Kayaking in Bend

Do you have a love for the fresh air and sunshine during the warm summer months? What about kayaking? If this sounds like you, you might want to check out these hot spots that are great for going out by yourself or taking the family on guided tours or lessons with some friendly faces.

The Deschutes River

The Deschutes River offers opportunities for mellow floaters and the more experienced. There are two distinctly different available routes you can take, one being for the casual floater and the other for those looking for a little more rough and technical ride.

Fish Ladder

Fish Ladder is mapped out specifically for the floaters who are looking to take the inflatable tubes out and splash some water on their friends while moseying on down the river. Kayaks are still more than welcome on this relaxed float. Most of the float is through calm and still waters but you will still find yourself riding down some slight rapids. Nothing that will knock you off kilter but rather adds a little excitement to the experience.

The float itself will take you just around 90 minutes.

Directions to and from the float can be found here:

Directions to Fish Ladder

Whitewater Channel

For those looking for a little rougher and faster time on the water, the Whitewater Channel is the spot. The features of the river were created by 26 underwater pneumatic bladders, natural and man made riverbed conditions and dynamic river flows.

Directions to and from the float can be found here:

How to Get to The Bend Whitewater Park

Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe

Looking for someone to show you around? Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe is the place to go not only for guided tours and equipment rentals but for all things Tumalo Creek. The employees are a wealth of knowledge and are ready to help answer any questions that might come up. Go get some gear and get the real kayaking experience from the professionals.

Bend Oregon, as you very well might know, is a town surrounded by all things nature. There are hundreds of acres of forest, rivers that run every which way through the area, and more bodies of water than one can count. Finding a place to drop your kayak, stand up paddle board, or canoe has never been easier. Central Oregon is truly a special place for those who have a connection to nature. So to those warriors of the rapids, welcome to your next favorite destination.

4th of July in Sunriver

There’s nothing quite like spending time in Sunriver. The sounds of birds chirping and twigs breaking as dear and other worldly creatures run through the town. Smells of ponderosa pine ruminating throughout the streets while friendly faces are waiting around every corner. Now add to this warm and inviting environment the festivities of 4th of July.

Independence Day Celebration in the Village at Sunriver - 10:30am - 4:00pm

57100 Beaver Dr. Sunriver OR

The Village at Sunriver transforms itself for a day into a myriad of fun activities, sights, and sounds.

A stage will be brought into the courtyard where live music and entertainment will be going all day. You can even be apart of the live entertainment by entering into a watermelon eating contest. How much can you eat?

Tents and booths of local treats and experiences will be lined up throughout the village while you’ll even be able to inspect cool fire trucks and police vehicles while meeting all the local police officers and firefighters (be ready for lots of stickers and great picture opportunities)!

Finally, test your skills and challenge your friends and family to a rock climbing contest. That’s right! A rock climbing wall will be brought into the main square for all ages to climb around on.

There will also be loads of other fun activities and games setup all throughout the village and will be open for business for the whole day.

The event is free to attend and the activities are $1 per ticket.

July 4th in Bend Oregon

There couldn't be a better time of year or a better place to spend the 4th of July. Bend Oregon takes the spirit of the 4th of July and brings it to the big scale, and this year is no exception. Make sure to keep your schedule open and let the folks over at Bend Parks and Recreation Department make your holiday fun for the whole family.

Since the 30’s family and friends have lined the streets of downtown Bend to partake in celebrations of our country’s independence. 2019 will be no exception.

4th of July Pet Parade - 10:00 am

In front of the Bend-La Pine School Educations Center:

520 NW Wall St.

Start your day off downtown with the 4th of July Pet Parade. Grab the leash and load you best buddy in the car, your going on a walk! Also go ahead and dust off your bicycle and grab your tow behind wagon, decorate it up and stick the little on in! Kids of all ages are not only invited to the festival, but encouraged to deck themselves out in red white & blue.

The decorating party and lineup begins at 9:00am and the parade itself promptly at 10:00am. Decorations, keepsake buttons and popsicles will all be provided free for the kids by Bend Parks and Recreation Department. No registration is needed.

