This is a while ago, but I like the pics of the mountains so much, I wanted to put them up to share.
We have been to Bend before and it holds a special place for us as a nearby getaway. The reason for this trip was not only to get away, but we also went to pick up Addy's dog from her cousin. We had been talking about getting the dog for a while and the situation had not been right, until
then.
We drove down after work on Friday and got in late to the Lara House. The Lara House is an amazing B&B in downtown Bend. It is an incredibly well maintained craftsmen home that has been a B&B for years. You can check it out at: www.larahouse.com. This was our 4th stay and I think we like it better everytime. The first time we went to Bend, we were just starting to do the B&B thing and I had brought a list of the ones that were in town to check out. The first was closed when we went to check it out, the second was called the Sather House. At the Sather House, there was a waist high statue of a child at the door staring at us (should have been our first tip). A maladjusted 11 yr old opened the door and led us around until his grandmother (the proprieter) finished cooking and was able to show us the rooms. There were stuffed cats! and dolls and doilies everywhere. The "style" was shabby chic without the chic. It was terrible. The lady loved her house and her decorations and we didn't want to hurt her feelings, but it was SO hard not to crack up. We laughed so hard and long about it, when we left. I always smile when I think about that memory.
This visit we got to meet a different innkeeper at the Lara House. She had breakfast ready for us in the morning, which we enjoyed with a couple from California who were checking out the Pacific Northwest as a possible new home. Then we went out to buy a gift for Addy's cousin. She has a newborn baby and we hadn't made it down for the shower, so we went to Target to get some baby clothes. The weather was gorgeous. It was incredibly clear out. The view from the parking lot was so gorgeous, I wanted to see more. There is a hill in the middle of town that I decided we should get to the top of. So we had a little adventure getting to the top of this hill. Of course the houses up there were amazing. It was fun: driving around, trying to find the best view of the mountains, stopping to admire the view or a cool house, just taking a drive.
Next we decided to take the advice of our fellow B&Ber's and go on a hike at a nearby
waterfall. I love it that Addy enjoys getting outside and hiking as much as I do. It was a short hike, but it was out in the sun and it felt great. Being outside, away from our everyday life, in the sun and outdoors, together. It was really, really nice. After that, we decide to go back to town and check out a micro-winery's tasting room that we had never been able to go to before, since we usually were there during the week. Its called Volcano Vineyards:
www.volcanovineyards.com We were one of 3 couples in there being served by the owner himself. He is a great host and storyteller. We had a great time enjoying the wine and talking with him. A funny coincidence, one of the other couples was actually staying that night at the Lara House.
Bend is great for a microbrew drinker because there are 7 in that small town. We headed next to one of them, Bend Brewing Co. For dinner, we went to a great restaurant called Staccato that is in an old firehouse. Its got great cocktails and a cool ambience.
The next day we enjoyed breakfast with a full table for the first time. Our usual innkeeper, Ginger, was there and we got to talk to her while enjoying her great cooking. She makes amazing food and gives out recipes when asked. She makes staying there even more special. But then we had to leave, which is hard. We went and visited her cousin and had some wings and played pool. Then, we left for home, now with a dog. My first dog.
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