Fall In Love With Central Oregon

Chris Murray

However, one season that is often overlooked in Central Oregon is Fall. Fall in Central Oregon is a hidden gem. It has cooler temperatures, festive activities and beautiful sunshine without the pop of the typical seasonal crowds. If you are looking for a quaint escape from everyday life and want the opportunity to reconnect with nature and enjoy the beauty of simplicity, Don’t sleep on making a trip out this Fall.
During my time in Central Oregon earlier this month, I experienced the charming allure of Bend and Redmond. Two cities in the high desert region of Oregon. Here are my recommendations for the best way to do, eat, and stay.

Steve Heinrichs

To Stay:
Sunriver Resort
Sunriver Resort is a 3,300-acre resort community nestled in the thick of the woodsy terrain. With 245 guest rooms and suites and 300 vacation homes and condos, Sunriver Resort can provide for all needs.
When I arrived, I walked through the cozy lobby doors; the cabin aesthetic– high-beam wood ceilings, stone walls and a warm color palette of furniture– made me feel right at home. The lobby backs up to the breathtaking Mt. Bachelor and one of their four award-winning golf courses. I basked in the beauty, watching golfers make their shots and bikers treading graciously on the bike path– which spans the entire property, approximately 45 miles.

A golf cart brought me to my cozy cabin room. It had a stone furnace in the corner, adding to the woodsy appeal. A back porch overlooked the pine trees, and the familiar pine fragrance loomed in the crisp air.
The Spa at Sunriver Resort is the ultimate place to unwind after a long day of outdoor recreation. The Spa at Sunriver Resort encapsulates the spirit of the Oregon high desert with its warm ambiance, signature services and Indigenous products. The full-service spa is a private escape dedicated to your health, fitness and well-being.

To Eat:
Lodge Kitchen, Sunriver Resort
With 10 unique restaurants on the property, I dined at Lodge Kitchen, an open-concept kitchen that offers a window into the world of creative culinarians. Lodge Kitchen is where you’ll find a fresh take on seasonal flavors from the Pacific Northwest. Stop in for a hearty breakfast, a bite after a round of golf, or an extended multi-course dinner, and stay for the sweeping, majestic views of Sunriver and sunset over Mt. Bachelor.
My meal was fantastic, and the service was friendly. After a day of travel, I started with a charcuterie platter and then indulged in the spinach tagliatelle shrimp scampi and a much-needed glass of wine.
Other dining options on the property include Owl’s Nest, a pub-like restaurant in the lobby with uncompromising views of Mt. Bachelor. The welcoming vibe will make this a place you want to return to often.
For a quick grab-and-go meal, try The Backyard Cafe & Bar, located in the giftshop of Sunriver Resort.

Dina Avila

Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge
This swanky restaurant lounge is a social hub. Between the fun interior concept of an elevated Western theme with tasteful tents being used to accommodate larger parties, comfy leather seating, large sliding doors that open to the patio– creating an open concept floor plan and festive decor that ties the restaurant together and the delicious food and drink options, Hawkeye & Huckleberry is a hot spot in Bend.
The restaurant was spearheaded by Brian & James Malarkey, who wanted to return home. With deep roots in the community, they wanted to do something amazing and make themselves part of the fabric of a place they love. This has manifested in the form of Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge, where the brothers bring a slice of their Central Oregon ranching heritage to Bend.
The menu, deeply rooted in ranch-to-plate traditions, showcases beef & produce from our nearby Tumalo ranch. With an onsite butcher shop and smoker, offering high-quality steaks, creative dishes, and plenty of options with friendly pricing.
The cornbread and roasted baby carrots are a must. I had a juicy filet with a loaded baked potato for my entree. The buzz of the restaurant had spirits high. It was a night of laughter and great food. I can see why Hawkeye and Huckleberry attract so many patrons.

