iIf you haven't been to Central Oregon, located on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountain range, then you have been missing out on a whole lot of fun, outdoor recreation opportunities and tons of sunshine!

Nearly 300 days of sunshine per year - The Central Oregon climate is a dry high desert atmosphere with little precipitation ranging in elevations from 1,500 feet at Warm Springs to 4,200 at Sunriver. Most of our precipitation arrives during the winter months and falls as snow rather than rain like the western half of Oregon. Because of the dramatic climb in elevation, Central Oregon's weather will vary depending on the town you may be in. Sunriver will have snow pack nearly all winter long, whereas Redmond stays mostly dry. Bend lies somewhere in between with a snow fall usually resulting in melting by mid-afternoon. Average temperatures during the summer reach over 80 degrees while winter can get chilly with an average maximum temperature of 41 degrees.

Unlike many gray areas in the Northwest, Central Oregon has more sunny days than Houston, Texas, and only 14% less than Phoenix, Arizona.

During the winter months, chilly temperatures and a dry climate result in some of the best snow the Northwest has to offer- Mt. Bachelor is one of the biggest and best ski and snowboard resorts on the west coast offering dry powder and a very long season--from mid-November until the end of May. Mt. Bachelor sits at 6,300 feet and tops out at over 9,000 feet with an average snow base of 370 inches. [More on Mt. Bachelor]

Of course, there is much more to do in the snow than just ski or snowboard. And, with our exceptional weather and mountain wilderness surroundings, the recreation activities are really endless offering everything from hiking and climbing to rafting and fishing.

The largest city in Central Oregon is Bend which has a population of a little over 55,000 and growing. The majority of shopping and dining can be done in Bend, however each locale is know for their own thing that makes their town unique and fun to visit..

• Sunriver is a family resort area that is made up of mainly vacation rental homes and condos centered around a variety of activities and amenities such as golf courses, pools, tennis courts and miles and miles of bike/walking paths surrounded by the Deschutes National Forest and the Deschutes River. Of course, we cannot forget to mention the historic Sunriver Lodge and the Village Mall featuring over 20 shops and restaurants. [
  
• Bend features the largest number of restaurants per capita in all of Oregon. Shopping is rampant at areas like downtown, the Bend Factory Stores, The Old Mill District and the Bend River Mall. The Les Schwab Amphitheater which sits right along side the Deschutes River hosts many hot live performers and bands in a very unique concert venue. In fact, you can even plan a float trip down the Deschutes while a concert is in progress and be able to listen to some music while sitting back and relaxing with the warm sun over head and your feet in the water. Free outdoor concerts can be seen and heard every Sunday during the summer months. Other activities include festivals, movie theaters, night clubs and bars.
  
• Sisters is a quaint town with very decorative store fronts lining the main drag through town. This small town sits at the foot of the North Sister--one of the Three Sisters mountains, and is the gateway to the Metolius River and recreation areas. Their claim to fame is hosting the annual Quilt Show which brings thousands of visitors every year to the streets of Sisters during the summer. Unique shops, restaurants and bakeries make this an ideal place to stop and shop while in Central Oregon.
• Redmond is known as the antique capital of Central Oregon. In downtown Redmond, you will find numerous antique shops and restaurants. Redmond is also home to the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center which hosts many live acts, festivals, and the ever popular Deschutes County Fair which runs around the last week in July every year.

The main towns of Sunriver, Bend, Sisters and Redmond all lie about equal distance from one another--15 miles. The main airport for Central Oregon is located in Redmond and has service from both United Express, Delta, and Horizon (operated by Alaska Airlines). [More information on getting here]

For more information on Central Oregon, please visit the Central Oregon Visitor's Association website.