It's Almost Party Time.

Two things as you chug through the week:

1. Forest fire season started early.  We have 2 fires (south and north of Bend) that blew in smoke overnight.  Not something I was hoping to wake up to 11 days out from the wedding.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for quick containment and cooler temps.  A little rain wouldn't hurt either.

2. Still wondering where we are getting married on the 3rd?  So are we.  Although Sparks Lake was a close contender, the limited parking and space for a larger crowd has forced us to move elsewhere.  Most likely we will be having a small ceremony in a friend's (or our own) backyard that afternoon at 4pm.  We will be sending out the private details in email shortly to our friends and family.  Just wanted to keep you in the loop.

It's all coming together!  We are excited, nervous, overwhelmed, impatient, happy, and ready to get this party started!

Should be cooler temps next week.  Hopefully a welcomed break from summer in the South.  Bring a sweater and your party shoes.

See you all soon.

Your Trip to the NW

3 more weeks until the big day!  I think Rob has finally realized that it's coming up and has started to stress out.  Not because he's marrying me... of course. :)  But because of his bachelor party/rafting trip he is taking the week before.  Trying to coordinate the food/camping gear/boats for the group is more than his single-tasking ability can handle.  Hopefully it will be a good trip where he can have one last 'hurrah' on the river, with old friends, siblings, and some whiskey.  He just better come back healthy and alive by Saturday!

Speaking of bachelor parties, I have my bachelorette party tonight!  It's so weird all the traditions that we tried so hard to avoid, constantly sneaking up on us.  What started out as a simple idea has morphed into every-other wedding.  We are desperately trying to hang on to our original goal: simple, casual, fun.  So you can all help us out by following these rules. Laugh with us.  Drink with us.  Eat with us.  Don't make fun of us when we dance... at least to our face.  Make jokes. Wear what you want.  Say what you want.  Be yourself.  And most importantly, enjoy yourself.

And while you are here, get out and see Bend -- it's a gorgeous time to visit and we will do our best to show you a good time Saturday night.  But the real gems are tucked away in and out of town.  We had sent a list of our favorite activities with the invites, but here again are some of our suggestions for things to do in and around Bend:

• First Friday Art & Wine Walk:  August 2nd will be the monthly downtown open house, where almost every store will be serving (free) cocktails and staying open late for you to browse their stores.  It starts ~5pm and goes until the stores shut down.  Rob and I typically head down after work since it's a good time to meet up with friends, browse the local goods, and get a (did I mention free??) drink on the way.  Stop at our favorite spots afterwards for dinner:
• 900 Wall: Pricey, amazing food.  This is our special occasion spot for when we want to treat ourselves.  (Or I admit, we've also come here after a tough week of work just because).  Order the flat iron steak or salmon & shrimp. Also, best cocktails in Bend if you'd rather check it out during happy hour.
• Joolz: Mediterranean meets the west.  Or at least that's their tagline.  Again pricey, but all of downtown is during the summer.  They have really great deals during happy hour and have THE best hummus and feta dip.  Their specials (hello, seafood tagine) are usually a sure thing.  
• Deschutes Brewery:  Besides the best (and most popular) beer in town, they have a pretty decent restaurant downtown.  It gets packed during the summer, but with the recent expansion, it is hit or miss on getting in quick.  The burgers are fancied-up but the best things on the menu.
• Plankers:  Ok, this is a lunch spot and may not be open at night.  But if you make it downtown during the day, they have bomb-dot-com sandwiches.  The tuna salad or turkey bacon won't do you wrong.
• Pizza Mondo: Grab a slice, you won't be disappointed.  Best in Bend.
• Pilot Butte: For a quick tourist stop, drive up Pilot Butte in mid-town.  Or walk the 1-mi up to the top, you'll feel proud of yourself as you check out the Cascades to the West and desert to the East.  When you are done, either head back to town, or check out these spots for a lunch on the East side:

• East Side Village Bakers: my favorite Saturday spot for a sandwich.  They make all their breads in house (obviously), and make a surprisingly mean sandwich.  Get the garden turkey or tomato basil soup with rosemary roll!
• Whole Foods: Grab some pre-made food and enjoy it on top Pilot Butte!
• Hola! For real, it has the exclamation point, rightly so.  For two Texans, this place is the closest to Mexican food around here.  It's actually Peruvian, but they serve up a fair bit of Tex-Mex for the honkeys in town.  It is pricey again, but worth it.  Or just grab a margarita, ceviche, or the table-made guacamole.  It you are staying for dinner, get the tamales!!  (This is Rob's favorite place in town).

• Old-Mill District:  A shopping area with not-to-boast stores (Gap, Pacific Sun, Coldwater, etc).  Nothing too special, but it sits right on the Deschutes river and is a great place to watch all the tourists float by on their tubes.  If you feel so inclined, rent a tube at Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe.  There is also my favorite trail that loops through the mill, out through Farewell Bend park, and follows the river south.  We have seen bald eagles, ospreys, and hawks catching fish in the river.  It is surprisingly quiet and scenic for right in town.  It's a quick 3-mile (flat) loop.  If you want to grab something to eat here: don't.  It's a tourist trap and is not worth it.

