River city brewing eggplant stacks9/10/2023 ![]() Head chef Erin Behzadian sources as many of those ingredients as possible from local farms and the hotel’s rooftop plot. But Redmond Hotel’s resident eatery, Terra Kitchen (509 SW 6th St., 54, /redmond/terra), successfully swaps out ground chuck for eggplant in its Bolognese and piles pizzas with produce. There are beef farms dotting the countryside, at least three butcher shops in town, and the livestock auction is just up the highway in Madras. It takes guts to run a vegetarian restaurant in Oregon cattle country. “It’s extra gingery,” according to my bartender. I’m told that’s because Wayfarer makes the latter ingredient in house. No matter where you think you are, the cranberry mule is a refreshingly sassy fuchsia blend of Wild Roots vodka, demerara and ginger syrup with a peppy bite. Though much of the décor says “high-elevation lodge,” you’ll be reminded of your high desert farming country surroundings anytime a flatbed piled high with hay bales drives by. A full-sized canoe made of glossy blond wood hangs from the ceiling, while a pair of skis and a pickax adorn the walls. Grab a pre-dinner drink at Wayfarer Club (525 SW 6th St., 54, /redmond/wayfarer-club), the hotel lobby bar, which transports you out of Redmond and into a rustic mountain resort. ![]() Redmond’s mural stands out because it’s the only one portraying dusk, giving downtown an everlasting view of a Central Oregon sunset, with a blushing red sky just before it dims to purple. The “Greetings From” series is modeled after those colorful mid-20th century postcards by depicting the landscapes of and wildlife native to the region’s cities. You won’t find that many large-scale paintings in Redmond, but there is one stop on the Central Oregon Mural Trail (520 SW Evergreen Ave., ) right across the street from the hotel. Today, more than 30 murals on walls throughout the community document that migration, becoming their own attraction. Vale, a tiny town 12 miles from the Idaho border, is the first Oregon city westbound pioneers would encounter on their wagon route. SCP Redmond Hotel Photo courtesy of SCP Redmond Hotel. In 1928, when the Redmond Hotel opened-then with the name “New” since it replaced the original fire-destroyed business-the collection of 49 rooms was billed as the finest overnight lodging east of the Cascades. And there’s always a welcoming glow coming from the stone fireplace. A pair of netted papasan chairs sit near an Audio-Technica turntable and extensive record collection. There is a table that doubles as a chess board, pieces in place and ready for players. Here, the grand foyer invites you to linger. ![]() The days of darting through lobbies to avoid breathing the same indoor air as others are a thing of the past. Not only will you discover new attractions at bargain rates it lops off 20 minutes from the drive. ![]() ![]() So the next time you load up the car with hiking gear and river floats for a Central Oregon vacation, type “Redmond” into the GPS instead of Bend. Thanks to Redmond’s small-town status, no place ever feels mobbed, even during peak business hours-from brunch to nightcap. Since 2020, the city’s core has gained a wood-fired pizzeria operating out of an old church, an artisanal butcher that serves outstanding sandwiches and draft beer, and a honky-tonk-style food truck corral with a cantina. On top of all that, Redmond is attracting a number of new businesses that will enhance any visit. But unique features also define the area, like a 300-foot-deep canyon you can walk across or bungee-jump into, a network of lava caves that are open year-round, and a rooftop bar with a view of every notable mountain in the region. A long weekend getaway in Redmond comes with all of the highlights you’d expect from Bend-breathtaking volcanic landscapes, award-winning beer, and an exceptionally walkable downtown. But what makes Redmond destination-worthy? The city of approximately 36,000 is more often than not seen as a place on the way to your high desert adventure, an oversized mile marker indicating you’ve almost made it to your destination.īut I’m here to tell you to book your next stay in this often-overlooked town. Steelhead Falls (Fontaine Rittelmann) By Andi Prewitt Jat 5:48 pm PDTīend has breweries galore and Bachelor Sisters its charming Old West architecture. ![]()
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