May 24, 2026

190. Bend, Oregon - Nature's Playground: Adventure Awaits in Bend

Show Notes
Transcript

Travel Is Back episode 190. Johnny Mac heads to Bend, Oregon. Nature's Playground: Adventure Awaits in Bend.

Some episodes use AI for research, writing assistance, and occasional voiceover when Johnny Mac is unavailable. His point of view, and his insistence on finding the best local taco remains entirely human.

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Hey, we made it to Bend, Oregon. This is one

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of those places that surprises you in the best way possible.

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It's not just a spot on the map. It's a

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place where you can really dig in and feel like

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you're part of something special. Bend has this vibe. It's

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laid back but full of energy at the same time.

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You've got the mountains, the river, the breweries, the food,

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and just a whole lot of fun packed into this

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small city. So let's jump right in. What should you

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actually do if you find yourself in Bend. Let's start

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with the outdoors, because honestly, that's what Bend is all about.

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One of the first things you'll notice is how close

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everything feels to nature. You can't miss the to Shoots River.

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It runs right through the center of town. If you're

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here in the warmer months, you've got to hop on

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a float. You rent an inner tube or maybe a

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kayak or paddle board if you're feeling ambitious, and just

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let the river take you. It's such a chill way

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to spend an afternoon. The water's clear, the current is mellow,

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and you'll see people out there with their dogs, their kids,

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their coolers, just living their best lives. There's even a

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spot in the river with this standing wave where people

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surf surfing in the middle of Oregon. How cool is that.

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If you don't feel like getting wet, there's a walking

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path called the d Shoots River Trail that lets you

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follow the river's path, a great way to soak in

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the scenery without having to change into a swimsuit. Now,

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if you're more of a hiker, Ben's got you covered

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there too. One of the best known spots is Smith

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Rock State Park. It's about a half hour drive from

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town and it's worth every minute. The park has these massive,

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dramatic rock formations that look like they belong in a

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Western movie. There's a trail called Misery Ridge, and yeah,

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the name sounds intimidating, but if you're up for it,

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the views from the top are absolutely stunning. You'll see

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the crooked river winding below and the Cascade Mountains off

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in the distance. It's one of those views that makes

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you stop, take a breath and just appreciate where you are.

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If you're here in the winter, you're going to want

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to check out Mount Bachelor. It's right there, about twenty

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five minutes from downtown and it's a fantastic spot for

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skiing and snowboarding. Even if you're not into downhill stuff.

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The area has snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and just hanging

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out in the snow with a cup of hot chocolate.

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And if you're not much of a snowperson at all,

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don't worry. There's plenty to do in Bend no matter

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the season. Let's talk about downtown for a bit, because

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you're definitely going to want to spend some time there.

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It's super walkable with cool shops, restaurants, and breweries. Bend

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is actually known for its craft beer scene, and there's

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this thing called the bend Ale Trail. You grab a passport,

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either a paper one or on an app and you

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go around town collecting stamps at different breweries. Some of

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the big names you've probably heard of, like to Shoot's

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Brewery or Boneyard Beer, but there are so many smaller

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ones too. They all have their own vibe, from laid

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back tap rooms to more upscale spots with full menus.

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You really can't go wrong, and even if you're not

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a big beer person, most of these places have something

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for everyone, cider, wine, even kombucha. Food Wise, Bend doesn't

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mess around. You've got everything from food trucks to fancy

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sit down places. If you want to keep a casual,

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head over to the Lot. It's this little food cart

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pod with covered seating and heaters so it's cozy no

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matter the weather. You'll find a mix of options tacos, burgers,

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Thai food, even vegan stuff. Grab a bite and a

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beer and just kick back For breakfast. There's this spot

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called Sparrow Bakery that locals love. Their Ocean rolls are

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kind of legendary. It's like a croissant with a cinnamon, sugar,

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cardamom twist. Trust me, it's worth the line. And if

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you're into pizza, you can't miss a place called Pizza Mando.

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It's been around for years and it's always a solid choice.

