Another selling point for Pronghorn is its proximity to the
charming town of Bend, population
76,000. Being on the eastern side of
the Cascade Mountains, the weather
is far more temperate year-round
than Portland or Seattle. With winter
activities including top-tier skiing
and snowboarding at Mt. Bachelor,
an hour’s drive from the property, it’s
possible to golf and ski on the same
day some months of the year.
But while winter certainly has its
draws, my favorite time of year to visit Bend is summer, when the weather
is ideal for golf, fly-fishing, hiking,
horseback riding, family activities
and much more.
Plus, on the third week of August
each year (Aug. 16-18, 2012), Bend
Brewfest takes place. Held on the
Les Schwab Amphitheater event
lawn in the Old Mill District, more
than 40 craft breweries from up and
down the West Coast and as far away
as Hawaii came to pour samplings
of their suds in 2011. You can try
all the local brews—there are now
12 breweries in Central Oregon,
including Deschutes, the area’s
original brewery—and discover lots
of amazing brews you’ve never heard
of too.
You need to make an effort to get to
Bend—a 3.5-hour drive from Portland
or a commuter flight into nearby
Medford—but the people are friendly,
the craft brews are stellar and with
a top-tier golf resort like Pronghorn
now at your disposal, it is an effort
well worth making. n
