Adventure is out there for those that know where to look! And we love sharing those hidden-gem locations that are jam-packed with outdoor activities for the entire family. Today, our Creative Team member Araceli Gonzalez, a California mom of three and adventure-seeker, is here sharing her family’s recent experience at Sunriver Resort just outside of Bend, Oregon. While travel may not be possible for everyone right now, we highly encourage you to bookmark this post and immediately add Sunriver Resort to your travel bucket list for your next outdoor adventure getaway!
*This post was sponsored by Sunriver Resort. All opinions expressed and photos contained herein belong to the author.
Sunriver Resort in Bend, Oregon
If you are looking for sunshine 300 days out of the year, Sunriver, Oregon is waiting for you! This region of the PNW experiences a warm-summer Mediterranean climate and lots of sunshine year-round. In Sunriver, you will find a little gem known as Sunriver Resort. Sunriver is located about 15 miles south of Bend, Oregon right at the foot of the Cascade Mountains. The Deschutes River (a major tributary of the Columbia River) runs right through this beautiful resort and alongside the bike trails and golf courses.
If you’re looking for a fun getaway with plenty of adventure right at your doorstep, Sunriver Resort has so much to keep the entire family entertained, occupied and having fun outside. We spent a few glorious end of summer days enjoying this beautiful resort and absolutely loved every minute. I’m so excited to share our experience with you and encourage you to consider adding Sunriver Resort to your “must-see” list as soon as you can. This place is a true gem. My family and I will definitely be back. Sunriver may just be our new summer tradition.
Outdoor adventures at Sunriver Resort
The best way to get around Sunriver Resort is on a bicycle. Bike to grab your morning coffee, go shopping at the village square, dine at beautiful restaurants, all while filling your day with outdoor adventure and exercise. Every activity is within biking distance. If you don’t want to bring your own bikes, the Bike Barn has over 300 bikes ready to ride! Bikes are available first-come, first-serve and rentals include a helmet, lock and bike map.
Biking is definitely the most popular outdoor activity in the area and something this resort is known for. The bike trails are extensive, impressive and exquisite! Ride alongside the Deschutes River or through the forest on over 40 miles of paved bike paths and some of the best mountain biking trails in Oregon.
Horseback riding at Sunriver
One of the highlights during our stay was our visit to Sunriver Trail Rides. It is a magnificent Horse Ranch with over 54 beautiful horses. Sunriver offers guided trail rides in the spring, summer and fall for all experience levels, as well as pony rides for kids ages 2-6. If you need a lesson or refresher course, they also offer horseback riding lessons for those that want to polish up their riding skills.
We spent the day riding along the river and across stunning meadows. My youngest enjoyed a pony ride while the rest of us set out on “The Great Meadow Experience.” We saw coyote, deer, and other wildlife roaming through these serene meadows, which was just spectacular!
Also, this is a great place to meet genuine real-life cowboys! How about that? If you do the ride, you will get to experience a trail ride led by a real-life cowboy who will not only teach you, but entertain you with incredible stories and tales of cowboy life. These two had so much to talk about as we galloped down the meadow.
We also made friends with the most amazing horses. My children absolutely fell in love with these gentle animals and within minutes, they were the best of friends.
We spent the entire day horseback riding and getting to know these beautiful creatures. I love adventures where we can slow down and really take it all in. This adventure was one that I will always remember for it’s calm and soothing experience. The entire day felt relaxed, un-rushed, fun and grounding. It was such a great way to spend our last days of summer.
Deschutes River float trips at Sunriver Resort
The next day, we set out on a water adventure down the Deschutes River. A quick bike ride from the resort and we explored a 6 mile stretch of the Deschutes River. This is such a great way to see the beauty of this entire area. You can float, kayak, or paddle down the river on a raft, canoe, kayak or paddleboard. All rentals are available at the Sunriver Marina and include life jackets, paddles and a shuttle ride back to the marina at the end of the float.
We rented canoes and slowly made our way down the river. This felt just like a real-life lazy river, only better! The scenery was incredible, the company was fantastic and the weather was perfect. We stopped for snacks along the way and enjoyed a slow morning cruising down the river. We had so much fun floating down this picturesque river while lazy ducks moved right along with us!
Sunriver Resort pool
And last, no trip to Sunriver Resort would be complete without a trip to the pool! The Cove pool is the resort’s outdoor pool and is zero-entry (great for little ones). It also has a hot tub, private cabanas, a waterslide, nature walk and discovery area, a poolside restaurant, lakeside trails, and a spacious deck and lawn. My kids absolutely LOVED the rock slide. The pool offers gorgeous mountain views and was such a serene experience.
Adventures for everyone
Sunriver Resort is the perfect combination of adventure and relaxation for the whole family. The adults had just as much fun as the kids and we all got to do something (multiple things, actually) we loved. Our days were filled with so much adventure and we never had to leave the resort. The location is inviting and offers so much fun for the entire family and we are already making our list of what we’ll do when we come back. Because, we will definitely be back!
Have you been to Sunriver Resort in Oregon?
What activity would you be most excited about?
About the author
Araceli is a wife and momma to three wild and adventurous littles. She believes that nature and free play are truly the foundation to a beautiful childhood. Araceli and her husband have made it a priority to raise their children with a strong bond to the great outdoors. Araceli is a working mom with an extensive career in Project Management. She’s creative, crafty and loves collecting houseplants. As a family, they love exploring wild places and she loves documenting their adventures.
Find more from Araceli in the following locations:
Instagram: @roaminggonzalez
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