Trailhead February/March 2020

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2020 | VISITCENTRALOREGON.COM

TRAILHEAD A D V E N T U R E

C A L L S

Spring Break

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8 IDEAS FOR FAMILY FUN THIS SPRING INDOOR GOLF I TRAMPOLINE PARKS I CAVE TOURS DESTINATION: BRASADA RANCH 1,800 ACRES OF HIGH DESERT TO EXPLORE INFINITE MOMENTS EXPERIENCE BURNING MAN'S IMPACT AT A NEW HIGH DESERT MUSEUM EXHIBIT

VISIT CENTRAL OREGON BACKSTORY: HOW LA PINE BECAME OREGON'S NEWEST CITY

IN THIS ISSUE LOOKING FOR AN ESCAPE? WE’VE GOT THE PLACE. For those that visit Central Oregon, it can feel like the best kind of escape from day-to-day life.

Whether you’re looking for solitude in the mountains or festivals that bring out the community, this time of year offers something for everyone.

A trip here is an adventure for the whole family. We packed this issue with dozens of ideas for your next trip to Central Oregon this spring. From indoor fun like the Trampoline Zone and Sun Mountain Fun Center to outdoor experiences like snowshoeing at Mt. Bachelor and joining a cave tour, families will find plenty to stay busy. We rounded up things to do that are accessible for everyone—Central Oregon is a place where anyone in the family can join in on the fun.

We’ve also highlighted two of Oregon’s 7 Wonders that are just a short drive away from the region: Crater Lake National Park and the Painted Hills. So whether you’re passing through the high desert or making it your basecamp, we hope we’ve inspired you to visit these incredible destinations.

Speaking of basecamps, we’re featuring a favorite here. East of Bend in Powell Butte, Brasada Ranch is a four-star resort that is anything but fussy. Families book trips here for extended stays to get to know the region. It’s just a short drive from Prineville and Bend, placing the ranch at an ideal location for experiencing everything that Central Oregon has to offer.

There are plenty of other ways to find your escape in this issue. We showcase the history of La Pine, an exciting new experimental art exhibit at the High Desert Museum, and the best events in February and March that you don’t want to miss.

Reach out to us at Visit Central Oregon if you need help planning your next escape to the region.

Thanks for reading!

Visit Central Oregon

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020

NEARBY WONDERS Check out these bucket-list destinations just a short drive from Central Oregon.

SPRING BREAK

Heading to Central Oregon with your family for vacation this week? We found plenty of things to do.

TASTEMAKERS

Eat Drink Bend travels the region to find out what’s new and tasty.

DESTINATION: BRASADA RANCH

The family-friendly resort makes a perfect basecamp for your vacation.

HERITAGE

How La Pine became Oregon’s newest city.

ALSO: Staff Picks Calendar

Produced by Visit Central Oregon Email us: trailhead@visitcentraloregon.com

NEARBY

WONDERS WONDERS

Cross off these bucket-list destinations that are just a day-trip away from Central Oregon.

Painted Hills Distance from Redmond: 1 hour 30 minutes If a picture is worth a thousand words, seeing the Painted Hills in person may just leave you speechless. Northeast of Bend within a twohour drive, the national monument is part of a stunning collection of geologic formations in the area. The Painted Hills can be seen from the parking area and overlook, but follow the trail to view the chromatic wonder from different angles. Formed over millennia, the rolling hills are awash in reds, yellows, oranges and greens.

It’s truly a sight to behold and a must-visit for anyone driving through the area.

Whether you’re staying in the area or just passing through, don’t miss a stop in Mitchell.

The small town has a few places to eat where you’ll find homemade comfort food. There are also some local shops to browse and Tiger Town, a new craft brewery to try.

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Crater Lake Distance from Sunriver: 1 hour 45 minutes The only National Park in Oregon, Crater Lake is known for its location in the remnants of an erupted volcano and its impossibly blue water. The Rim Village Cafe & Store is open year-round. Find something to eat and drink, and if you’re feeling brave, you can also rent snowshoes to tour the lake in the snow.