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For something a little fancier. There's a restaurant called Zydeco

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Kitchen and Cocktails. It's got kind of a Southern meats

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Northwest vibe with dishes like jambalaya and barbecue shrimp, but

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they also do a killer steak. The vibe is nice

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but not stuffy. You can show up in your hiking

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boots and no one's going to bat an eye. Another

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great dinner spot is nine hundred Wall. They've got a

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fantastic happy hour and the menu is all about fresh,

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local ingredients. It's the kind of place where you can

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just order a bunch of small plates and share everything

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at the table. Now, let's talk about coffee, because let's

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face it, you're gonna need it after all the hiking,

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paddling and brewery hopping. Bend has no shortage of great

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coffee spots, but a couple stand out. There's a place

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called Lone Pine Coffee Roasters that serve some of the

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best espresso in town. It's small, cozy and has that

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great local vibe. Another one to check out is Back

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Porch Coffee Roasters. They've got a few locations and it's

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just good coffee, no fuss, no frills, just solid quality coffee,

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perfect for starting your day or recharging in the afternoon,

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if you're traveling with kids, or even if you're not.

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There's a little something for everyone at the High Desert Museum.

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It's part history museum, part wildlife center, and all around

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a good time. You'll learn about the history and culture

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of the region and you can get up close to

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animals like otters, porcupines and even birds of prey. It's

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a really well done museum and it's a nice way

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to spend a few hours, especially if the weather isn't

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cooperating for outdoor activities. For something a little different, head

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to the Old Mill District. It's an area that used

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to be well an old mill. Now it's been transformed

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into this cool shopping and dining area right along the

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Dashutes River. You'll find everything from big name stores to

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unique local boutiques. And if you're here in the summer,

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keep an eye out for live music at the less

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schwab Amphitheater. It's an outdoor venue right on the river

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and they get some pretty big name acts coming through town.

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One thing you've got to know about Bend is that

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it's a great jumping off point for exploring central Oregon.

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If you've got a car, take a drive along the

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Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway. It's this gorgeous route that takes

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you past a bunch of alpine lakes and through mountain passes.

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There are spots to stop and hike, picnic, or just

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take in the view. You can even rent a kayak

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or paddleboard and get out on the water Mirror Lake

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is a favorite. It's got that glassy, reflective surface that

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lives up to its name. Bring your camera because it's

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ridiculously photogenic out there. And another cool spot is Tumlo Falls.

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It's just a short drive from town, and the waterfall

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itself is only a short walk from the parking lot.

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But if you want more of a hike, there are

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trails that take you deeper into the canyon where you'll

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find more waterfalls and some great views. It's a perfect

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blend of accessible and adventurous. If you're into quirky roadside attractions,

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there's a spot just outside of town called the Peterson

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Rock Garden. It's this funky little place with sculptures and

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buildings made entirely out of rocks. It's one of those

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places that's a little offbeat but totally worth seeing if

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you've got the time. Now, let's talk about where you

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might want to stay. Bend has a range of options,

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from budget friendly motels to cozy vacation rentals. If you're

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looking for something unique, check out the mcmenimon's Old Saint

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Francis School. It's a former Catholic school turned into a hotel,

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complete with a movie theater, soaking pool, and multiple restaurants

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and bars. It's quirky, it's fun, and it's right in

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the heart of downtown. For something a little simpler, there's

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the Campfire Hotel. It's got this retro summer camp vibe

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with a fire pit, pool and even bikes you can

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borrow to cruise around town. It's affordable, laid back, and

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just a fun place to hang out. If you're into

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camping or arving, you'll find plenty of options around town

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as well. Places like two Milo State Park offer a

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chance to stay right along the river, which is pretty

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awesome if you're into falling asleep to the sound of

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running water. Ekoa. One thing you'll notice about Bend is

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how friendly people are. It's one of those places where

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strangers smile at you. Dogs are welcome pretty much everywhere,

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and the general vibe is just super inviting. You could

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strike up a conversation with a local at a brewery

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or on a trail and they'll probably have a ton

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of recommendations for you. People here love their town and

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they're happy to share it with visitors. Before you leave,

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consider taking a little piece of Bend home with you.

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There are some great local shops where you can pick

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up souvenirs that aren't the cheesy, touristy kind. A place

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like Dudley's Bookshop Cafe is perfect if you're a reader.

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They've got a mix of new and used books and

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it's just a cozy little spot. Or stop by the

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Ben Sop Company for some locally made goat milk soap.

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It sounds random, but it's the kind of thing you'll

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use and think, Yeah, this is nicer than what I

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usually buy at the store. And there you have it. Bend, Oregon.

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It's a place that's all about balance, a little adventure,

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a little relaxation, and a whole lot of good food

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and drink. Whether you're floating down the river, hiking to

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a waterfall, or just enjoying a beer downtown, you'll feel

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like you're exactly where you're supposed to be. Bend has

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this way of making you slow down and really enjoy

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the moment. And isn't that what travels all about? I'm

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Johnny Mack and travel is back.

190. Bend, Oregon - Nature's Playground: Adventure Awaits in Bend

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