A fun adventure is on our list of things to do. A recent adventure took us to visit Bend, Oregon. We chose to drive since we hadn’t been over to this area for years. Vibrant reds on the bushes, flowing water and cinder mountains are just a few of the amazing sights on this trip. We only passed a couple of small towns but stopped and had the best cinnamon roll ever on our way to the big city of Bend. 80,000+ people now reside in the beautiful area surrounded by trees, mountains and valleys. Here’s just a bit of what we discovered on this recent fun adventure.
Deschutes Brewery Tour
If you love beer, then you definitely want to stop by Deschutes Brewery and take their tour. It only lasts about 45 minutes but along the way you get to discover the mystery behind beer making. In addition, you get to sample beer a several stops along the way. Once the tour is complete, you need to experience the tasting room. Because they now have a Pilot Brewhouse onsite, you never know what you will get to try. I was never a dark beer lover but once I tasted Deschutes Black Butte Porter, I was sold. Since I love unique beers and have a sense of adventure, Kristin had me sample the Pear & Bergamot Sour. WOW, love it and they are going to be doing 3 more over the course of the year. I can’t wait. To read the full featured blog post on Deschutes Brewery CLICK HERE.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott
As part of my travel for free/almost free, I shared that we use credit cards to pay our monthly bills and because of that, we earn point and free nights. We were able to stay at this hotel free because we had points and a free anniversary night all due to carrying the Marriott card. We love this hotel because it has a full kitchen, free breakfast, fitness center, pool/hot tub, lots of space to relax, and most of all within walking distance of some of our activities. Staying in shape on the road can be hard but getting a chance to get out and walk around the area of this hotel was perfect. The staff is great and location is perfect.
Youth Hockey Game
During one of our walks around the hotel area, we could hear shouting and of course, I needed to see what was happening. What we discovered added another great piece to our fun adventure. How about a youth hockey game at the Bend Park & Recreation Pavilion? We had driven by this so many times but didn’t know what excitement this glass building housed. From the street, you could see the skaters and we love hockey. It was so much fun to watch these 14-year-old hockey players play their hearts out. Furthermore, it was co-ed and the level of play was top-notch. So much fun and without going out for a walk, we would have never discovered it! The Pavilion offers a ton of activities, not just hockey, click here to discover more.
Shops at the Old Mill District
You can’t visit Bend without checking out the Old Mill District. Towering timber is all part of Bend’s rich heritage and this area blends that heritage with shops, restaurants, entertainment, music 
and fun. As you stroll through the area there is something for everyone. It was a beautiful day so we walked around the pond, checking out the shops and deciding where we would enjoy lunch. It is peaceful even with the amount of people out and about enjoying the day. Grab a seat and sit back around one of the outdoor firepits, window shop or grab a bit to eat. There is so much to see and do you will definitely want to make some time to enjoy all that the Old Mill District has to offer. Naked Winery even has a shop onsite – make sure to get your wine on!
Flatbread Neapolitan Pizzeria
After spending some time looking at the menus of the restaurants in the Old Mill District, we decided to stop at Flatbread Neapolitan Pizzeria. The lunch special was $10.95 – pick two items from pizzetta, half sandwich, half salad, mac & cheese or tomato basil soup. So much to choose from but I needed to experience a pizza. So, I enjoyed the “Alfredo the Grate” Pizzetta and the Italian Wedge Salad. My husband just enjoyed the Italian Wedge salad but had the Lemon Basil Vinaigrette dressing. This dressing was amazing and I watched as they made it so it was truly fresh. In addition, I got some to take home as well! The atmosphere was fun, lively and you watch as the chef’s make the pizza in the community oven. Not the mention, the food was AMAZING.
Pilot Butte Hike
No visit is complete without experiencing the Pilot Butte Hike. We headed up early in the morning and you want to dress accordingly. On our adventure, we experienced a bit of snow, warm sun and some mud. Go figure – a little bit everything all along the way. We decided to go for the trail which gave us a us a mostly uphill climb with beautiful views of Bend below. You can take the road up but we wanted to walk through the trees and challenge ourselves. It was a tough go since we are still trying to get into shape but worth the effort. The view from the top – incredible. These 360 views include flatlands, mountains, the city and everything in between. This is a popular spot for those interested in exercise. We passed dog walkers, hikers, runners and people like us!
Downtown Discoveries
Revitalized doesn’t even begin to describe this active downtown area. Shops, restaurants, buildings, businesses and so much more make up this expansive area. You could spend an entire day checking out downtown Bend. We loved the eclectic selection of shops and eateries. The vibe is energetic and it was packed when we were there. Best go early and plan to stay late so you don’t miss a thing!
Walk in the Snow
One of the evenings we went out for a walk as the snow fell lightly around us. There is so much to discover right outside our hotel that we made a point to walk a different area every time we left the building. This night was perfect because of the snow falling. It was quiet but you could hear the snow as it fell on the trees, sidewalk, street and even us. While it was dark outside, the street lights created a warm illumination as we walked along this residential district. Lights on inside homes as we imagined families curled up in their favorite chairs or around the kitchen table enjoying a quiet evening at home. In our crazy lives, it is often hard to remember the simpler things unless you are walking in the quiet of snowfall.
Travel Grammy Adventures Recap
Fun adventures can be anything you make them if you just get out and create them. We always look to see what we can discover that is free first and then branch out. This trip cost us the price of gas, 1 lunch, a few groceries and lots of time to get out and discover everything Bend had to offer. If you haven’t read the article on traveling free/almost free CLICK HERE. We didn’t see or do all that we wanted so we are planning another trip back in the fall. Where will your next adventure take