Visit Bend, Redmond, & Sunriver

Many folks who come to visit Sisters enjoy rolling just a little further down the highway to Bend or Redmond.

Photo Courtesy High Desert Museum

Bend has a lot to offer to visitors, including the region’s showpiece High Desert Museum. The museum is truly a must-see for anyone visiting — or living in — the region. Many folks visit regularly. The museum sits on 135 acres with more than 100,000 square feet of exhibit space that features native wildlife, such as river otters, porcupines, and raptors. Historic characters share tales of early Oregon homesteaders. You can visit an authentic ranch and sawmill from 1904.

The High Desert Museum is located just five minutes south of Bend, on Highway 97. Visit https://highdesertmuseum.org/.

Bend has become a cultural hub, with arts and live music driving a vibrant scene. It is home to the Tower Theatre, a historic building that offers music and cultural events. Hayden Homes Amphitheater presents national touring acts through the summer and fall.

Venture down to Riverbend Park and stroll on the River Trail. Get wet at the Bend Whitewater Park and river surf on the Deschutes (visit the Bend Whitewater Park’s main page at www.bendparksandrec.org/facility/bend-whitewater-park/). Give your furry friend a frolic session at the dog park.

Central Oregon’s premier juried fine art and craft show, Art In The High Desert, will also be at Riverbend Park August 22-24. The event features 150 highly acclaimed artists from across the country and Canada.

From July 25-27, Balloons Over Bend creates a spectacle that you will never forget. Visit balloonsoverbend.com.

Cascade Village Mall on Highway 97 at the northwest edge of Bend offers shopping opportunities for some items that you might not be able to find in Sisters. There is also shopping at the Old Mill District in Bend.

Food carts abound from Sisters to Bend, to Redmond, including The Bite in Tumalo (between Sisters and Bend).

One great way to venture out to Central Oregon’s largest city is to jump on the Bend Ale Trail — the biggest ale trail in the West. And you can jump on the trail right here in Sisters, starting at Three Creeks Brewing Co. or Cascade Street Distillery. Then head on down Highway 20. There is a dizzying array of breweries and distilleries in Central Oregon, and this is a fun way to familiarize yourself with them. Pick up a passport at a participating brewery or print it out online at www.visitbend.com/bend-ale-trail.

Redmond, 20 miles east down Highway 126 from Sisters, is the location of the region’s airport at Roberts Field. It’s also the site of the Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo, currently scheduled for July 30-August 4. The annual event — the largest in  Central Oregon — features championship NPRA Rodeo, top name concerts, 4-H animal exhibitions, carnival rides, cotton candy, corn dogs, along with shopping and exhibits. Visit expo.deschutes.org/fair. 

The fairgrounds will also host the massive FairWell Festival July 18-19, featuring some of the most significant performers in the world of alternative country music, folk, and blues — Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson, Dwight Yoakam are among a large and varied lineup. For more information visit https://www.fairwellfestival.com/.

The number one attraction in the Redmond area is Smith Rock State Park (located just to the north in Terrebonne) — one of Oregon’s most scenic features, where crags vault to the sky along the meandering Crooked River. It’s an international destination for rock climbers — and a great place for a day hike or a family picnic.

Visit Redmond’s revitalizing downtown for dining and a stroll among its shops.

Venture south of Bend to Sunriver to visit the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory. The Center celebrates the natural world with the Creature Cave and botanical gardens, or take the kids and visit the SHARC waterpark. Visit sunriverresort.com.