The New York Times publishes a regular travel column titled “36 Hours,” in which writers offer an itinerary for travelers who have 36 hours to spend in a certain locale.
This time, it’s Bend getting the recognition.
Bendite Dave Seminara‘s piece, “36 Hours in Bend, Ore. (and Environs)” came out May 30, and features some of the usual suspects for Bend tours: Floating the Deschutes, eating at the Old Mill, drinking at Crux and sightseeing on the Cascade Lakes Highway, along with plugs for places in Sisters and Camp Sherman.
Anytime someone writes about Bend, locals either love it or hate it. They like the attention, or they say it’s contributing to Bend being loved to death. Some even use the comments section to plug their own Bend businesses.
Seminara touches on that himself in the opening paragraph of the piece, writing, “But great beauty also inspires an undercurrent of concern that this mountain town’s natural splendor will be imperiled if too many people show up and spoil the place.”
We get this all the time, so we’re curious: If someone’s writing about Bend, should they cover the common places tourists typically go—or should they lead noobs off the beaten path? Tell us what you think.
This article appears in May 29 – Jun 5, 2019.
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I have lived in three towns that were ruined by tourism. I count the months now before I will be fed up with Bend and then move on. I have never lived in a town that was so relentlessly self promotional. While I do enjoy the shoulder seasons it is the goal of Visit Bend to ensure that we soon have 365 days a year of non stop tourists and in doing so we get all the problems associated with it. Businesses may love it but eventually many people will do what I do and move on. I know where I will go next and I dont plan on telling anyone where that is. Good luck Bend. Youre gonna need it
Bend is beautiful and exciting but yes over crowded with events. Central Oregon is an extension of Bend and I believe it would be best to distribute some of this attention and the events to North and West Deschutes County,
Jefferson and Crook County. Their are local residents that don’t even know what they are missing.
I would hope that people who write about Bend (and who are familiar with our most special places) will hit the highlights only, and not give away our secrets, and to also be sure to let everyone know that it rains here ALL THE TIME 😉