Travel Digest

• Route 97 and the airport at Redmond about 23 miles down the road are the primary accesses to this area. We like to fly into Portland and drive Route 26 through the Mt Hood wilderness area on our way there. Sometimes we have taken Interstate #84 along the Columbia River Gorge then turned on Route 35 and traveled the East side of Mt Hood.. These are two magnificent drives which both lead to Route 97 south to Bend. When we return to Portland, we usually take the other route back.
  

• Three major wilderness areas dominate the country on the east side of the Cascade Mountains: Mt. Jefferson (10,497 ft), Mt. Washington (7,802 ft), and the Three Sisters Mountain range (all topping 10,000 ft.) Wilderness areas. Many of these peaks were ancient volcanoes which spilled lava flows over the landscape millions of years ago. Abounding with mountain streams, lakes, and waterfalls, these recreational areas are favorites of hikers, fishermen, and campers.
  

• Rainbow and Steelhead trout are popular with fishermen during the fishing season. The Metolius River ( one of the most beautiful I have ever seen) and the Deschutes River are favorite destinations for catching a hearty load of trout. Fly-fishing doesn't get any better than this! There are literally 100's of lakes to fish in this area. Who said this was the desert side of the Cascades?
  

• Near the center of town is Mirror Pond along Drake Park. There are not many towns in this country that can match the beauty of this water front.
  

• Oregon is famous for its waterfalls along the Columbia River in the Gorge but Central Oregon has a good share of them also starting with 70 ft Koosah Falls and the 100 ft Sahalie Falls in the McKenzie River area. Fishing is great here for Chinook salmon and steelhead trout. Closer to Bend you can find Wizard Falls.
  

• We cannot forget the lakes. The most famous lake in the central cascades is Sparks Lake only 30 minutes west of Bend. This lake, as several others in the area, do not permit motor boats. Pristine environments like these are a sight to see. Suttle Lake, Scout Lake, and Three Creeks Lake are near each other northwest of Bend.
  

• Skiing at Mt Bachelor and Hoodoo ski areas keep this part of Oregon hopping in the winter. Needless to say, Bend is alive with visitors year round because of all the types of activity. Mt Bachelor seems destined to be the next Vail or Aspen.
  

• Bend has every conceivable national name brand store you can think of in town, from Barnes and Noble to Staples. It even has been blessed with an excellent outlet shopping center by the Prime Outlet developers that includes LL Bean, Coldwater Creek, Carter's, Big Dog, and others. After all, you have to go shopping when you vacation to find those "things" that can not be found at home. Right?
  

• Old Orchard Beach is one of the few true beach areas along this rocky coast. Another fine beach is Popham, further up the coast near Bath.

• If you are looking for upscale resort areas, Ogunquit, Kennebunkport, and Boothbay Harbour will fit the bill.

• Portland's Old Port waterfront is a testimony to what a city can do in reinventing itself. The retransformation that has occurred here the last 25 years is phenomenal. The waterfront is a delightful place to spend a day sightseeing and visiting the fine restaurants and shops in the area.

• Quaintness abounds in the coastal towns of Bath, Wiscassat, and Damariscotta. Bath has an excellent marine museum where you can learn boat building while soaking in the marine history of the area.

• You cannot leave Maine without visiting one of the world's most famous places to shop - LL Bean in Freeport. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, LL Bean is the king of outdoor gear. Their website is the source of our World Parks link in Atravco's resource page. Check it out.

• If nature is calling, then you must visit two pristine parks, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge near Kennebunkport and Acadia National Park at the northern terminus of our trip. While at Acadia, visit Mount Desert Island and climb 1,530 ft. to the top of Mount Cadillac and see the first light of day for the U.S. You'll have to get up real early.