Popular State Guides
|
Free Traveling Guides » States » Oregon » Greater Oregon
Bend
Bend is a lively city located at the eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountains in Central Oregon. It is included in the Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. It is situated at an elevation of about 3,625 feet (1.1 km) and covers an area of 32 square miles (82.8 square-km). Bend, situated on the western edge of the Cascade Range Ponderosa Pine Forests, is characterized by sagebrush, junipers, little water, and bitter-brush. It is also known for its rapidly growing economy, magnificent scenic beauty, and various outdoor recreational activities organized throughout the year.
Kayaking, white-water rafting, fly fishing, golf, mountain bike cycling, snowboarding, skiing, snowmobiling, snow tubing, and snowshoeing are the favorite recreational activities here. The triple waterfalls of the Deschutes River, the Metolius River, and the Crooked River offer exciting opportunities to the kayakers, rafters and fly fishers. There are more than 20 top-rated golf courses near the city where the golfers can take up every kind of golf challenge. Besides, there are lush forests, desert, lava fields, and high mountain peaks for the Mountain bike cyclists. Mt. Bachelor is yet another attraction in the city. This premier snowboarding area has 6 high speed alpine lifts that provide 3,683 acres (14.9 square-km) of slopes for skiing. Cross country skiing on the 56 km (34.7 miles) trails on Mt. Bachelor is a famous winter sport in the Bend District.
The Smith Rock State Park is a popular retreat for hikers and climbers as it offers world class rock climbing and several miles of hiking trails. Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint, an extinct volcano and Newberry National Volcanic Monument to the south of Bend are important landmarks. The main attraction in downtown bend is the Drake Park's Mirror Pond, a small lake with Canadian geese, variety of ducks, and a pair of swans from Queen Elizabeth's royal swannery in England.
The recreational experience in Bend can be enhanced by shopping, strolling, and dining in Historic Downtown Bend. There are a number of restaurants, galleries, boutiques, specialty shops, and outdoor eateries. The Old Mill District nearby features trendy shopping, stylish restaurants, and an outdoor amphitheater used for summer concerts. High Desert Museum and the Tower Theater are other important tourist sites. It is almost impossible to enjoy all that is there to do in Bend in just one visit. Therefore, it is advisable to choose only a few of many recreational opportunities available before you plan your next trip to the City of Bend.
|
Top 5 National Parks
- Great Smoky Mountains
- Grand Canyon
- Yosemite
- Olympic
- Yellowstone
All 58 national parks. |
