Plan your trip to

Bend, OR

 

WHERE IS BEND, OR?

Bend is the jewel of Central Oregon.

It’s climate is quite different from the traditional image of the mossy “Pacific Northwest” with a high desert landscape and very low humidity. It rains only 6-7 times a year!

Bend is known for it’s micro-breweries and river-float experience. Rumor has it that there are more dogs than people and to live here, you have to either ski or mountain bike (or be shamed).

It’s got small mountain town vibes but with upscale city amenities.

Fly into

Redmond/Bend Municipal Airport (RDM)

Although the airport is small, the staff is accustomed to welcoming wheelchair users due to the attractive adaptive programs offered by OAS.

You will likely need to fly through a connecting airport via Seattle, Denver, LAX or SFO. There are some direct flights from PHX and San Deigo.

If you use a power wheelchair, be sure to call your airline ahead of time so make sure your flight/aircraft can accommodate: the planes that come into this airport tend to be tiny!

RDM airport is about 15 minutes drive to downtown Bend & 30 minutes drive to the studio.

Other airports to consider:

Portland: 3.25 hour drive to Bend (through Mount Hood)

Eugene: 2.5 hour drive to Bend (through Cascade Mountains)

Medford: 3.25 hour drive (through Cascade Mountains)

Find a cozy place to stay.

There are several places to stay along the river in Downtown Bend District or in the Old Mill District.

These two areas are full of restaurants and shopping - a more lively area to stay. Plan for about a 15-20 minute drive down to the studio from this area.

Further south, you’ll find more “woody” areas if you prefer being surrounded by trees. Places on the west side of the river may look closer to the studio, but you’ll have to drive north into town and then south again to DRW, as there is no direct access across the river.

If you wanted to be very close to the studio, find a cozy cottage in DRW, on the EAST side of the river.

Refer to your email after booking your intensive for the exact address of the studio.

HOMES

Studio apartments/cottages

This vacation rental agency has several ground-floor units in a great location and with back porch views of the river! Take a closer look at the photos, as some units will need a small ramp for front door entry or a shower chair for the bathtub (I have both that you can borrow!).

**I’ll take a visit to these units soon & report back!

Other options on VRBO:

  • Family house in DRW, sleeps 20! - just a few minutes away from the studio - the host said there is a bedroom & bathroom on the ground floor. One small step to enter the front door.

HOTELS

Closest hotels to Studio:

10-minute drive to the studio, and about 10 minutes to the downtown area. These hotels are close (within 1/2 mile) to highways, grocery, Walmart, and simple restaurants. These are a bit east and don’t deliver the “Bend Experience” but they are a nice budget option.

Hotels near the river/Downtown:

About 15 minutes from the studio, and right in some of the more tourist areas. Lots of great restaurants, shopping, and people-watching along the river.

Search for more hotel options through Google.

ADAPTING ACCESSIBLE-ISH HOMES

We have a 3ft ramp available for you to use during your stay (perfect for single-step entrances), which may create more AirBnB or VRBO options for you.

You can also borrow a commode chair and/or shower chair to make the bathroom more accommodating.

Check out Bellvue Healthcare for rental of durable medical equipment to make your stay more comfortable and accessible.

 

Getting around

I recommend having your own car to get around Bend.

We don’t have much of a public transit system, and it does not even run to the studio.

Uber/Lyft will get you around, but there is limited drivers and I’m not even confident you could catch one FROM the studio since we are so far south of the town center.

Supplemental therapies & adaptive activities

MASSAGE & BODY WORK

We recommend a massage/manual therapy session on Tuesday or Wednesday for a mid-week re-set/restoration to finish the week out strong.

These practitioners book up quick! Inquire/book appointments 3-4 weeks before your intensive.

CORELINK BODYWORK / Emily Irwin

Therapeutic/Cranio-Sacral/Visceral + neural massage

First-floor access, accessible space.

ROLFING CONNECTIONS / Dorothy Miller

Rolfing & deep myofascial tissue work.

Need to contact about booking the first floor/wheelchair accessible room.

FES BIKE SESSIONS

Add additional lower body stimulation with FES bike sessions through Destination Rehab, a physical therapy organization specializing in neurological conditions.

Other therapy services from Destination Rehab:

  • Physical and occupational therapy

  • Wheelchair skills

  • Transfer skills

  • ReWalk Eksoskeleton

  • Vacation with a Purpose: guided outdoor rec

ADAPTIVE MOUNTAIN BIKING

A MUST DO:

Adaptive Mountain Biking lessons & trail rides with Oregon Adaptive Sports (OAS)

Other fun things to do

Family-friendly and accessible

Check out the summer concert schedule at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater - located along river for an amazing outdoor summer evening event@

Visit the High Desert Museum for a day of cultural and wildlife experiences! The river otters are my favorite!

Rent tubes and float the Deschutes River from River Bend Park to Drake park. Shuttle service included.

Stroll the promenade & watch the surfers of the Deschutes River Wave. A beautiful pathway that winds from Old Mill District to River West District.

Take a scenic chair lift ride up at Mt. Bachelor resort. Call ahead to arrange wheelchair accommodations at the top of the ride!

Eat, drink & be merry! There are so many amazing breweries, tasting rooms, coffee shops, wine bars, cocktail lounges and restaurants in Bend. Check out this website for the best.

STUDIO LOCATION

The Zebrafish Neuro private studio is located in Deschutes River Woods (DRW) on the southern outskirts of Bend, in Central Oregon.

Refer to your email for the actual address of my studio.