TAG: | Sunriver Lodging

The holidays in Central Oregon are unlike anything you have ever seen before. Want lights and decoration? We got it. Want indoor and outdoor activities? We got it. Want great food? We got it. Want snow? We certainly got it!

Central Oregon offers a vast array of activities during the holiday season, for both the outdoor enthusiast and the indoor addict. We can find way more than 12 days of festivities in this area, but hey, it’s the holidays, and what would the holidays be without the 12 days?!

Day 1: Mt. Bachelor
There is no better day than a day spent on the mountain. Mt. Bachelor, just 30 minutes from Sunriver, receives an average of 633 inches of snow a year! This fast-growing ski area provides easy to advance terrain, 101 runs, 11 chairs, and 4,323 skiable acres that the whole family will love. New to the sport? No worries! Lessons ranging from beginner to advanced are offered daily. Not into the cold? No problem! Relax with a good book in one of the 3 cozy lodges. Need something a little less taxing? No sweat! Take an exhilarating sled dog ride OR enjoy an easy snowshoe walk through the trees.
https://www.mtbachelor.com/

Day 2: Ice Skating and Ice Cream
Skating is a fun activity the whole family can enjoy! Sunriver’s ice rink is located right in the middle of the ever so popular village. It features open skates, skating games, and the best music to listen to! After an afternoon of zipping and gliding on the ice, walk right next door and enjoy some delicious treats and ice cream at Goody’s!
https://www.sunrivervillagefun.com/sunriver-ice-skating/

Day 3: Sunriver Sleigh Ride
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? Treat your family to a One-Horse Open Sleigh Ride next to the river and through the meadows of Sunriver! The views are indescribable, the horses are friendly as can be, and the memories are forever!
https://visitcentraloregon.com/event/sleigh-rides/

Day 4: SHARC Tubing and Swimming
Start your day off on the tubing hill! Two lanes, two people, one epic race! This family-friendly tubing hill features all you can ride, all day long! When the fingers and toes start to get a little chilly, walk right next door and jump into the heated pool. And the best part? Stay at one of our houses and get FREE access to both the tubing hill and the pool (see list of applicable homes).
https://www.sunriversharc.com/

Day 5: Nutcracker Ballet
Get into the spirit of the holidays with The Nutcracker. The Central Oregon School of Ballet presents the 34th annual production of The Nutcracker. The cast is comprised of over 150 local students and visiting professional dancers. It is a must-see holiday event!
https://www.visitbend.com/events/the-nutcracker-ballet-3/

Day 6: Winter Waterfall Palooza
Central Oregon is home to 8 breathtaking waterfalls. And guess what? They are even more breathtaking in the winter! The lands are frozen, the trees are snow kissed, and the water is crystal clear! Put on your winter hiking boots and see what each unique waterfall has to offer.
https://www.yourtravelspark.com/central-oregon-waterfalls/#chush

Day 7: Holiday Tree Lighting
Lights, decorations, live music, dancing, food, drinks, games and SANTA! Can you think of a better way to get into the holiday spirit? We sure can’t! Take a short drive to downtown Bend for the annual lighting of the Christmas tree. Snap a free picture with Santa, grab some food and hot chocolate, and sit by the fire as the community counts down the lighting of the tree. Don’t worry; if you miss the ceremony, just swing by downtown anytime during the holidays to see the tree and all its beauty!
https://www.visitbend.com/events/community-tree-lighting-and-free-santa-visits/

Day 8: Out on the Town
Central Oregon, or better known as the brewery capital of the world, is home to 33 breweries, each with their own unique selection of brews and food! If you are a food and drink guru, you will want to plan a day visiting the breweries in Bend and Sunriver. In between trips, make sure you head for downtown Bend and The Old Mill District for a unique shopping experience. It is a family-friendly day everyone will enjoy!
https://beermebend.com/
https://www.oldmilldistrict.com/
http://www.downtownbend.org/

Day 9: High Desert Museum
Enjoy a day of wildlife, history, and art at the High Desert Museum. This unique museum tells the stories of the High Desert’s diverse people and places through ever-changing exhibitions. There is always something new to see with 12 new exhibits every single year!
https://highdesertmuseum.org/

Day 10: Holiday Parade
The downtown Bend holiday parade is a Central Oregon tradition! With music, floats, dancing and entertainers, it is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit. Grab a cup of cocoa, find a seat, and watch the magic unfold!
http://bendchristmasparade.org/

Day 11: Holiday Brunch
Head on down to the Great Hall in Sunriver for a fun filled holiday brunch! Enjoy a festive spread of holiday favorites, and mingle with a fun mix of holiday characters. This family friendly event has been a Sunriver tradition for decades!
https://www.destinationhotels.com/sunriver-resort/activities/bend-oregon-activities/brunch-with-santa

Day 12: Sunriver Fitness and Aquatics
Love to swim? Love to surf? Love to rock climb? Head on down to Sunriver Fitness and Aquatics for an array of family friendly activities. This 30,000 square foot state of the art facility features a Flowrider, a full-size rock gym, a pool and hot tub, a workout room, and a café. It is the perfect way to keep warm while you gaze out at the winter wonderland.
https://www.sunriverfitnessandaquatics.com/

There is no better time of the year, and there is no better place to spend it than in Central Oregon! Bring your family, bring your friends, and see what this fast-growing, ever-changing area has to offer. We know that once you come, you will never want to leave!  Happy Holidays from all of us here at Mountain Resort Properties!