After the festivities you’ll be off to Drake Park where live music, games, and food are awaiting.

July 4th Old Fashioned Festival - 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Drake Park - 777 NW Riverside Blvd

It might actually be impossible to hit all the attractions that cultivate around drake park in just 5 hours, but if you want to try, these are the types of things you need to prepare yourself for:

Brought to you by Bigfoot Beverages, from 11:00am - 3:00pm there will be:

• Three Legged Races

• Gunny Sack Races

• Parachute Play

• Hula Hoop Contest

• Ball Relay

• Water Balloon Toss

• Sponge Relay

• Watermelon Eating Contest

Think you got what it takes to compete with the best of them? Well it’s time to toss your hat into the ring!

Kids will especially love the Kids & Family Fun Area: 11:00am - 4:00pm where they will find fun activities and spectacles like:

• The Fish Fling - brought by Hydro Flask

• Flush-a-Duck - brought by Brown & Brown Northwest Insurance

• Helicopter Landing at 11:30am in Harmon Park - brought by AirLink

• The Bend Fire Department (Get ready for some stickers!!)

• Deschutes National Forest

• Friends of the Children

• The Humane Society of Central Oregon

Fireworks at Pilot Butte - 10:00 pm

1310 NE HWY 20

After all the festivities wind down go take a load off, you will need to save your strength for an amazing fireworks display over Pilot Butte. You can see the spectacle from just about anywhere in the city so finding a nice spot for you and your family shouldn’t be too hard.

Bend really does pull out all the stops for its residents and guests. They know that nothing is more meaningful than making happy and fun memories with your family and they do everything in their power to help make those memories. Come on down this 4th to see what Bend has to offer you!

Wine Culture - Central Oregon

Wine culture in Central Oregon is alive and well. Award winning wineries, wine shops and bars, as well as events held regularly celebrating Central Oregon’s vineyards, Bend has plenty to offer to even the most selective of pallets.

First to be mentioned has to be Portello Winecraft. Portello cut no corners when constructing their cafe. Tables made from salvaged cherry barrels and brick walls taken from turn of the century Portland buildings, Portello has carved out it’s own laid back atmosphere. Terrific salads, paninis, pasta and more are all available throughout the week for lunch and dinner. With patio seating during the summer months along with music on Saturdays, all that's missing is you. Lunch and Dinner

Between Smith Rock and the Cascade Mountains sits Maragas Winery. Established in 1999, Maragas Winery has created a quiet and meaningful environment where favorites like zinfandel, cabernet franc, pinot noir, pinot meunier, chardonnay, and many more are grown. Doors are open year round for wine tasting and events are held regularly.

Just 14 miles fro

m Smith Rock State Park sits Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards. The beautiful grounds are accompanied by 15 acres of vineyards, a pond, and even a llama or two strolling around. Doors are open for wine tasting seven days a week, as well as music on Saturday nights and regular events throughout the year. Along with your wine be sure to try their signature handmade pizza, it’s to die for!

Drop by The Wine Shop and Tasting Bar where over 600 labels from around the world wait for you. With a wine bar holding over 30 different types of wines as well as 16 different taps of award winning craft beers and ciders you are sure to find something to your liking. Want to take a bottle home? The Wine Shop lets customers taste wines before you buy. After 12 years in the business The Wine Shop and Tasting Bar has captured the true vibes of Bend Oregon.

Whatever wine experience you are looking for Bend, Oregon has you covered.

Central Oregon Saturday Market Opening for the Season

Summer is the time to be outside with friends and family. It’s also the time to meet new people and see new things. For Central Oregon the Saturday Market is the place to go for all this and more.

From Memorial Day through Labor Day, 2019 downtown Bend lines it’s streets with local vendors, food trucks, and live music. The streets transform into a colorful display of all the talented, creative, and inspirational people of our city. Finely crafted jewelry, artwork, and clothing are just a couple of things that can be found at the Central Oregon Saturday Market.  Dog lovers will find all things dogs with vendor's selling all the latest and greatest dog gear, which will come in handy for Sunriver Dog Day coming May 27.

