Where to Play this Winter

Tucked neatly between snow-covered peaks and high desert plateaus, Bend has evolved from a sleepy lumber town to an international Mecca for outdoor enthusiasts and people in search of active healthy vacation pursuits in both the summer and winter months. Winter play is non-negotiable during your visit to Bend so we’ve compiled a list of our Top 7 Picks for Winter Fun in Bend, Oregon.

#1 - Alpine Skiing & Snowboarding at the 6^th Largest Ski Resort in the United States:

Celebrating its 51^st year in 2010 as a ski area, Mt. Bachelor is known nationwide as a "cruisers paradise" because of its moderately angled long runs. Off those runs are enough steeps and tree runs to keep the more extreme skier/rider happy. When it comes to snow, Mt. Bachelor has arguably the best powder conditions of any west coast resort and fast and fun corn snow come spring. And if you’re contemplating terrain park and halfpipe action, Mt. Bachelor delivers: catch air in six terrain parks and a 400-foot-long Superpipe with 18.5 foot walls. With ubiquitous rails, pipes and huge hits on the face of a friendly mountain, this playground is a snowboarder’s nirvana.

#2 - Cross-Country & Backcountry Skiing:

Situated across the parking lot, the Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center has 55 kilometers of groomed trails for skate and classic skiing. A bit closer to town, off Century Drive, there's close to 30 kilometers of groomed trails at the Virginia Meissner sno-Park.

For those who prefer un-groomed but marked trails, the Swampy Lake and Edison sno- park trails off the Cascade Lakes Highway is an ideal way to escape the hustle and bustle and skate into the serene.

Because Three Sisters Wilderness and its volcanic peaks and cinder cones are so close, Bend's backcountry skiing is among the most accessible in North America. Try Tumalo Mountain just across the road from Mt. Bachelor for a great mix of open bowl and tree skiing. Head back into the wilderness for all-day trips featuring long climbs and descents.

#3 - Snowshoeing:

From Drake Park in the heart of Bend (when there's snow in downtown Bend) to anywhere along the Cascade Lakes Highway, snowshoeing is becoming more and more popular in Bend. Try the marked snowshoe trails at the Edison, Swampy Lakes and Virginia Meissner sno-parks. Or, try an all-inclusive tour led by a naturalist guide at Wanderlust Tours. Free snowshoe tours, led by a U.S. Forest Service Ranger, are available over weekends and holidays at Mt. Bachelor, too.

For a truly romantic surprise or just an escape from the usual, try a moonlight or starlight snowshoe tour led by Wanderlust Tours. The all-inclusive moonlight and starlight snowshoe tours are evening adventures that include transportation, a friendly and really smart guide, hot cocoa, and all of the equipment you need to take a stroll on the snow under the stars.

#4 - Ice Skating:

The largest outdoor skating rink is at Seventh Mountain Resort, located only 10 minutes from downtown Bend. Cozy up next to the outdoor fire pit with a hot chocolate while your skaters glide past or watch the fun from the warmth of the Rim Rock Bar. You can skate to disco tunes on the first Friday of every month and take $2 off your admission if you groove it up with a costume, baby!

#5 - Sledding & Tubing:

A newly created snow-play area at the Wanoga Sno-Park off the Cascade Lakes Highway offers kids and the kid-at-heart the opportunity to sled, build a snow man or a snow fort, and play in the snow to their hearts’ content. More tubing fun can be had at Mt. Bachelor’s Snowblast Tubing Park with an 800-foot ride over rollers and slippery slopes.

#6 - Dog Sledding:

From Mt. Bachelor’s Sunrise Lodge, hook yourself into regularly scheduled dog sled tours though Trail of Dreams. Owned and operated by Jerry Scdoris and his daughter, Iditarod racer Rachael Scdoris, Trail of Dreams harnesses some of the sport’s top dog athletes for fun and exhilarating family rides.

#7 - Snowmobiling:

Over 250 miles of groomed sled trails fan out into the mountains from a variety of

Central Oregon sno-parks less than 15 minutes from downtown Bend. For the adventurous, try an overnight excursion to Elk Lake Resort and back.

#8 - Bend WinterFest: A Winter Celebration of Local Art, Culture & Winter Sports

Bend WinterFest embraces old man winter with a myriad of sporting events like the US Cellular Snowboard and Ski Rail Jam, ice skating and cross country ski sprint races. Plus, a winter wine walk, live music at the Mojo Music Eruption in the festival center, children’s activities at Snow Flake Village, fireworks show, shopping at the WinterFest Marketplace and much more! The largest annual winter festival in Bend, Oregon is happening on February 13-15, 2010 in the Old Mill District.

To find more winter activity information at www.visitbend.com/winterfun
To Request your free vacation planner guide at this website address.

2010

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