At this time last year, Sunriver was covered in knee-deep snow. The region was in the midst of a historic winter in which heavy snowfall caused roofs to collapse, made travel treacherous and left stores out of shovels and ice melt.

It was also Mt. Bachelor’s third-snowiest winter on record, a dream for skiers and snowboarders.  This winter has been the complete opposite.  The ski area averages 457 inches of snowfall in a season, from October to April. So far this year, Mt. Bachelor has only received a total of  221 inches and is currently reporting a depth of 55 inches. For more details read sport blog.

While snow has been scarce this year, there is still plenty to do with the Spring like weather conditions we are experiencing this winter in Sunriver (Central Oregon).  Activities range from skiing in the morning to golfing in the afternoon and everything in between.  So, take advantage of one of our many Sunriver lodging specials and bring your family, bring your bikes, bring your clubs and we will see you in Sunriver!

It used to be our little secret: That along with the countless recreational opportunities in Sunriver, Bend (Central Oregon), there was a burgeoning craft beer scene. That trying to decide which brewpub to hit after a day skiing at Mt. Bachelor was a two chairlift ride discussion. There were options. And lots of good beer.

Then word got out.  Publication after publication when writing about the amazing skiing started including lines about Deschutes Brewery or Bend Brewing Co. Then beer publications sent dutiful writers here to see what all the fuss was about. Then travel magazines and newspapers dedicated entire stories to Oregon’s true “Beervana.” (Sorry Portland.)

It’s not a secret any more.

But that’s ok. Because the increasing popularity of craft beer meant more and more breweries and brewpubs in our little slice of Heaven.

Today, there’s nearly 30 breweries making beer here – from Prineville to Sisters, Redmond to Sunriver. They’re all different, but in some ways connected. A brewer who learned the craft at one place is now the head brewer at another. A line cook at one pub is now, after years of developing his own palate, the head chef across town.

SUNRIVER BREWING CO.
Initially started just south of Bend in the resort community from which it took the name, Sunriver Brewery‘s flagship pub is worth the drive from Bend and worth going to every day if you’re staying in Sunriver. The Fuzztail Hefe is a nice introduction to Central Oregon craft beer while the Vicious Mosquito IPA packs a little more of a punch. Parents, bring the kids because the brewery has a large and fun play area with a huge chalkboard and lots of toys. Don’t want to make the drive to Sunriver? A new Sunriver Brewery Galveston Pub opened in Bend in Spring 2016.

10 BARREL BREWING CO.
With its huge outdoor patio and fire pit on Galveston Avenue, 10 Barrel is a perfect spot to grab a beer al fresco. Its popularity has skyrocketed in recent years with solid brews like Sinister Black and OG Wheat IPA and the simple-yet-perfectly-named canned creation “Pub Beer.” Maybe the only thing better than the beer is the food. The pizzas are Top 5 in Central Oregon hands down.

DESCHUTES BREWERY
This is the brewery that started it all for Central Oregon in 1988. Today, you can find Deschutes beers in more than 25 states and across the world. The pub downtown is one of the most popular spots in town every night of the year. Like the brewery, the pub itself has nearly doubled in size in recent years meaning there’s usually a shorter wait for a table. But don’t let the wait deter you. Just head into the bar, choose one of the dozen or so beers currently on tap (Local tip: Bachelor Bitter on Cask is a must-have if you can only have one beer.) Mirror Pond is one of the flagship brews and I’ve heard some locals use Black Butte Porter to brush their teeth – it’s that good. The food blurs the line between pub grub and fine dining. The beef used in their burgers comes from cows fed spent grain from the brewing process, making them some of the tastiest burgers anywhere.

WORTHY BREWING
One of the newest breweries to the game, Worthy has quickly garned a name for itself as one of the most popular. It’s expansive east Bend location off Highway 20 (Greenwood Ave.) sets it apart from the others, as do the variety of beers. The Easy Day Kolsch might be the official beer of floating the Deschutes River in the summer. Food wise, you’ll find mac and cheese at just about every pub in town – but few can match Worthy’s gouda and Sriracha creation.

CASCADE LAKES BREWERY
Born in Redmond, Cascade Lakes is one of Central Oregon’s Old Guard of breweries. The popular bend Lodge is on the road from Mt. Bachelor and a locals go-to apres ski spot before heading into downtown. Perennial brews there include the easy drinking Blonde Bombshell and the nutty 20″ Brown. On the menu, how about some wild boar and kobe beef meatloaf or their classic Cascade Turkey Melt?

Everyone here has a favorite, but we tend to visit them all. If you have a chance, you should too – grab a Bend Ale Trail passport and set out on your journey. But if you have to choose, here’s a pretty good start of where to go and what to have. But please – just please – do NOT walk into these places and order a Bud Light. The locals will mock you and most of them don’t even carry it. Cheers!

Blog Courtesy of Central Oregon Visitors Association (COVA)