Secluded Riverside Refuge
Location: Bend, Oregon
Style: Comfy & cosy
Budget: ££
Bend is a focal point for many adventurous travellers looking to explore the stunning Cascade mountain range that towers above the city. As well as these great outdoors pursuits, the other side of Bend’s reputation comes from its incredible array of breweries. Pine Ridge Inn, with its excellent location on the edge of the Deschutes River, is a perfect place to relax, recharge and explore everything that Bend and the surrounding area has to offer.
Staying at Pine Ridge Inn
Pine Ridge Inn is perched above the riverbank overlooking the Deschutes, nestled amongst the beautiful pine trees that line the area offering a real feeling of seclusion. The Inn offers a lovely boutique setting, with only 20 rooms on site, and is only a short walk or cycle from downtown Bend, where you can explore the breweries, restaurants and join tours heading out to the mountains.
The Inn offers five different room options, from entry level King Suites up to the luxury Deschutes Suite, which offers two balconies, a Jacuzzi tub and separate living area. The majority of rooms are Canyon View Suites, which have their own private patio facing out onto the canyon and river below as well as a gas fireplace to snuggle up next to on one of the cooler days in Bend.
Pine Ridge Inn has a cosy dining room and lounge, complete with its own terrace, where you can relax after an adventurous day up in the mountains, or enjoy your breakfast out in the sunshine overlooking the river. Each morning, an excellent spread of a continental breakfast is laid on. With local baked goods from Fearless Bakery and Big Ed’s Artisan Bread, you can start the day with delicious croissants, muffins and other pastries. On top of this, sip on Bend based Thump Roaster coffee, with a vegetarian quiche, or maybe a slightly healthier yoghurt and granola.
On arrival at Pine Ridge Inn you will be greeted with a welcome drink from Oregon’s Naked Winery, or a beer from one of the 30 craft breweries in Central Oregon. During your time at the Inn, you can also pick up wine and beer by the glass or bottle from near reception, perhaps treat yourself for an evening nightcap.
Pine Ridge Inn doesn’t have a gym or spa on site, but you can grab a day pass to the local Bend Athletic Club, where you can use their tennis courts, swimming pools, squash courts or join one of their exercise classes.
Exploring around Pine Ridge Inn
If you’re staying at Pine Ridge Inn, you are likely in Bend to explore the city and the great outdoor activities on offer. When deciding what to do in the area, the best way to think about it is to plan something a) on the water, b) around the volcanoes and c) around the breweries.
Wanderlust Tours are a local tour company that can help you with all three of those adventures and is a great place to start if you’re new to Bend and want to explore the area. One activity that is super popular with locals and visitors alike is to hit the water and kayak or canoe around one of the serene lakes up in the Cascade mountains. The lakes are around a 45-minute drive away and, once there, you’ll be wowed by the tranquillity that they offer, not to mention the jaw-dropping views. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to spot one of the resident otters or beavers!
The ancient volcanic activity that created the landscape you can find in the Cascades has created some wonderful places to explore. For example, you can join a tour that takes you underground into the lava caves, where you can learn all about these intriguing environments and the organisms that make them their home. If you’d prefer something outside, there are also scenic hiking trails, accessible only during the warmer months, which can culminate in an incredible sunset as the light dips down over the horizon.
Back in the city, there’s the excellent ‘Bend Ale Trail’ that you can explore at your leisure, which directs you around some of the best breweries in Bend, if not in the whole of Oregon! With one of the highest densities of breweries per capita in the world, you’re sure to find something that suits your tastes. Each brewery typically offers a tasting platter so you can try out the whole range, as well as more beers by the glass than you could ever hope to try in one visit!
When the months turn colder, a layer of snow hits the peaks of the surrounding mountains, and skiers descend on Bend to hit the slopes of Mount Bachelor. With over 700km of slopes and 135 ski lifts, there’s plenty of runs to enjoy and some great spots to grab drinks for après-ski too!
Key Information about Pine Ridge Inn
What is the best way to get to Pine Ridge Inn?
Pine Ridge Inn is located in Bend in Central Oregon – serviced by Roberts Field airport, around 20 minutes outside the city, where you can catch flights to many other US cities. For international flights, Portland is your best option, around 175 miles and three hours away by car.
In Bend itself, you can easily get around by Uber / Lyft or hire a bike and explore the many cycle trails in and around Bend. A car is, however, useful to get out into the mountains, unless you join one of the guided tours, when transport is usually included.
What are the Pine Ridge Inn rates?
Rates for rooms at Pine Ridge Inn start at around US $170 per night for the basic suites, up to US $290 for the luxury Deschutes Suite. All rates are inclusive of a continental breakfast every morning and parking at the inn with no resort fee added on. Local and state taxes are excluded from these rates.
Where are the best places to go for dinner near Pine Ridge Inn?
Opposite Pine Ridge Inn is Cascade Lakes Brewing Company, one of the breweries on the Bend Ale Trail, which serves solid pub grub with good portions and an excellent range of beers. If you’re exploring some of the other breweries in town, they are renowned for having some of the best bar menus in Oregon. Soak up some of the beers you’re trying with plates of tacos, pretzels and nachos for the true Bend experience.
If you’re looking for something a bit fancier, Boxwood Kitchen is a modern take on a supperclub where you can go for brunch, lunch or dinner throughout the week for dishes such as ricotta gnocchi with smoked shallots. Another place worth mentioning is Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails, as the name may suggest they serve a darn good cocktail alongside their Louisiana inspired menu of jambalaya and BBQ shrimp.
Our final thoughts on... Pine Ridge Inn
Bend is full of incredible things to do and explore, whether for the outdoor adventurer looking to get up into the Cascades or the relaxed traveller more interested in meandering around the awesome breweries. Bend was definitely one of our favourite places to visit in Oregon, and we hadn’t even heard of it before we started planning our trip! Our stay at Pine Ridge Inn made it super easy to explore Bend and the setting above the Deschutes River was second to none.
Find Out More…
Pine Ridge Inn – https://www.pineridgeinn.com
Many thanks to Pine Ridge Inn for hosting us during our time in Bend. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely our own, we wouldn’t recommend something if we didn’t love it!
