Bend’s High Desert Museum

Located on Highway 97 just outside Bend, Oregon and minutes away from the all-seasons resort of Sunriver, the High Desert Museum makes for an ideal pit stop en route through Central Oregon or a great half-day activity while vacationing in this family vacation hot spot.

high-desert-museum

With indoor and outdoor exhibits, wildlife shows, and walking paths, families can easily spend most of a day here. (If you pack a lunch, there’s ample picnic space.) We love the river otter habitat (I could watch those playful animals swim for hours!), the living history features, and Raptors of the Desert Sky show. Indoors, historical exhibits take visitors through central Oregon history with covered wagon displays, descriptions of life on the Oregon Trail, Native American dwellings, and lessons in area volcanic activity. Basically, there’s something for everyone here, and the museum does a wonderful job illustrating the diversity of stories Central Oregon has to tell.

Note: If you’re visiting during the summer months, a stop at nearby Lava Beds National Monument is a must. Kids can see exactly how lava shapes the landscape, hike a cinder cone, and brave a cave. Closed during winter months!

Distance from the interstate: Right off Highway 97

Date last visited: January 2010

Admission costs: Summer: $15 for adults, $9 for children (under 4 free). Winter: $10 for adults, $6 for children (under 4 free).

Hours of operation: Summer: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily ( May 1 through October 31). Winter: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily (November 1 through April 30). Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Food services: The Rimrock Cafe offers family fare in the form of sandwiches, soups, and wraps. It’s open 10 am to 4 pm in summer, and has plenty of seating. Families can also picnic outdoors.

Directions: The museum is located at 59800 Highway 97, 16 miles south of Bend.

 

 

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