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While we love to talk about the many outdoor activities in Bend Oregon that newcomers are welcome to, there’s one outdoor pastime we get a lot of questions about Taking photos! Central Oregon is packed with incredible vistas and opportunities for photos, whether you like taking pictures of the landscape, capturing the light in just the right way, or finding the most interesting subject out in nature. If you’re living in Bend now and want to know where to take your camera, these are some of the best photo spots in Bend!

1. Top of Pilot Butte

This is not only an excellent introduction to Bend but it is a favorite spot for catching the sunset over the Cascade Mountains, highlighting both the forest and desert aspects of Central Oregon. It’s also a good spot to look for other angles and vistas you can use for future photography plans.

2. Paths Along Old Mill

Old Mill, a short drive away from downtown Bend, is filled with paths along and around the Deschutes River, and ambitious photographers will be able to find many, many interesting places to capture the surrounding beauty. Whether you like to capture the light on the river, the perfect angle for the Old Mill smokestacks, or a mix of the traditional-style brick buildings and sunset, there are plenty of opportunities here.

3. Drake Park

The towering trees and more placid turns of Drake Park/Mirror Pond offer lots for photographers to love, and the well-kept riverside housing can be an ideal backdrop for all kinds of photo ideas. If you’re wondering what to do in Bend and intend on taking your camera with, Drake Park’s easy access central location makes it a great place to start. It gets an extra nod during autumn when the trees turn a stunning gold.

4. Dillon Falls

If waterfalls and rapids are what your lens is looking for, Dillon Falls is a great place to get started: It’s very accessible, offers a stunning waterfall, and can easily showcase the greener wildlife of Central Oregon. Sahalie Falls, while a bit more of a trip, is another excellent spot if you prefer mossy waterfall scenery

5. Smith Rock

Your photography adventures aren’t complete until you make at least one trip out to Smith Rock, a gorgeous basalt display that offers a variety of perspectives depending on the weather, angle of approach, and if you’re at the base or on one of the summits. Photographers will love spending time around here!

6. Lava Butte

This more secluded butte is a perfect place to capture otherworldly landscapes of frozen lava and twisted juniper, an excellent spot for photographers who are looking for something different without needing to travel too far from Bend.

7. Highway 20 Between Bend and Sisters

Our list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning this grassy stretch of highway, which offers a famous view of the Three Sisters mountains that both amateur and professional photographers stop by all the time. Catch a beautiful sunset or moonrise over the mountains, and you can be you won’t be alone here.

8. Shevlin Park

This massive park is easily accessible in Bend and presents an excellent opportunity to capture beautiful images of towering trees in summer or winter, depending on what you are looking for. Wait for the early morning fog to capture the area’s haunting beauty or grab your snowshoes in winter to find an untouched scene of a snowy forest.

Eastern Oregon, United States is a beautiful place and the perfect location to capture lifelong memories with friends and family. As always, if you are interested in learning more about Bend or finding some help when you are moving to Bend, contact us to learn more!

For other spectacular views to visit on the Oregon Coast, check out these locations below:

• Deschutes National Forest
• High Desert
• Umpqua Hot Springs
• Newberry National Volcanic Monument
• Columbia River Gorge
• Crooked River
• Mount Hood
• Crater Lake
• Sparks Lake
• Lava Tube
• Misery Ridge Trail
• Lake Billy Chinook
• Cannon Beach
• Lava River Cave
• Paulina Peak
• Warm Springs
• East Lake
• Farewell Bend Park

A big part of moving to Bend, like any city, is learning how to get around! Fortunately, Bend is very easy for newcomers to navigate after a little practice, and there are multiple options for travel within the city depending on where you want to go. We’ve collected several tips to help those who are planning on relocating to the Bend or have recently arrived – you’ll have navigating mastered in no time.

