It’s been about six weeks since I arrived in Bend, largely by accident, and decided to stay a while. Let’s talk about what makes this place so special:
Bend is a small city on the Deschutes River. It's an outdoor lover's paradise with endless hiking trails, world-class mountain biking, and a solid selection of ski trails and water sports within a stone’s throw from its charming downtown.
Located in Oregon’s High Desert, Bend sports one of America’s most beautifully diverse landscapes. The winding city roads meander around lush Ponderosa pine forests, pristine scenic rivers, and charming brick clad buildings. You can even hike an extinct volcano right in town where you can take in 360 views of the Cascade Mountains beckoning in the distance.
Bend has a rich and artsy culture highlighted by numerous fall festivals, countless craft breweries and wineries, and carefully curated community events. On any given weekend, you can take in a film festival, farmers market, folk festival, art walk, or a traditional Oktoberfest. Personally, I love its mix of funky food trucks, fancy restaurants, and late night taco joints.
But what makes Bend truly special is its people. There’s a community of kind, talented, and adventurous people from the local strength training gym, gorgeous co-working studio, and inside each local bookstore, apothecary, and art studio. And they all have one thing in common:
They love living here.
And I can certainly see why.