The farmers market will be open from 10:00am to 4:00pm every Saturday for three beautiful summer months. Live music will fill the air while local food trucks will fill the stomach. Each week will be different from the last with booths, vendors, music and food changing weekly. Creating a summer tradition with the family has never been easier.

So mark your calendars, this summer's Saturday Market is sure not to disappoint. .

Sunriver Golfing:

Golfing, challenging as it can be, may seem only for the veteran player; however, accessibility for all skill levels and ages is achieved through Sunriver dedication to the craft. With two 18-hole courses to choose from within Sunriver itself and a 9-hole course waiting only 5 minutes outside of the Resort, finding your way to a fun and exciting afternoon is right around the corner.

Woodlands

Designed by internationally celebrated Robert Trent Jones Jr., Woodlands is but one of his 250 environmentally responsible masterpieces. With long straight fairways lined in Ponderosa and Lodgepole Pine, the beauty from hole to hole creates a memory of its own to take back with you. This is a great course to hone your skills of long drives and accurate shot placement as to not find yourself a sand bunker or even worse the water.

Meadows

Straight fairways, dog legs left to right, and slopped greens to match, Meadows is the perfect course to put your skills to the test. Home to USGA and NCAA championships along with the NCAA men's division one championship, Meadows also provides a fun challenge for the novices out there who would like to take on the carefully crafted 9-hole putting course outside of the lodge. Named Top 10 Destinations for Family Golf Golf Digest January 2016, no one can deny that mom dad and the kids will get a fun and exciting afternoon out of this great course.

Caldera Springs

Caldera Springs takes the Sunriver golf experience and brings it down to a calculated 9-hole adventure. Grouped in with Meadows award winning course, Caldera Springs also received Golf Digest’s Top 10 Destinations for Family Golf January 2016. With each hole exceeding no more than 170 yards you can lighten the load by leaving your bag at home for only a few clubs will be needed to navigate this course. If you find yourself short on time but still want to squeeze in a quick game with the friends before the day takes you to the next attraction, stop by Caldera Springs.

As Central Oregon realtors, we know the biggest draw to living in Central Oregon — the community and the culture. In Bend, our community includes something for everyone — from the kickoff to Women’s History Month at the MUSE Conference to skiing, snowboarding and winter recreation at Mt. Bachelor. Sample wine and browse local art during the First Friday Art Walk or find your new fishing pole at the Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show. When you’re looking for things to do in Bend, Sunriver and throughout Central Oregon, Tuttle and Tuttle has you covered with a selection of great events and activities to enhance your lifestyle.

Things to Do in Bend, Sunriver and Central Oregon: March 2019

Muse Conference

February 28 - March 3
Muse Hub, 859 NW Wall St., Bend

The seventh annual MUSE Conference brings together local women and teens in Celebration of International Women’s Day and as a kickoff to Women’s History Month. Internationally recognized artists, authors, athletes, entrepreneurs, activists and social change leaders come together for four days of art installations, keynote talks, live performances, panel discussions, breakout workshops and more.

Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show

February 28 - March 3
Deschutes County Expo Center, 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond

Head to Redmond for the annual Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show, which features more gear and more fun for outdoor sports enthusiasts of all ages. Discover cutting edge sporting and outdoor gear and get information from industry experts. Includes boat show and RV sale.

Downtown Bend Restaurant Week

March 1-9
Various Locations in Downtown Bend

Visit select downtown Bend Restaurants during Restaurant Week for select specialty dishes and discounts on favorite dishes for customers. Participating restaurants include Mantra Indian Cuisine, Drake, Bend Brewing Company, 5 Fusion & Sushi Bar, Jackalope Grill, The Lemon Tree, Salud Raw Food, Worthy Taps & Tacos, Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails, Joolz, Deschutes Brewery.

First Friday Art Walk

March 1
Various Locations in Downtown Bend

The First Friday Art Walk has become a popular event for locals and visitors alike. Browse art from a variety of local artists on display at businesses throughout downtown Bend. Galleries kick off their monthly shows on First Friday, which includes local beverages, food, music and entertainment as well as art demos and other fun surprises.