Once the snow melts from winter, visitors can drive all the way around the deepest lake in the United States. Take a hike down the steep Cleetwood Cove Trail to the shoreline or try cycling around the lake. There are two vehicle-free days on Rim Drive each summer.

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Spring Break Family Fun Eight ways for families to spend spring break in Ce nt ra l Or e g o n.

Indoors or out, these excursions will get kids out of the house and keep visiting families busy all week long.

Spring Skiing at Mt. Bachelor Skiing at Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort hits its peak in the spring. The snow conditions are prime, they days are longer and the skies are usually clear of clouds. Save a few bucks on your ticket by purchasing online, or pick up a spring ski pass for unlimited lift access through the mountain’s typical May closing. There are thousands of acres to explore on the mountain, and most lifts have runs that are suitable for all levels. You can also explore the mountain if you don’t ski or snowboard.

Through March 29, the Forest Service offers naturalist-led snowshoe tours through the Deschutes National Forest.

Learn about the ecology and geology of the mountain on this ninety-minute tour through the snow. mtbachelor.com

Cave Tours

Sun Mountain Fun Center

Central Oregon’s tumultuous geologic history created not only the Cascade Range but also a network of caves below ground. Year-round, Wanderlust Tours offers tours of the accessible lava tubes just outside of Bend. With helmets and headlamps on, visitors will be led by a knowledgeable naturalist.

The tours are low-impact and great for the whole family. wanderlusttours.com

Sun Mountain Fun Center has been creating fun memories for families for more than twenty-five years. Outside, visitors can find batting cages, go kart tracks and mini golf. Inside, find bowling, billiards and, of course, arcade games. Open seven days a week, including evenings, Sun Mountain Fun Center is a great place for families to spend time over spring break. sunmountainfun.com

Trampoline Zone

SHARC

With a f ifty-bed trampoline park, rock climbing wall with puzzles, lazer maze, pickleball zone and ninja course, it’s impossible for anyone to be bored at Trampoline Zone in Bend. The indoor adventure zone is on the east side of Bend and great for all ages, including parents. The Trampoline Zone is open seven days a week with special times for kids ages 7 and under to play. tzbend.com

Known as SHARC, the Sunriver Homeowners Aquatic & Recreation Center is the place to be for families in Sunriver.

The facility has an indoor pool and hot tub open year-round, and the outdoor pools, open depending on weather, is a perfect place to spend a warm day and also includes a lazy river. Kids and families can also stay busy with the disc golf course, public park and a basketball court. sunriversharc.com

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Mt. Bachelor photo Tyler Roem, SHARC photo Kimberly Kay Indoor Golf photo courtesy Sunriver Resort

Indoor Golf

Madras Aquatic Center In Madras, the aquatic center is open daily to the public.

There are open swim times as well as programs suited for every need, f rom lap swimming to water aerobics.

Kick around at the aquatic center for a few hours, then spend some time getting to know the rest of the town that is growing alongside the rest of the Central Oregon, with craft breweries, food trucks and more. macrecdistrict.com

Golf fanatics will want to head to Sunriver to check out the new indoor golf simulator. Take your pick of courses, including f rom those at Sunriver, and perfect your swing on the simulated course. Friends and family can join or watch in the room’s lounge—and enjoy drinks and food f rom Sunriver’s Twisted River Tavern. The course provides data for golfers to improve their games, and offers an alternative in case of inclement weather. sunriver-resort.com

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Hoodoo Ski Area

Hoodoo Night Skiing Hoodoo offers the only night skiing area in Central Oregon.

With affordable prices and a mountain that families can enjoy together, it’s a unique way to spend an evening.

Get your turns in under the lights, then warm up in the lodge with hot chocolate. On Friday nights, you can even enjoy the live music f rom the lodge. skihoodoo.com

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E AT T H I S , drink T H AT The tastemakers of Eat Drink Bend share their favorite food and beverage pairings from brunch and bubbles to wine and tapas in Bend and beyond.

