Oregon for the Holidays -- What to see??
 

We will be traveling to Bend, OR for a week during the holidays and would like some ideas for a few day trips. We went to Crater Lake briefly last year (same time, one scenic viewpoint was open, but worth it!) and we've visited Sun River in the past. We will be skiing one day at Mt. Bachelor, and would like to find other daytime activities for non-skiers. I would really appreciate your suggestions. Thank you!

What about snowmobiling or snowshoeing? If you are not thinking activities, you could go to the little town of Sisters for the day. It is only about 20 minues from Bend and has some shops to wander. It is small though, so it may not be a full day trip. If you are interested in a spa at all the Sage Springs Spa at SunRiver is excellent, but definitely book ahead.

If your skiing day turns out to be windy or the conditions at Mt. Bachelor are a little icy, consider driving over to Willamette Pass. A wonderful jewel of a ski resort, much less crowded than Bachelor and one of the few places in the NW to have glade skiing pretty high up and great views of Odell Lake and the mountains. Conditions are usually very good over the holidays. I remember going there the day after Christmas and having NO lift lines, none at all, with great snow. Nice little lodge, too.
www.willamettepass.com

You can go up to the Inn at the Seventh Mountain (on the way to Bachelor) and see what's happening there. Here's their website:

http://www.7thmtn.com/

They have sleigh rides, an ice rink, and other activities you can enjoy even if you are not staying there. We've been on one of their sleigh rides and it was a treat. They even have dog sled rides.

You can also go snow-mobiling in a couple of places. We've gone on a guided trip at Paulina Lake at the Newberry Volcanic Monument. The area is beautiful. I can't recall the name of the outfitter. It is a national park area so snowmobiling is limited there. I will look if you are interested.

Sno-shoeing is becoming popular and you can find places that will outfit you for that activity.

If you haven't gone to the High Desert Museum, you may enjoy that. There are movie theaters in Bend, too.

When you're done in Sisters, keep heading west another 12 miles or so to the turn-off to Camp Sherman. Along this road, take the half mile walk in to the head of the Metolius River, visit the Camp Sherman general store, then continue down the road to the fish hatchery.

I know, I know, that all doesn't sound too exciting. But, don't forget your camera.

How is the llama ranch in Sisters doing? Still the largest llama ranch in North America? Another good photo op spot.

I don't know how the llama ranch is doing, but I saw it just a few weeks ago so it is still there.

And I doubt it's still the large llama ranch in NA, BTilke. These days, within an hour west/southwest of Portland, you will find any number of large llama ranches.

That should be, "...still the largest..".

Just want to agree with others about a visit to Sisters and then a drive into Camp Sherman and the Metolius River.

Sisters is a cute little town with a lot of nice shops to spend the day wandering into. The Metolius River is one of the most beautiful spots in Oregon, especially with snow on the riverbanks.

If you work it right you can have lunch at The Black Butte Ranch Lodge (blackbutteranch.com) , roughly half way between Sisters and Camp Sherman (it is about 12 minutes from Sisters to Black Butte Ranch). Definitely some of the most stunning views of the Cascade Mountains at the Lodge.

Thanks beachbum, I checked around online and found that the Pattersons, who ran Patterson ranch, split up. The ranch had been the largest in North America, but after the divorce, the ex-wife took half the llamas and started her own ranch, Hinterland, also in Sisters.