Sisters Folk Festival Winter Concert Series

March 6, 7pm
Sisters High School Auditorium, 1700 McKinney Butte Rd., Sisters

A regional favorite, the Sisters Folk Festival brings you excellent live music options through their Winter Concert Series. Darlingside performs this week and the band features superpowered harmonies, drawing comparisons to Simon & Garfunkle, The Byrds, etc. Folk-rock performers River Whyless open the evening.

Cascade Crest Nordic Ski Marathon & Relay

March 9, 9am
Mt. Bachelor, 13000 SW Century Dr., Bend

Calling all winter athletes! Test your limits at the 2019 Cascade Crest Nordic Ski Marathon. Choose from a 50km Skate race, a 25km Skate race, a 10km Skate or Classic race for beginning racers and a 4 x 12.5km Skate relay. Enjoy skiing and the splendor of Broken Top, by skiing on and around Dutchman Flat and Todd Lake before returning to the Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center.

Subaru Winterfest

March 15-17
Mt. Bachelor, 13000 SW Century Dr., Bend

Head up to Mt. Bachelor to celebrate winter with a concert and mountain lifestyle tour. Share your love for all things winter by enjoying live music, gear giveaways, free s’mores, snacks and hot beverages. Subaru owners get VIP parking and a special gift while supplies last during the weekend. Head down to Crow’s Feet Commons in downtown Bend for evening concerts with The Lil Smokies, Langhorne Slim & The Law and G. Love and Special Sauce.

St. Patrick’s Day Dash 2019

March 17, 8:30am
Deschutes Brewery Warehouse, 399 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr., Bend

This family-friendly 5k fun run benefits the Mt. Bachelor Rotary Club-funded Gift of Literacy and J Bar J Youth Services. Enjoy food, beverages and prizes for the best St. Patty’s Day costume. After the race, enjoy live music by The Pitchfork Revolution, food and beer from Deschutes Brewery at the Post-Dash Bash. Costume contest categories include Best Spirited (male/female), Best Spirited Team, Best Family/Group, Best Couple.

High Desert Stampede

March 28-30
Deschutes County Expo Center, 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond

This fast-paced event draws a wide variety of spectators. Join other rodeo fans for world-champion athletes and animals at the High Desert Stampede. This is an annual Top 40 Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association event.

TedXBend 2019

March 30, 12pm
Bend Senior High School, 230 NE 6th St., Bend

Ted Conferences have popped up and gained popularity throughout the world. TEDxBend features talks, demonstrations and performances under 18 minutes each. Each year, local, national and international speakers and performers descend upon the stage at Bend Senior High School to inspire and engage.

Sunriver Job Fair

March 27, 10am-12pm
SHARC, 57250 Overlook Rd., Sunriver

Moving to Central Oregon and looking for a seasonal summer job in Sunriver? Head down to the Sunriver Job Fair hosted by the Sunriver Owner’s Association. SROA plans to fill more than 100 seasonal staff positions. This event also includes other Sunriver-area businesses looking to fill positions in customer service, food service, retail sales and recreation.

Central Oregon Golf Show

March 30-31
Riverhouse Convention Center

Visitors attending the Central Oregon Golf Show can expect to meet area golf pros, test the newest clubs, get great deals on golf equipment and apparel and start off their season with a bang. This showcases golf equipment and booths for the serious to casual golfer.

How Will You Spend Your Time?

After browsing these great events, which will you plan on attending? Let us know in the comments some of your favorite Central Oregon events, so we can feature these types of gatherings in the future! When you’re ready to make the move to Central Oregon or to sell and upgrade the home you already own here, the team at Tuttle and Tuttle can help you make your housing and real estate dreams come true so you can enjoy more of these great events throughout the year.

The biggest news in the Oregon real estate and property management industries comes in a proposed bill that would enact statewide rent control. If Senate Bill 608 receives final approval, Oregon would be the first state to enact statewide rent control. The bill received approval first in the Senate by a vote of 17-11 and also from the House of Human Services and the Housing Committee by a vote of 6-3. It now moves on to the full House. A floor vote could come as early as next week according to Committee chair Alissa Keny-Guyer, D-Portland.

