Dudes Weekend: What to do, where to eat in Bend, Oregon

We walked and biked all weekend in Bend, Oregon, along the Deschutes River Trail.

Darling Husband, his best friend Jamie and I road tripped down to Bend this summer for Bend Brewfest. We discovered that Bend is sunny and perfect for people like us who like to spend time outdoors.

Read below to find out why "moving to Bend" was a recurring discussion throughout this fun weekend.

The area
Bend is in the middle of the state of Oregon on the Deschutes River. We adventured there in August 2016 and the weather (for me) was perfect -- dry, hot, cloudless blue skies and a likeable mix of desert and green landscapes. The city was larger than I remembered from previous trips, though we spent most of our time downtown and in the Mill District.

We loved our VRBO rental on Hill Street. It was just a 10-minute walk to downtown.

Walkable and bikeable, we really enjoyed discovering by foot and electric bike. There are tons of long, winding paths throughout the city and along the river.

Where we stayed
We decided to save a bit of money. We knew hotel rooms would be expensive, so we booked a VRBO rental on Hill Street, just a 10-minute walk from downtown. For a long weekend, it was nice to have a living area where we could hang out, a kitchen to cook breakfast in (and a late-night popcorn snack) and it was still close to downtown.

The rental was a duplex, but we never heard the neighbors. It was updated and clean inside and had nice finishes. It was a two-bedroom, one bathroom rental, and I loved the original bathtub and bathroom floor tiles. In the morning, I enjoyed coffee and a book on the little deck out back. It was tiny so we definitely heard one another moving about, but a perfect amount of space for the three of us.

These electric bikes we rented were fantastic! I rode tandem on Darling Husband's bike and I didn't even have to pedal!

What we did
I was lucky enough to enjoy Bend with two gentlemen who love the outdoors. We adventured all over the city.

On Friday, we walked for about two hours in the morning, exploring downtown and historic Old Bend and making our way out to the Les Schwab Amphitheater where the Brewfest was held. Both days after our jaunt to the brewfest, we rented large orange tubes from Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe and floated the river. On hot, sunny days, the icy Deschutes was mellow bliss.

On Saturday, we rented bikes at Bend Electric Bikes on Hill Street right by our rental. We rode all over the Deschutes River Trail for about two hours.

We enjoyed this beautiful sunset on the river Friday night at the Crow's Feet Commons.

When the sun went down, we walked to downtown for dinner. Downtown was busy, but we were seated right away at both restaurants Friday and Saturday nights.

What we ate
We stopped at Safeway as soon as we arrived in Bend late Thursday night to pick up breakfast items, snacks and wine. We had lunch both days at the brewfest, taking advantage of the variety of trucks offering barbecue, Asian noodles, Greek, gourmet hot dogs and pizza.

For dinner downtown, the first night we had beers and pub fare at Brother Jon's Alehouse. We got to sit at the tables right outside the front door and enjoyed people (tourist) watching. Note: The Deschutes Brewery Bend Public House restaurant downtown was swamped. Leave yourself some extra time if it's on your Bend bucket list.

Lovin' that sun!

The second night, we enjoyed margaritas and Mexican food at Hola! We again ate outside and enjoyed the sunshine.

After dinner the first night, we walked over to the river to enjoy the sunset. We grabbed a beer at Crow's Feet Commons and sat on the front porch of this gorgeous old house and enjoyed the colors as the sun went down. It was a relaxed, casual atmosphere that we loved.

Verdict: Bend is perfect for people who live to be outdoors. We walked, biked, floated and ate our way through the weekend and we wouldn't have had it any other way.

On our electric bike ride, we discovered Farewell Bend Park. I knew we had to come back here for a photo before leaving town. The men humored me. 

A couple's getaway to New Orleans, Louisiana + Best Cajun Crawfish

We snagged a Groupon discount to stay at Le Pavillon in New Orleans. Photo courtesy of US Travel News.

For more than one year, New Orleans has been on my list. You know, the list you keep in your head that details IF you got to travel, where you would go. Honestly, Las Vegas and Disney World used to be on top. But, about a year ago New Orleans made its way up there.

I read fantastic guide books and did tons of research about where to stay and where to eat during our trip.

I REALLY wanted to stay at Hotel Monteleone. But, when I looked online what that would cost us, I decided to seek a cheaper option. I'm so glad I did!

Here's the hotel bar. No expense was spared in the details and decorating of this hotel.

I booked Darling Husband and I four nights at Le Pavillon, a hotel with a smokin' Groupon deal. The hotel is in the Business District, and was a 10-minute walk to the heart of the French Quarter and two blocks to the St. Charles Streetcar that took us to the Garden District.

After walking by Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter, I WAS SO HAPPY we weren't staying in that rowdy, bustling part of the city. I don't think I would have slept a wink!

We flew into New Orleans at 2 p.m. on a Thursday and took an Uber from the airport to Le Pavillon, about a 20-minute drive. The entrance to the hotel is stately and impressive. Inside the entry, every nook and cranny is decorated with fresh flowers and landscapes and portraits in huge gilded frames. The staff's hospitality was incredible. We felt welcome from the moment we arrived to when we departed.

We enjoyed a glass of wine after dinner at the hotel pool one night. Can you see the full moon between the skyscrapers?

Our room wasn't huge, but was a good size for two. We were on the fourth floor and had only a view of the street below. BUT, this is the best hotel because of the rooftop pool. This moderate-sized pool was a highlight for us every day to soak our sore walking feet and cool off before dinner.

