The Best of Central Oregon’s Natural Beauty on the Cheap! #2
Welcome to our second blog on some super fun ways you can experience the local beauty that is Central Oregon, on the cheap. Central Oregon has long been a vacationing hot spot, due in part to it’s beautiful landscape, friendly locals, sweeping mountain views, and neverending opportunities for outdoor recreation and famly fun. Located just about 5 miles South of Bend, Oregon, on Hwy 97, lies the the local treasure known as the High Desert Museum. Now, I know that when the parents say “We’re going to visit a museum”, sometimes the kids start to moan and groan. Sure there are some kids who are delighted, but many youngsters think visiting a museum means a long, torturous, walk through a boring history lesson that is WAY more interesting to the grown-ups than it is to them.
The High Desert Museum is not that museum. Here, your family will encounter wild eagles, owls, otters, bobcat, lynx, porcupines and other High Desert animals living in their natural habitats. You will get to meet stagecoach drivers, pioneers, and others from the American frontier. You will experience Native American and Western art and culture through fun and interactive exhibits. The Donald M. Kerr Birds of Prey Center let’s you “Get a close-up look at some of nature’s fiercest predators – owls, hawks, and eagles, and other wildlife of High Desert forests. Some of the animals who await you at the center include Charisma and Kokanee the bald eagles, Nicholas the golden eagle, Luna the great horned owl and more.” The museum offers play areas where little kids can really let loose. They can climb up to the eagle’s perch and slide down the small rock slide. They can climb inside the packrat nest and raid the rancher’s shed. This place is hands on to help your kids get engaged in this unique and fun learning experience. You’ll want to plan on spending 2 or 3 hours at the museum to enjoy all of the exhibits. On your way out, swing by the Silver Sage Trading Store for unique gifts, books, and toys from the High Desert. They offer an in-depth selection of books on the High Desert history and culture as well as local and regional crafts. You can pick up some delicious local jams and bbq sauces, museum souveniers, games, stuffed animals and toys for the little ones, or authentic artisan Native American jewelry featuring inlaid sterling silver with opal, onyx, lapis, turquoise, freshwater pearls; porcupine quills and more. The museum is open from 9-5 all summer long, but is closed on the 4th of July holiday. Adults will pay $15, seniors $12, children 5-12 years old $9, and little ones under 5 are free. The museum offers a 10% discount for all active and retired Military personnel year round, and this Memorial Day, May 27th, the museum offers free admission to all active duty personnel and their families, up to five family members. This is a partnership with Blue Star Museums. This is a perfect mid morning stop on your way up to Newberry Crater! There’s plenty of RV parking, and you can eat lunch at the Rimrock Cafe onsite, or bring your own lunch and eat the outdoor picnic tables near the parking lot. Wear comfortable walking shoes, and don’t forget your camera… Those otters are cute!
