Oregon's Ultimate Ski Town

Winter Vacation in Oregon at Bend and Mt Bachelor

11.30.2017

It’s something that Oregonians have known for a while and Californians are just beginning to realize: Bend is the ultimate mountain town for the whole family! And in the winter, it has everything you’d want for a snowy extended weekend. In the midst of the Cascade Mountains, Mt. Bachelor is currently enjoying one of the earliest openings on record.

Skiing and snowboarding here is all about short lift lines, sublime slopes, panoramic scenery, and an extra bonus for families: kids ski free! The fun extends beyond Mt. Bachelor. Take your pick of winter adventures within minutes of downtown Bend. Snowshoe to a view and enjoy some award-winning local craft brews!

Cross-country ski on miles of well-groomed trails filled with locals and cozy warming huts. Stroll downtown—a total charmer of twinkling lights, Oregon-hip stores, coffee shops, and craft brew pubs that have mastered the experience. Seriously, Bend takes the brew pub scene to the next level, with some of the world’s best craft beers paired with locally sourced food.

Gather around an outdoor fire pit and watch the sunset while sipping a gold-medal IPA, or order a wood-fired pizza and enjoy the friendly vibe indoors. Dog-friendly, kid-friendly, couple-friendly, whatever’s your jam, Bend is your best bet for a winter break that’s bringing back the meaning of a true winter escape!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories

  1. Hidden Botanical Garden

    Forget a dozen roses. Give your love a botanical garden. Hidden on the western slope of Sonoma Valley’s Mayacamas Mountains, Sonoma Botanical Garden has one of the Bay Area’s best displays of Asian flora—and it’s a brilliant place for a quiet picnic and some calming contemplations.

    View

  2. Sunnyvale and Salty

    For up-close bird watching, it’s hard to beat a walk along the San Francisco Bay. This 5-mile loop on the Sunnyvale coast is a favorite of local wildlife photographers.

    View
  3. A man takes a break at a temple spot on a hike at Dragon Mountain in Milptas

    Dragon Quest

    The newly reopened, 4-mile out-and-back hike at Dragon Mountain in Milpitas mixes the physical with the spiritual for a serene hiking experience.

    View
  4. woman hiking Buck Gulch Falls Novato

    Buck Wild!

    Tucked back beyond the residential ranch-style homes and golf courses of Novato in the North Bay is a wild and wondrous 30-foot waterfall that springs to life in the rainy season. Buck Gulch Falls in Novato’s Ignacio Valley Preserve is in peak flow right now, and it’s a short and Middle-earthy hike to reach it.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. A woman stands at Dante's View in Death Valley, looking out to Telescope Peak and Manly Lake, Badwater Basin below.

    Sunset Hike at Dante's View

    It’s one of the world’s best places to watch a sunset. Dante’s View is a 5,476-foot vantage of the whole southern basin of Death Valley from the top of the Black Mountains. Right now there's a banner and bonus view of a rare lake formation that appears only after big rains.

    View
  2. Keough's Hot Springs

    Soaking Up History

    When you slide into the soothing water of Keough’s Hot Springs, you’re bathing in a piece of Owens Valley history.

    View

  3. It's a Waterfall Life

    Tahquitz Canyon’s crystalline stream and lush stands of desert lavender, honey mesquite, and leafy sycamores is home to an easy day hike with a big bonus: a 60-foot waterfall that runs with remarkable gusto after winter rains.

    View
  4. Grover Hot Springs

    State Park Soaker

    Set in an alpine meadow at 6,000 feet and surrounded by the 10,000-foot granite peaks of the Sierra, Grover Hot Springs State Park—just outside the town of Markleeville—has its very own hot springs.

    View