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SIP ON CENTRAL OREGON: TASTY BREWED BEVERAGES TO TRY
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Brewed Beverages Adventure Calls High Desert Museum Hoodoo Ski Area Destination: Black Butte Ranch History and Heritage Staff Picks
Adventures await in Central Oregon. Start planning your future getaway with our helpful tips and activity ideas. We look forward to the day when we can welcome you back, so here are some stories to get you excited for your next vacation!
Produced by: Visit Central Oregon Email us: trailhead@visitcentraloregon.com
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BREWED, FERMENTED AND SOMETIMES ROASTED
Bottoms Up Kombucha is a fermented, lightly effervescent, sweetened black or green tea. It’s a probiotic known for its health benefits.
EXPLORING CENTRAL OREGON’S BREWERS
There’s something about Central Oregon that gets people brewing. Maybe it’s the access to some of the world’s cleanest and best tasting drinking water that attracts brewers, or maybe it’s the bounty of organic produce that can be used to create clean, natural flavors. Whatever it is, brewing is in the blood of Central Oregonians.
Kombucha
Kombucha is a recent drink craze that took over Bend during the last decade. Even Bend Senior High School has Humm Kombucha on tap for students. Although the drink is relatively new in the brewing industry, it is growing in popularity. Locally, Caboost Kombucha is one popular option. The company has a taproom in downtown Bend where 10 unique flavors including lemongrass express, hibiscus sangria and ruby basil are served up. Caboost promises to do things naturally, by never pasteurizing or heating the kombucha, because these processes can kill kombucha’s health benefits. The company keeps things raw and uses only Cascade Range mountain water, natural tea leaves and organic flavors.
Photos courtesy Humm Kombucha/Caboost Kombucha
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Photo Alex Jordan
Cider
Making a sweet and sometimes dry splash in the brewing scene is cider. Like kombucha, cider has grown in popularity in Central Oregon more recently. Legend Cider in La Pine hopped on this growing market, but with a twist. All of the cider from Legend is flavored to naturally resemble childhood juice favorites; Columbia Gorge Grape, Alpine Apple and the Pacific Crest Trail Punch are a few favorites that should please almost everyone. To make a visit to the taproom all the more enticing, Legend has welcomed the Mauna Kea Grill food truck to serve up delicious Hawiian food in their outdoor venue.
Coffee
A drink so important to our daily lives, coffee truly needs no introduction. A list of Central Oregon brewers cannot be complete without a mention of Sisters Coffee Company in the idyllic little Western town of Sisters. The shop opened up in 1989 and has been kept in the same family since. Sisters Coffee Company was actually one of the first roasters to come to the area. With a selection of new, innovative brews combined with tried and true classics, you’ll find a pick-me-up here.
Photos courtesy Sisters Coffee Co/Kobold Brewing
Beer
We can’t ever leave out beer, can we? After all, Oregon is ranked fifth in the nation for having the most breweries per capita. Kobold Brewing entered the scene in 2015, initially brewed keg by keg at owner Steve Anderson’s west Bend property. By 2017, the operation was moved in to a new downtown Redmond taproom, The Vault Taphouse, where all the Kobold brews are on tap today, and some are available in cans. The taproom also features an award-winning food truck, Westside Taco Co. and other food truck options. Check out Kobold’s new line of barrel aged beer, and treat yourself to an delicious street taco.
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Ride through Central Oregon your own way. Chad Copeland takes on the high desert by bike, horse and motorcycle while exploring one of Oregon’s 7 Wonders. Visit a high desert winery and learn some tricks along the way from MotoCross champ Justin Holman. Visit adventurecalls.visitcentraloregon.com.
ALL EPISODES AVAILABLE HERE
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THE HIGH DESERT MUSEUM
WHAT’S NEW, WHAT’S HAPPENING
The High Desert Museum is a staple attraction in Central Oregon. Since its opening in 1982, the museum has been dedicated to both preserving and sharing the history of Oregon’s pioneers, flora and fauna. The museum has adapted to COVID-19 protocols to ensure the safety of guests, and there’s a lot to experience. Outside, check out the Autzen Otter Exhibit, the 1904 Miller Family Ranch, and the exterior portions of the Donald M. Kerr Bird of Prey Center. The museum also offers lovely, meandering walking paths through the nearby forest to provide a closer glimpse into the natural landscape. The museum has been holding birds of prey encounters, where expert trainers provide guests with an up-close look at various high desert birds of prey such as great horned owls, bald eagles and even vultures, which are otherwise in their enclosures. For a more active experience that’s also great for kids, try the Bronze Statue Bingo game. When checking in to the museum, ask for a bingo sheet and see who can spot the right statues first to win.