Senate Bill 608 Details

Senate Bill 608 will affect both homeowners and renters throughout the state. The bill itself caps rent increases at 7 percent, plus the annual increase in the consumer price index, inflation. This bill exempts buildings less than 15 years old and also prohibits landlords from evicting tenants for no reason after they have lived in a unit for 12 months or more. This bill includes an emergency clause, which means if Governor Kate Brown signs, as expected, this bill comes law immediately.

Landlords would be free to raise rent without caps if a renter leaves of their own accord. Subsidized rent would also be exempt if Senate Bill 608 becomes law.

Background on Rent Control

Currently, only four states have cities with rent control in place and many states prohibit it. Rent control remains a controversial topic, as some research shows strict rent control to reduce the supply of rentals, which drives up rents in the long run. The proposed cap would be much higher than typical of cities with rent control. Many California communities with rent control report rents only rising by the rate of inflation, or a fraction of it, each year. For Western states, the annual increase ranged from just under 1 percent to 3.6 percent over the past five years.

The Bulletin reports that there were cases when rents rose by hundreds of dollars and in some cases doubled overnight across the state. The bill comes as an effort to stabilize rents and give rents predictability. The intent of the bill is to provide renters with stability while limiting the impact on the supply of rental homes. One concern comes from economic research that shows rent control reducing investment in housing. In other instances, rent control saw landlords converting rental properties into condos or redeveloping the property, resulting in higher rents due to diminishing supply.

Bend currently requires landlords to give tenants 90 days’ notice of a rent increase if they have been living in the rental home for more than a year.

Oregon Statewide Rent Control Bill

Where do you stand on the issue of statewide rent control? As a homeowner, landlord or property owner, does the impending statewide rent control bill in Oregon play into your future plans to purchase or sell rental property real estate? We’d love to hear more about your thoughts on the issue of rent control and how you think the passing of this law will play out in the Central Oregon real estate and rental markets.

If you have an investment property or are considering investing in a rental property, let Tuttle and Tuttle help you understand how this will affect you. Contact us today to start the conversation. 

Tuttle and Tuttle Group proudly announces the launch of our new, user-focused website. Scott, Jordan and I look forward to better serving our real estate clients in Central Oregon with an improved website with advanced search capabilities for our users. The launch of our new website makes it easier to search for homes sale in Central Oregon, read quality blog content about the industry and trends in our community as well as provides sellers with an excellent resource as they prepare to list their home.

Advantages for Central Oregon Home Search

The launch of the new Tuttle and Tuttle Group website came as a result of our dedication to helping unite the right homes with the right buyers. Having a user-friendly website for our clients to easily navigate stood out as a priority for our business and we hope you’ll take the time to explore the functionality as you search for luxury real estate in Bend, Sunriver, Redmond and all throughout Central Oregon. Quickly search available real estate by area — from Bend’s westside to waterfront properties in Sunriver.

Tuttle and Tuttle Group has always focused our efforts on providing outstanding customer service and the launch of our new website furthers that mission. We specialize in waterfront, golf course, luxury homes and resort properties and our new website makes it simple for home searchers to find available properties within these categories. The layout of the listings provides large, beautiful photographs that give you an idea of what you can expect from life in your new home.

After finding an extraordinary home you’d like to call your own, use helpful website tools designed to make your experience great. Use the Mortgage Calculator and find out what your estimated monthly payment could be for the Central Oregon home of your dreams. Along with a new website, we’re also pleased to debut which a refreshed, updated logo that speaks to our mission and dedication to the Central Oregon community.

Advantages for Central Oregon Home Sellers

The new Tuttle and Tuttle Group website offers Central Oregon home sellers a variety of resources, including the ultimate marketing tool for selling your home. Our updated website includes beautiful listings, which highlight your home in an aesthetically pleasing way to attract potential buyers. The advanced search tools make it easy for buyers to find your property and the attractive layout showcases your home.

For homeowners considering the sale of their home in Central Oregon, we have a tool that creates custom market reports specific to your city, area and subdivision. Get an insider’s view into home sale trends in your neighborhood and what you can expect when listing your home with Tuttle and Tuttle Group. Fill out a simple form on our website with your address and instantly find out your property value.

