Family Fun
Downtown Bend is a wonderful place to take the family offering a variety of things to do.
Roll down a hill
Visit Drake Park overlooking Mirror Pond and the beautiful Deschutes River. Bend’s “Central Park” has expansive spaces to play and check out the river.
Paint something
Earth*Fire*Art is a do-it-yourself studio where you can create your own personal work of art—one-of-a-kind pottery pieces.
Listen to a story
The Deschutes Public Library Downtown Bend branch is a treasure. The 40,000 square foot library has a spectacular children’s section along with reading programs, fun, games, internet, and more to discover.
Play with toys
It’s the old time toy shop you’ve dreamed of. Leapin’ Lizards is a delightful place that encourages kids to check out the toys. Find a unique toy that no one else will have back home when you shop at Wabi Sabi, a store filled with very cool Japanese stuff including Kendama, Hello Kitty, Japanese candies & soda, and much, much more.
Try something tasty
Sweet things await you throughout downtown. Grab a cup of frozen yogurt with dozens of toppings at Bend Yogurt Factory. Delight in locally made chocolate at Goody’s Chocolate & Ice Cream. Soak in the wonders of thousands of candies at the retro-styled Powell’s Sweet Shoppe.
Find the oldest things
Walk through Downtown Bend and discover some of the regions oldest buildings-some over 100 years old. Look for the Smith Hardware Building, the only remaining wood framed building in downtown and listen to the the Des Chutes Historical Society Audio Tour as you stroll through history.
Visit one of the older trees in the area. A 600+ year old Ponderosa Pine at the edge of Drake Park and Mirror Pond Plaza. If you get to that spot, look out over the river and on a clear day you can see the glorious ancient volcano North Sister towering above the area at over 10,090 feet!
See lottsa of Bend on an electric bike tour with Let It Ride. They offer electric bikes for rent as well as trailers, Burly carts to bike or jog.
Other key info
Public Restrooms (see map) are located conveniently in 4 locations throughout downtown.
- County Courthouse Building-Greenwood and Bond
Parking Garage-Oregon and Tin Pan Alley (just east of Bond)temporarily closed as of August 2012- City Hall-Louisiana and Bond
- Bend Public Library-Louisiana and Wall
Parking is available for free for three hours in the Downtown Bend parking garage at Minnesota and Lava.