Also great for kids, the museum is offering an even greater discount than usual on their “Wonder Wednesdays.” Every Wednesday, preschool through high school students from Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties and their families/caregivers can visit the museum for $5 each. The museum has increased the discount to allow greater access for families with kids who are doing their schooling from home. For those choosing to remain at a distance, there’s still plenty of museum offerings to experience. The High Desert Museum website has a virtual section where you can tour different parts of the museum completely virtually. Take a virtual field trip through the surrounding landscape and the region’s pioneer past or check out online lessons for how to brew kombucha. Recently the museum completed work on a new exhibit; “Dam it! Beavers and Us” showcasing America’s largest rodents, beavers. This exhibit, along with other indoor exhibits at the museum, reopened in mid-February with limited occupancy. Visit highdesertmuseum.org for timed entry tickets to ensure entry for upcoming visits.
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Photo @dlaw_photos
WHAT’S NEW AT HOODOO? The Hoodoo Ski area is an affordable, uncrowded, and family-friendly ski resort that sits just west of Sisters along Santiam Pass. Hoodoo has five lifts in operation and offers riders over 800 acres of skiable mountain terrain. Plus, nearly all of the runs end at a central location at the bottom of the mountain, near the lodge, making it easy for families and friends to stick together.
Mountain operations
Parking reservations aren’t required at Hoodoo this season, so on-the-fly trips to the mountain are a go. The mountain opens at 9 a.m. sharp Wednesdays through Mondays. Hoodoo is also the only ski area in Central Oregon that offers night skiing, so make a plan to ski under the stars on Wednesday through Saturday nights until 9 p.m. Their 23 night-runs are fully lit to maintain both visibility and safety. Reservation-only skiing and snowboarding lessons are available for beginners and those looking to spruce up their form, though they’ll operate at a limited capacity this season.
Fast facts Elevation: Summit 5,703 feet Base: 4,668 Runs: 34 Lifts: 5 Skiable acres: 800 Longest run: 3 miles Alpine terrain rating: 30% novice, 30% intermediate, 40% advanced
Tubing
Hoodoo’s Autobahn Tubing Park is expected to open in late February, offering high-speed tubing fun. In the meantime, sledders are encouraged to try out the Santiam Sno-Park or Ray Benson SnoPark, both located nearby.
Food and drink
Hoodoo has maintained its popularity this season while carefully scaling back operations to follow state rules regarding COVID-19. So while the lodge is only open for employees, takeout windows with to-go food and drink options are available. While grabbing lunch and a drink, be sure to keep a mask on and respect social distancing guidelines. Guests are encouraged to use their cars as a base camp for refueling and warming up, before heading back to the snow for more fun. Visit skihoodoo.com for more info
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Room to Roam FINDING A HOME AWAY FROM HOME AT BLACK BUTTE RANCH Black Butte Ranch is a popular getaway destination for the entire Pacific Northwest, and it’s no surprise why. Turn off U.S. Highway 20 and down the driveway into the ranch, and panoramic views of the nearby mountains immediately take center stage. Soak in the majesty of Broken Top, the Three Sisters, Mount Washington and other Cascade Range peaks. In a time when having room to spread out is highly desired, an 1,800-acre property full of trees, creeks and meadows is a welcoming sight—a place to stretch your legs and escape the bustle of day-to-day life. Come to work remotely, to seek adventure or simply to relax and do nothing. No matter the motivation, there’s plenty to experience at Black Butte Ranch, which in 2020 celebrated 50 years as a special Central Oregon getaway and year-round home to a lucky few.