The bed in our room was softer than I prefer and the pillows were those terrible down pillows that immediately smoosh flat as soon as you rest your head. After two nights on those pillows, we requested new ones and slept much better.

Definitely head to the lobby at 10 p.m. for a full PB&J bar as a late-night snack. Milk and cocoa help you wash it down.

Last word of warning about the hotel (and New Orleans in general) - beware of the bachelor parties. We saw some bachelorette parties too, to be fair. But we encountered two groups at the rooftop pool on different days and these folks are in town to party.

First dinner was at Bon Ton Cafe in the Business District. The cafe says it is the oldest Cajun restaurant in New Orleans. Photo courtesy of New Orleans News Online.

Best Crawfish

During our trip, we only ate from restaurants with high ratings in our "Eat Dat" book. The best Cajun food was at Bon Ton Cafe in the Business District, so after we landed we made a dinner reservation. Bon Ton Cafe claims to be the oldest Cajun restaurant in New Orleans, originally opening in the 1900s. It has a tight schedule, so check the website before you go. We enjoyed a catfish appetizer and crawfish jambalaya. Darling Husband had the crawfish dinner.

The spice was mild and not hot, but dishes were still flavorful. Nothing was overcooked and the service was impeccable. We did sit by a family with a couple of kids, but there was also another couple on a romantic date. It's a fine setting for both. This was our most expensive dinner we ate in NOLA, so pay attention to pricing too if that's a concern.

Verdict: Search Groupon for great deals on fabulous hotels in New Orleans and do your research to eat at the best New Orleans restaurants. There is a lot of cuisine and some can be touristy and not good quality food. Bon Ton Cafe is a memorable, classic New Orleans spot if you can get in during its tight schedule.

The crawfish was delicious at Bon Ton Cafe, but we also loved the fried catfish appetizer.

Pet-Friendly Couple's Getaway to Salish Lodge & Spa in Snoqualmie, Wash.

Happy New Year from the Salish Lodge & Spa!

Happy New Year! Darling Husband, my beloved volunteer firefighter, was on shift at the fire station New Year's Eve. So, we rang in the New Year two days later with a Ralphie vacation at Salish Lodge & Spa in Snoqualmie, Wash.

Loved the Snoqualmie Falls, but it was busy!

A hike

We arrived in Snoqualmie on a sunny day a little before our check-in time to hike the falls trail before the sun went down. This was a great decision. The trail was clear and busy with sightseers. I was glad I wore my snow boots because the grade is very steep and it was icy in places. It was neat to see the falls from different viewpoints and the turbines and tubing were huge and thought provoking. Going back up the trail was tough. Definitely not good for family members with mobility issues.

When we turned the corner, these huge tubes of water were unexpected and way cool.

The falls

I know people who have gotten engaged at the falls and the site and lodge are ranked as one of the best places to kiss in the northwest. It was still school winter break when we were there and it was pretty packed with tourists. I didn't feel quite comfortable getting too cozy with my husband with all those kids and grammies around. So the romance was turned down a notch, but the falls were still gorgeous.

Ralphie loved the lodge's 4-star pup treatment, including his own blanket to take home and this delicious cookie.

Dog friendly

Ralphie was more than welcome at the lodge after our little hike. In the lobby he was a celebrity with a group of kids. In our room he received a Salish blanket, dog cookie and special note from our housekeeper. He enjoyed the four-star treatment. The only spot of grass by the lodge was about 2 minutes away on the falls trail, so the walk out to go potty was a little out of the way. This was only an issue because it was chilly outside!

Our River View King Room.

Accommodations

Our room had beautiful high ceilings, rustic lodge decor and the biggest, fanciest spa bathtub I have ever seen. We had a river view king room and the river view was OK. I wish it had been a view of the falls. The bed was pretty soft, so hard mattress lovers be warned! Darling Husband liked that he could make us an actual fire in the fireplace. It wasn’t just a gas fireplace.

The view from our room.

Dinner

Based on a recommendation from my parents, we had dinner at The Attic. We went right at 5 p.m. to beat the rush. They don't take reservations. When we arrived, it was already rowdy in the small dining area. We enjoyed the house-made chips, a margherita pizza and the Philly cheesesteak sandwich. I drank the Salish Lodge & Spa Red Blend wine and Dane enjoyed the Pike Hive Five Salish Lodge & Spa Hopped Honey Ale. Yum!

Brunch

Before our trip, I made brunch reservations for 9 a.m. Sunday. Even though the Dining Room wasn't full yet, we still didn't get a table with a view. The lack of falls view from inside the lodge is my only gripe about the whole experience. Show me the falls! I had the Eggs Benedict with crab and Dane had an all-meat omelet. His plate came with a biscuit and the waitress did the Honey From Heaven tradition. The lodge has an onsite apiary with bees and produces its own honey. The waitress dipped her spoon in the honey pot and held it high above the table letting it fall onto his biscuit. It was a unique tradition and a must-see.

Verdict: Our visit to the lodge with a pup was spendy. $$$$ for sure. This is perfect for a special occasion like New Year's or an anniversary. It was very quiet in the lodge (other than The Attic) and it was a perfect place to recharge after enjoying too much family togetherness during Christmas. It is great for couples with pets and after the craziness of the children's museum during Winter Break, I was happy that there were not tons of kids running around and screaming. 

Have a happy New Year everyone! Many blessings for you and your families in 2016!

Santa was still on site!

Ralphie enjoying the view of the falls.

Happy New Year from the Henzes!