Trailhead - May 2018

TRAILHEAD MAY 2018 | VISITCENTRALOREGON.COM

A D V E N T U R E

C A L L S

BEYOND BANDON

30 COURSES, AMAZING WEATHER & OFF-THE-COURSE THRILLS. CENTRAL OREGON HAS BECOME THE STATE'S TRUE, PREMIER GOLF DESTINATION. EXPERIENCE:

EXPLORE:

SISTERS COUNTRY LAVA LANDS

DESTINATION:

FIVEPINE LODGE

TRAILHEAD MAY 2018 | VISITCENTRALOREGON.COM

A D V E N T U R E

C A L L S

BEYOND BANDON 30 COURSES, AMAZING WEATHER & OFF-THE-COURSE THRILLS. CENTRAL OREGON HAS BECOME THE STATE'S TRUE, PREMIER GOLF DESTINATION. EXPERIENCE:

EXPLORE:

DESTINATION:

SISTERS COUNTRY LAVA LANDS FIVEPINE LODGE

IN THIS ISSUE NOTES FROM THE TRAIL I can't remember the last time I touched my golf clubs.

And considering where I live and that I was once an assistant golf pro who lived and breathed the sport, that right there might be the saddest sentence I've ever written.

You see, Central Oregon is a golfer's paradise. Home to 30 courses, including 3 of Golf Digest's Top 100.

For true golf fans, Central Oregon should be a bucket list destination.

Throw in all the amazing off-the-course offerings like 30 breweries, mountain biking, wineries, whitewater trips and more...and it's the perfect spot for both buddy's trips and family outings.

Our "Big 3" get most of the attention...(Crosswater, Tetherow, and Pronghorn) but there's so much more to the golf scene here.

Widgi Creek Golf Club sits within the Deschutes National Forest and is a hugely popular track among the locals. In fact, it was named Bend’s favorite course 10 straight years (until Tetherow stole the title.)

Elsewhere, Juniper Golf Course in Redmond has long been a championship-caliber course that’s hosted several Oregon Opens.

The locals consider it a lot like Pronghorn, set among ancient juniper trees and lava rocks.

Aspen Lakes in Sisters, Quail Run in La Pine and Lost Tracks Golf Club in Bend are also must-plays in Central Oregon. They might not be on the national radar, but guess what? That just means its easier to get tee times there.

Mark Twain once called golf "a good walk spoiled."

Pity he never had a chance to play in Central Oregon.

Keep it in the fairway - Ted.

MAY 2018

BEYOND BANDON: CENTRAL OREGON GOLF Experience Oregon's sunny premier golf destination.

DESTINATION: FIVEPINE LODGE

Unwind under the pines at Sisters' FivePine Lodge.

EXPLORE: SISTERS COUNTRY

Old west charm, luxury accommodations and adventure await.

EXPLORE: LAVA LANDS

Get up close and personal with Central Oregon's volcanic history.

SCENIC HELI FLIGHTS GIVE BIRDS-EYE VIEW

Take your Central Oregon vacation to new heights with a scenic heli tour.

OUR PICKS 3 THINGS

TRAILHEAD Writer/Editor/Layout: Ted Taylor Writer/Videographer: Mackenzie Ballard Email us: trailhead@visitcentraloregon.com

On the cover: The opening hole at Tetherow Golf Club in Bend - ranked No. 63 in Golf Digest's Top 100 Public Courses in America.

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3

Of our favorite spots for tacos, tequila and everything Mexican

HOLA

Authentic Peruvian cuisine meets bold new directions in Mexican dishes like you’ve never tasted before. With three Central Oregon locations, you're always close to one!

LA ROSA Fresh fish, vegetables, meats and spices are combined in creative ways to bring out the true Mexicana flavors. Locals have named La Rosa Bend's best Mexican restaurant 8 times and best margarita 9 times.Â

EL SANCHO TACOS AT CRUX This is some elevated street food. El Sancho is one of Bend's first food carts and easily one of its most popular. You can find it on the lawn at Crux Fermentation Project, the Unofficial Brewery of Central Oregon Summer.

