Travel Tuesday: Going, Going, Oregon!

When we visited Central Oregon back in May, we found ourselves in the middle of a snowstorm. In MAY!!

It was a welcome last hurrah for our sweaters, but we can still dream about wearing them as we endure the brutal Dallas summer heat. (Though this week’s much nicer, right?)

This particular vacation marked only our second-ever trip to Oregon. We explored the enclaves of Bend, Redmond, Sisters and Sunriver. As much as we enjoyed our time in Portland last summer, we can honestly say Central Oregon is even better. And even though the temperatures can get pretty hot during the day this time of year, the chilly dips into the 50s at night make it worth escaping Texas for a long weekend.

Packed with scenic vistas galore, from majestic snow-covered mountains and towering Ponderosa pines and crystal-clear rivers, lakes and ponds, Central Oregon can feel like a waking dream. Some parts are indeed breathtakingly beautiful.

Home to Winter PrideFest each March, Central Oregon celebrates diversity and inclusivity at every turn. We felt welcome and comfortable everywhere we went. Nearly every shop we entered, every restaurant we dined in and every hotel we slept at prominently featured Pride flags in their windows. Plus, each person we encountered exhibited genuine hospitality and a friendliness that never felt fake.

Read on for our top recommendations for your visit to Central Oregon, whether you’re visiting this summer to fill your lungs with fresh, crisp, pine-scented air or plan to return in the brisk mid-winter for a little skiing and snowboarding.

How To Get To Central Oregon

American Airlines launched a new nonstop flight last week from DFW to Redmond, Oregon (RDM). Flight 530 departs DFW at 10:10 a.m. with a 12:05 p.m. arrival. The return leg of Flight 530 departs Redmond at 1:00 and arrives back at DFW at 6:45 p.m. Best of all, roundtrip flights for Bend Pride weekend start at only $385 roundtrip.

Where To Stay In Central Oregon

During our stay in Central Oregon, we had the privilege of staying at two different properties. For the first two nights, we indulged in ultimate luxury in a Serenity Cabin at FivePine Lodge in Sisters, OR. Each night and every morning, we’d draw a bath in the soaking tub overlooking the forest behind our cabin, where deer frolicked shortly after sunrise.

We absolutely can’t wait to return for a stay with our husband because it was a real shame to have such an incredible room all to ourselves. But it’s no surprise now why FivePine Lodge has been named the #3 Best of the Best Hotels in Tripadvisor’s 2024 Travelers’ Choice Awards. Indulge and relax even more with a few hours at the on-site Shibui Spa at FivePine and you’ll definitely never want to leave. The whole FivePine setting impressives, the service excels, and the amenities never seem to stop.

Each night, there’s a wine and beer reception for an hour in the main lodge. Each guest gets access to the on-property Sisters Athletic Club for yoga, fitness classes, a lap pool and hot tub. Daily continental breakfast arrives at your cabin or room each morning in a picnic basket, with everything from fresh fruit and warm pastries to coffee and a mimosa kit. Cruiser bikes are also available to lodge guests and a full DVD library makes for a nice flashback to pre-streaming days. (More on that phenomenon later on in this story!)

On our last night, we moved from Sisters to Bend for a stay at a fun-and-funky renovated motor lodge, Campfire Hotel. This felt like authentic Oregon to us thanks to an eclectic mix of hotel guests and a fun array of activities on their calendar, from drag bingo and drag brunch to pool parties and live DJs.

The pool’s heated year-round (as is the hot tub, of course), so any time of year can be a soak-up-the-sun day. Grab a craft cocktail, local beer or casual meal at The Canteen Bar, mere steps from the pool. Campfire Hotel’s location can’t be beat with tons of restaurants and retail within walking distance or charming downtown Bend only a five-minute Uber or Lyft away.

We weren’t in town long enough to stay more than two places, but we did get to tour three other places around the region that would make for ideal home bases for our next visit (or yours). Black Butte Ranch, a resort community in Sisters with full-time residents and vacation rentals, makes an ideal choice for larger groups of friends and family. Sunriver Resort similarly offers vacation homes, but also individual guest rooms at the lodge. In Redmond only a few minutes from the airport, SCP Redmond Hotel brings its “Soul Community Planet” to life in a beautifully restored historic building with the town’s only rooftop bar.

