Playing in the snow makes me happy, and if you like it just a little bit, then this may be the ideal place for your next winter vacation.  Yes, some people really do plan vacations to be where there is snow and sun at the same time.  Not only is Oregon beautiful country, but there you’ll find snowshoeing, snowmobiling, skiing and snowboarding including cross country trials and all the shopping, restaurants and activities to fill the time in between.

Just so happens that just a short drive from Sunriver is one of North America’s largest ski resorts.  Mt. Bachelor Resort is home to some 3700 acres of boarding and skiing fun.  For a reasonable value snow nuts will enjoy some varied terrain that is sure to please all levels of competence.  There are 71 groomed trails and 13 lift facilities with current plans to expand both lift operations and trails in the near future.  Fifteen percent of the terrain is graded as Novice, 25% Intermediate and the other 60% is Advanced or Expert terrain.  What a great place to bring the whole family for sun and ski!  And did I happen to mention that on average the snow base is some 150-200 inches and that there’s 3,365 feet of vertical drop?

Feel like a totally new experience?  How about a dog sled ride?  Just imagine, riding in an Iditarod Dog Sled taking in the breathtaking views of the local mountain scenery. You could even plan for an overnight expedition.  Sledding and snowtubing sound like fun too?  Take some slides down the 800 foot ride in the Snowblast Tubing Park on the Mountain.

After all the fun, there are plenty of options for shopping or just hanging out.  But dining in the area leaves nothing to be desired.  There are many restaurants to choose from and something to satisfy the most discerning of palates.  Or if you want to stay in the privacy of your vacation rental in Sunriver Oregon, you can find groceries and goodies in town.

Not only is the area good for winter fun, sounds like it may be just as amazing in the summer.  Everything from biking, canoeing, horseback riding, fishing, golfing and so much more in the high desert of Oregon.   Sounds like a great place for the next family vacation whether it’s summer or winter.

Speak to a stagecoach driver, watch river otters frolicking underwater, have lunch with a fox and take a wild cooking class. There are daily wildlife programs and special events at least once a month. If you’re ever traveling through Central Oregon with children, this is a don’t miss experience.

Here’s a short list of some of the unexpected things your family can enjoy in and around Bend:

Distinctive Bend Oregon Lodging
Seventh Mountain Resort is a true find for those who love to spend their time in the great outdoors, but aren’t interested in roughing it. Instead, at the end of the day, their guests luxuriate in heated pools and hot tubs, dine on mouthwatering regional cuisine at the restaurant, lounge on the deck and retire to luxury accommodations. As the closest lodging to Mt Bachelor, skiing is the favored sport in the winter. However, snowmobiling, ice skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowtubing keep even the most high-energy children begging for a break. The rest of the year, you can thrill to whitewater rafting and mountain biking or take it easy with a peaceful day of fly-fishing or a family canoe float.

Pilot Butte State Park
Not many cities can boast a gigantic cinder cone within their city limits, but at the eastern edge of Bend, you can climb to the top of a perfectly symmetrical volcanic remnant to enjoy a panoramic vista of the desert and peaks. There’s no charge to enjoy this urban adventure. It’s a great after dinner jaunt to wear the kids out before bed and watch the pink glow of the sunset dancing among the Cascade Mountains.

Newberry National Volcanic Monument
This unexpected adventure is a huge caldera and, although the 500 square mile volcano that lies beneath this land hasn’t erupted in about 1300 years, it is still a seismically and geographically active area. You’ll find lakes, waterfalls, basalt flows, fissures, and many other weird and wild geological features, including more than 400 cinder cones. To children, this is the land of the dinosaurs and we all know how much they love those creatures.

Upper Deschutes River Rafting
For a sweet snack of whitewater rafting, try this scenic stretch of river just outside of Bend. It’ll give you the taste a whitewater without scaring the pants off you and it’s short enough that you won’t suffer much if you find out rafting is not for you. It’s a great adventure for the kids, who don’t need to do anything but hold on and screech with joy.

