We’re always seeking out places where we can spend time together as a family – both relaxing and adventuring.
There’s a place in Central Oregon that’s ideal for both. Our family favorite is Sunriver Resort. We visit at least once a year, sometimes more often if we give in to the insistent demands of our kids.
We have favorite places to eat and things we love to do, yet each time we’re here, we always discover something new. On our most recent visit, we spent three days at the pool. Wowed, by a massive expansion to the resort pool that included a new water slide and mini lazy river, my kids just couldn’t get enough.
Activities At Sunriver Resort
Swimming
Without a doubt, the place to be is The Cove Aquatic Center. Entrance to the center is free for resort guests. There’s a large zero-entry pool, a splash area, a water slide and a hot tub in the outdoor area. Deck chairs surround the pool giving parents a view of the kids at play as well as the beauty of the surrounding mountain range.
The recent $40 million renovation, completed just in time for Memorial Day 2021, doubled the capacity of the popular pool. This used to be just a summer hangout, but the expansion created a huge indoor space, offering guests a year-round aquatic experience. During summer months, the large doors roll-up allowing easy access between the outdoor and indoor areas. The new indoor zone includes a two-story waterslide called “The Cinder Cone,” another zero-entry pool, hot tub and lazy river.
My teenage daughter climbed the spiral staircase to the top of the waterslide dozens of times during our recent visit. The enclosed slide moves fast, spitting guests out in a matter of seconds into a pool of water below. My eight-year-old son, preferred the outdoor “Plunge” slide. He also wore himself out going up the stairs and down the slide countless times.
The pool can get busy during the summer season. We sometimes splurge and rent a cabana. It’s nice to have a shady retreat. Cabana rentals start at $175 depending on the size of the cabana.
Poolside food and drink service is available from The Spotted Frog Cafe. You’ll find an array of munchies, sandwiches and wraps, and lots of refreshing beverages.
Besides swimming, the resort offers a bunch of other outdoor activities including: biking, horseback riding, rafting, tennis, and golfing. That’s enough to keep your family busy, right?
Biking
Our kids’ other favorite activity at Sunriver is undoubtedly biking. The resort has 40-miles of paved bike trails. There are several different loops around the property. Most are pretty mellow, some scenic routes take riders by the river and the Sunriver airport. Another path leads to a big playground. You can even take a trail all the way to Benham Falls.
Bring your own bikes or rent them during your visit. Resort guests receive a 10% discount on bike rentals at the Bike Barn. If staying in a rental home, many have bikes available for complimentary use.
Watersports
From the Sunriver Marina, you can rent a kayak, raft, canoe or paddle board. Lifejackets are provided with rentals. You’ll launch your watercraft at the marina.
Paddle (or float if you prefer) six miles down the Deschutes River. Pull over at the designated takeout and a hop on board a shuttle bus for a ride back to the resort. It will take you 2-3 hours to get from the marina to the takeout. The river is pretty calm, making this a good all-ages adventure.
Nature Center
The Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory is a fun place to visit. The small center is home to birds of prey, bees and other small critters. There’s a nature trail and botanic garden. It’s open daily. Admission is $9 for adults, $6 for kids 4-12, kids under 4 are free. If you visit during the day, your admission includes access to the observatory. Otherwise, come to the observatory at night to view the sky through various telescopes. Summer camps are offered here, too.
The Village at Sunriver
At The Village at Sunriver, you’ll find a selection of shops, restaurants and activities. There’s an outdoor play area. Kids can get an all-day pass to jump in the bounce houses and go down the giant inflatable slide. For an additional cost, kids can do the rock climbing wall and the power jump. During the summer, bumper cars and mini-golf are set up in the middle of the village. In the winter, the area is converted into an ice skating rink.
There are lots of other things to do at Sunriver Resort. Here’s a comprehensive list of activities.
Activities Near Sunriver Resort
Although there’s plenty to keep you busy at Sunriver Resort, there’s also a lot to do in the surrounding area. The resort is located in the high desert, shaped by several volcanic events, some dating back 50 million years. It left behind a landscape perfect for exploration.
Here are some of our favorite activities to do, all within a short drive of the resort:
Lava Lands Visitor’s Center & Lava Butte
Get up to speed on all of the geological history with a stop at the Lava Lands Visitor’s Center. This is the hub of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. There are engaging interpretative exhibits to check out. During the summer, you can take a shuttle bus to the summit of Lava Butte.
Lava River Cave
Just down the road is the Lava River Cave, also part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. This mile-long lava tube is the longest one in the state of Oregon. It’s about two miles roundtrip and takes about 90 minutes to explore. Plan to dress warmly as the temperature inside the cave is just 42 degrees. You’ll also need to bring flashlights and/or headlamps.
Lava Cast Forest
The Lava Cast Forest Trail gets you up close to tree molds formed 7,000 years ago by volcanic activity. You can see where trees once stood, and even climb inside some of them. The trail is just under a mile. It’s a paved loop, making it easy for all skill levels. The Lava Cast Forest is only open during the summer season as it requires a 10 mile drive down a gravel Forest Service road.
