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We’ve talked before about how Bend is one of the best cities for working remotely, and how many of those moving to Bend are interested in work from home situations. With our local attractions, delicious food, and the ability to get out into nature at a moment’s notice, it’s a perfect remote setup.

We also know that many remote workers, freelancers, and other professionals thinking about living in Bend often need quick, easy access to other cities in the country for meetings, consultations, pitches, and more. That brings us to RDM, the primary airport in Central Oregon, and an excellent access point to many nearby cities. Those interested in relocation for a professional remote work situation will need to know the details – let’s talk a little about the Redmond airport and how it helps.

Quick Flights to West Coast Cities

It’s no surprise that networking professionals may have plans and contacts in larger NW cities like Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, and beyond. Fortunately, getting there is no problem at all. The RDM airport is only a quick drive away from Bend and provides several flight options to nearby cities that can drastically cut down on commuting time (and snowy mountain pass driving) while being much more enjoyable.

Portland is an excellent example: Flights out are relatively easy to find and can get you to the Portland Airport with only 20 – 30 minutes of flight time, perfect for those who need to spend at least part of each week in Portland or would prefer meeting clients there.

Growing Ease of Access to Other Areas

RDM is an award-winning airport due to its design and service, but it’s also always working on expanding available flights. This has been challenging in recent years with COVID-19 restrictions and other challenges that have affected many industries, including airlines. But that hasn’t stopped RDM from adding more options to its list.

One of the latest additions is Aha! Airlines (a leisure brand division of Express Jet), which is launching nonstop flights from RDM to the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, which is itself an excellent access point for cities around the continent. These types of quick actions make it easy to arrange meetings and then plan your flight around them. Or, if you just want easy access to the Reno-Tahoe region for more beautiful lakes, a trip down for Burning Man, or to check out the latest golfing championships, Aha!’s perfect for that, too.  

Additional Airline Options

Airline options at RDM include Alaska, United, Delta, and American Airlines, as well as private charter options. The airport prides itself on comfortable indoor seating, delicious food and beer options, and excellent Wi-Fi for getting work done while you wait. If you are looking at remote work options in Bend, you’ll love what you’ll find here!

Interested in learning more about what Central Oregon has to offer? Check out the resources on Moving To Bend. We provide information on everything from events in Bend to what to do in Bend over the winter. Contact us if you’d like to learn more about our relocation services in Central Oregon!

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If you’re living in Bend in October, there’s nothing like planning a family-friendly Halloween adventure. And while carving pumpkins and planning costumes are excellent activities to enjoy at home, it’s also nice to get out and experience some of the Halloween events in Bend. Let’s look at some of the most popular events happening this year and how the whole family can enjoy them.

1. Hoodini’s Trick-or-Treat Trail – Oct 28

This fun trail by Puzzle Effect is fit for all ages: Attendees are encouraged to put on costumes and brave the unique set designs (also perfect for family photos), while picking candy at various stops. There will also be a costume contest and giveaways.

2. Great Harvest Bread Company Coloring Contest – Oct 30

 This annual coloring contest is a perfect way to celebrate fall while also avoiding exposing your kids to potential COVID infections. Simply download their Halloween coloring contest page and have your kids color it in however they want. Then drop it off at the bakery when finished by October 30th. Winners will get to pick some goodies for themselves! Just make sure to include all relevant contact info on the back of each entry.

3. Pumpkin Carving at O’Kanes – October 28 – 30

Carving pumpkins at home is nice, but you can also choose to carve pumpkins as part of the community! O’Kanes is holding a pumpkin carving weekend where people can get a hollowed pumpkin and pumpkin carving kit, then work on making their masterpiece. O’Kanes’ whiskey and cigar bar will be open for this, but it is designed to be a family friendly event for older kids and you will also be able to order dinner, including some Halloween specials!

4. Downtown Trick or Treating – Oct 31

Looking for a safe trick or treat option for your younger kids? Downtown Bend is holding a special event from 1pm to 3pm for the little ones. Businesses around downtown will be handing out treats, and some will even be offering special deals like free trick or treat bags, a geocaching adventure to try, or great specials on gelato from Bonta Gelato. Also, don’t forget to stop by the Tower Theatre to enter a costume contest and a chance to show off costumes on stage!

5. Halloween Costume Contest – Oct 31

After the little ones have had their fun, The Commons Café down by Drake Park is holding its own costume contest at 3:30pm. The contest is divided by age group up through 12 years old, with prizes award for each group.

