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Sparrow Bakery

There are so many things to do in Bend, Oregon. Bend incredible skiing opportunities, gorgeous mountain scenery, and delicious craft beer. Retirees and Olympic Athletes choose to live in this destination city for a reason. In short, it’s a wonderful place for your next vacation.

But with so much to do, visiting for only twenty-four hours means your day is going to be action-packed.

Check out this list of things to do in Bend, Oregon that you can’t miss!

Where to Have Breakfast

Bend is an excellent town for homestyle dining. Before you head out for a day filled with activities, you need to start with a big breakfast.

Breakfast at McKay Cottage Restaurant

Take your family to McKay Cottage Restaurant. They are open every day from 7 AM to 2 PM and have held the title of the best place to have breakfast in Bend yearly, since 2010.

Sparrow Bakery

When they opened in 2006, the Sparrow Bakery hoped to become a pillar of the community. They provide incredible food that intoxicates visitors with delicious aromas.

Sparrow Bakery makes everything on their menu from scratch. Their food is amazing, but it’s the personal attention and outstanding customer service that will keep you coming back for more.

Morning Activites

When you get up in the morning, it’s time to start your day of action-packed adventure. Try going for a hike on Mt. Bachelor, or head on over to the Bend Whitewater Park.

Mt. Bachelor

In the winter, Mount Bachelor is a world-class ski destination. The mountain is loaded down with families visiting the Bend area.

In the summer, traffic on the mountain is a little more scarce making it a great place to take a remote hike. You’ll love the view from the top of the mountain.

Make sure you track your turns as you go! You wouldn’t be the first person to get lost on the expansive network of trails on this mountain.

Whitewater Park

The Bend Whitewater Park is one of the most exciting and unique things to do in the city. Head on over to the Deschutes River for a morning of fun in the water.

You’ll find a fun course of rapids perfect for tubing, surfing, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, and more. The park features separate channels so that experts can practice their skills, and beginners can have a chance to try their luck.

Click to check out the webcam!

The Bend Whitewater Park is an excellent place to learn how to white water raft for the first time or brush up your skills if it’s been awhile.

Where to Have Lunch

Bend is widely known for its friendly people and incredible breweries. Read on to learn what you need to eat lunch to make the most of your twenty-four hours.

Deschutes Brewery

Deschutes Brewery is now a national brand of craft beer, but it started from humble beginnings in a small public house in 1988.

Today, this establishment hosts nineteen taps and a gastropub menu that focuses on sourcing sustainable food materials from local farmers and ranchers. Deschutes makes many of the items on the menu completely from scratch and the chefs take pride in their accomplishment.

When you visit the Deschutes Brewery, you are voting with your paycheck for sustainable farming methods and high-quality food. Don’t miss this opportunity to have an impact.

Afternoon Activities

After a morning of intensive activity, the afternoon should be a leisurely exploration of the town. Check out a minor league baseball game, head to the baths, or get inspired by local art.

Minor League Baseball

The Bend Elks is an 18-year-old minor league team that the city is extremely proud of. Most of the men on the team are local to the Bend area.

The best part about Elks games is their affordability. A regular ticket is only $7, and if you want a season pass, you only have to shell out $125.

Bathing with Strangers

After a day of skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, or snowshoeing, you’re bound to be sore and exhausted.

To get some relief, head to the McMenamins Old Saint Francis soaking pool. This mostly indoor water center is semi-enclosed and has shimmering turquoise tile that reminds you of an Egyptian bath.

As part of a converted Catholic school, the soaking pool features murals of Saint Francis on the walls with ornate detail.

McMenamins Old Saint Francis is also a brewery and pub that makes its own beer, cider, spirits, wine, and coffee. The destination also functions as a hotel, so if you have to much to drink it’s easy to check in to stay overnight

Tin Pan Alley Art Collection

Bend’s art scene is one of immersion and hands-on expression. As such, Bend has an extensive collection of public art that graces downtown. Linger awhile and appreciate the incredible art and culture this town has to offer with the Tin Pan Alley Art Collection.

This collection is a growing body of work that adorns the walls of parking garages and alleyways all over the downtown area.

Dinner

Now that you’ve had a chance to explore the town, it’s time for a nice dinner. Why not check out Bos Taurus?

Bos Taurus

While much of the dining in Bend is casual, Bos Taurus offers you the opportunity for a meal at a posh steakhouse. While many restaurants in Bend focus on the sustainable sourcing of meat, this restaurant focuses on finding the highest quality cuts of meat from all over the globe.

In fact, the steak on the menu comes from specialty steak sources such as Japan, Chicago, Arizona, Colorado, and Australia.

Then, they cook the meat on a custom-cast iron slab designed to create the ultimate sear.

Late Night Dining and Drinking

Now that your belly is full, it’s time for more drinking! Check out these great ideas for spending a night on the town in Bend, Oregon.

Bend Ale Trail

Bend, Oregon has the highest concentration of breweries in the state. So how will you pioneer this trail? With a high-tech app, of course.