What To Do In Central Oregon

For us, the great outdoors leads the list of reasons to travel to Central Oregon. Smith Rock State Park truly blew us away with its spectacular juxtaposition of enormous rocks, sandy desert, snow-capped mountain peaks and lush pine trees. Spend the day hiking or simply pop by to take a few new photos.

The nostalgia factor led us to one of Bend’s quirkier destinations—the Last Blockbuster Video on the Planet! As a child of the Video Rental Golden Age, popping into the fully functioning video store gave us all the feels, not to mention a few new Blockbuster-branded items to keep those memories alive. Streaming can never compare the fun of picking out a movie on VHS or DVD while shopping for candy and popcorn.

The Old Mill District features a who’s who of national retail, but the gem of the area has to be the Hayden Homes Amphitheater. The venue comes alive in summer for a variety of concerts, as well as Bend Brewfest in the fall. Shopping in historic downtown Bend gives visitors the chance to truly support local, from small clothing boutiques and coffee shops to a quintessential farmers market that feels right out of a Hallmark movie. There’s also a fun queer-owned plant shop called Somewhere That’s Green, that also has an adjoining performance space, The Greenhouse Cabaret.

Explore the High Desert Museum for an experience that brings together animals you might find in a zoo (the otter trio easily being our favorite) along with more traditional aspects of a museum, including fine art and historic artifacts. The recently debuted exhibit, Sensing Sasquatch, runs through next January and brings the works of Indigenous artists to life in a way that shows the legend of Bigfoot from a very real, highly revered perspective.

And believe it or not, you can still ski Mt. Bachelor for another few weeks (conditions permitting, through May 26). So imagine escaping the Texas heat for a quick trip to the slopes, certainly a novelty for most of us in May.

Where To Eat & Drink In Central Oregon

Central Oregon has no shortage of fantastic places to eat and drink. Like many parts of the Pacific Northwest, coffee plays a major role in daily life and the food culture in general. Start your day off with a cup of java from any number of local places. Start with Turtle Island Coffee, the “only indigenous, queer, and two-spirit owned space that intentionally centers indigenous, brown, and black, queer, trans and non-binary people in all its endeavors.” (And the coffee’s damn good, too!) We tried as many other cups around town as we could and came away with a few additional faves: Provisions Market, Sisters Coffee, Looney Bean Roasting Company, Thump Genuine Coffee and The Commons Cafe and Taproom.

If you love beer and wine, Central Oregon’s ready to quench your thirst and build your buzz. The region’s home to more than 40 craft breweries, with 31 in Bend alone. Long considered the originator of the craft beer scene in Oregon, Deschutes Brewery is a must visit for brews and burgers. In Sisters, it’s all about Three Creeks Brewing, with the added bonus that it’s mere steps from FivePine Lodge. For wine fans, the Willamette Valley’s known for its Pinot Noir and you’ll find some of the best in the Bend tasting room for Willamette Valley Vineyards, which also features a full food menu. And for incredible cocktails, check out Canteen at Campire Hotel, a lively scene that’s delivered a bit of a tiki vibe and a whole lot of fun.

Even though we didn’t get to stay at either Black Butte Ranch or Sunriver Resort, we did have the good fortune to dine at their two signature restaurants, each as famous for their awe-inspiring views as their chef-driven fare. We had one of the best ribeye steaks of our lives at The Lodge Restaurant at Black Butte Ranch and would go back there for that alone next time we visit. And the Lodge Kitchen at Sunriver Resort taught us the delicious joy of the Salmon Sando, a glorious combo of roasted salmon and bacon on a bun.

Meanwhile, over at the Old Mill District, Lady Bird Cultural Society wows with its whimsically chic decor and divine pastas, pizza, steak and seafood. Sen Thai Hot Pot and Noodle House, overlooking the scenic Mirror Pond, has to be some of the best Thai food we’ve had anywhere. It offers so many dishes that were new to us—and we eat a lot of Thai here in Dallas.

So now you have a brief glimpse at some of what makes Central Oregon a fab destination for LGBTQ travelers to explore as soon as humanly (and gaily) possible.

Visit Central Oregon
visitcentraloregon.com

Main story editorial photo credit: Bob Pool / Shutterstock.com