Destination

Inn-Escapable:Â Peek Inside FivePine Lodge

It’s hard to imagine a more romantic and relaxing escape than the FivePine Lodge in the hamlet of Sisters, Oregon...

DESTINATION

FivePine Lodge Serenity is the hallmark of this rustic-chic resort. Founded by Bay Area expats, who named the hotel in honor of their five children, the lodge has a sophisticated and handcrafted feel from the Amish furniture to the zenlike Shibui Spa. This grand lodge mixes a European feel with rustic architecture, rich wood details and a 30-foot rock fireplace. Blue-tinged pines frame the property, which has plans to add a labyrinth to heighten the atmosphere of reflection. There are eight suites and 36 Craftsman-style cabins to choose from here, many with sundappled decks and fireplaces.

Rooms: Walnut headboards and intricately-detailed armoires add to the luxurious feel. Balconies offer comfy Adirondack chairs — a perfect perch for sipping a glass of Oregon pinot noir or a

chocolate stout, poured during the lodge’s complimentary cocktail hour...

Splashes: Two words: cascade bathtub.

Wash away the day in a deep soaking tub, filled by a waterfall-like faucet flowing from above. High-end bath products from Shibui Spa heighten the sense of pampering.

Extras: There’s no restaurant at the hotel, but the complimentary breakfast includes housemade scones, the familyfriendly Three Creeks Brewing has a great pub. Film buffs shouldn’t miss the cozy Sisters Movie House next door.

CHECK OUT THE LODGE Reprinted w/permission - San Jose Mercury News

EXPLORE: SISTERS COUNTRY

A small Western-themed town with a slow pace of life is overlaid with an everexpanding creative culture and a longstanding outdoor recreation tradition.

RODEO TOWN Sisters Rodeo has been entertaining rodeo fans for 77

QUILT SHOW The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, held

annually on the second Saturday of July, is the largest outdoor quilt show in the world. Downtown Sisters is wrapped in quilts for this special day, creating a spectacular, colorful spectacle that truly has to be seen to be believed. But the quilt show is more than one spectacular day: It's becoming a year-round celebration of the fiber arts.

CAMP SHERMAN While it's a great place to get away

from it all, Camp Sherman is also a lovely place to reconnect with an oldfashioned sense of community. The hub is the Camp Sherman Store, where you can pick up your groceries or a delicious deli sandwich, outfit yourself for a day on the river and get the word on the latest hatch.

SEE SISTERS

years, with world champion cowboys and cowgirls of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association competing for the biggest purse in the nation in early June. (SEE OUR PICKS) There are several great shows plus an Xtreme Bulls performance at the Sisters Rodeo grounds, three miles southeast of Sisters on Highway 20.

Each performance has a grand entry, team bronc riding, tiedown roping, bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, team roping, bull riding and barrel racing. Xtreme Bulls highlights Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. with nothing but bull riding.

MOUNTAIN BIKING

The 20-mile Peterson Ridge trail network is popular with Sisters’ residents and you can expect to encounter lots of walkers, runners, and dogs on the trails. There are also several horse trails that interconnect into this system.

EXPLORE

Lava Lands Central Oregon's Geologic Gem

history of the area. (It’s closed during the winter, but you can still explore Lava Lands. Just hang a left at the gate and park in the adjacent parking lot.)

To get an up close and personal look at the lava, walk the Trail of Molten Land and the Trail of Whispering Pines.

It’s a short little one mile walk through the lava field and includes a few viewpoint areas with interpretive plaques. To get a bird’s eye look, you can walk or take one of the shuttles up to the top of Lava Butte where you can see just how far the lava field stretches – and where it abruptly turns back into a lush forest of Ponderosa pines.

TAKE A TOUR Located on the north flank of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, what is now Lava Lands was created about 7,000 years ago after a volcanic explosion of Lava Butte. A miles-wide sea of jagged lava rock was left behind creating a unique geological landscape.