Rainy Day Fun
The High Desert Museum, just outside of Bend, is about a 10 minute drive down South Highway 97. Their daily wildlife programs are always a big hit with the kids and there’s enough interesting stuff to see and do to make those rainy day, “what are we going to do?” blues morph into fond memories.

Then, they switch to cross country skis for 8 kilometers, speed downhill on two wheels for 32k into Bend and run a 10K. Just about anything that floats can be used for the upstream, downstream, upstream, downstream river leg, but canoes and kayaks are the vessels of choice. Then, there’s a .5k sprint to the finish.

While some individuals complete the entire race alone, many more tackle a leg or two or three as part of a team. The 9 cash prizes, totalling $3500, attract quite a crowd. Support crews and fans party all day at the riverfront amphitheater finishline.

2007’s event is on May 19. Register online by May 9th.

I was born on the Oregon Coast, and as a family we try to visit at least every two years. I don’t have any family left there, but I still get a thrill when we drive the last few miles into Lincoln City and catch our first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean. Although my family moved away when I was just 6 months old, every return feels like a homecoming of sorts. Of course, there are a few things we must do every visit – I would be heartbroken if we skipped them, and oh yeah, the kids would too!

Mo’s Restaurant is a MUST. I hate fish, never have liked it – but when we’re on vacation in Oregon, I eat it like crazy. Mo’s has the BEST clam chowder – and I don’t like clam chowder – at all! Yes there are a lot of tourists, and you usually have to wait in line, but I’ve never said “Ugh, I’m sick of this” and we eat there almost daily the 2 weeks we’re on the coast. Mo’s has locations in Florence, Otter Rock, Newport (2 locations), Lincoln City and Cannon Beach. You can also order their chowder base online, which we do every New Years. They ship it in dry ice via FedEx Overnight and it’s TOTALLY worth it!

Tillamook Cheese Factory is located in Tillamook, OR – about an hour’s drive north of Lincoln City. Beyond the beautiful scenery in every direction, Tillamook is kind of fun. There isnt much there, but the cheese factory is a really neat experience and they have a retail store when you’re done with the tour – the Ice Cream is TO DIE FOR!

Newport Aquarium is located South of Lincoln City – about a 1/2 hr drive – and was formerly the home of Keiko – the whale featured in the Free Willy movies. Keiko’s aquarium was renovated into a series of walk-through aquariums that feature awesome sharks and other amazing types of ocean life. There are also sea otter and marine bird exhibits – and you can spend a good 1/2 to 3/4 of a day here just wandering and taking photos.

Southern Oregon Coast Vacations

The Sea Lion Caves north of Florence is a cant-miss. This natural sea cavern is home to around 200 noisy Stellar Sea Lions. While visiting you can expect to see the sea lions in their natural habitat – gigantic bulls and even the young can be seen on the rocks below. The kids love this place!

Deep Sea Fishing is a must – for those that can handle the rocking of the ocean. If you get car sick or the thought of most amusement rides turns you green, deep sea fishing is NOT for you. My husband went once, and spent 6 miserable hours at sea…I had a blast. We always book through Tradewinds Charters out of Depoe Bay (about halfway between Lincoln City and Newport) which touts itself as the smallest harbor in the world. Tradewinds runs a fleet of over 10 boats and you can usually get a reservation at some point in time during your stay. The picture at the right is of the Sunrise and I’ve been out with Captain Craig twice. He’s great and we always catch fish. I always book ahead before we even leave home, to make sure I get a spot. The nice thing about having a spouse that is a poor sailor is there is always someone to watch the kids!

Some things to remember:

The coast is NOT tropical – the highs in July and August are around 70 degrees and you’ll need to pack accordingly. We always spend a few days in Bend before we head to the coast and the climate change from the desert of central/eastern Oregon to the coast is severe. Pack jeans and sweaters – leave your bathing suit at home if you plan on swimming in the ocean – it makes your feet hurt to just walk in it.

The coast IS a tourist destination – so you’ll have to deal with traffic & people – it’s not the quiet quaint getaway that someone visiting Mendocino, CA might expect – it’s teeming with people most days and this can pose frustrations – remember – you’re on vacation and you’re NOT punching a time clock – take your time and have fun!