3 Family Fun Day Trips to Sunriver
October 27, 2017
Are you a Central Oregonian looking for fun in your own backyard? Come to Sunriver! From biking and swimming in the summer to skiing and tubing in the winter, Sunriver has fun for everyone. Here are three fun day itineraries:
Family Fun Day #1: Pedal Pathways
Get your group on the pathway near the Sunriver Lodge to pedal almost 5 miles through the Great Meadow and along the Deschutes River. Stop at the interpretive signs along the way and you may learn something about the area's history. Keep your eyes open for resident raptors, coyotes and deer. Back at the lodge you can play a fast nine on the resort's "chip & putt" course. Enjoy a beverage, snack or lunch at the Merchant Trader, or head over to The Village at Sunriver (walkable or a quick bike ride). The village offers more than shopping — which is, of course, always an option. Seasonal diversions include bumper cars, miniature golf, bounce houses, ice rink and food options galore. As the skies darken, make your way to the Oregon Observatory where the stars and planets put on a show you won't soon forget.
Family Fun Day #2: Hiking and Recreation
Mount up for a trail ride at Sunriver Stables. Central Oregon looks great from atop a trusty and sure-footed steed! Did you bring a picnic lunch? Fort Rock Park is the perfect place to enjoy it. And bring a ball — basket, soccer, nerf or a frisbee. There are acres of grass to run and play on. Try out the pickleball courts — easier to play than tennis and a sport invented here in the Pacific Northwest! Rent equipment at nearby hut. If it's sunny & warm, rent a canoe, kayak or tube and float the river from public launches at Big River, Harper Bridge or Besson Day Use Area. Stop at Goody's soda fountain & candy store. Just the smell of the homemade caramel corn will lure you through the door.
Family Fun Day #3: Explore Sunriver Nature
Meet the natives at the Sunriver Nature Center and see eye-to-eye with a live eagle or great horned owl. Explore their nature trail, botanical garden and hands-on exhibits. Keep a lookout and you just might spot the wild resident porcupine napping in a pine tree or otters frolicking in Lake Aspen. Grab lunch from any of the 20+ Sunriver-area eateries. Spend the afternoon making a splash at SHARC. If it's summer, there's two water sides and a lazy river to enjoy a leisurely float. Grab a bite to eat before getting jostled on the bumper cars or playing a rousing game of mini golf in the village. Following a full day of fun and adventure, the kids will be asleep in the car before you hit Highway 97.