Start with the Popular Vertical Navigation Points

Bear with us a moment and look at this incredibly useful visitor’s map to Bend. Note that several of the most important streets in Bend run vertically north to south, roughly parallel with the Deschutes River. This includes important streets like the Bend Parkway (Highway 97), Mt. Washington Drive/Reed Market Rd., 3rd Street, and 27th street. These streets are responsible for many of the major delineations in Bend (eastside vs. westside, for example), and once you have learned them you will always be able to know where you are in the city, and how to get where you need to be – as well as give and understand directions much more easily.

Note the Routes to Major Landmarks

If you want to go to Mt. Bachelor – a trip that should be on everyone’s list, even if you haven’t tried many winter sports – you’ll want to know where Cascade Lakes Highway/Century Drive is right off the Old Mill District. If you’re interested in heading to the High Desert Museum, Sunriver, or a variety of lakes to the south, you’ll want to be southbound on Highway 97. For Redmond (and the Redmond airport) and Smith Rock, you’ll want to be northbound. If you’re heading to Tumalo or Sisters, you’ll want to navigate over to Highway 20. Both northbound on Highway 20 and Highway 97 can take you to Portland in roughly the same amount of time, but people do have preferences based on their plans.

Bend is Bike-Friendly

Bend’s wide streets and roundabouts make the city particularly friendly for biking, and if you’re only traveling a short distance, then biking (and similar methods of transportation) may be your best option for getting around, especially during busier times of the day.

Of course, you may not want to plan on biking all the way to Mt. Bachelor unless you’re practicing competitively, and winter snow or ice can be factor during some of the coldest months, so make your plans accordingly.

Public Transportation in Bend

While Uber and a variety of third-party services are always available, Bend does have a bus system for public transportation. This includes the Cascades East Transit service with 10 routes throughout Bend (bike racks included on buses), and the free Ride Bend shuttle, as well as the Ride the River shuttle. Learn these routes for easy transport when floating the river, heading up to Mt. Bachelor, or other fun outdoor activities in Bend.

If you have any more questions about getting around Bend, what the different neighborhoods are like, or what transportation options would work best for you, don’t hesitate to contact us at Moving To Bend. We offer a wide range of services to help people living in Bend or in the process of relocating.

Whether you’ve worked remotely for one year or 10, it is easy to slide into less-than-desirable habits with your routine. Working in your pajamas, answering emails at all hours, and permitting distractions during your workday are just several of the ways remote workers begin to erode crucial work-life boundaries. Want to start feeling your best while working remotely? Moving to Bend shares three suggestions to enhance your routine.

1. Establish boundaries that help you mentally “leave” work at the end of the day.

Working from home — especially if you are self-employed — often means that you have no set start or end time. Just so long as you finish your daily tasks, you can set hours that are best for you. 

Unfortunately, this often turns into working more hours than you would normally. It can also lead to feeling like you are always “plugged in” to your work. Find ways to establish or re-establish this boundary by creating distinct transitions in your day. For example, when beginning your workday, enter your home office and remain there until you’ve finished for the day. 

2. Redecorate your home office.

One excellent way to add some energy and motivation to your workday is to redecorate your home office. This is especially true if your current at-home workspace is also being used for other purposes, such as storage or as a guest room. 

As your budget allows, purchase new office furniture, replace flooring, add new blinds, and find decorative pieces that spark a sense of delight. To give your office a dramatic new look and feel, spruce up your walls. Many people are now opting to use customizable, easy-to-install wallpaper for a number of reasons. Wallpaper with adhesive backing can be custom designed to fit any style. This type of wallpaper is both removable and repositionable. Ordering personalized designs also ensures that you’ll always be able to reorder more if you run out.

3. Set a timer to get up and move around.

In a traditional office setting, there are often frequent excuses to get up and walk around. Going to and from meetings, walking to the break room, and getting up to speak with colleagues ensures that you get some level of activity. At home, there is little reason to get up and walk around, which can lead to a sedentary lifestyle.

