Oregon’s Sunriver Resort offers escapades for all seasons.
SUNRIVER, OREGON >> I could feel the stress and strain of reality ebb away the moment we rolled into impossibly scenic Central Oregon, where the mountains meet the high desert in panoramic fashion. Here folks are friendly, traffic jams are rare and the views just won’t quit. It’s a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts in any season, with leisurely horseback rides and leaf-peeping hikes in the fall and sleigh rides and snow play all winter long.
We’ve arrived at Sunriver, where the stunning views of snow-capped Mount Bachelor and the Cascades accompany a lodge breakfast of gooey chocolate-chip pancakes for the kids and spinachspiked eggs Benedict and spicy tofu scrambles for the grown-ups. Stuffed by the hearty breakfast, we pondered the many options for only a few minutes before moseying down to the stables.
Daphne, my 6-year-old, could have spent the whole day on a dainty little Shetland pony. She wanted to feed him, brush him and basically become his BFF. Older kiddos might hit the trail for an hourlong ride along the Deschutes River and through the woods, where deer and other wildlife can be spotted. The fall, when the trees take on burnished hues and the sun isn’t too intense, may be the best time for a nice long ride. The stables close for riding during the winter, but you can try your hand at dashing through the snow, sleigh bells ringing.
After our equine encounters, we couldn’t wait to dive into the Cove, the resort’s Instagram-worthy pool. I splashed into the zero-entry pool while Daphne plunged down a rock-framed waterslide. In the winter, stick to the hot tub, a sanctuary of warmth to cap a day of snowy pleasures.
After all that frolicking, we headed back to the lodge for lunch. We chowed down on perfectlyseared flat iron steaks with blue-cheese butter and lively chile-lime fish tacos before realizing it was time to work off that feast. Fast.
Just a few steps away, we found the Bike Barn, where we hopped on cruisers to explore some of the 40 miles of flat and paved trails tailor-made for a family ride. As a parent, there are few things as relaxing as biking with your child in a place so safe and peaceful that you don’t have to worry about letting her race ahead. Besides, there was ice cream ahead. We glided down to the village on our bikes for a taste of Goody’s addictive chocolate ice cream, so good it’s worth the long lines. There are adorable shops here to rummage through, as well as a miniature train.
In the winter, those same bike trails turn into snowshoe routes, where you can skip through the white stuff like a winter hare, losing yourself in the peaceful quiet of it all. The Mount Bachelor ski resort is just a short shuttle ride away for skiers who can’t resist the lure of fresh powder.
No matter the weather, end the day with a peak experience, gazing at the starry night at the Oregon Observatory at Sunriver, where 11 telescopes — a Televue Retractor, a 30-inch Newtonian and more — await. The resort’s elevation and lack of light pollution make this nirvana for dark-sky enthusiasts. The stars look so close you can almost feel their heat. Even on a cloudy night, when the constellations never quite come into sharp focus, it’s an adventure you won’t soon forget. Sipping hot chocolate, dreaming of faraway galaxies — it’s a family memory in the making.