Oregon's city of Bend lies east of Mt. Hood, alongside the gentle Deschutes River. A scenic road trip through stunning rainforests and rugged mountain ranges is definitely worth the effort. In fact, Bend's prefer to seek it out as a base for further excursions, most importantly the easy day trip or vacation.

Most people drive straight through, but miss the simplest things. Nowhere else can a trip to another city be so amazingly awesome. It is vital to carry a camera, film and memory disks because hidden treasures are around every winding mountain highway corner. As the road rises up slightly the Deschutes tumbles white water passed rocky outcrops. Absolutely stop, look and snap photos of the daring whitewater rafters. Be prepared for other guests – black bears, elk, deer and even wolves, but remember that they can be highly dangerous.

As you approach Bend, you enter a city steeped in history. Corner stores have not changed much, but they are a great source of local information about camping, fishing, hiking, mountain climbing and cycling. In fact, with Mt. Hood towering in the distance, it is no surprise that so many tourists find that it is impossible to resist its beckoning charms.