About Bend

Experience Oregon State University in Bend

Bend and Central Oregon inspire the artist, innovator and outdoorsperson in each of us. This is a great place to get out there.

Land Acknowledgment

A great place to call home

Bend is known for world-class recreation, its entrepreneurial spirit, a burgeoning high-tech industry, sustainability and overall livability. You'll live at the corner of the great outdoors, downtown Bend, shopping, concerts and fun.

Getting Out There: Downtown Bend

Getting Out There: Smith Rock

Best Outdoor Town

   

Top Ski Town

One of the country's
top five ski towns
(Travel + Leisure)

  

Top Bike Town

#1 mountain biking town
in the U.S.
(Mountain Bike Action)

    

Top Trail Town

#6 best trail running town
(Outside)

Arts & Entertainment

Coffee and Ms. Pac-Man

Tessa, TOUR ambassador and art major, recommends:

Hanging out at Spoken Moto cafe

Delicious hipster coffee, amazing food carts, vintage motorcycles, a cozy aesthetic atmosphere, and an Insta-worthy café. They even have free live music on Thursday and Friday nights.

Going old school at Vector Arcade
For the young and young at heart, there is a classic arcade in downtown Bend. Be sure to bring your nostalgia!

Soaking pool and ice cream

Austin, energy systems engineering major, recommends:

Movie and soaking pool at McMenamins Old St. Francis

A 1936 Catholic schoolhouse renovated into a McMenamins in 2004. It's a hotel with classrooms-turned-lodging rooms, a pub, movie theater, live music and a fantastic soaking pool.

Goodies at Goody's Chocolates

Homemade ice cream, chocolates and edible raw cookie dough. They use the best flavors and ingredients in Oregon. Try anything made with huckleberry.

Visitors Information

The Experts Agree

The Best U.S. Colleges and Universities for Outdoor Lovers
Outdoors with Bear Grylls, 2024

#5 Best Mountain Town in the U.S.
Outside, 2022

One of the Best Places to Live in the U.S.
Livability, 2022

The 10 Coolest Places To Go In The Next 10 Years
Forbes, 2021

Top 10 Universities for Ski Bums in 2021
College Magazine, 2021

Best Performing Small City
Milken Institute, 2020

Bicycle Friendly Community
League of American Bicyclists, 2019

Top 10 Best Small City for Business and Careers
Forbes, 2019

The 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World: BendFilm Festival
MovieMaker, 2019

Top Entrepreneurial City in Oregon
Cascade Business News, 2017

Best Multi-Sport Town
Outside, 2017

One of America’s 20 Best Mountain Bike Towns
National Geographic, 2017

One of the 16 Best Places to Live in the U.S.
Outside, 2016

One of the top 52 destinations in the world to visit in 2015
Bend listed as #30
New York Times, 2015

One of America’s 10 best destinations for outdoor enthusiasts
USA Today, 2015

America's Top Adventure Town
Men's Journal, 2015

One of the country's top five ski towns #3
Travel + Leisure, 2015

9 Great American Mountain Biking Trails
Outside, 2015

America’s #1 ski town for breweries
USA Today, 2014

The world’s best SUP getaway
Outside, 2014

One of the nation’s top cycling towns
USA Today, 2014

One of 15 U.S. cities with the best restaurant scene
Huffington Post, 2013

One of world's top 25 ski towns
National Geographic, February 2, 2012

One of the nation's top 5 equestrian communities
Equitreking, Oct. 2, 2012

The nation's dog-friendliest town
Dog Fancy, 2012

The country’s #1 town for sportsmen
Outdoor Life, April 7, 2011

One of the top 10 fly fishing towns in the U.S.
Fly Fisherman

The best trail running town, #6
Outside, 2010

One of the best fishing towns in America, #8
Field & Stream, 2008

The #1 mountain biking town in the United States
Mountain Bike Action