On Tap 1424 NE Cushing Dr., Bend For an elevated food truck dining experience, head to the Bleu Rooster at On Tap for their PBLT--a pork belly, lettuce, and bacon-tomato jam (all made from scratch) sandwich served on a buttery brioche bun. Even better, pair it with a Blackberry Merlot cider from Tumalo Cider Company. Food cart chic!

Chow 1100 NW Newport Ave., Bend

Sisters Coffee Co. 273 W Hood Ave., Sisters The pioneer coffee roasters of Central Oregon have a fullyloaded breakfast sandwich to get you fueled for a day’s worth of adventure. The Pacific Crest is packed with bacon, provolone, pesto, shaved red onion, arugula and a fried egg. You can’t pass up a Modbar pour-over with one of their signature roasts like High Desert Sunrise.

Spoken Moto

Not your average benedict—poached eggs are served over cheesy, herby corn cakes and dressed in roasted chili sauces, avocado, queso fresco and chili hollandaise. Grab a Caboost Ruby Basil kombucha for a refreshing alternative to breakfast cocktails or (another) cup of coffee with brunch.

Portello Wine Cafe

River's Place 787 NE Purcell Blvd., Bend For a just moment, you may forget that you’re in Oregon when your taste buds get ahold of Bluma’s southern fried chicken. A half bone-in chicken is served with housemade hot honey and a side of mashed potatoes with jalapeño gravy.

We’re reaching for a local Pilsner, like Zoiglhaus, inside of the River’s Place taphouse and food cart lot.

2754 NW Crossing Dr. #104, Bend A glass of Oregon wine, like Battle Creek Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley, is a fine accompaniment to Portello’s extensive bruschetta boards. Choose a la carte from offerings like fig, pistachio, chevre and honey, or smoked salmon, cucumber and marinated olives.

310 SW Industrial Way, Bend Shred Town’s Cuban sandwich, made with shredded pork, stone-ground mustard and pickles, is a lunchtime go-to at the Spoken Moto coffee shop/food cart lot/motorcycle shop (seriously). Grab a Boneyard CBD Elixir for a sparkling non-alcoholic beverage in flavors like lemon ginger and passion orange.

Eat Drink Bend features cocktails and plates from local eateries. They scout restaurants, breweries, and wineries to share with you the best and unknown dishes and drinks while sharing stories from our locally-owned Central Oregon establishments.

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nt e m o M BURNING MAN HORIZON INFINITE

ON THE

A new exhibit at the High Desert Museum in Central Oregon showcases the art of Burning Man and its impact on the desert.

For nine days each year, close to 100,000 people head to the high desert in Nevada for Burning Man. The event is often stereotyped as a hippie-hangout, but its roots are much deeper. What began on a beach in San Francisco in 1986—a group of f riends burned an eight-foot wooden man to mark the summer solstice—has since grown into an installation of art and music that draws people f rom around the world to the temporary village in the desert they call Black Rock City.

“We are creating an immersive experience that will allow the visitor to engage with the art and one another,” said Museum Executive Director Dana Whitelaw. “Through the exhibit, visitors will explore how the vastness of the High Desert fosters art and creativity not typically seen within four walls.”

The original exhibit opened February 1 and will be on display at the High Desert Museum through October 20.

Set against the backdrop of the high desert, the landscape is a crucial element to Burning Man. A new exhibit at the High Desert Museum in Central Oregon will explore the “history, art, culture and impact of the event,” according to the museum.

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Photos courtesy Heather Duchow and Becca Burda, High Desert Museum

Including images of Burning Man as well as original artwork, “Inf inite Moment: Burning Man on the Horizon,” will explore the challenges that the environment places on Burning Man-goers as well as the community that is built on the event’s famed “10 Principles.”

