You are the Best thing....that ever happened to me!

Our beers at 10 Barrel Brewery (Tasty new Brewery to Bend)

Enjoying a sampler at Deschutes
This yummy Huckleberry Icecream was to die for
We made it to the peak (nicknamed Misery Ridge)

Cougar's Den or Fred Flintstone's Cave?

As we cruised through the high desert of central Oregon listening to Ray Lamontagne sing "You are the best thing" on a semi sunny afternoon. . .I thought to myself. . these are the moments of life I cherish most. The moments when you are feeling care free with the love of your life in the driver's seat. . .looking outside the window at the beauty of this world. . thinking about the yummy dinner you are going to have and the good night's sleep you are going to get. This is just a glimpse of the rejuvenating 2 days Pete and I shared in Bend, OR this past weekend. It was a weekend full of laughs and calories.

We were in need of a relaxing getaway and Bend was the perfect spot. A couple years ago, we spent a brief afternoon in Bend. This time we really wanted to get a feel for this city we've heard so many good things about. We loved it. It reminded us Boulder, CO and Hood River, OR. It is beautiful with a plethora of outdoor activities, funky shops, numerous breweries, and a happy go-lucky vibe.

We did a gorgeous hike at Smith Rock State Park and had famous huckleberry ice cream to follow, ate and drank at Deschutes Brewery and 10 Barrel Brewery, had mojitos at this adorable little bar called Tart, and sipped some delicious coffee at Thump and Back Porch Coffee Houses. At Back Porch, I ordered a Vanilla Bean Lavender Latte....it was heavenly!! We also saw a movie at McMenamin's Theatre where you sit on cozy couches and enjoy the flick.

We had time to sleep in, sit in the spa, and drive through the quaint neighborhoods of Bend...so many lovely houses along the Deschutes river. The drive home was also very scenic with lots of mountain views. We wrote down at least ten different campgrounds we hope to visit this summer.

We give BEND four thumbs up and can't wait to get back there for another getaway. We recommend it to anyone who is interested in hiking, rock climbing, white water rafting, kayaking, good eating, brewery hopping, boutique shopping, and breathing fresh air. They also get 300 days of sunshine a year. As I look outside to sideways rain, I'm pretty sure this is more than Portland. :)