Getting there

By air: You can fly into Redmond/Bend Airport (20 miles from Bend) from many West Coast cities. Portland is the nearest airport with major-airline service. The airport has a helpful Web site (www.flyrdm.com) with information on ground transportation and other airport services.

By train: Amtrak (800-872-7245) provides service on the Coast Starlight, which runs from Los Angeles to Seattle. The closest stop is Chemult, 60 miles south of Bend. Make arrangements for taxi pickup ahead of time.

By bus: Greyhound operates daily into Central Oregon.

By car: Mt. Bachelor is 21 miles southwest of Bend, on the scenic Cascade Lakes Highway. Take Hwys. 26 and 97 from Portland, 162 miles away. State Hwy. 126 comes from Eugene (132 miles).

Getting around: A car is necessary, though parking is so limited at the mountain, we recommend you take a shuttle. You'll need the car to get around Bend, since the town does not have a bus system (and badly needs one; a taxi from the Inn at the Seventh Mountain into Bend was $13 one way). If you think the cost of the hotel shuttles is too high (and it will be if you have a group of four or more), head to Mt. Bachelor's park-and-ride operation, offered daily mid-December to latter April, from the corner of Simpson and Colorado on the west side of Bend. It costs $5 each way. You also can opt for a one-day car rental from Enterprise in Bend, which we did one season in order to explore the High Desert Museum and outlet stores.