The Bend Ale Trail is a convenient app that allows you to collect passport stamps on your phone for over a dozen different pubs and tasting rooms. Make sure you bring a friend to help you get back to your lodgings.

Seven Restaurant and Nightclub

Seven Restaurant and Nightclub is a downtown spot that offers nightly specialty events including karaoke, pool, and open mic comedy.

This is a great spot that locals like to go to let loose and dance with DJs spinning the top club hits on the weekends. Make sure you reserve a table, they fill up fast!

More Things to do in Bend, Oregon

The Bend, Oregon downtown area is a great place to go for a good meal or a night on the town.

Twenty-four hours isn’t enough to see everything this city has to offer. Learn about more things to do in Bend, Oregon and visit today!

Bend’s food and drink has improved rapidly over the years. With many ethnic food options, a thriving food cart scene at The Lot, craft beer, and several bakeries, sometimes the options can be overwhelming when you just want to eat some good food. In an effort to highlight the best that Bend has to offer, we’ve curated a list of the best places to eat and standout joints here.

Sparrow Bakery

The famous Ocean Roll and cappuccino

Sparrow Bakery is one of Bend’s hot spots for breakfast and baked goods. Sparrow showcases items ranging from artisan breads to elaborate pastries and pies, but the shining star is their signature Ocean Roll. A flaky, delectable sweet roll with a cardamom sugar filling, you cannot go wrong ordering one of these. You haven’t been to Bend if you haven’t had an Ocean Roll! Sparrow also features a roster of local coffee roasters on espresso and serves up a mean cappuccino which complements any one of their pastries quite well. Their menu consists of soups, sandwiches, and other daily specials. The Scott Street location is the original Sparrow location and has been open since 2006. You can now find Sparrow at their second location in Northwest Crossing, which is a great option since Scott Street’s itty-bitty space can sometimes be overflowing with ravenous customers on the weekends. The outdoor seating area has propane heaters and sits on a lovely brick patio. Be sure to hop next-door to the Workhouse to be wowed by the local crafters and makers who have set up shop in this workshop/gallery space.

Parrilla Grill

Parrilla has the grungy, no-frills feel of a local dive-bar but with astounding value and fresh, flavorful food. Parrilla Grill has been open since 2000 and has become a go-to for college students and people hitting the slopes at Mt. Bachelor. Expect a line, come hungry (and thirsty! $1 PBR’s all day every day). The wraps and bowls that are served up here can be customized to your particular palate and dietary needs, with protein options from tofu to beef to salmon. Gluten free? Ask for your burrito to come in a bowl instead! Each wrap comes standard with recommended salsas and sauces, although if you have a particular aversion they can leave it off with no problem. Parrilla is known for Uncle Wedgie’s Margarita, and although it comes in a plastic cup, don’t let it fool you, the booze is strong with this one. Seven different rotating taps feature many of the local breweries of Bend, as well as two rotating kombucha taps. An imaginative kids’ menu keeps everyone in the family happy.

Wild Rose Thai

Wild Rose is a family owned and operated northern Thai restaurant. The ambience alone is worth the trip. The decor inside is a bit bohemian with dried flowers hanging from the ceilings and tables filling the entire space. While you might have to put your name on a waiting list to get in, the food is totally worth the wait and comes out with mindblowing speed. The menu is crafted from decades of family recipes with the addition of the Chef’s own signature spins on traditional northern Thai cuisine. No Pad Thai here! Be sure to take a seat at the bar and check out their imaginative cocktail list.

Jackson’s Corner

If local, sustainably sourced food is your game, then Jackson’s Corner has you covered. They believe in consciously sourcing the ingredients for their menu items. The original location on the westside of Bend boasts a wood-fired oven where they pump out delicious pizzas on their house-made dough. Just around the corner from the restaurant you can stop in to the production bread-baking facility and take a gander at the beautiful loaves that Jackson’s bakes fresh every day. Their menu changes seasonally with the available ingredients, but you can always find a range of wood-fired pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and pasta dishes using fresh, house-made pasta. Jackson’s commitment to locally sourced ingredients is reflected in the pride with which each dish is plated and served. Check out their website for a list of Oregon farmers that supply Jackson’s Corner with everything from greens to beef.

Spork

The winner of several “Best Of” categories from the local Source Weekly newspaper as well as being written up in the New York Times, Spork is not to be missed. From humble beginnings in an Airstream trailer converted into a food kitchen, Spork’s brick and mortar location on the westside is busy, and for good reason. Spork’s menu is designed by chef and owner Jeff Hunt and is globally inspired from many traditions across the world. With Mexican pozole to Peruvian lomo saltado, Thai green curry and Korean barbecue, the menu options abound. Spork also boasts daily specials, a slew of house cocktails, and of course draft beer. Spork offers takeout options and catering services.

Have a favorite Bend restaurant that didn’t make the list? Let us know in the comments below! We are always updating our lists of the best places to eat.