Other activities

Mt. Bachelor has installed two surface lifts for it's eight-lane Snowblast Tubing Park. Lift tickets cost $13 for adults and $10 for kids for two hours and include specially designed tubes. Sunriver and ISeventh Mountain Resort have ice skating, horseback riding, sleigh rides and snowmobiling. The Oregon Trail of Dreams Training Camp (800-829-2442) offers dogsled rides with dogs that are training for Alaska's famed Iditarod race.

About four miles south of Bend is the outstanding High Desert Museum (541-382-4754), which has walk-through dioramas depicting the American West as well as exhibits on Western and wildlife art and Native American artifacts. The museum has several outdoor exhibits, which we didn't visit (this is a great activity for a day when visibility is low on Mt. Bachelor).

There are plenty of art galleries. If you are in town during one of the gallery walks, take part. As for shopping, Prime Outlets, on Hwy. 97 south of Powers Road, has name brands such as L.L. Bean, Eddie Bauer, Nike and G.H. Bass & Co. The real draw, though, is the Columbia Sportswear factory outlet, with bargain prices on Columbia's practical ski clothing.