
Do you have a place that is your favorite vacation spot? Perhaps you make an annual pilgrimage there. Maybe it’s far away so reserved for those special occasions like anniversaries or when a child graduates from high school or college. However frequently you go, it’s the place you so look forward to going because it heals you, refreshes you, and restores your soul. That is what Sunriver, Oregon is for me. I meet God there as I walk in quiet of the early mornings before anyone else is up; the trees have that amazing pine smell and, even in the quiet of the forest, you can hear the wind rustling through the trees. I marvel at His masterpiece, Elohim, Lord God Creator, as I look at the snow-covered mountains, the green pastures and the cold, ice blue water. So, if you are looking for a great, all year round, peaceful vacation, Sunriver, Oregon may be just what the doctor ordered.
Sunriver is a planned resort built in the 1970’s in the high desert country in the middle of Oregon. It is located about 10 miles from Bend on 3,300 acres of wooded land with a river running through it. It really has something for everyone and in every price range. Visitors had stay at the fabulous lodge with breathtaking views of the Cascade mountains, several restaurants, four 18-hole championship golf courses, pool, putting green designed for kids, and a full-service day spa. If you are feeling energetic, you can play 18 holes of golf, then relax at The Cove pool and aquatic center and finish up with a gourmet dinner on the deck while watching a spectacular sunset. Or, if you like fly fishing, you can spend a day on the Deschutes River. How about a round of tennis or take a lesson from the tennis pro? While you do that, I’ll hang out at the spa for a massage and steam room visit; we can meet up after at the Backyard Bar for a signature margarita 😊.
If your family likes to ride bikes, (either on dedicated bike paths away from traffic or serious mountain biking), this is the place for you. They have 63 miles of dedicated bike trails all through the resort. It’s so fun to see all the families, some with grandma, the kids and the grandkids all riding together, with baby on the front of mama’s bike and the preschooler riding tandem on the back of dad’s bike. On our latest trip, Sarah and I covered over 30 miles of them. We like to get up very early and ride to the lodge, get a cup of hot tea and sit out on the deck by the fire pit looking up at the mountains and watching the horses grazing out in the pasture. (On one trip, we literally ran into Will Farrell. We were pulling our bikes out of the bike rack as he was getting ready to put his bike in. Apparently, he had just flown up for the day to play golf. I know, you are very impressed that we are now dear friends with Will Farrell. Don’t worry, I won’t let it go to my head.)
Water sports are big in Sunriver, too. You can rent a kayak, paddle board, row boat or raft that seats up to 10 and float down the Deschutes River, all from the Marina. Do you love horses? How about a trail ride with your family through the woods? Or maybe you just want to relax and read a good book and catch some rays.
In addition to the lodge, there is a variety of housing options from 1-bedroom condos and townhouses near the tennis center, to luxury houses with spectacular views that can sleep 20 people and come with their own private hangar. Oh, did I forget to mention Sunriver has its own private airport? If you time it just right, you can be riding along the airport bike trail and watch a Cessna land and taxi up to a private hangar attached to one of the mansions. We usually rent a home from Vacation Rental By Owner that comes with bikes and pool passes.

Sunriver Oregon is a fantastic vacation all year long. In the winter, you can drive 30 minutes to Mt. Bachelor for downhill skiing. There are also places for cross country skiing, sledding, ice skating and riding in a horse drawn carriage. In the fall, you can hike, bike, eat in one of the several gourmet restaurants and fun pizza joints, or just sit by the fire and enjoy the gorgeous fall colors. In the spring, you might be lucky enough to do some late spring skiing or sit in the hot tub.
Sunriver has a lovely village center complete with a grocery store, several restaurants (our favorite is Blondie’s pizza), cute shops (we always buy a book at Sunriver Books and Music to support their business), outdoor bars and entertainment for the kids such as giant bouncy houses, a little train they can ride on and mini golf. You can reach Sunriver by car if you are on the west coast. It was about a 6 hour drive for us from the Seattle area. Or you can fly in to the Redmond Airport and drive the 30 minutes to Sunriver. From Texas, we fly into Phoenix and then up to Redmond. It takes us several hours to complete the journey and it is absolutely worth it. Last week, we left Texas in the humid high‘90’s and arrived in cool, dry 75 degree Oregon. The temps in the summer drop into the 50’s at night which felt like heaven!
Give us a call or email us if you would like any more information on Sunriver or have any other travel questions.
Remember, your next adventure awaits…
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