Bend is found in the heart of Oregon, on the edge of the Deschutes National Forest, surrounded by dramatic scenery. Redmond, just outside of Bend, has a small regional airport that services flights from several US cities, including Seattle, San Francisco and Denver. Bend is around 175 miles south east of Portland, Oregon’s capital, from where you can catch international flights across the world and then hire a car for the scenic drive down to Bend.

Relative to most US cities, Bend is reasonably compact and, being the hub to so many adventurous activities in and around the area, there are plenty of hotels to choose from. Pine Ridge Inn offers affordable, and very comfy rooms overlooking the Deschutes River as it flows through the city. Some rooms have cosy fireplaces for those cooler evenings in the mountains. The Oxford Hotel is a great boutique option, with sleek rooms and an on-site restaurant.

Bend has a great selection of restaurants to explore across the city, from fine dining to casual spots with a buzzy vibe. Boxwood Kitchen is a modern take on a supperclub where you can join for brunch, lunch or dinner throughout the week for dishes such as ricotta gnocchi with smoked shallots. If you’re exploring some of the breweries in town, they have some of the best bar menus in Oregon, so you can soak up some of those beers with plates of tacos, pretzels and nachos.

Bend is one of the hotspots for beer across the USA and the world, with one of the highest number of breweries per capita anywhere. There is even a ‘Bend Ale Trail’ that you can follow, listing the best breweries across town where you can stop off and enjoy a sampler of their brews. You can collect stamps in your beer passport on the way and relax in their great beer gardens with some garden games and of course a glass of something hoppy.

Bend is the hub for a huge array of adventurous activities in the surrounding Cascade Mountain range, including kayaking, hiking and even skiing (in Winter months). Join Wanderlust Tours on one of their many adventures, hitting the crystal blue lakes on a canoe, or hiking a volcano and marvelling at the vistas and sun setting over the horizon. On a summer’s day the most popular activity in Bend is to ‘float the river’ – grab an inflatable and meander down the Deschutes River taking in the scenery and topping up your tan!