Thanks again, tomfuller! I actually put down 2 nights in Bend thinking it would be close to the wineries but then realized its not! So now I just have to find things to do around Bend. If we didnt have the 6-yr old and in-laws, we might have done a day of white-water rafting or some such adventure. But instead we have to either find shorter hikes or something else to do... need input or more research. I will keep other pointers in mind - so nothing to eat near Union Creek? We should eat and then head there? How about at Crater Lake? Do we need to pack lunch/food and head there?

Stock up in Roseburg before heading east on Rt. 138. You can get a good meal at Steamboat. You may or may not get a good meal at the lodge at Diamond Lake. I never stopped at the little restaurant at Union Creek. While in Bend,drive at least as far as Mt. Bachelor. If you decide to go further, Elk Lake would be good.
To the east of US 97, head out to the Newberry Caldera to see Paulina and East Lakes and drive up to the top of Paulina Mt. if the snow has not already closed the road. The top of Paulina is 7980' above sea level and is the highest point that you should try to drive to with 2WD in Oregon.
Also see the High Desert Museum about 5 miles south of Bend.

I think it sounds like a good plan. Between Bend and the metropolis known as Sun River - is the High Desert Museum (or close if I don't have the name right) - which is very interesting. Ah - here it is: http://www.highdesertmuseum.org/

Also - if you drive toward the two cute lakes - Paulina and ?? - there is a mountain flow of obsidian you can see (sharp glass like lava rock used by the Native Americans/Indians for their arrowheads) and you can drive to the top of Newberry Crater - which has a great view. http://tinyurl.com/3e6yf2t,


The only thing I would add is that on your drive north on 97 from Bend to Hood River - take an hour or so and head in 26 a little ways - and go up to see Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_97_in_Oregon

Think you would really enjoy having a cold beverage and/or snack at the 3rd floor bar/lounge looking up at the Glacier - (Ram's Head Bar - http://www.timberlinelodge.com/visit...rams-head-bar/ )and then from the front porch - look down the Cascades to see where you were (Three Sisters in Bend, Mt. Jefferson, etc).

BTW - don't forget to peek in the Blue Ox room. http://www.timberlinelodge.com/visit...s/blue-ox-bar/

From Timberline on up to Hood River - is about an hour - and it's a very pretty drive as well. On a clear day - you might see this big mountain - Mt. Adams - across the mighty Columbia - which most people also don't know is that big and beautiful of a snow capped Cascade Cindercone.

http://tinyurl.com/8bqc9gj,

Just trying to enhance what TomF had said.

There is lots to do in the Bend area - Sunriver is a beautiful resort with great walking and biking trails- you can rent bikes there. After Labor Day most of the tourists go home and there are no crowds.

There are not many wineries around Bend but there are lots of brewpubs if you are into beer.

You can take the gondola up to the top of Mt Bachelor to get fabulous views of the area .
Sounds like you are staying at the Fairfield in Bend - I don't know that hotel but I suggest you take a look at the Old St Francis School- an old Catholic School turned into a hotel- its a very fun place to stay with a restaurant, movie theatre, and a Moroccan soaking tub. I know a recent Fodorite stayed there and loved it.

There are lots of short hikes to do in the area- the Deschutes River Trail is nice- and there is a nice trail right in Bend along the river by the Old Mill shopping area - its flat and easy and you can have a beer when you are done.

An interesting place near Bend is Smith Rock- world famous for rock climbing- there is a nice walking trail along the river and you can watch the climbers - I even saw one fall one day but was on ropes so no injury.

We have been having forest fires in the Sisters area so hope its all over by the time you arrive - air even in Eugene today is thick with smoke.

Be glad you are staying in Bend. The air quality in Sisters has been getting much worse in the last week. The Pole Creek fire has grown to over 16000 acres the last time I checked.
The Incident Command center is at the Sisters Rodeo grounds. I'm guessing they will be working on this fire through mid October.
The road in to Timberline I believe is off Rt. 35 a couple miles north of US 26. I am hoping the persistent smoke doesn't block your view of much of the Cascades.
Check and see what is playing at the Tower Theater in Bend when you are there.
Cheapest gas in Bend are the AM/PM Arco along 3rd St.
You get your gas pumped by an attendant in Oregon-NO self serve.
The other place to top off is at the Y in Madras where 97 and 26 split (Safeway) which also has a nice grocery store.

We are well on our road trip - loving Oregon so far! The weather has not been co-operating all the time - we had to skip Crater Lake coz the cloud cover was so low and it was so windy that we couldnt see anything from the rim today. We are in Bend and it looks like a lovely place so far! We checked out the High Desert Museum - very nice - and hoping to go to the Newberry Volcanic Monument. But the link for this place doesnt show up any content and I'm not able to figure out if its even open!! Hope to check out more of Bend before heading up north! Thanks again, everyone!

Looks like the website is going through a redesign. But I do believe it closed for the season on October 1.

Newberry Volcanic Visitor Center closed on October 1. You can still park near the gate and walk up the trails or up the road to the Lava Butte lookout tower or drive out to see Benham Falls.
It will be windy today (10/16) so you might be able to get a good view of Wizard Island in Crater Lake. On Sunday I went over Rt. 58 to Eugene and up I-5 through Portland and US 30 all the way to Rainier. I saw many changed leaves but still a few that will be going from green to yellow over the next week.
We are finally getting some rain which is welcome after the dry fire season. The air quality in Sisters is now in the good category.