Break this pattern by setting timers for yourself throughout the day to remind yourself to get up and move around. Wearing a pedometer will also help you track how much activity you achieve each day.

On top of these suggestions, there are many other ways to make your remote work arrangement even healthier. Several more ideas include stocking up on nutritious lunches and snacks, working out during your lunch break, and meditating throughout your day.

• 

New parking zones will be implemented in Downtown Bend starting July 1 in an effort to make parking downtown easier. 

The Downtown Parking District will be split into two zones. Zone A will consist of all on-street parking and will all be free for two hours. Zone B will consist of all off-street parking in the various lots around Downtown and in the parking garage, and will provide more long-term paid parking options. 

The amount of free on-street parking will not be changed! Parking on Irving Street will be converted to free two-hour parking as a part of the creation of the zones. There are about 1,800 free parking spaces available in the Downtown Parking District. The majority of parking downtown is still free for two hours. 

To learn more about the parking changes head to bendoregon.gov/Home/Components/News/News/4579/29

Source – www.bendoregon.gov

If you plan on moving to Bend in the spring or summer, there are endless opportunities for outdoor fun…but picnics are a particularly special way to spend a warm afternoon. If you’ve got picnics on the mind, we can suggest several of our favorite spots to eat while enjoying the nature all around us.

Note: Bend’s parks are well-equipped with handy disposal bins, usually located nearby picnic tables and other spots. It’s also a good idea to make use of them – or bring your own biodegradable trash bag along with your other supplies so you can clean up after you eat!

1. Drake Park

Drake Park is the quintessential park experience in downtown Bend. This strip of beautifully cultivated park land (the trees in autumn never get old) hugs close to the Deschutes River in one of its quiet loops. There’s plenty of options for walking, playing on the grassy hills, feeding the ducks, and more. It’s also home to plenty of events and performers if you’d like some entertainment. When you’re finished eating, it’s an easy stroll to experience downtown shops or stop by one of the cafes at the park’s border.

2. Columbia Park

Do your young  kids need to run off a little energy? Columbia Park is famous for its giant ship-inspired playground, making it particularly popular for young families. There are also plenty of river views and a large lawn for some light sports after you’ve finished up your picnic.

3. Shevlin Park

Shevlin Park is an enormous park stretching outward from the northwest side of Bend, around 1,000 acres. That makes it perfect for adventures, but don’t worry – there are many cozy picnic tables dotted throughout, especially in the early areas of the park. It’s a great choice if you prefer to eat under towering Ponderosa pines. As a bonus, it’s also a great place to take the family snowshoeing in winter if you’re looking for great outdoor activities in Bend.

4. Riverbend Park

If you’re wondering what to do in Bend for a picnic lunch, Riverbend really needs to be on your list. The location of the famous “bend” in the Deschutes River that gave the city its name, this ambling park is a great spot to enjoy river views and has some of the best picnic spots in Bend, including cabin-style structures for shade and larger family gatherings. Just across the river is dog park with areas for fenced-in running (poo bag dispensers are also available( as well as splashing in the river, while Old Mill shops are just a brief walk away and friendly hiking trails await in the opposite direction – giving you plenty of post-picnic options!

5. Pine Nursery

Pine Nursery Park is ideal for active families that like their picnics with some sports to run off calories after. There are designated spots for basketball, skateboarding, disc golf, softball, pickleball, and even fishing is allowed (there’s also a 14-acre off-leash park for your dogs). The park covers more than 150 acres, so there’s always something else to explore here while you’re living in Bend.

Special Mention: Crux Fermentation

While it’s not technically a park, it is one of the best picnic spots in Bend to bring your kids for an afternoon of fun…while allowing the adults to sample some of the most interesting brews in town. There’s a grass field to play in, plenty of picnic tables (as well as indoor seating), and incredible mountain views. If you’re wondering what to do in Bend, a stop by Crux should be on your list. Crux also has several food carts, including a recent – and delicious – expansion by The Rogue Chef, so your lunch plans are covered, too.