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Recreation and relaxation
A day at the ranch can be spent with such variety, it would be challenging trying to do it all. Wake up for an early tee time on either of the ranch’s championship golf courses, Glaze Meadow or Big Meadow, and take in the pristine views as the sun rises over the mountain peaks. If golf isn’t on the to-do list, try out the tennis or pickleball courts for a quick sweat. Discover the massive property through a network of walking trails. With 18 miles of paved paths and even more natural dirt trails, it’s easy to spend all day wandering the beautiful landscape and still not see everything. Keep an eye out for native wildlife, like deer, eagles, otters and even coyotes. For more exploration, the ranch offers horseback riding, which means picture-perfect rides through the landscape. Alternatively, check out the convenient mountain bike rentals to explore the ranch on two wheels. To cool down, try taking a plunge in one of the ranch’s
six pools. And finally, to relax after a long day, rejuvenate at the spa, on-site. When the sun gets low on the horizon and the mountains are painted in twilight, the ranch can take on an almost magical feel. Some people like to spend their last moments of daylight fishing in the nearby Phalorope Lake, while others might prefer to kick their feet up and uncork a fresh bottle of wine by any of the ranch’s cozy and warm firepits.
Settle in
At the ranch, find yourself surrounded by 1.6 million acres of national forest to explore. This means visitors are just minutes away from nearly any outdoor activity, like whitewater rafting the McKenzie River, biking the Pacific Crest Trail or making some turns at Hoodoo Ski Area. With so much natural bounty in every direction, Black Butte Ranch makes a perfect home base for adventure, and the ranch offers a variety of vacation rental options to accommodate overnight guests. When hunger strikes, check out one of the three amazing restaurants on the property. Robert’s Pub is right off the green and is great for a quick pint from one of the region’s local
breweries. When the weather is warm, the Lakeside Bistro is perfect for pool-goers looking for a bite, and for more classy occasions, try out the lavish Lodge Restaurant.
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stay a little longer
Black Butte Ranch is offering special deals for 2021. All year, those booking a three-night stay receive a fourth night for free for trips taking place Sunday through Thursday nights. From April 1 through May 13, the ranch will also be offering a special golfing deal. You can golf at both of the ranch’s premier championship golf courses with a 25 percent discount, if you make the purchase while making lodging reservations. For skiers, reserve two full accommodation nights at the ranch in order to recieve two free day passes to the Hoodoo Ski Area, just up the road.
Check out blackbutteranch.com or give the ranch a call at 866-901-2961 for more information.
History & Heritage
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PIONEERS AND SHIFTING INDUSTRY IN PRINEVILLE The humble city of Prineville is built around the Crooked River and the mouth of Ochoco Creek. A small town in Crook County, Prineville’s history is as Oregonian as it gets. Prineville was settled in 1871 by EuropeanAmerican pioneers under the original name of “Prine.” The name became Prineville in 1872, and the town was incorporated into the Oregon Legislative Assembly in 1880, officially making it the oldest Anglo city in Central Oregon. The history of Prineville is incomplete without mentioning cattle ranching. In the 1870s, ranchers began driving their cattle over the Cascade Range to take advantage of grazing land, making Prineville a popular stop for these cattle drivers, and creating conflict with local sheep herders. This early growth and subsequent conflict saw the establishment of the town’s first courthouse in 1885. However, in 1911 the structure was replaced with a new, stone courthouse that still stands to this day, providing modern tourists a blast from the past. However this growth wasn’t quite enough to sustain the town. In 1911, the town was snubbed when a railroad that was supposed to go through Prineville was built 19 miles south, instead. This happened during a period in American history
where a railroad meant the difference between prosperity and becoming a ghost town. The people of Prineville proved to be more resilient than imagined, as they raised the funds for a railroad on their own, and eventually connected it to the main line 19 miles south. This railroad brought in so much wealth transporting Oregon’s lumber that the town did not levy a property tax for a four-year period in the 1960s, a unique accomplishment. Eventually, as Oregon’s lumber industry slowed down, so did the profits from the railroad. Now, Prineville city leaders have maintained their attitude of looking to the future by looking towards tech as a new industry. So far, both Apple and Facebook have invested over $1 billion each in data centers in Prineville. To get a closer look at Prineville’s history, explore the downtown area and check out the Bowman Museum, which has been dedicated to telling the town’s history since 1971. prinevillechamber.com
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Call businesses in advance to check hours and latest protocols.
STAFF PICKS
Burger
chow burger
Beer
Coffee
Cider
porter brewing co
backporch coffee co.
tumalo cider company
Wine
Dinner
bledsoe family winery
carson’s american kitchen
Dessert
Art
tastee treet
Hood avenue art Photo Tumalo Cider Co: @tumalocider on Instagram
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TRAILHEAD
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