Today, the Lava Lands Visitor Center is the interpretive hub for the Newberry National Volcanic Monument,

which covers some 56,700 acres of lakes, lava flows, and spectacular geologic features near Bend and Sunriver.

The Visitor Center is a great place to learn more about the violent history of the area with the help of U.S. Forest Service Rangers. Inside there’s a book store, 3D topographical map to help orient you to the area as well as daily films and exhibits on the geological

DID YOU KNOW? Unsure what the surface of the moon actually was like, NASA sent astronauts including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin - to Lava Lands to train on the basalt surfaces before their famous moon landing in 1969.

BEYOND BANDON: CENTRAL OREGON GOLF SHINES

BY TED TAYLOR

CROSSWATER CLUB, SUNRIVER RESORT

When Tom O'Brien called the Central Oregon Visitors Association last year to get some help planning a golf getaway for himself and some buddies from Nebraska, he was on a mission–to see what all the fuss was over Central Oregon golf.

He'd seen the stories and photos in national golf publications and had heard of Sunriver and Black Butte Ranch–just two of the golf resorts in a region where 30 courses lie within 45 minutes of each other.

His goal? “To have a memorable golfing experience. One where we go home thinking 'I can't wait to go back,'” O'Brien said.

The Central Oregon experience – both on and off the course - is memorable indeed, whether you spend a week there with your buddies, a long weekend with the family or are just passing through and have time for only a quick 18. (CONT)

CHECK OUT THE "BIG 3" OUR FAVORITE 19TH HOLES

The High Desert that is Central Oregon (the sunny side of the state) has quickly made a name for itself in golf vacation circles. In fact, the region is home to three of Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest Public Courses (Pronghorn No. 36, Crosswater No. 50 and Tetherow No. 63.)

And Golf Magazine has called it one of the top 25 golf destinations in the world.

What’s more, Golf Magazine has named Pronghorn a Top 25 Golf Community, Sunriver has been ranked among Golf Digest’s Top 10 Family Golf Destinations.

Central Oregon is home to five of Oregon’s Top 10 courses according to Golfweek Magazine. Accolades of the region as a golf vacation destination continue to build.

The attraction? Central Oregon’s collection of courses and recreational opportunities offer a diversity not found anywhere else. Beyond our Top 100 courses, Aspen Lakes in Sisters has been named one of Golf Digest’s Top 15 Courses in Oregon (CONT)

TETHEROW RESORT TETHEROW RESO

ASPEN LAKES

PRONGHORN RESORT

while Black Butte Ranch’s Glaze Meadow Course has been redesigned to rave reviews.

Black Butte Ranch has long been a fun family vacation destination offering two championship courses, horseback riding and kids activities all summer – all in the shadow of the snow-capped majestic Cascade Mountains nearby.

Like all Central Oregon golf resorts, the vibe is laid back and enjoyable. And they’re all looking for new ways to attract players.

Pronghorn, for instance, offers players the chance to use GolfBikes – a modified mountain bike with an attachment to hold your clubs, balls (and beer, of course).

Tetherow and others offer GolfBoards – a motorized skateboard designed to surf the turf on golf courses.

As O’Brien and his buddies happily discovered, a Central Oregon golf trip is much more than golf. It’s where golf buddies go to create stories for life.

CHECK OUT THE COURSES BLACK BUTTE RANCH

infographic courtesy The Oregonian

CENTRAL OREGON

e h t By rs e b m u n

FIND THE PERFECT HELI-TOUR BIGFOOT TOUR

The Deschutes National Forest near Bend has been the location of numerous Bigfoot sightings since 1963. This is your opportunity to search for this legendary creature by helicopter on your next visit.

WINE TASTING TOUR

GET A BIRDS EYE VIEW OF CENTRAL OREGON The Central Oregon landscape is something to behold. From the snow-capped peaks to the wild and scenic rivers, the region is filled with picturesque scenes of pure, natural beauty.

And there’s no better way to soak it all in than from above.

Nothing says Central Oregon like outdoor experiences that last a lifetime. And nothing says summer adventure like hopping in your own private helicopter to go wine tasting at our premier vineyard, a place where magic happens.