6. Downtown Scavenger Hunt – Oct 31

If you feel like a bit more in-depth fun, you can participate in the Downtown Bend scavenger hunt, which is running all day on Halloween. You can find the full list at the Downtown Bend website, but it includes common Halloween items like a skull, a bat, a pile of leaves, and other things that are relatively easy for kids to find. Take a photo by all 12 items and post them on Instagram with #downtownbend and #halloweenhunt hashtags. Every post will count as an entry to win a $100 credit to use with downtown businesses!

As always, Moving to Bend is here to answer any other questions you may have along with our relocation services in Central Oregon, so feel free to contact us.

If you’re working to find a rental in the Bend area, you’re not alone! New developments are expected to improve rental availability as time goes on, but the market can be tight and prices rose quickly in 2021. If you need to find rentals in Bend that fit your needs, we’ve got the tips to help you get started!

1. List Out Your Must-Haves

Start by listing the things you absolutely need in an apartment. Do you need house rentals with a yard? What about pet-friendly rentals? Do you need a rental within a certain walking/biking distance of a location? How many beds and baths do you need? Is there a specific amenity you must have when it comes to health, security, or other important factors?

By listing out your must-haves, you can narrow down which rentals work for you and understand what sort of rental prices you are working with – key points when beginning your search.

2. Have All Your Application Information Ready to Go

In such a competitive market, it’s important to have your application information ready to go. Rental applications can include detailed information about your finances and income, your past renting history, and much more. They will also generally ask for references from past landlords, employers, or others. Have all this information ready so that you can apply immediately when you find an available rental!

If you are moving to Bend with a pet, your pet will probably need its own application as well with references, proof of vaccines, and so on.

3. Take Advantage of Any Touring Options

Scouting out apartment rentals can be difficult if you need to move fast but haven’t yet seen the rental in person. Take advantage of any touring options you can find like 3D online tours, or schedule visits to similar rental models, etc. You don’t want to skip this important step, but there are ways to still save time.

4. Act Immediately When a New Rental Hits the Market

Viable rentals don’t last long when living in Bend! Keep tabs on new and upcoming rentals so you can take quick action when you find something that’s a good fit. If you’re wondering where to live in Bend, keep a close eye on new developments, especially those that include multi-family housing with higher numbers of rental options. Otherwise, pay attention to any places opening for rent by using a directory website.

All this can be a lot to manage: Moving to Bend’s relocation services in Central Oregon can help if you are interested in finding an agent that can help in the city and keep track of rental opportunities!

5. Expand Your Search Based on Commuting Possibilities

If you have having trouble finding a rental with your must-haves and in your price range, consider expanding your search. People are often happy to commute to Bend from nearby places like Redmond or Sisters: When you expand the number of locations you are looking at, you raise the odds that you can find a rental that’s available and fits your budget. We are also seeing a lot of interested in Prineville as a potential commute option, so if you can expand your search there you may find even more opportunities.

6. Network with Others Looking for Rentals

Juggling the right price, timeframe, location, and amenities can be difficult when finding a rental. It’s a great idea to head over to social media and work on making connections with others looking for rentals in the area. Sometimes this can lead to roommates that will split the costs and make a rental affordable for you. Other times, you may hear about a property opening for rent before it’s officially listed, giving you a bit of an advantage when applying. Every little bit helps.

The remote work craze isn’t going anywhere, and employees have widely discovered how efficient their lives can be when there’s no daily demand to go into the office. Plus, it can be useful for the work/life balance if you are also taking care of kids at home, or just trying to plan out packing and unpacking activities while moving to Bend.

It’s no surprise that Bend has become one of the most popular remote work cities: Here are just a few reasons that working from home (or café, shared space, etc.) is so effective for those living in Bend!

A History of Remote Work Support

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns (and the return of the pandemic, etc.), Bend was known as the most remote-work friendly city in the state – and Oregon has always been a friendly spot to work from home. The city has a tradition of high percentages of freelancers, entrepreneurs, and nomads who don’t depend on rigid work schedules, and may prefer to work from a variety of different spots or cities as the seasons pass.

That has led not only to a welcoming atmosphere for those who want to work from home, but also to assets specifically for freelancers and others who don’t have an office. That includes studio rentals for larger, temporary products that you may be collaborating with others on. It also means offering shared work and meeting spaces like The Haven that can be rented for a certain amount of time each month for meeting clients, getting out of the house, and so on.

Amazing Food Anywhere You’re Working

Bend already has plenty of advantages when it comes to great food (its proximity to Portland certainly helps, too), but it’s especially true for those working from home. Because let’s be honest – remote work doesn’t always happen in the house. It also happens in cafés, beer gardens, noodle joints, and eateries of all kinds.

That’s one reason that restaurants in Central Oregon work to offer reliable Wi-Fi, wall outlets for your laptop, and spaces that make work easier, whether you are meeting with a group or just want to take a few hours on your own to pull on some earbuds and tackle a big project.

