Car Hire Bend - Mini guide to Bend

Centrally located in the Pacific coast state of Oregon, Bend's proximity to some of the most spectacular scenery in the United States explains its growth into one of the state's most popular tourist destinations.

The highlight of any trip to Bend is a tour of the 140-kilometre loop of the Cascade Lakes Highway. Exploring this National Scenic Byway, you will discover beautiful lakes and reservoirs perfect for swimming or picnicking, as well as dozens of hiking trails of various lengths and difficulties. Throughout the drive there are breathtaking panoramas of the Cascades region. Detailed maps are available from the Bend Visitor and Convention Bureau.

In the town, there are a few museums and galleries. To educate yourself on the nature of the region, visit the High Desert Museum. This combination museum/zoo has exhibits covering everything about the plains between the Cascade and Rocky Mountains, from landforms to Native Americans and early white settlers. There is also living wildlife and a birds-of-prey show.

The town is complete with theatres, shopping and fine dining. Bend is also renowned for its unique micro-breweries, which are great places to unwind after a hard day of outdoor recreation.

Just 35kms west of Bend is Mount Bachelor Ski and Summer Resort, which is extremely popular with outdoor sports enthusiasts. The area features cross-country trails and more than 70 downhill ski runs, and has one of the longest ski seasons in the US (November to July). Summer visitors can look forward to rugged hiking trails and an excellent network of mountain biking routes.

Other nearby outdoor recreation areas include the Deschutes River and Three Sisters Wilderness, which offer hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, swimming, fishing, rafting and golfing opportunities. Smith Rock State Park in Redmond has some of the best traditional and sport climbing routes in America. Alternatively, those with time on their hands can head south to Crater Lake National Park.

Bend is well connected to transportation hubs in the region. The east-west Highway 20 meets the north-south Highway 97 in Bend, making the town easily accessible by car from any direction. Though there is no rail service in Central Oregon, Greyhound coaches do connect Bend to the other major towns in the state. Twenty-five kilometres north of Bend, Redmond Municipal Airport has daily connections to Portland via Horizon Airlines and United Express.