A slice of paradise: Central Oregon

Deschutes River

A few weeks ago, we visited Central Oregon for the first time in about a decade when we stayed with some friends in Bend. I wrote then about the mind-bending transformation of what used to be a mill town into a nearly unrecognizable community of upscale shops, trendy restaurants, brand-new townhouses and luxury homes. ("Central Oregon rewind")

This past weekend, we returned to the area as tourists for 48 hours, spending two nights at Eagle Crest Resort, a sprawling getaway with a hotel, year-round residences, three golf courses, three swimming pools, a couple of restaurants and all the amenities you'd ever imagine.

The place is just off Highway 126, between Redmond and Sisters, and it was our first time staying there. We were able to break away from work on Friday afternoon, so having two nights there instead of one made it feel like a mini-vacation. Most other guests who planned to attend our friends' wedding the next day also were staying there.

A burst of color

We drove in to Bend for dinner and drinks Friday night. Slept in Saturday, took a two-hour hike along the Deschutes River, and went for a quick dip in an outdoor pool before heading to Melanie and Bret's wedding in Sisters. Slept in again Sunday morning, went for a solo run along the Deschutes, had a tasty breakfast at a delightful cafe in Redmond and hit the road by 11 a.m.

The weekend critter count: 1 doe, 1 crawfish, 1 lizard, 1 jackrabbit, 2 mockingbirds (or it might have been same one, actually), and too many robins, sparrows, starlings and blackbirds to count. We also spotted three varieties of butterflies and some vibrant flowers on our hike, with our dog Otto in tow.

Walking along the Deschutes was great. The dirt trail looped around the perimeter of one of the golf courses and brought you back to a subdivision of single-family homes (a combination of timeshare rentals and year-round residences behind an electronic gate) featuring grassy lawns, two- and three-car garages and smooth streets that looked like they'd been paved just yesterday.

Feast for the senses

The Deschutes is one of Oregon's great treasures, with clear, cool water that eventually empties into the Columbia River. Where we stayed it cuts through rugged red rimrock canyons and supports miles upon miles of greenery. Just hearing it splash over the rocks made for a soothing soundtrack as we walked along its banks.

On Sunday, we drove back over the Santiam Pass, with majestic views of Mt. Washington, Three-Fingered Jack and Mt. Jefferson, plus Suttle Lake, Detroit Reservoir and the north fork of the Santiam River. All of it was gorgeous scenery fit for a set of postcards. Hope to return again to the area soon.