Even if you are working from home and wondering where to eat in Bend, you’re probably only a few minutes away from an excellent food truck lot, a cozy café, or another space where you can get work done, grab a coffee, and find some great food to fuel your efforts!

Outdoor Recreation and Remote Work Go Hand-in-Hand

One of the advantages of remote work is that it creates more flexibility for outdoor activities, which can include working out and exploring nature. It’s no wonder that Bend’s work from home force has discovered that their work pairs well with quick bike rides, short hikes around the river, taking a trip to a nearby park with kids or pets – and generally just getting outside more often. If that’s been one of your life goals, we can make it happen!

Speaking of getting things done, our relocation services in Central Oregon are ready and waiting to help make your move smoother: From learning more about how remote work happens in Bend to finding the right rentals or taking care of other important details, our resources are here for you.

Bend’s food scene continues to bloom with dozens of new bars, restaurants, and food experiences to try. While some plans were delayed during quarantine, a wide variety of new bars and restaurants have recently opened, including some of the tastiest options in Central Oregon. Here are some of the latest restaurants in Central Oregon to open this year and why you should stop by!

1. Boxwood Kitchen

Boxwood Kitchen is one of Old Mill’s newer dinner restaurants, offering a delicious, eclectic menu that ranges from Duck Confit and tuna bowls to Chicken Schnitzel and stuffed zucchini. The theme is high-end comfort food: Whatever you’re looking for to taste and feel good, you’re likely to find something here (right down to the amazing mac ‘n’ cheese). Two notes: First, the menu isn’t really designed to be kid-friendly, so you may want to plan accordingly. Second, the Kitchen is currently only open in the evening so make your plans for dinner!

2. Rapa Nui Tiki Lounge

Taking the second story space of Level 2 and its incredible views of the Cascade sunsets, this Lounge is fully inspired by tropical bar traditions, and goes all out in presentation, borrowing from tropical bar scenes from across the world. If you’re looking for the latest cocktail creations in Bend or a special place to meet for evening drinks, it needs to be on your list. The Tahitian Rum punch is a particular favorite, but you’ll find tropical cocktails of every kind here. The food menu is limited to tasty Asian fusion tapas, but some plates are large enough to count as your meal for the evening – just make sure to make reservations if you’re eating!

3. Unkle Kate’s Bait Shoppe

We’re not going to include too many food trucks on our list (or it would become a very long list), but this unique food experience deserves a shout-out for a couple of reasons. First, it may be the only place on the West Coast where you can get authentic New England lobster rolls. They have lobster freeze-dried and shipped directly from favorite spots on the east coast, and the addition of rich, flaky warm bread is a perfect combination that you can’t get anywhere else. Second, the truck is right next to Boss Rambler, a chic little bar and café looking out on Galveston, and the perfect place for an afternoon hangout. Note that the Baite Shoppe is currently only open in the latter part of the week.

4. Bangers & Brews

While it’s been open for a little while, not nearly enough people have tried it yet. If you are a fan of traditional bratwurst dishes (plus some inspiring Argentinian additions), you’ll love the fully authentic Bangers & Brews experience. Pick your brats, pick your toppings, and order enough for the whole table or just yourself – you’ll love the experience either way.

5. Bos Taurus

If you love steak and are living in Bend, you need to make reservations at Bos Taurus immediately: The new restaurant specializes in steak: All the primary dishes are steaks from a variety of farms throughout the western half of the United States, featuring a variety of cuts based on what’s currently available (there’s also fish and chicken options if you aren’t feeling like red meat, as well as a variety of starters, but the focus here is clear). The restaurant even has a Butcher side shop where you can purchase your own cuts to take home and grill as you prefer. As always, make your reservations well ahead of time!

6. The Cellar

The Cellar is a new downtown pub that sits underground in a century-old building built stone by stone into an inviting grotto. The style is somewhere between English Pub (the hand pumps are even imported from the UK) and old-fashioned speakeasy, both beautiful and cozy at the same time. There are a variety of in-house brews that you won’t be able to find anywhere else, including traditional naturally carbonated, flask-fermented brews. The menu is also based on favorite British classics includes savory pies, sausage bites, and more.

7. Sen Thai Hot Pot and Noodle House

Bend’s Thai food scene gets yet another great entrant with the stunning Sen Thai’s, featuring a diverse menu that’s guaranteed to have your favorite Thai dishes, whether you are looking for a flavorful hot pot experience (noodle, stir fry, and dry dishes are all available) or an amazing rendition of Thai street food dishes. If you love Thai food and are looking for where to eat in Bend, make your reservations today.

If you’re looking for more help moving to Bend, our relocation services in Central Oregon are always available!