Why you'd want to live in Bend

Everywhere you look in Bend and Central Oregon, there’s a major landmark or point of interest. The trick is deciding which ones to mark at the top of your Bend sightseeing bucket list! Newberry National Volcanic Monument is teeming with ancient lava flows, jagged volcanic glass, rivers, lakes, caves, hot springs, waterfalls, and forests — and they’re all there waiting for you to explore them. The Newberry Crater area offers fun things to do in both summer and winter. Crater Lake National Park is just over two hours from Bend, and is the deepest lake in the U.S. It was formed when Mt. Mazama erupted more than 7,700 years ago and then collapsed, eventually filling with water to become the most brilliantly turquoise body of water you’ve ever laid eyes on. Want to stick closer to town? Bend is one of just a handful in the U.S. to feature a dormant volcano in the city limits, and you can drive or climb right to the top. Pilot Butte is an ancient, 500-foot cinder cone that offers stunning views of the city and region when you reach its craggy peak. Be sure to save time for a stroll in Bend’s famous Drake Park, the crown jewel of Bend’s park system featuring 13 riverfront acres and an outdoor stage. Some people think that childlike wonder is something you grow out of. Those people have never been to Bend. Here, amazement is something you fall into, and it’s waiting eagerly for anyone who’s willing to make the trip to seize it. It’s a place packed with possibility. Whether you’re dipping a paddle into the crystal-clear waters of the Deschutes River, sipping a frosted pint of your favorite craft brew, or plunging into the frosty unknown on a pair of snowshoes, Bend has a way of putting you at ease and in awe all at the same time. Those wide eyes. That galloping heart. The just-out-of-reach itch to get back and experience it all anew again. This is Bend. And that smile bursting between your lips? That’s been yours all along. We’re just happy we could help you find it. via Visit Bend