Is this Home

Welcome back to this week's adventure in Bend! Get ready, because I’m about to take you through all the unforgettable highlights of our time here in this beautiful part of Oregon. Let’s dive in and explore together!

Our journey to Bend kicked off with breathtaking views and almost endless camping options in the Deschutes National Forest, all conveniently listed on the iOverlander app for ease of planning. The best part? Free camping! This meant we didn’t have to rely on parking lots or other less-than-ideal spots to set up for the night. Oregon also boasts an abundance of Sno-Parks—large paved parking lots originally designed for winter snowmobile enthusiasts—which double as free, convenient campsites during the warmer months. While the amenities at these parks are usually quite minimal (think outdated pit toilets and little else), they’re perfectly functional for low-maintenance travelers like us.

We started our adventure by camping in Sno-Parks while we explored the Bend area and looked for decent spots to settle down temporarily. As we traveled through the southwestern outskirts of the forest, we realized it was time for a serious grocery haul to stock up on supplies. That’s when we stumbled upon La Pine, a small town about 30 minutes south of Bend. It’s a charming, quiet, one-stoplight town with a handful of grocery stores, a couple of restaurants, and not much else—but what really stood out was a peaceful riverside spot located just 15 minutes into the forest. Groceries in La Pine were a bit pricier than we expected (probably due to the small-town factor), but after stocking up, we made our way to the riverside campsite—a refreshing treat after spending months in the desert with so little water around, especially being from the Great Lakes states where we grew up.

The drive to the riverside spot was far from smooth sailing. It was a long, bumpy, three-mile dirt road that rattled the van like an earthquake with every turn. But once we arrived, it was so worth it! The campsite was right on a beautiful bend of the river, complete with a sandy beach and stunning views that took our breath away. We couldn’t have been happier with this spot. Bear immediately bolted straight into the water, thrilled to cool off, and even Bug got to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine in her tent. The river’s icy cold water was incredibly refreshing, especially with the weather getting warmer by the day. After constantly being on the move from place to place for months, this spot felt like a dreamy retreat where we could spend four or five days simply relaxing without any interruptions. It was exactly what we needed.

Eventually, though, we had to head back into town to replenish our provisions. Our van’s compact fridge and pantry can only hold so much food, and considering the higher grocery prices in La Pine, we opted to make the trip into Bend for a Walmart run instead. While there, we also decided to do a little exploring and see if we could find a new spot to camp nearby.

The Walmart in Bend was pretty much what you’d expect—an eclectic mix of people from all walks of life going about their day. After restocking our essentials, we turned our attention to Mt. Bachelor. Luckily, we discovered another Sno-Park nearby that offered an absolutely incredible view of the mountain, easy access to Bend, and plenty of scenic hiking trails. We spent our days there exploring the trails and taking Bear on long, leisurely walks through the peaceful forest. The natural beauty of the area was absolutely breathtaking and left us in awe.

Bend turned out to be an outdoor enthusiast’s dream come true. Jill and I both love hiking, exploring, and being immersed in nature, so it felt like the perfect place for the two of us to enjoy. On top of that, the town is renowned for being one of the most dog-friendly cities in the world, which was a huge bonus for our furry family members! After a few days at the Sno-Park, we decided it was time to check out Bend’s downtown area. We were thrilled to find an overnight street parking spot close to downtown, surrounded by a variety of other travelers camping in vans, buses, converted ambulances, and RVs. It was such a cool and welcoming vibe! We parked the van there and spent some time visiting a few of Bend’s local breweries, which turned out to be such a fun and relaxing experience.

The next morning, we headed back downtown to grab coffee at one of the town’s cozy local cafés—something Jill always loves to do. As we wandered around the bustling area, we couldn’t help but notice the abundance of real estate offices everywhere, with properties prominently showcased in their windows. If I havent aid this already a big part of our journey is about finding a place to eventually settle down, and Bend initially seemed like it could be a promising option for us. However, how much can you really learn about a place in just a few weeks? Despite the town’s charm and everything it offered, something about it didn’t quite click for us, and we soon found ourselves questioning whether Bend was truly the right fit for our long-term plans.

Stay tuned for the next chapter of our van life adventure, where we’ll share the reasons why we ultimately decided Bend—and Oregon—wasn’t the place we wanted to call home. Thanks so much for following along on our journey, and we’ll catch you next time!