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DESTINATION

BRASADA Ranch Located a mere 19 miles outside of Bend, Powell Butte offers a quiet and serene escape from city limits. With its high desert landscape and sweeping views of Central Oregon, this unincorporated community of Crook County feels like a getaway much further than the 25-minute drive into its neighboring Redmond, Bend or Prineville. written by nancy patterson

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EXPLORE Brasada Ranch offers an array of activities and amenities throughout 1,800 cascading acres. Avid golfers and amateurs alike will awe at the pristine course layout with top-notch views at each tee. Warm up at their two-tiered driving range located on a five-acre practice green.

For breathtaking views of the Cascades and Bend’s buttes, head up one of the Brasada trails, located a half-mile outside of the resort. The equestrian center offers pony rides for the little ones, or trail rides for riders of all experience levels. Make your way up the butte led by a guide and take in the fresh mountain air—and views. Looking to get in touch with your inner cowboy or cowgirl? Take an afternoon excursion before stopping to roast s’mores over an open fire and sip on hot cocoa.

Mountain bike rentals are available at the ranch’s adventure concierge for outdoor enthusiasts to explore the several trails within and around the ranch. For a more leisurely exploration of the grounds, rent an electric bike and cruise through the flat trails within the resort.

LODGE Whether you’re heading on a family vacation, girls’ weekend, or romantic getaway, the ranch has lodging accommodations to meet your needs.

Guest rooms and cabins are designed with rustic sophistication for the utmost comfort during your trip. The Ranch House is an adults-only lodging facility in the heart of the resort. Eight guestrooms and suites provide a peaceful stay for you and your loved one, including private decks and hot tubs for Ranch House guests only.

For groups and families, The Sage Canyon Cabins offer two, three and four bedroom cabins with a private balcony and deck, full kitchen and multiple fireplaces, overlooking edges of the ranch. Unwind and decompress after a day of adventuring by soaking in the private hot tub on the lower deck of each cabin.

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On many weekend evenings, The Range restaurant is known to host food pairings and specialty dinners. They recently collaborated with Worthy Brewing to create a three-course dinner paired with ales and small-batch brews designed by executive chefs from the ranch and Worthy. During the summer season, enjoy fine dining cuisine before taking your wine out to the patio and lounging around the fire pit.

DINE The ranch’s year-round restaurant and bar, The Ranch House, is a family-friendly eatery serving casual breakfast, lunch and dinner. Enjoy brunch as you watch the sun peek out over the cascades from the restaurant’s vaulted windows. For a cozy dining experience, grab a hot craft cocktail and warm up in front of the interior fireplace, or venture outside and huddle up around the outdoor fireplace.

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Some evenings are best spent at “home.”

Sage Canyon Cabins come equipped with a barbecue, which makes the resort’s Ranch Platters a fun and easy way to cook dinner for the whole family.

Choose from ready-to-grill entrees such as Double-R Ranch New York strip steak, salmon filets or marinated chicken breasts. Sides and wine by the bottle are available, and everything comes a-lacarte.

For DIY tapas, head to The Country Store for adequately priced snacks. Try making your own charcuterie and cheese board by choosing from the store’s cheese selection; pair your midday grazing board with a bottle of Oregon pinot noir or Willamette Valley varietal.

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ORE, SAVE M M OR AY T E T P O 25% S E U V A - S Save on Ranch House Suites, Guestrooms, and Cabins including 20% off stays of three to six nights and 25% off stays of seven nights or more.

Plan your next High Desert getaway.

Enrich Your Everything BR ASADA.COM

Three-night minimum stay valid through April 30, 2020. Some restrictions apply.

- History & Heritage -

Oregon’s New est city

The community of La Pine has been around since French fur traders settled it in the 1800s. But the city of La Pine has only been recognized by the state since 2007.

The state’s newest city, La Pine was voted into official existence in late 2006. Its city limits span only 7 miles of the larger community, and 1,700 people live in town (though according to the city’s website more than 17,000 call the greater La Pine area home).

Earlier attempts to incorporate this proud community of independent thinkers, in 1985, 1994 and 2000, all failed, which is why the city is such a small portion of the overall community. By shrinking the size of the city, it could ask fewer voters to approve the idea.

