Kid Friendly Things to do In Bend, Oregon During Covid | Bend Family Photographer

If you’re like me, after months of being stuck at home with kids due to Covid-19, you are ready to get out and have fun! One of the many things that drew us to move to Bend, Oregon was the amount of family centered activities the city and area had to offer. With stay at home orders lifting and counties allowing more activities and small groupings here is a list of some of our favorite activities to do in the area. (Websites for each of these have been included for updated COVID policies and opening dates).

Indoor Activities in Bend

• Cascade Indoor Sports: The best part about this indoor sport center is that it offers programs, activities and teams to join for both kids, teens and adults. Some of the fun things offered here are: rollerblading/skating, indoor go kart racing, soccer, flag football, pickleball, volleyball, hockey, and THE BIG PLAY THING. The Big Play Thing is biggest indoor play structure in Central, Oregon. This giant playground offers slides, climbing, bridges, and soft and clean equipment for your kids burn that energy. Kids 4 and older are allowed to use the equipment, kids 4 and under are permitted with supervision. Best of all it’s only $5 per child! For more info on cost, times and what else Cascade Sports offers please see their website. https://www.cascadeindoorsports.com/

• Mountain Air indoor Trampoline Park: What is cooler to a kid than wall to wall trampolines? The Mountain Air Trampoline Park offers a special Toddler Time area with age appropriate equipment and a mini foam pit (doesn’t that just sound like the cutest thing?), cosmic jump on Saturdays with black out lights and glow in the dark fun, dodgeball, a jumping video game area, and a sensory hour for children with special needs. They do a great job at keeping their equipment clean and sanitary. https://mountainairbend.com/

• Bend Rock Gym: The best indoor rock wall gym in the area that offers youth programs and summer caps and has multiple rock walls for climbing and bouldering. You can schedule a time slot on their website. https://www.bendrockgym.com/

• High Desert Museum: If you want something fun to do but also teaching your kids about the Native American history of the area, the High Desert Museum has wildlife to touch and look at, interactive programs, and has every changing exhibits which always means a return trip! We love the otter exhibit and all the other cool wild life they have. Also has a yummy little cafe to grab lunch at. https://highdesertmuseum.org/

• Sun Mountain Fun Center: This facility has both indoor and outdoor activities such as mini golf, go karts, batting cages, arcade, bumper cars, bowling. Seriously, there is something for everyone here! https://sunmountainfun.com/

Outdoor Activities in Bend

• Year Round Festivals: Bend has tons and tons and tons of festivals. The best part is each offers kid friendly areas like games, face painting, craft tables, bounce houses. A few to name are Fall Festival, Munch and Music, Bend Summer Festival, Oktoberfest, Bend Brewfest, Spring Festival, Winterfest. https://www.oldmilldistrict.com/bend-events/festivals/

• Bend is close to multiple beautiful national and state parks. Some of these include : Mt. Bachelor, Crater Lake, Smith Rock State Park, Pilot Butte, Newberry National Volcanic Monument ( one of the only US cities with a dormant volcano!), Cove Palisades State Park, La Pine State Park, Prineville Reservoir, and Tumalo State Park. All of these have incredible hiking, winter options like tubing, skiing and snowboarding and boating. https://www.visitbend.com/things-to-do/points-of-interest/state-national-parks/

• Deschutes River: Rent inner tubes from Sun Country Tours at Riverbend Park and then float the river. There is even a part of the river you can surf! Pack a picnic and enjoy the great walking paths, go fishing, camping, bring your kayak or rent a surrey from Wheel Fun Rentals to ride along the river. https://visitcentraloregon.com/2016/07/14/deschutes-river-central-oregon-playground/

• Parks: Bend has so many great parks, and it feels like we only have to drive 5-20 minutes max to discover a new one. Bend’s parks are great because they are not only for kids but have basketball courts, big grass fields or walking paths that make them great for the whole family. A few of our favorites are Farewell Park, Pine Nursery Park, Juniper Park, Columbia Park, Harmon Park and Ponderosa Park. You can’t go wrong with any park in Bend!! https://www.bendparksandrec.org/park/farewell-bend-park/

• Juniper Swim & Fitness Center : The center offers over 275 fitness classes per week, including a few outdoor, an indoor pool that is open year round (get rid of those winter blues ), a hot tub, kiddie pool and steam rooms. In the summer they have an shallow outdoor pool with kid equipment, splash pad and a huge waterslide. Currently they are taking reservations to keep numbers low due to COVID this summer but makes it much less crowded than it would be otherwise. 1.5 hour slots for $5 a person. It offers great prices for workout classes. https://www.bendparksandrec.org/fitness-swim/

• Lastly our favorite kid friendly hikes are Todd Lake, Smith Rock, Lava River Cave Trail, Tumalo Falls and Benham Falls. All of these offer spectacular views, pretty easy terrain and are less than 2 miles total. Pack water, snacks or a picnic lunch to enjoy the day out. Check out the https://www.alltrails.com/ or website to get further details on each hike.

This list should give you a great starting point for exploring the many family friendly and beautiful places in Bend.