Originally settled in the early 1900s, Bend got its start as a logging town positioned along the eastern edge of the Cascade Range, a high desert sanctuary. Nestled along the Deschutes River, the city is surrounded by majestic, volcanic peaks such as Three Sisters and Mount Bachelor. With an oft-quoted 300 days of sunshine, access to the outdoors is practically year-round.
Our Bend vacation rentals are the perfect place to stay to explore Bend, OR. Our homes are comprised of a variety of private and AirBnB/Vrbo type accommodations including luxurious condos and townhomes, charming homes, executive rentals, and Mt. Bachelor ski accommodations. We manage vacation homes located in downtown Bend, near the Old Mill District and the bustling west side, and nearby communities like Eagle Crest and Sisters. Vacation Rental Collective provides best in class vacation rental management services in Bend, Oregon. Browse our wide selection of vacation rentals and find the perfect home for your next Central Oregon getaway!
Oregon’s biggest city outside the Willamette Valley, Bend is compact in scale and big on adventure. An outdoor and urban playground alike, Bend has held onto its small town charm despite the influx of non-natives. The small town rests at a population around 100,000, boasting numerous breweries, wineries, and cideries. The recreational activities Bend is most known for hiking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, paragliding, skiing, fishing, camping, golfing, and rock climbing. It’s where you go to play!
Surrounding the town is access to more than 300 miles of mountain biking trails, 80 parks, seemingly endless climbing routes and 3,600 acres of skiing terrain at local Mount Bachelor Ski Resort. In winter, the resort offers downhill skiing, nordic skiing, tubing, dog sledding, and snowshoeing. In summer months, it is home to mountain biking, hiking, disc golf, scenic rides on the chairlift, and beautiful sunset dinners. One of the best public spaces in Bend, Drake Park is a sprawling grassy park along the Mirror Pond on the Deschutes River. Newberry National Volcanic Monument is one of the most spectacular volcanic sites in the state! Bend’s volcanic geology makes it a great place to explore a variety of caves and lava tubes, which can be found in virtually every direction from the city. Just west of town, the 89-foot Tumalo Falls is a popular destination.
If getting out and dirty doesn’t suit you, turn your eye to the downtown scene where music is abundant (Les Schwab Amphitheater) and the streets are lined with fashion boutiques, coffee and tea houses, microbreweries, and many independent restaurants. Concerts as well as movies can be viewed at the 1950s-style Tower Theatre or you can check out any of the following for new and established acts: Drake Park, Volcanic Theatre Pub, McMenamins Old St Francis School, Dogwood Cafe. Gems also include Dudley’s Bookshop Cafe, amusement arcade nostalgia at Vector Volcano and local arts and crafts at Just a Little Charm.
Bend is still close enough to Portland for the flame of artisan coffee roasting to burn brightly. It’s easy to find a great caffeine hit, but you may have to queue at Thump Coffee Roasters, despite its two city outposts. A lovely buzz is also provided at Looney Bean and Palate, both near the river.
A major part of Bend’s appeal is simply its proximity to a wide variety of outdoor opportunities, but residents have truly put their town on the map by cultivating a rich and vibrant city to come back to. Time in Bend is best spent bouncing between natural and urban playgrounds, where you’ll find your days full of wonder and enjoyment. This is not a place for distracting attractions, it’s a place to explore, play and treat yourself right.