Gwen Shoemaker

Lady Bird Cultural Society
This Instagram-worthy restaurant is located in the heart of the Old Mill District, a shopping and dining epicenter on the Deschutes River. The beautiful scenery only adds to the charm of the Lady Bird Cultural Society.
Bold colors and a mix of maximalist and traditional interior design set the tone. Two gold birds– representing the owner’s two daughters– hang from pendant lighting.
The vast menu includes elevated seafood dishes, delicious Italian pasta, duck and game options and wood-fired pizzas. I started with their bird’s nest, an assortment of fresh-baked artisan bread, and the wood-fired Brussels sprouts– the starters were exquisite.
For my main course, I ordered the carbonara pasta, which was a guilty pleasure of mine. The dish was delicious; I wish I could go back for seconds. I finished the meal with a liquid dessert, the Mangoquilla, a fruity and light cocktail with mango and thyme infused Blanco tequila, Aperol, lemon and chamomile honey. I am not a big tequila drinker, but this drink was absolutely amazing.

Abbott Schindler

To Do:
There are so many festive activities during the Fall season in Central Oregon, from nature-centered adventures to fall art festivals and even lunch with furry friends.

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High Desert Museum
The High Desert Museum is an immersive experience that encapsulates the native wildlife found in Central Oregon, local and international artists and immersive exhibits promoting this beloved state’s history and culture.
I took a tour of the property, which houses many native species declared unable to survive in the wild by the state. My favorite was the pair of young otters playfully swimming in their enclosure.
I also took a look at their Sensing Sasquatch exhibit. An immersive and mysterious exhibit that captures the essence of Sasquatch through an Indigenous lens.
Visitors will be introduced to the Indigenous Plateau of the High Desert and the arid forests and canyonlands where Native peoples have long come into contact with and exchanged stories about Sasquatch. This environment is the opposite of the Pacific Northwest’s rainforest landscape, which is more often associated with Sasquatch. Visitors can see representations, stories and artwork about Sasquatch and how they vary between tribes and across regions. A contemporary carved mask by Rocky LaRock (Salish) shows visitors that knowledge of Sasquatch is both ancient and modern. A digital language map shows the various names for Sasquatch across the Indigenous Plateau and beyond.

Paca Picnic
Take a trip to Flying Dutchman Alpacas and indulge in an intimate picnic with fluffy guests and alpacas! This adorable and enriching experience was spearheaded by Wasim Muklashy & Amanda VandenBosch. Muklashy is a professional travel and fine art photographer, while VandenBosch is one of the world’s premiere alpaca breeders and international alpaca judges. Together, they run this charming Alpaca farm.
When I entered the field, Alpacas and their babies curiously approached me. It wasn’t long before they saw I had feed in my hand, to which they graciously helped themself. While they were eating, I could sneak in a few pets of their soft and fluffy fur.
I got to eat a beautiful picnic while watching the Alpacas lounge in the grass, taking in the rays of the sunshine. Occasionally, some would walk back up to us, curious about what we were doing.
This experience is both emotionally enriching and educational and can put a smile on anyone’s face. I learned about the industry surrounding Alpacas and that their fur can be made into some of the finest fabrics on the market.
Alpaca picnics are offered throughout the Summer and early into Fall.

Gritchelle Fallesgon

Bend Fall Festival
If you want to immerse yourself in the Bend community, attend the Bend Fall Festival. A melting pot of music, local artists, great bites and drinks. This festival happens in the first week of October and is a hub where the community can come together, listen to live music, shop the local vendors and take in the Fall vibes.
I sat on the riverbank with a beer from a local brewery and listened to a German band playing classics to celebrate Oktoberfest.

Stargazing
Oregon is home to the biggest dark sky sanctuary in the United States, which makes it the ultimate destination for gazing into the illustrious cosmos. One way to indulge in the sparkling constellations is at the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory, inspiring present and future generations to cherish and understand the natural world around them through hands-on learning and daily programming. The observatory, the largest of its kind in the country, coupled with more than a dozen telescopes, make it one of Oregon’s two designated Dark Sky Places.

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Another adventurous experience that will make you feel as if you’ve been engulfed by the stars is the Wanderlust Starlight Tour, which allows you to gaze at the stars from a kayak in the middle of a tranquil lake. From there, the sky transforms itself into a work of art. Your tour guide will point out significant constellations and help you better understand the world of astronomy.
I have personally never seen so many stars in my life, it’s a memory I will cherish forever. Important tip: Layer up, it gets cold at night!