FIREWORKS TOUR

Soar above Bends iconic Old Mill District on the 4th of July to experience our “rockets’ red glare” as you’ve never seen fireworks before.

BOOK A FLIGHT

Big Mountain Heli Tours now offers half-hour or one-hour helicopter tours designed to “provide access to our playground to everyone, regardless of time or physical ability.”

Owner Patric Douglas says he realizes not everyone is able to hike up South Sister, Broken Top or Smith Rock’s Misery Ridge – but they’d sure like to be able to enjoy the views from the lofty peaks. Big Mountain turns an all-day adventure into a quick little outing that leaves guests breathless for entirely different reasons.

They like to say “you don’t buy a seat, you buy a helicopter.”

What that means is you’re not heading up for some cookiecutter, stale and boring tour from a robot sitting in the pilot’s seat. It means you get to direct the tour to fit your desires.

Want to spend the whole time soaring over the river below?

Cool. Want to get up close and personal to South Sister and Mt. Bachelor? Done.

They offer a handful of set tours, but once you’re in the air the agenda is flexible.

CENTRAL OREGON: READY TO ROCK

SUMMER CONCERT SEASON HEATS UP

Central Oregon’s iconic music venue, the Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend, has announced a 2018 summer concert line-up filled with big-name acts set to rock the region.

The 8,000-capacity venue situated on the banks of the Deschutes River in Bend’s Old Mill District has been a must-stop for high-profile touring artists since it opened in 2002.

You can buy tickets for all the shows online at BendConcerts.com or in person at the Ticket Mill.

Shows at the LSA include multiple local food vendors and local craft beer, wine and spirits. Or, you can grab a bite to eat at one of the fabulous restaurants across the river in The Old Mill.

May 30 – Ray LaMontagne with Neko Case June 8 – Jethro Tull June 9 – Slightly Stoopid June 19 – Michael Franti & Spearhead June 23 – Primus and Mastodon July 6 – Steve Martin and Martin Short July 24 – Jackson Browne July 25 – Sheryl Crow July 26 – The Decemberists August 4 - Willie Nelson & Family and Alison Krauss (SOLD OUT) August 5 – Pixies August 9 – Amos Lee August 21 – Steve Miller Band with Peter Frampton August 25 - Brandi Carlile August 28 – Dave Matthews Band (SOLD OUT) August 31 – Portugal. The Man.

If you’re looking for the closest lodging options, the Hampton Inn is located right next to the amphitheater while the Hilton Garden Inn is on the hill that overlooks the shopping center.

BUY TICKETS & GET MORE INFO

OUR PICKS VIEW OUR FULL CALENDAR

MAY 19

SELCO CREDIT UNION POLE, PEDAL PADDLE MULTI-SPORT RACE Bend's largest athletic event! A relay with six legs including alpine skiing/snowboarding, cross-country skiing, biking, running, canoeing/kayaking/ stand up paddle boarding & sprinting to the finish!

It's a signature event for the entire community.

SIGN UP!

JUNE 8-10

78TH ANNUAL SISTERS RODEO THE BIGGEST LITTLE SHOW IN THE WORLD XTREME Bulls, bronc riding, steer wrestling, barback riding and more highlight this annual event in Sisters.

Enjoy multiple shows - including a matinee. The Buckaroo Breakfast and downtown parade are a hit with the kids.

MAY-OCT BEND FARMERS MARKET The Bend Farmers Market is blossoming into one of Oregon’s leading farm–direct marketplaces.

You’ll find everything you need from fruits and vegetables, to meat, poultry, dairy, sweet treats and flowers.

TAKE A TOUR

JUNE 22-24

PACIFIC CREST ENDURANCE SPORTS FESTIVAL Central Oregon's largest sporting event features tons of events including a 72.3 BEASTMAN, Olympic & Ultra-Sprint Distance Triathlon/Duathlon/AquaBikes, Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K/10K, 28K & 50K Trail Run, Bike Tours & Kids Races.

SIGN UP!

TRAILHEAD A D V E N T U R E

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