Maybe you have plans to move to Bend? Or perhaps someone you know may be having plans of moving to Bend? There are plenty of blogs or articles dedicated to reviewing and listing the advantages and disadvantages of living in Bend Oregon. Because of the recent influx of residents in Bend Oregon, it has become one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. In addition to its magnificent nature, sunshine, and outdoor recreational activities, it even makes the locals’ lives easier.
Here, we will be stating the pros and cons of living in Bend Oregon. Although it has its great perks, we all know that nothing is completely perfect. This review will cater to everyone since not everyone has the same interests and tastes to singing praises may simply become a blabber of empty words. This article will try to be informative to avoid prejudice on some key topics. Hopefully, this would be able to answer any questions or confusion you may have.
Over the years, Bend has made an appearance on countless travel destination lists, for obvious reasons. Reader’s Digest thinks Bend is an epic destination for adrenaline junkies, Business Insider considers it one of the most popular destinations in the U.S. for 2018, TripAdvisor named it as one of the destinations on the rise, and POPSUGAR highly recommends it as your next Oregon vacation stop.
The city of Bend also has a myriad of attractive qualities for travelers and locals alike to enjoy, including craft breweries, hiking trails, coffee shops, local events, creative restaurants, stunning scenery, and much more. Plus, tourism helps stimulate the local economy in both immediate and long-term ways.
Another one of the things Bend Oregon is known for is its great, natural paradise, perfect for any outdoor lovers. Bend Oregon has countless hiking trails, horse trails, even some magnificent mountain biking or skiing trails. There is no doubt that the place is one of the best places to enjoy yourself with nature. In addition to this plentiful outdoor experience, there is also an abundant amount of water recreational activities or sports to experience in Bend Oregon.
Some nature paradises may only focus on some different aspects, such as beauty, terrain, or recreational potential opportunities, but Bend Oregon is different. Bend Oregon actually has some of the most diverse characteristics of the land.
Sometimes, harsh weather conditions such as during winter may ruin the outdoor fun, therefore, people would usually stay indoors during such weathers. Bend Oregon counters this by organizing some winter snow sports. In fact, Mt. Bachelor is actually one of the best quality ski resorts. And then, when summer comes, the hiking trails are then exposed and ready to go. Aside from the great hiking trails, you may also enjoy some fly-fishing down the rivers.
Do you have a furry friend coming along the trip? Then Bend Oregon is a nice destination. According to an article in 2017, Bend Oregon is one of the most dog-friendly cities in the U.S. If you are looking for a suitable place for you and your dog to reside. You can feel more free walking and bonding with your dog since lots of people in Bend Oregon also have plenty of cute dogs.
There are also huge fields of urban trails, lots of dog off-leash areas, and even dog parks to have fun and relax on. In this case, not only will you be enjoying the place, but also your pet. Another problem that many dog owners also have is dog-friendly restaurants, then no more need to worry, Bend Oregon has many dog-friendly restaurants so it really is a very convenient place for dog owners.
The Bend Oregon weather has been previously briefly mentioned before but it is actually really gorgeous. It is extremely rare to hear a person say that the place they live in has great weather all year round but Bend Oregon is one of those precious ones. Although some may not necessarily find this topic interesting, you will surely be astonished when you experience it yourself. Bend Oregon has four seasons and the total average days of sunshine is 162 days.
When it comes to summer, the temperature stays at a good range of 80-90 degrees, and humidity is almost if not, non-existent. There may be a hand full of snowstorms during winter but the days are usually dry with an average degree of 45. When the season changes to fall, there are many amazing views of fall colors in the state as well as on the east coast with many vibrant maples and even some more stunning larches.
The city also maintains a great, laid-back, and small-town feel. Even with an estimated population of just over 100,000, Bend still manages to feel like a tight-knit community. The residents also get to know their local baristas, servers, business owners, and of course, their neighbors because of this small-town feel. Along with this charming historic downtown that absolutely feels quaint and untouched, void of towering skyscrapers or large big-box stores.
The Bend calendar is packed with fun events that maintain a connected and involved community. Despite its recent population surge in the past couple of decades, as it jumped from 20,469 in 1990 to 76,639 in 2010, Bend remains extremely laid-back. In stark contrast from more fast-paced larger cities, no one seems to be in a major hurry in Bend.
Some people may also be concerned, how are the food and drinks in Bend Oregon? Although the city of Bend doesn’t have a nickname, the place could easily be called something for being the sunniest city in all of Oregon, Bend with an average of 162 days per year of straight-up sunshine. This makes Bend a particularly rare gem in the Pacific Northwest. And what’s a more fitting thing to do in this fine weather than to sit outside in the bright sunlight with a cold brewski and some delicious food to eat.
The is to say, the food and drink culture in Bend is absolutely amazing. Bend is pretty similar to Portland where it’s all about fun pockets of microbreweries, coffee shops, really great local eats, and chill people. There are many options to choose from. Since the people are nice and chill, you can enjoy your meal without interruptions. The really cool thing about bend is that you’re, again, just 5 to 10 minutes away from every brewery in the area.
If you are interested in breweries and just want to chill with your cold glasses, there are the 10 Barrel Brewing Company, The Ale Apothecary, Bend Brewing Co., Boneyard Beer, Bridge 99 Brewer, Deschutes Brewery, Immersion Brewing, Monkless, Oblivion Brewing Company, and Silver Moon Brewing that can be located in Bend Oregon which are all great spots for a drink.
Another advantage of this great city is that it has an art thriving community. There is much personnel with talents in arts, music, crafting, and many more creative minds. Places like The Workhouse offer a space for the creative folks of Bend to thrive. They are a platform for local artists to get back to work, operating as a place of exchange between artists and their community.
There is also the Workhouse which has a retail gallery, on-site studios, events, and educational programming for Bend and Central Oregon. Local music can be enjoyed at The Tower Theatre, the Les Schwab Amphitheater, and other intimate venues throughout town. Even during the season of summer, residents can enjoy outdoor live music nearly every night of the week and have some fun.
Lastly, due to the city’s consistent growth in popularity and population, Bend real estate includes a large selection of new construction properties. You’ll find a myriad of homes for sale in Bend, ranging in size, style, and price point. Of course, these aren’t the only advantages of the city, you may even find the perfect thing for you in Bend Oregon.
It is also natural to research and consider the disadvantages of living in Bend, Oregon. Although the city has way more advantages than they have disadvantages, it is still best to keep in mind these points before moving. One of these points is the city’s size. If you’re coming from somewhere like Portland or Vancouver, you have to get used to a 100k population.
Which, if we’re looking at Portland, that’s the difference of 550k people fewer. Even with this, Bend still has everything that a bigger city has and is expanding quickly. While it’s relatively small, it can be hard to find a job in Bend. The place may also be quite pricey for some people although those coming from bigger cities most likely wouldn’t have any problems with the prices.