Taking in Life Around Me......#SundayStills....Theme: Favorite Vacation Spot

This weeks theme for #SundayStills is your favorite vacation spot.  This challenge is hosted by Terrie from Second Wind Leisure. Here is where to find her current post. I've also been loving visiting the blogs of the other participants and being inspired by their interpretations of the theme.  

How do you pick a favorite vacation spot? What constitutes as favorite? Boy, it can be hard to choose. From the time we were married we tried to take at least one vacation a year, sometimes more, maybe a bigger one and then a couple weekend trips. We have ALWAYS had a vacation savings account and we put something in it every payday so we are prepared for vacations. I suppose I could have added photos from a variety of places but I decided to just choose one.

Trips to Florida were always favorites because we got see family. Our trip to Europe in 2019 was a favorite, as are countless beach trips (because we live so close). Hood River has become another favorite. BUT if I were going to choose ONE place that we love to go to, that is so relaxing for us, that we are able to just not have an agenda, it would be Sunriver, Oregon. Sunriver is a resort community situated in Central Oregon about 16 miles south of Bend. We have gone in every season and there is always something to do. The weather in the high desert can be interesting. In fact, just last week it snowed for a few hours.  There are 30 miles of paved bike trails, an awesome village with shops and restaurants, swimming, kayaking, rafting, golfing, ice skating in winter and so much more. It is close to hiking, fishing, skiing, shopping. Or just stay in and play games and relax. We've done it all. It has everything you could possibly want to do. We love heading into Bend or the town of Sisters for shopping, mini golf, etc.  

My hubby and I went there for our honeymoon. For years after that, we went every year, then we would alternate going to Florida to see family and going to Sunriver. So many memories have been made. We've seen it grow and change a lot since 1992, yet still a peaceful and relaxing place to go. As I was looking for photos, I came across so many when our girls were younger, and these were just digital ones. We've gone since they were toddlers.  This article on Travel Oregon dot com is great. I learned quite a bit as I read it. That during WW 2 it was a training facility for soldiers. 

It was hard to find all the photos I thought I had, and then hard to choose which ones to use. I know I have more, but just couldn't find them. The last time we went was in 2017 (we're hoping to go this fall). That year was a bad year for wildfires, and it was the first time I really kept an eye on air quality. Several of the days we were there we stayed inside, but there were some better days and we were able to get out and enjoy the outdoors. So enjoy my photos, they span many years and I'll post comments below them. A few were from when our girls were younger.

Above and below, hiking in the Paulina Peak area in 2013. Despite being in the high desert, there's plenty of green.

Somewhere on the way. The scenery is always so stunning, the mountains as a backdrop for the desert is a sight to see. 

This statue is in Bend. We have tried to get a photo by it every year we've gone. This was 2010 when we went in December. It snowed the whole time we were there and there was already 2' on the ground when we arrived. So much fun. Bend had an awesome Christmas parade. 

We had never heard of a Christmas parade so we had to check this out. So much fun. Laughed when we saw the dog with the sign. 

This church building along the way was pretty neat looking. The brighter colors against the brown grasses.

Nothing more gorgeous than the mountains. 

Lots of games played around the table. When we go on our trips to Sunriver, we always like to invite friends and family to join us for part of it. 

We did manage to get one day of kayaking in when we went in 2017. The Sun River and Spring River are gorgeous, and open into the Little Deschutes. 

So much nature and wildlife. It is my favorite, it is peaceful. I love to hear the birds, see the wildlife. They have an awesome nature center and observatory that is also really fun to visit. 

We've taken many pictures on this bridge. This was 2017. The sky was hazy from smoke, but still so pretty.

We came across this house on VRBO in the mid 2000's. We made a great connection with the owner and have rented it probably 98% of the time we go. We love it. 

First time I'd ever seen a quail in Sunriver. 

Mini golfing in Bend. It's an awesome course. These two are always so competitive. 

THE bridge. 2017. Our youngest (in orange) and a friends she invited. 

2017 went to the village for ice cream. It wasn't a great air quality day but we wanted to get out...every now and then ash would fall on us. 

2013 trip with friends. We were also in Bend for a soccer tournament for our youngest and then extended our stay to include a vacation. 

One of the funnest candy stores! Even if you don't like candy it's fun to walk around. So many "old school" candies too.

Horseback riding in 2013 with our youngest. We had fun. 

A favorite walk/hike is the Deschutes River Trail to Benham Falls. It's beautiful and fairly easy. 

2008 canoeing with the girls. It was so fun going through photos and seeing them grow on these trips. 

Pretty sure that's Mt. Bachelor...smoky skies!

Paulina Falls. Somewhere in the area are natural water slides, but we've never been to them. 

Part of the 3 Sisters Mountains between Bend and Sisters Oregon.

Sunriver in the winter. 2010

Really throwing it back. These last photos are our honeymoon in 1992. 

Our little house, the "gosling"

Now I'm antsy to get back there! One of my favorite bloggers, Sandy at Reluctant Entertainer moved to Sunriver several years ago....so jealous. We've often said we'd love to own a simple vacation home there, but boy are they spendy. 

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin