Trip Planners

Trip Planner: Redmond

Central Oregon’s oft-overlooked city is getting cool before our eyes written by Sheila Miller Not so long ago, downtown Redmond was crowded—but not in a good way. Thousands of vehicles traveling north and south on U.S. Highway 97 drove right through the middle of downtown on Fifth and Sixth streets. Semi trucks coughed plumes of diesel and horns honked all day—downtown Redmond a decade ago was not a place you lingered. But ten years can mean a lot of change, and Redmond has made great strides. Today, this is a city center that has been reborn. There are vestiges of the old city—a Sears Hometown store still holds a prominent place in the downtown core and the Historic New Redmond Hotel is undergoing what may seem like never-ending renovations. But around the corner is a city-operated ice rink, Centennial Park with its green space at the center of downtown, and…

Live Oregon, Mind + Body

Professional Freeride Biker Carson Storch bombs down mountains for a living

Carson Storch talks biking and brain trauma written by Mackenzie Wilson Two broken collarbones, one snapped wrist, a couple cracked ribs, bruised organs and one major concussion later, Carson Storch considers himself “lucky.” The professional freeride mountain biker has been going big, crashing hard and doing it all over again for nearly half his life. “Freeriding is pretty similar to any other high-impact sport, like football for instance, but the difference with us is we’re going fast and we’re hitting dirt,” Storch said. Freeriding by nature is unpredictable. Riders choose a route or a “line” down a steep mountain and hope to make it to the bottom unscathed. At 25, Storch is still in his prime, but he’s taking preventive measures to stay at his best both physically and mentally. “I think brain health is kind of a focus of our sport now—it’s pretty serious at competitions nowadays,” he said….

Live Oregon, Trip Planners

Libation Vacation – Plan your next trip around your favorite spirit, wine or beer

Drinks are a natural part of life on vacation. But what if the vacation was … all about the drinks? We cooked up three perfect libation vacations—wine in the Willamette Valley, beer in and around Bend, and booze in the big city. written by Amira Makansi and Sheila G. Miller What are you looking for in a wine tasting experience? Clearly, great wine tops the list. But there are other factors, too. What about quality of service? Sweeping vistas? Ambience? And that ever-elusive je ne sais quoi?   Wine in the Willamette Valley In Oregon’s Willamette Valley, unique wineries and diverse identities abound—to such an extent it can be difficult to narrow down your tasting list. But on a weekend getaway when time is limited, choosing your top destinations is paramount. Here are five diverse establishments worth a visit on your next escape to the Willamette Valley. If you’re coming…

Home + Design

A Modern Traditional Tetherow Home

A modern traditional Tetherow home detailing of modernism, with a few rustic and industrial accents thrown in written by Melissa Dalton | photos by Heaven McArthur for Timberline Construction of Bend When building a brand-new house, the options can seem endless, which sometimes leads to “analysis paralysis” in certain clients. The owners of this recent build in Bend’s Tetherow development avoided indecision by identifying what they didn’t want first. “Especially in Tetherow, a lot of the houses are super modern, but they didn’t want a super contemporary home,” said Bend-based interior designer Lucy Roland of Harper House Design. In 2015, Roland joined Timberline Construction and Tebbs Design Group to guide the owners, a couple in the brewery business, through the design and build process. “[The wife] definitely errs on the side of more traditional,” Roland said. “So, they wanted something that can bridge the gap between modern and traditional.” On the…

Live Oregon

Central Oregon Weekend Wanderings

Central Oregon weekend wanderings, find out where to eat, sleep and stay written by Jen Stevenson EN ROUTE To begin your weekend wanderings in Central Oregon start by heading east on Highway 22 from Salem, stop for a marionberry scone break at homey Rosie’s Mountain Coffee House in Mill City, or continue on to Mountain High Grocery in Detroit for the homemade doughnuts. If traveling via Highway 26, brake for blueberry cake doughnuts and apple fritters at Joe’s Donut Shop in Sandy. EAT + DRINK In Sisters, get a hearty start to the day with The Cottonwood Cafe’s Big Tree Benedict, piled on a flaky homemade herb biscuit. After poking around the local shops, take a golden milk latte and crêpe break at Suttle Tea teahouse, pick up local provisions and organic smoothies at Melvin’s Market, then share wood-fired pies on the patio at Boone Dog Pizza cart. Or, drop…

Oregon Sports

Good Bike Company in Prineville

James Good of Good Bike Company is Balancing Business, Baby and Fitness Bike shop owner learns to schedule for success written by Mackenzie Wilson  | photography by Bradley Lanphear When James Good opened a bike shop, it never crossed his mind that he’d suddenly be strapped for time to work out. Good and his wife, Natalie, relocated from Ogden, Utah, to Prineville in 2014. They were looking for somewhere rural she could continue her work as a family doctor and they could put down roots. Good wanted to live out a childhood dream. Everything fell into place—Natalie got a job at the hospital in Prineville, and an old gas station downtown was just begging to be renovated into Good Bike Co. That’s when things got hectic. When I was 10 or 11 years old, I said, ‘Someday I’m going to live in the mountains and start my own bike shop….

Cascara Vacation Rentals

Reward Yourself and Come Explore Sunriver Reward Yourself and Come Explore the 3,300 acres of Sunriver, OR with Cascara Vacation Rentals. Stay in one of our cabins, condos, homes, town homes, or Luxury homes to enjoy the 22-acre water park, 40 miles of bike path, 2 golf courses and so much more. Cascara Vacation Rentals offers a wide variety of homes, condos, and townhomes in Sunriver, Oregon and the surrounding area. Sunriver is a unique setting, situated in Central Oregon with easy access to Bend, Mt. Bachelor, Smith Rock, and so much more. Bordered by the Deschutes River and open forest land, with over 3,300 acres, a 22-acre water park called SHARC, 2 public golf courses. and 30+ miles of bike path, Sunriver puts the outdoors on your to-do list. The owners, Ed and Sandy Willard, have been caring for and managing homes here for over 30 years. We focus…

Howells Realty Group Vacation Rentals at Black Butte Ranch

Experience Black Butte Howell’s Realty Group has been the preferred purveyor of vacation rentals at Black Butte Ranch for 34 years. We offer exceptional, premier homes for your Central Oregon vacation experience. Black Butte Ranch is an idyllic 1800 acres community nestled among mature Ponderosa forests, lush stands of Aspen, and pristine meadows and lakes. Here you will have breathtaking views of seven Cascade Mountain peaks, meandering horses and cattle, not to mention our namesake – Black Butte itself. The Ranch features six pools, two recreation centers, tennis courts in five locations, horseback riding, fine dining, casual pub and bistro, full service spa and fitness center, and of course two championship 18-hole golf courses (all subject to seasonal hours and closures). You can be as active as you want, or simply relax and unwind. A seasonal getaway, all year round! If it is a winter getaway you have in mind,…