One of the joys of an Oregon trip is how much changes in a few hours of driving. Leave the misty coast, climb over the Cascades, and you drop into the high desert around Bend — all sunshine, ponderosa pines, volcanic rock, and the sparkling Deschutes River. It makes for a fantastic two-part vacation: salt air one half, alpine light the other.
Bend is an outdoor-lover's basecamp. In summer, float the Deschutes right through town, hike among the lakes and waterfalls of the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, or scramble the trails at Smith Rock State Park, one of the birthplaces of American rock climbing. In winter, Mt. Bachelor delivers some of the best skiing and riding in the Northwest. Year-round, the town itself is famous for its breweries — the Bend Ale Trail strings together more than a dozen of them.
It's an easy add-on to a coast stay. Plan a scenic drive over the mountains (the passes are gorgeous, and you'll want to check winter road conditions), spend a couple of nights exploring the high desert, then loop back to the ocean — or the other way around. Kids love the High Desert Museum and the lava caves at Newberry National Volcanic Monument.
Step Away Lodging is growing into central Oregon, so you can enjoy the same personal, locally-managed hospitality on both sides of the mountains. Explore our Central Oregon page to see what's coming, and browse our coast homes to plan the ocean half of your trip.