Truth be told, my husband and I only spent a brief 24 hours in Bend on our way to Whitefish, Montana. We wanted the halfway point on our road trip from the Bay Area, and Bend felt like a perfect place to explore. We left super early and arrived in Bend in record time; in fact, the drive was pretty painless. Upon arrival, we swooped some sandwiches and had a lovely riverfront lunch picnic in Drake Park. I did a decent amount of research before arrival, but due to Covid, we decided to limit the number of places we checked out. We dropped the car at our motel, The Wallstreet Suites, and let me tell you; we were pleasantly surprised. This thoughtfully renovated motel is centrally located, boasts a decent size kitchen and separate living room, as well as fire pits. They also offer bikes to explore the town and the biggest perk? They are dog-friendly! The perfect spot to rest our heads for a night.

Post-check-in, we walked through several Bend neighborhoods, took in the fantastic homes, and admired locals enjoying the sunshine. The paddleboards were out, the beer was flowing, and the grills were pumping that smell of summer around every corner. Our time in Bend was short, but boy, we can’t wait to return. Next trip, we will be sure to stay for a few days, heck, maybe a week. Keep reading below for more Bend recs!

Please always make reservations and confirm your destinations are open for business during Covid-19.