SIX18 TRAVEL

Tucked on the sunny, drier side of the Oregon Cascades, Bend enjoys the best of the Pacific Northwest with little of the rain that many associate with the state. The city sits about 165 miles southeast of Portland where the Cascades transition into the high desert and has grown rapidly over the past few decades. Founded as a farming and timber town in the early 1900s, Bend – a shortened version of the original name for the area, Farewell Bend – has blossomed into a bustling four-season hub for outdoor adventure enthusiasts. Wander off in any direction and you'll end up on millions of acres of public land riddled with trails, lakes and snowy peaks. That makes it one of the country's top destinations for mountain bikers, skiers, paddlers and more.

Though the town is undoubtedly sporty, not everything is sweat and Gore-Tex. You'll find well curated shops downtown and at the Old Mill District, where big musical acts also perform at its outdoor amphitheater. There's an exceptional museum, the High Desert Museum, just south of Bend with otters, history and art. In almost any part of town you can find plenty of fun restaurants where no one will care if you're eating sushi in your ski boots. And let's not forget the beer: You'll find roughly 30 breweries in and around town ready to help you refuel from an epic day of play.