Submitted by Sandra Hanis
Spring is here…not quite, it is another cold and rainy day! Time for a weekend in Central Oregon….just one of the awesome things about living in Portland. We are just 3 hours from Bend or Seattle and a little more than an hour from the beach or the mountains. Now, I am no longer interested in schussing down mountains or trying to stand aloft a surfboard but there is nothing not to like about having a few days to relax in central Oregon. I am fortunate to have family living there but there are also great resorts likeSunRiver or Eagle Crest where homes can be rented quite reasonably. It is a beautiful drive on Hwy 26 then turn onto 97 and pass through stunning vistas right out of the old west. An equally beautiful drive is going south on I-5 and turning toward Detroit Lake and passing through forested areas and rivers…soon coming into the charming town of Sisters before reaching Bend.
Bend is becoming something of a fine restaurant mecca lately. They have recently added many fine dining restaurants as well as fun places to grab some sandwiches or start your day with a great breakfast at Alpenglow Cafe. We picked up sandwiches at Cibo and took the dogs hiking oalong the Deschutes River. We enjoyed the hike as much as the dogs enjoyed the cold romp in the Deschutes River along the River Trail. Sunday night we visited a small place Kababa with flavorful mediterranean food. The service in the restaurants is always friendly and my kids usually know a few of the people who are working there.