Big Obsidian Flow
Another good place to explore is the Big Obsidian Flow. At 1,300 years old, this is Oregon’s youngest lava flow. There’s a one-mile trail that takes hikers onto the obsidian flow (it’s black glass!). Be sure to wear hiking shoes or sneakers here to protect your feet, and be wary of bringing your dogs along for the hike.
Benham Falls
Another family friendly trail takes you to Benham Falls. A wide dirt trail takes you up close to the largest falls on the upper Deschutes River. It’s an easy walk, with a footbridge and several lookouts through old growth pine trees. Parking is available on either side of the trail. Bikes are allowed on the trail. You can pedal over from Sunriver, on the 5.5 mile bike path between the Benham Falls trailhead and the resort.
KidTripster Tip: A day use fee or recreation pass is required at many of these locations. At most locations, drivers can pay on-site. Check before you go.
Mt. Bachelor
Mt. Bachelor is open year-round. It’s about a 20-minute drive from Sunriver. In the winter, you can ski, snowboard, and even go dog sledding. In the summer, the scenic chairlift is open. There’s also mountain biking and hiking. A zip line opened a few years ago. It launches from a 7,800 foot elevation and drops nearly 1,400 vertical feet down the side of the mountain. It’s billed as the steepest, fastest, and highest-elevation zip line in the Northwest.
High Desert Museum
We love the High Desert Museum. The museum focuses on the natural world and cultural history of the high desert. Several native wildlife, like river otters, porcupines and badgers live here. There are both indoor and outdoor exhibits, which keep it interesting. My kids always like wandering through the old ranch to learn what life was like more than a 100 years ago.
Accommodations At Sunriver Resort
Sunriver Resort has a lot of choices when it comes to accommodations. There are 245 lodge guest rooms and suites. The guest rooms sleep up to four people and the suites accommodate up to six people. There are also 300 rental homes, some big enough for multiple families. Many have a private hot tub.
We typically prefer to rent a condo or home. We like having a kitchen, especially for longer stays, so that we can make some meals in our unit.
During our recent visit, we stayed in a lodge premium suite. Wow! We loved the spacious layout of the unit. There was a full bathroom and kitchen downstairs. The upstairs loft had two queen beds and a large bathroom. Everything in our suite was recently renovated. The kitchen and bathrooms had all the modern amenities you could want, while the rest of the cabin maintained a rustic, lodge vibe. There’s a stunning floor-to-ceiling rock fireplace. We enjoyed the outdoor patio with views of the golf course and mountains. Our unit was conveniently located right next to The Cove, providing easy pool access, another benefit of staying at the lodge.
We recommend renting through the resort directly to receive amenities like use of the pool. You’ll also get discounted bike rentals and raft rentals. Resort guests have access to complimentary resort-wide transportation. In the winter, guests can get discounted shuttle service to Mt. Bachelor.
Dining At Sunriver Resort
There are lots of dining choices around the resort.
The Lodge Kitchen is located inside of the lodge, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menus are inspired by the seasons and made from locally sourced ingredients when possible. Indoor and outdoor seating is available.
The Owl’s Nest is open in the evenings. In addition to beverages and small bites, there are great views! Kids are allowed at the tavern.
Located on the ground floor of the lodge is The Backyard Bar & Cafe. It serves breakfast burritos, sandwiches, wraps and salads. There’s plenty of outdoor seating with a great view of the lawn. Your kids can keep busy playing games on the lawn. This is a great place to watch the sunset!
Over at The Village, there are a whole bunch of restaurants. We always find time for a meal at Sunriver Brewing. The food’s great (my son loves the giant soft pretzel!). There’s something for everyone on the menu, including me. Yes, this brewery has Gluten-Free options! It can get busy here during meal-times, so expect a wait. Indoor and outdoor seating, with a heated patio, is available.
We love to get dessert at Goody’s Chocolates & Ice Cream. As you probably guessed, this is the place to get a scoop of ice cream at Sunriver. It’s been a resort mainstay since 1984. You can order chocolates and milkshakes here, too.
Hungry for something else? Check out these links for the full list of dining options at Sunriver Resort or at The Village at Sunriver.
Other Logistics About Sunriver Resort
In the summer months, the days are warm, but the nights are cool. Be sure to pack a jacket and a pair of long pants for cool evenings. The desert sun can be intense so sunscreen is essential.
Groceries are available at The Sunriver Country Store in Sunriver Village. Although the store is small in size, it’s packed full of anything you’d need while on vacation, from grilling steaks to making s’mores. You’ll find specialty foods as well as the basics. There’s also an extensive wine selection and a liquor store, too.
Sunriver is located 15 miles south of Bend, Oregon. It’s approximately 3.5-hours from Portland. Sunriver an all-season resort and offers a variety of year-round activities. This area sees a lot of snow in the winter. Be sure to check road conditions before you head out. We’ve encountered spring snow storms here. If driving up to Mt. Bachelor, you may need traction devices. Better yet, catch a shuttle from the resort and leave the driving to someone else.
The author received a complimentary stay and meals. All opinions are her own.
