Wanderlust Traditions

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas! This week between Christmas and New Year's Eve may be the most festive week of all. Something that makes the holidays so special are the traditions that we make and keep with family and friends. While some traditions are passed through the generations, others only last a couple of seasons. What are your favorite holiday/winter traditions and will you be starting any new ones this year?? 

Today you'll get to read about our current staff and their favorite Christmas/winter traditions. Be sure to ask them about it when you go on tour! 

Jared: I enjoy nothing more than sitting by the fire enjoying a cup of hot cider. 

Bethany: One of my favorite holiday traditions is cooking and baking with my family. We have so many things we like to make for Christmas! Growing up, my sisters and I would make lefse (a potato based Norwegian flatbread) and cookies with my grandma and aunts. This year, my mom, sister, and my sister's kids all got together and made gingerbread houses. 

Danny: My family lives in the southeast, and while normally we're all very conscious eaters, for one day over the holidays we head to Waffle House for the buttery goodness of eggs, bacon, waffles, grits, and hash browns. Mm mmm!

Casey: My favorite Christmas tradition is definitely spending the morning at Mt. Bachelor with friends. The lines are short and everyone is so happy to be there. I also love the idea of trying new things like the horse carriage ride at Eagle Crest, or having Thai food on Christmas Eve. Changing traditions is my favorite tradition. 

Courtney: During my 8 school years in Rochester, NY,  I would wake up at 5am and head out for a run all bundled up with my headlamp shining brightly.  I would run slowly, weaving through the local neighborhoods feeling the chill on my face and hearing the crack of the frozen ground under my feet.  Slowly, house lights would flick on, and you could hear the excitement of kids and families as they discovered that Santa visited. As the sun started to rise and the feeling started coming back into my fingers and toes, I would head home watching kids racing outside with their new bikes, sleds, and skis and arrive back at my house with coffee cake just coming out of the oven and my stocking waiting to be investigated! 

Dave: A favorite childhood memory is most certainly the amazing food my grandmother and aunt labored over for hours with 40 people partaking in Danish glory! My current favorite tradition is taking Christmas day off for a family breakfast, opening a couple of gifts, followed by playing outdoors in the snowy Cascades!

Jeff: The best winter tradition is skiing Christmas day! 

Need ideas for a new tradition this year?? What about joining us for a Bonfire on the Snow? They're available every night this week at 7PM. 

5 days til Christmas

Isn't it odd that in a season that's supposed to be all about taking time to relax and be with loved ones, we do just the opposite? We rush around attending party after party, buying for "Secret Santas" and "White Elephants" and in-laws that you don't know much about. We hustle and bustle and force festivity into every free moment. 

The snow that fell in Bend last week was a reset button for me. As I was frustrated in traffic, shoveling my driveway, and arriving late and stressed for everything, someone reminded me that winter is supposed to make us slow down. It's the earth reminding us to take a break. To stop. To breathe. To use the food you've spent the summer collecting. Okay maybe not that last part, but you get the point. Just because we can run around like crazy people doesn't mean we have to.

So, you have five days until Christmas. What are you going to do? We hope you take some time to enjoy it.

If you're looking for family fun or winter activities this week and next, we've got you covered. But remember, no stress allowed. Click each of the pictures for more information. 

Leap off snow mounds and land in feet of fresh powder on a daytime Snowshoe Tour.

Join us for a locally crafted beer in the forest on our Shoes, Brews & Views Snowshoe Tour.

Snowshoe the mountain under the night sky and listen for woodland winter creatures on our Moonlight or Starlight Snowshoe Tour. 

Make your way to a glowing bonfire on snowshoes and enjoy hot cocoa with locally distilled spirits on our Bonfire on the Snow. 

We're also running cave tours and of course the Bend Brew Bus! If you want to give someone else the gift of adventure from the comfort of your home, consider purchasing a gift card for any amount! 

Take a Leap

When Matt Baker came on our Shoes, Brews & Views Snowshoe Tour (yes, we know it's a mouthful), he hadn't been in the snow in quite some time. It was pure joy to watch his pure excitement over the snow. Clear skies, white fluff, cold brews, and memories to last a lot longer. Enjoy some pictures of his epic adventure and a short interview with Wanderlust

Name: Matt Baker

Current living place: Watertown, NY (military family)

Favorite outdoor activity: Currently hiking and fishing (some times both)

Was this your first time to Bend?
Yes it was and Wanderlust made it a memorable time.

What were you looking for when you signed up for the tour?
Excitement and getting out of my normal everyday routine.

What did you get out of it?
A new activity that I was able to try. Enjoyed jumping off of the snow mound as well as running down. Loved the fresh powder. 

Number of Wanderlust Tours you've been on:
This was my only one. 

Thanks for joining us Matt!! We hope to see you again really soon. 

Matt on the J U M P

... and after the jump

Cheers!