Need a fabulous family getaway that is child-friendly with many activities and warm weather? Then set your GPS for Sunriver, Oregon, for an awesome experience at the Sunriver Resort in Central Oregon. The Lodge features 245 guest rooms over two floors with air-conditioning, private patios, and contactless check-out. This hotel also features 24/7 front desk assistance, an electric vehicle charging station, complimentary valet parking, and ticket assistance for booking tours and excursions. Want a different lodging option? Sunriver has timeshares and home rentals year-round through a variety of vendors if you seek a more private opportunity or are planning a family reunion and need accommodations for larger parties.
What can you do at Sunriver? Well, the more accurate question is, what CAN’T you do? Spring and summer offerings include golf, outdoor tennis, water rafting on the Deschutes River, and over 40 miles of paved bicycle paths (if you choose not to bring your own wheels the resort features a Bike Barn with over 300 bikes of various shapes and sizes for rent), hiking and biking trails, horseback riding (in 45-minute and 75-minute blocks), pony and corral rides for the youngest riders, fishing, playgrounds, canoeing, mountain biking, Pilates, yoga, and volleyball. For parents who need a little pampering, the Sage Springs Club and Spa features nail services, body treatments, and facials.
When the snow begins to fall and the temperatures cool, the outdoor offerings don’t stop. Visitors can put in a workout at the gym and participate in downhill or cross-country skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, sledding, snow tubing, snowshoeing, and the ever-popular snowmobiling.
If your clan is willing to take a little drive off the resort, there are plenty of activities and sights to visit just off the resort. Newberry National Volcanic Monument is about five miles away. The Lava Lands Visitor Center is just over six miles away, with 5.5 miles of paved paths for exploring and a gorgeous view of Central Oregon from the top of Lava Butte. La Pine State Park is about nine miles away, and Benham Falls Trailhead is a mere six miles from the resort. Art fans can visit the Betty Gray Art Gallery, and people of all ages will enjoy a trip to the High Desert Museum, which features a history of the West and its culture spread over 135 acres of awe. And I haven’t begun to mention all the amazing amenities of the city of Bend!
Meanwhile, back on the resort, visits to the Sunriver Nature Center and the Oregon Observatory are musts. The nature center has a creature cove where snakes, lizards, frogs, and salamanders can be glimpsed. There is a botanical garden, an oasis for wildflowers, pollinators, and birds, as well as live owls, hawks, and an eagle. Park rangers are available to educate visitors on these amazing features. When the sun dips down and the moon emerges, the Oregon Observatory has several telescopes for viewing the night sky, with astronomers on hand to provide laser-guided viewing of the constellations.
The Village at Sunriver Resort features exceptional dining options (11 year-round restaurants), boutique shops, a grocery store, activities, tours, and events every month. For beer lovers, Wanderlust Tours offers Brewery and Distillery Tours to quench your thirst. Fun fact: did you know that Bend, Oregon (just north of Sunriver) is considered the Craft Beer Capital of the West? True statement. The Marina (which features a restaurant worth visiting) has canoe and kayak rentals, paddle boards and rafts, and inner tubes for rent. On Mondays and Wednesdays in July and only Wednesdays in August, the Marina features a Family Fun Float – where families of all ages can enjoy a leisurely float on the water and end with s’mores, games, and music.
Still need more entertainment options? The Cove Aquatic Center features indoor and outdoor pools, a kid’s pool, jetted spas, private outdoor cabanas, a waterslide, a gently flowing eddy, and the delectable Spotted Frog Café and Bar with beverages for people of all ages. Sunriver Resort also offers a Wrangler Immersion Camp for patrons ages 14 and up, with lunch included, and is an all-day adventure. Diners can tempt their tastebuds with weekend brunches, happy hour specials, four restaurants, and six cafes. There is live music at the Owl’s Nest all summer and a summer concert series. Visitors can enjoy forest bathing, full moon yoga, pickleball mixers, indoor cycling, and the Perseids Meteor Shower Chakra Healing Meditation opportunity.
For the young people in your life, there are still more options for fun besides all the outdoor activities. Sunriver offers a Wildlife Quest adventure that encourages kids of all ages to seek out the wildlife native to central Oregon. Families can take a self-guided photo op tour across the resort grounds with plenty of photo ops guaranteed to make your holiday family picture the envy of your friends and family! The Lodge offers Takoda the Bear Factory in-room kits should the weather turn a bit damp, and there is a Takoda Scavenger Hunt, where six bears are featured all over the resort participating in some of Sunriver’s most popular activities. And don’t forget to tag your hunt on social media!
Suppose the parental units must put in an hour or two of work. In that case, the resort offers a tremendous business center, with over 25,000 square feet of conference space, including a banquet hall, ballroom, and various meeting rooms. Sunriver Resort has been identified as one of the best remote workspaces in the state, leaving plenty of time for moms and dads to engage in meaningful adventures day or night with their families.
So, how does one travel to this oasis in Central Oregon? Travelers can make a road trip and drive their vehicles. Many fly into the Redmond Municipal Airport, about 33 miles north of the resort. Limo and town car services are also available. Regardless of how you get there, be sure to bring those bikes – an easy, environmentally friendly, and great form of exercise to take you from each adventure.
If I’ve done my job effectively, you’ll be tempted to make a trip to Sunriver, Oregon, in the future. This family-friendly option is where today’s adventures become tomorrow’s memories in the all-too-fleeting time of childhood. Grab those bikes and make your reservation today for a relaxing yet adventurous family trip to Sunriver Resort!
Amy currently lives in Lake Tapps, Washington, where she lives with her family of six plus a menagerie of pets and works as an educator at both the high school and collegiate levels. She holds a B.A. in English and Expository Writing from the University of Washington and a Master’s in Teaching and teacher certification from Seattle University. She grew up on a working farm in a small logging town in SW WA and loves to travel all along the Oregon coast. When not grading papers, she enjoys reading, traveling, entertaining, gardening, crafting and doing anything with animals. She also works as a dance judge for high school competitions and is an avid blood donor.