Newberry Crater

Becoming a city is no small thing. When voters finally approved the incorporation of the city, that was just the beginning—it had to create a comprehensive plan and city charter, create a city council and offices for city employees, build a city hall, take over services such as water and sewer, and get down to business.

Much of it was so in the weeds that La Pine saw a great deal of turnover in its city hall over the first few years. According to The Bulletin, by November 2008 the fledgling city had already seen seven of ten city councilors resign, and struggled to find volunteers to fill commission seats.

Much of the challenge stemmed from the city’s small size—there were plenty of people who didn’t live within city limits who might have been interested, but the city’s incorporation required the bulk of participants to live in that small radius. It took the city three years to complete its comprehensive plan and four years for voters to approve the city’s charter.

But from these slow beginnings, La Pine has made great strides. The city partnered with

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LaPine School Interior, Circa 1916 Courtesy Deschutes Historical Society

the University of Oregon’s Sustainable City Year program twice, with students helping the city solve community goals such as bike planning, community engagement and public relations. In 2014, the city created an urban renewal plan, and today is working on a variety of projects to continue La Pine on a path to vibrant, working city.

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OUR PICKS COFFEE

Erickson Aircraft Collection

COHO COFFEE

BRUNCH

GREAT EARTH CAFE

DOG-FRIENDLY

ART

SCP REDMOND

WINE

VA PIANO

BEER

DINNER

COCKTAILS

HISTORY

THE BITE AT TUMALO

“COLD FASHIONED” AT RIFF T R A I L H E A D

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RIVERBEND PARK BEVEL CRAFT BREWING ERICKSON AIRCRAFT COLLECTION 2 0 2 0

EVENTS

VIEW OUR FULL CALENDAR

Music Series at the Riverhouse

MUSIC SERIES AT MONSTER X TOUR THE RIVERHOUSE FEBRUARY 28-29

Monster trucks and monster truck enthusiasts will be in Redmond for the annual Monster X Tour. Held at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center, this event features two days of monster truck racing, contests and freestyle.

Get tickets to see it all in action and to meet the drivers.

FEBRUARY 20, 27, MARCH 5, 12, 19

Enjoy a cozy night on the river around the f irepits at the Fire & Ice Music Series at Riverhouse on the Deschutes in Bend. Hear local artists playing live music f rom 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays at Currents at the Riverhouse, with bands including Dive Bar Theology, Grace Caston, Mark Burnett and Bill Keale.

HOODOO SKI BIKE FESTIVAL MARCH 6-8

Outside of Sisters, Hoodoo Ski Area is a family-f riendly ski hill that has terrain for everyone who loves to adventure in the snow, and that includes skibiking. The Hoodoo Ski Bike Festival will celebrate this sport that’s growing in popularity.

Check out gear, take a lesson and learn more f rom the experts at this weekend-long festival.

SUTTLE LODGE CHEF SERIES FEBRUARY 29, MARCH 14

FREE DAY AT THE HIGH DESERT MUSEUM

From January to June, the Suttle Lodge hosts exquisite gourmet dinners f rom some of the top chefs in the country. Spend an evening at this renovated historic lodge sharing a one-ofa-kind meal. In February, the lodge hosts a James Beardnominated chef f rom Nashville.

And in March, get tickets for the James Beard winning chefs f rom Washington, D.C. T R A I L H E A D

FEBRUARY 29

Take advantage of this opportunity to spend some time at the High Desert Museum just outside of Bend. Take in the exhibits that explore the cultural and natural history of the region. Be sure to check out the newest exhibit that features the art of Burning Man. Outside, wander the paved pathways to watch the wildlife like river otters and birds of prey. |

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TRAILHEAD A D V E N T U R E

C A L L S

Fly directly to Central Oregon from most major cities in the west, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Salt Lake, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, Mesa, Las Vagas and starting in March 2020 - San Diego. Seasonal direct flights include Chicago.

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TRAILHEAD Trailhead is a bi-monthly digital publication from Visit Central Oregon.

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