• Drake Park:  Okay, this is downtown too and I hear there is a car show going on August 3rd.  So if you are into that, check it out.  Otherwise, Friday or Sunday afternoon this is a great place to picnic, read a book, just enjoy the weather in a beautifully manicured park against the famous Mirror Pond (also name of famous Deschutes beer).  

 

• The West Side: If you are here for a longer than a day, you will hear references to "the East side" and "the West side".  Not to worry friends, we live over here on the West. :)  Rather than me tell you the differences, I'll let you check them out for yourself.  But if you make it over to our neck of the woods, it's out of the tourist loop but has the best in food and drinks:
• 10 Barrel brewing: my favorite spot for beer.  Their pizza is the best thing on the menu, don't try to kid yourself into something fancy.  They have the ambience thing working for them, they are too hip to make fancy food.
• Kebaba: Ok, between BTBS and Kebaba, they are my 2 favorite spots in town.  This place serves well-priced middle-eastern food.  They have a great patio out near Newport for watching the people walk by.  We have tried almost everything on the menu and have never been disappointed.  Rob says they have best burger in town.  I like their hummus plates, fattoush salad, or rice bowls.
• Backporch Coffee: Our Friday morning ritual.  Best coffee in town.  Get the Bend-famous ocean roll.
• BTBS: I won't bore you with a re-review.  You know how I feel.  
• Chow:  Best breakfast in Bend!  We have never had their lunch because we feel guilty not ordering their breakfast.  They have live music in the mornings (probably to make you forget you are waiting 30-45 min to get a seat).  But get there before 8am, which is easy for us old folks, and there will be no wait.  
• Parilla Grill:  A quick hipster stop for cheap tacos or burritos.  Top it off with a $1 PBR.
• Or our favotire weekend excursion: Head to the butcher (Primal Cuts) across from 10 barrel, grab a growler in their lobby, head next door for some local produce, down the street for Ida's cupcakes, and have a feast at your place!
• High Desert Museum: You have to be a museum-type person, but we both are, so we love it!  And Bend Research gives us free tickets, so we can't complain.  It's a good way to spend an afternoon.  See the otter, porcupine, bobcats.  Learn about the birds of prey.  Visit their mock-western frontier (they will be in costumes with real chickens!!) and learn about the history of this part of the country.  
• McMenamins:  Not only will we be having our reception out on the patio, this place also is a great place to catch some live music, soak in their Turkish-style baths, or catch a $3 B-rated movie with beer in hand.  

So that's a quick recap of all there is to do in Bend.  I'm sure there is more, but you are only going to be here for a few days, let's be realistic.  And I did leave our favorite dinner spot off the list, because we like to keep it secret.  I guess you'll be forced to talk to us during your visit to find out. :)

If you are spending more than a couple days in town and really want to experience the NW, Bend is no place to do it.  The NW is 20 miles outside of town.  The Cascades, man.  You gotta get out there.  Again, here is my/our list of favorite hikes around town.  Check out the mileage and difficulty before taking off.  And please, do yourself a favor, bring lots of water and sunscreen.  It is the high desert after all, we don't want people hurting themselves:

• Dillon to Benham Falls: ~10 miles out of town, easy hike, 3-6 miles round trip depending on when you decide to turn around.  We actually considered getting married out here, because of proximity and scenery.  The falls of the Deschutes.  Fishing/rafting too if you are interested.

 

• Tumalo Falls: ~15 miles out of town, biggest waterfall in town.  There is quite a 0.25mi ascent to get to the top (or just admire from the bottom).  But if you do make it up, follow the creek as far as you want to go.  It's a fairly easy hike after the first part and can be shaded and cool in the summer.

• Shevlin Park: in town, easy hike, 3-6 miles depending on what route you take.  This was another potential spot to get married (Fremont Meadows in the back of the park), but they close the road in August due to risk of forest fire.  You can still walk the trails though; stay along the river or head up to the ridge.
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
• Smith Rock: ~25 miles out of town, some of the best rock climbing in the country.  Stay near the river or head up Misery Ridge to get your heart rate up.  It can be a quick stroll or a challenging hike, depending on your path.  Watch out for rattlesnakes in the summer!

  

• Green Lakes: ~25 miles out of town, this is our favorite, so much so, we have planned to do this Thursday morning before the wedding weekend.  It is 6-10 miles depending on the route.  It is a lot of gentle uphill to the lakes, but can be taxing in the high altitude for out-of-towners.  But there are waterfalls, wildflowers, and open walks in the basin of the Three Sisters.

   

    

• South Sister: ~30 miles out of town.  Are you crazy?  Do you want to just go big or go home?  Take the trail up to the top of South Sister then.  Only 4500 ft elevation gain in 6 miles.  You can brag to your friends and family when you go back home.

 

• The Lakes.  It's called Cascade Lake highway for a reason.  There are a handful of lakes to explore right outside of Bend.  Elk Lake has kayak/canoe rentals and is warm enough to swim in.  Sparks Lake is just about as scenic as it gets.  

 

• Crater Lake:  Ok, I get it.  You want to go big.  It's 90 miles out of town.  But if you are here for a few days, why not, right?

Ok, that's a lot for one post.  Start your planning.  And see you soon!