Last week’s visit by the annual Perseid Meteor Shower turned Central Oregon’s eyes to the sky. For some continued star-gazing, here are some nearby—and not so close—locations for taking in the marvels of the sky on any optimal evening. Simply go where it’s dark A quick drive out to Tumalo Reservoir Road (head west until […]
Kevin Sperl
Posted inBest Of Central Oregon
Best Dispensary
Oregrown
A sign on the front door of Oregrown declares that “the end of cannabis prohibition has finally arrived!” Long-time best friends and co-owners, Hunter Neubauer and Aviv Hadar, opened their medical dispensary in January, and Hadar is proud to say they “have been open every day since.” Starting as an agricultural business five years ago, […]
Posted inBest Of Central Oregon
Best Yoga Studio
Namaspa
Welcoming students to its 90-degree heated power yoga room, a small sign in the waiting area of Namaspa states “come as you are, not as you should be.” “There are no mirrors here,” says co-owner and founder Suzie Newcome, who encourages people to let go of any ideas of needing to be good at yoga […]
Posted inOutside
No Slacker
Local manufacturer is helping pioneer the emerging sport of slacklining
Like most rock climbers in Central Oregon, Jason Fautz was drawn to Smith Rock State Park. But scaling those sheer volcanic cliffs was not what drew his attention. Having moved to the area two years ago from Washington, Fautz was “in a transition in my life;” he naturally sought out what was familiar to him—rock […]
Posted inOutside
Make Your Own Summer Camp
Go Here 8/12-8/19
Dave Dallas is well qualified to recommend activities for kids—he teaches third grade at Amity Creek School. He and his wife, Mary, are also known for their participation in strenuous outdoor activities. Dave is a triathlete who recently completed his first Ironman in Coeur d’Alene. Mary’s preference is cyclocross and mountain bike racing, and also […]
Posted inOutside
Pounding The Pavement, Off Road!
Haulin’ Aspen presents trail road challenges and charms
Luke Larsen knows a thing or two about trail running, having participated in the Wasatch 100-miler that includes 5,000 feet of elevation gain in a single leg-busting, nine-mile stretch, and the Speedgoat 50k held in Snowbird, Utah, a marathon-plus run that sends runners up an 11,000 foot elevation gain. For good measure, Larsen has also […]
Posted inOutside
Go Here 8/5-8/12
Getting Out of Town
It could be easily argued that living in Bend means never needing to travel far to access a wide variety of recreational and scenic opportunities. But, if your hunger for the mountains, the hiking and biking trails, the river, the music, or the beer becomes sated, there are an equal number of doable road trips […]
Posted inOutside
Go Here 7/29-8/5
Three Hikes
What’s the difference between walking and hiking? Well, the steepness of the climb (from no elevation gain along the riverfront, to darn near rock climbing summits). Yup, it is a good reminder that just like Mt. Bachelor offers everything from a green circle to black diamond, the terrain around Bend has a grab bag of […]
Posted inOutside
Go Here 7/22-7/29
The Wheel Thing
This week, the Cascade Cycling Classic—the longest consecutively-held stage race in America—is hosted on five different days here in Central Oregon. A winner of multiple state championships in California and Nevada, seven Master’s National Championships, and two Master’s World Championships, Julie Cutts knows the course well—and two years ago moved to what she calls “the […]
Posted inOutside
Trail Magic
Neighbors chip in to create a cycling-support way station
A human-kindness driven phenomenon found on the Appalachian Trail, known as “trail magic,” provides food and assistance for hikers attempting the long traverse from Georgia to Maine. And now, Bend can now boast about its own version of trail magic along the 36-mile Twin Bridges Scenic Bikeway with the installation of the first bike aid […]