is an array of choices for every palate. Also, this location is right downtown so it is easily walkable!
A couple of alternates that we really enjoyed as well are Crux Fermentation and Boss Rambler.
FOOD FOR ALL
In between all of this drinking coffee and beer, you’ve got to eat. Bend Oregon is not lacking in great eats, we can tell you that! Most of the breweries offer fantastic menus, some even listing the perfect beer pairing, so this will double-up on the previous sections. For those that don’t know, we stopped eating meat in 2019, and are happy to say that Bend has several menu options for all types of eaters and dietary choices or restrictions.
SUNRIVER BREWING COMPANY – EASTSIDE LOCATION
Along with our beer tasting at Sunriver Brewing, we ordered the Pub Nachos. The portion size is generous enough for two people and oh-my-gosh, these nachos are incredibly delicious! With green chili beer cheese (yum!) and cilantro lime sour cream (more yum!), you won’t regret this decision.
BEND BREWING COMPANY
You cannot go wrong with fried food and beer. We’d say it’s almost impossible! When looking at the menu at Bend Brewing, we couldn’t decide between the Cajun Tots and Wisconsin Cheese Curds. Spoiler alert: We ordered both. The servings are HUGE so there’s plenty to munch on and some to take back to the hotel for a perfect next-day snack! Also, taking some to go meant we had enough room to share an entree, which was the Crispy Fish Tacos.
NOI THAI
There is never a time when Thai food doesn’t sound good. We love that there are always vegetarian options available, and they’re some of our all-time favorite dishes. Pad See Ew with fried tofu is a must-order at every Thai restaurant we visit. At Noi Thai they have it on their menu as Black Noodles, and it is amaaaaazing! After that we alternate between Drunken Noodles and curry dishes, this time opting for Drunken Noodles. The servings were plentiful and only finished half! The best kind of leftovers!
WORKING IT OFF IN DOWNTOWN BEND
What we absolutely love about Bend Oregon is how walkable it is! You can easily walk the entire downtown and it is safe and clean. We had heard about homelessness being an issue but truthfully cannot say we encountered it in our five-day visit. In between all the eating and drinking, you will feel like you need to get in your steps to make some room!
SHOPS & BOUTIQUES
If you didn’t pack accordingly, the Bend chill will encourage you to pop into one of the many shops and boutiques downtown to pick up a new sweater, scarf, jacket, or all three! With locally-owned spots such as Outside IN to global brands like Patagonia and Eddie Bauer, you’ll easily find every item you need to keep warm and have fun doing it!
BENDY DOG
Once you’re done spoiling yourself, it’s time to spread a little of the love to your best friend! A stop into Bendy Dog will do the trick! This dog boutique in downtown Bend Oregon has everything your furry pet could need to be stylin’ on their weekend getaway. Bendy Dog carries both fashion and functional items, from print collars and leads to compact travel bowls. Our pup now sports a Pendleton sweater to keep him warm on all his adventures!
UNOFFICIAL LOGGING IN BEND OREGON
Axe throwing at Unofficial Logging is the unexpected activity (and the unexpected workout!) that you need in your life! We had never tried axe throwing before and it’s quite intimidating at first. The coaches put us right at ease with a short lesson and help with our form on our first few throws. In no time at all we were learning trick shots! Despite most of our throws not actually sticking on the target, we had a blast!
A full food menu, along with beer and wine is available at Unofficial Logging. This makes it an easy pick for the group activity or date night out. It’s one of the largest axe throwing venues we have seen, and truly a great atmosphere! Just please always adhere to the Code of Conduct to make sure everyone enjoys their visit!
WHERE TO STAY IN BEND OREGON?
In full disclosure, we are biased because we stayed at Wall Street Suites and were BLOWN AWAY! With a perfect blend of cabin and motel, but with more amenities than you could ask for – especially if you’re traveling with your pup! If you’ve been following along so far, you’ll probably realize that you’ll be picking up brews and leftovers … have no fear. The rooms at Wall Street Suites offer full-size refrigerators along with full kitchens that include all the bakeware you could possibly need to reheat your Cajun Tots (or whatever else you’re in the mood for).
There are also designated parking spots right outside your room at Wall Street Suites, which alleviates all moments of “oh no, I left that in the car”, as well as a gas fire pit for relaxing and drinking a couple of those beers you picked up at the breweries.
Did we mention the dog-focused amenities?? Your room will have a food & water bowl, dog bed & blanket, and furniture cover so your furry friends can join you on the couch and bed. Not only do you have these in-room goodies, but they also have a dog park on property! So if your pooch isn’t tired after visiting all the breweries they have the chance to get out some zoomies in a safe spot right outside your room. If you want even more reasons to stay at Wall Street Suites, check out our full blog here.
BEND OREGON ON A CHILLY WEEKEND
As you can see, you will have more than enough ways to fill a weekend itinerary in Bend Oregon! It’s a destination with something for everyone, no matter the weather. And if you find yourself getting antsy and in need of some outdoor activities, head over to the Visit Bend website for more info on places like Tumalo Falls or Smith Rock State Park! If you are road-tripping through Oregon, you can visit Bend and follow along with our ULTIMATE OREGON ROAD TRIP ITINERARY! Have you visited any of these spots or are you adding them to your list?? Let us know below your favorite in Bend Oregon!
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Thanks for stopping by!
Ryan & Katy
