Bend, OR

Hidden across the train tracks on a dusty street rumbling with semi trucks and lined with chain-link fence, Sparrow Bakery is a bright spot in an unlikely location. The little brown brick building that houses the European-style bakery and coffee shop is tucked in amongst a particularly industrial area between downtown Bend and the Old Mill District. But don’t let the unusual locale deter you from stopping into this pleasant little shop for coffee, tea and unique, tasty baked goods.

The Deschutes River Trails offer pristine river views and nicely cleared paths, perfect for an impromptu (and undemanding) romp around Bend’s beloved waters.

This past weekend downtown Bend transformed into a culinary dreamland (more than it is already) as dozens of local restaurants showcased their cuisine at the 6th annual Bite of Bend. Walking down Bond Street was like a gastronomic world tour: where else can you down a plate of Pad Thai with a slice of brick-oven pizza and wash it all down with a local microbrew that came from a barrel-shaped cart? In addition to hundreds of food choices, the two-day event featured live entertainment, a kid’s play area with all manner of inflatable bounce houses and slides, and an Iron Chef-type competition for local chefs.

Located 20 miles west of Bend, the town of Sisters, Oregon, is Bend’s distinctively western neighbor. Every building on the little downtown stretch has an old-town western façade, and when driving through town I almost expect a band of cowboys and Indians to come charging out of the saloon and have a confrontation at the intersection of Main and Spruce. This past weekend, part of my vision came true (sans Indian altercation) as cowboys and cowgirls took the town by storm at the 68th Annual Sisters Rodeo. My friends and I went on Friday night, the opening night of the three-day event, and enjoyed some good old fashioned steer roping, barrel racing and fried food consumption.

A shady oasis just a stone’s throw away from downtown Bend, Drake Park is a slice of European charm in the middle of Central Oregon. The buzz of activity, long winding paths, and 13 acres of grassy grounds overlooking Mirror Pond remind me of some of my favorite parks I visited in Europe. This past Saturday afternoon Drake Park was alive with picnickers, bicyclers riding cruisers instead of mountain bikes (a rarity for Central Oregon), and kayakers floating through Mirror Pond’s calm waters.

This past Friday a friend and I ventured out to the Tumalo Falls area to check out the trails and find a sunny spot to catch up on some reading. Neither one of us knew much about Tumalo Falls except that it features a cascading chute of water and some wooded stomping grounds. With the trusty (and entertaining) black lab Mokie as our guide, we had a fun afternoon exploring the trails, tromping through the lingering snow patches, and marveling at the beauty of the waterfall.