Find Your Dream Home in Central Oregon

Scott, Jordan and I proudly perform at the top of the Central Oregon real estate market through all conditions, which make us the clear choice to help you buy or sell your home. Use our newly redesigned website to search for Central Oregon real estate for sale by category or subdivision. With our quick area searches and interactive tools, you can find your dream home and connect with personable and qualified realtors to help make homeownership your reality. We look forward to serving your Central Oregon home buying and selling needs now and into the future. Welcome to Central Oregon. Welcome to Tuttle and Tuttle Group.

The Bend Bulletin recently published an article describing Bend as the nation’s leader in telecommuting. Bend and Central Oregon have already been established as a hotbed for remote workers and studies show that 12.1 percent of Bend’s workforce telecommutes according to the latest U.S. Census estimates. Many remote workers in Central Oregon either strike out on their own or bring remote jobs with them. As you can imagine, high quality of life typically rises as one of the primary reasons remote workers choose to telecommute and Bend offers an unparalleled lifestyle.

The Draw For Remote Workers

Remote workers have the pleasure of working from home, from coffee shops or in coworking spaces found throughout thriving urban areas. Data shows that Oregon leads the country in workforce telecommuting with Colorado ranking second. These states share similar climates and attractions that add up to a high quality of life, which makes the draw to these places clear.

Telecommuting offers workers fewer distractions than a typical office setting, which increases employee efficiency and productivity. Workers adjust their personal schedules and mental and physical well-being to optimize productivity. Remote workers in Bend save time (and gas money and the environment) by eliminating commutes and driving less. Working remote can also lead to higher morale and lower stress levels.

What draws remote workers to Bend and Central Oregon? The lifestyle and high quality of life, of course! Imagine waking up early, getting in a few turns up at Mt. Bachelor and then returning home to your cozy home office with your canine companion by your side. The outdoors and the endless opportunities for recreation draw in residents to live in Bend. For workers lucky enough to work for a company that permits telecommuting, no longer are they restricted to urban sprawl, long commutes, and big cities without a world-class ski resort in their backyard.

Bend Oregon Coworking Spaces

Not every Bendite has the luxury of a home office and others thrive on community. Telecommuters in Bend have a variety of options when it comes to connecting with other remote workers and people in the community. Coworking spaces have become an increasingly popular way to work remote — giving you the luxury of achieving the high quality of life you’ve been dreaming of while still getting up and going into an office setting.

BendTech — This nonprofit coworking space located on Bend’s westside offers desks and offices for rent and also hosts regular meetups and panel discussions. BendTech has 160 members working remotely and acts as a hub for telecommuters — even those sticking to their home offices.

9th Street Village — You’ll find 9th Street Village in southeast Bend next to the DIY Cave and the Bright Place Gallery. 9th Street Village has small offices and two different types of desks available for rent on a monthly basis. The building is also home to one of Bend’s newest breweries, Bevel Brewing, which adds to the Bend lifestyle you crave. Soon you’ll be able to work remote and walk steps to enjoy a craft beverage in a welcoming environment of makers, artists and more.

The Wilds — The Wilds offers coworking spaces for creatives, catering specifically to artists, designers, writers, photographers, and other creative workers. Working in a coworking space like The Wilds eliminates the distractions of working from a coffee shop and includes group lunches and great people in the Century Center on Bend’s westside.

Find Your Dream Home Office

Bend draws in remote workers from many different industries — not just creatives and the technically inclined. You moved to, or want to move to, Bend for the quality of life and now you just have to find the perfect home with the ideal home office environment to foster your productivity. The Bend housing market includes an array of homes in vibrant and active neighborhoods. From the secluded, country homestead in Sunriver to a trendy modern abode in the heart of Northwest Crossing, the team at Tuttle and Tuttle Group can assist you in finding a home with the perfect home office for your telecommuting lifestyle.

Contact us to learn more about telecommuting in Bend and how you can find the perfect home office to meet your remote working needs. We love uniting the right people with the right homes in this stunning Pacific Northwest wonderland we call home.