Tracey--We can just do a house swap:)

All that was written about the weather here is very true. It is such a personal thing. I was born and raised in OR, but lived many places while my dh was career military. When we returned to the PNW (Seattle) I was SO happy to be in the land of the rain again. When he was retiring, there were job offers in several different states but we knew the areas that we would be happy in and the areas that we would not. We were very fortunate that he had job offers here, where we wanted to be. Moving to a place that you do not care for the weather is miserable, we have had to do that and I do not wish that on anyone. So definitely come and visit often to make sure this is a place you would be happy.

Tracey, not sad at all!
I want to do the house swap with mms, she has the hot tub and smoked salmon !!
Everyone we spoke to in Portland warned us about the rain and the 'drearies'..I have lived in NYC for the past many years, I remember drearies. Give me rainy days instead of a month of hurricanes ~

Has any one stayed at the Pine Ridge inn in Bend?

Sorry, Pinkee, we always stay at Sunriver. In case you are interested, Sunriver has some wonderful places to stay. There are homes to rent, then the lodge rooms, and then the river lodges. The River Lodge rooms are the nicest. We stay in homes when our entire family goes, but when I go with girlfriends for spa getaways we stay in the River Lodge. Very nice! Not sure if you wanted this information or not, but thought I would share.

Thanks for the info. I will look into Sunriver Lodge rooms.

Regarding the whole rain/weather in Portland issue. I grew up in sunny So. California and married a Portland boy. When we moved to Portland 16 years ago I LOVED the weather. I was just so happy to have season changes and not have it be 75 degrees ALL the time. The weather really never bothered me in Portland.

10 years ago we moved to Southern Oregon, where we have season changes but it is not as gray as it is in Portland. We have beautiful cold, but clear sunny days in the winter. We go up to Portland atleast 2 - 3 times a year. While the weather never bothered me when we lived there, when I go up to visit I am always glad to get back to the sun.

Anyway, if you move to Oregon you will love it and wondered what took you so long!!

I have stayed at the Pine Ridge Inn and at the Sunriver lodge rooms twice. Pine Ridge Inn is sort of a quiet B&B type accomodation overlooking the Deschutes River. The rooms were well furnished and cozy, complete with a teddy bear my son enjoyed. Quaffing a Black Butte Porter on the deck each afternoon was pleasurable; clientele mostly couples and a generally quiet and romantic atmosphere. Sunriver is much more of a family destination. We stayed at the lodge suites which had a loft and kitchenette. There are many recreational activities at the resort including an extensive trail system for bicycling. Although there are plenty of dining options at the resort, we found ourselves going to Bend to eat most of the time for dinner. Bend is definitely a growing town, with some of it's character changed by Californication unfortunately.

Just to clarify...Sunriver has the lodge (with suites like Binthair said) and then the River Lodges. The River Lodges do not have kitchens. They are more geared towards couples, and are in a more quiet area.

Not trying to nitpick at all, just wanted to explain the difference between the two.

Thgank you for the info. I think we might stay at the Pine Ridge inn because we are also looking at real estate in Bend and I think it will be sloser for us.
jgg: do you live in Bend?

Thank you for the info. I think we might stay at the Pine Ridge Inn because we are also looking at real estate in Bend and I think it will be sloser for us.
jgg: do you live in Bend?

Thank you for the info. I think we might stay at the Pine Ridge Inn because we are also looking at real estate in Bend and I think it will be closer for us.
jgg: Do you live in Bend?

Thank you for the info. I think we might stay at the Pine Ridge Inn because we are also looking at real estate in Bend and I think it will be closer for us.
jgg: do you live in Bend?

Sorry for the 4 messages and the typos. I should proof before sending.

Don't worry about it:)

I actually just got off the phone with a family memeber who has talked for years about moving to Bend, and now they are serious about it. I am very excited for them, but envious at the same time. Wherever you stay, let us know how the trip goes!