Girls on a family vacation at McKay Falls in Central Oregon
Family Vacation in Sunriver, Oregon
Brakes shutter, dust rises and gravel sprays from the mountain bike tires. The mountain bike warriors stop on the forested trail to survey the damage and come to the aid of a fallen comrade. One of the teenagers on this downhill mountain bike adventure over-estimated her biking abilities and is splayed on the road with volcanic rock, the size of fresh peas, embedded deep into her thigh.
Once cleaned up, she valiantly gets back in the saddle. The group charges on to Paulina Plunge where they will abandon their bikes and take a short hike down to the waterfall. This six mile down hill mountain bike ride passes by several waterfalls and natural water rock slides. The ice cold snow melt chills to the bone as the bikers are plunged into the pool below the rock slide. Shrieks of laughter can be heard from the teens as they willingly take the plunge over and over. Yes, this is a day in the life of a family vacation in Sunriver, Oregon.
Fast forward several hours earlier: “Rise and shine,” I call to the kids as I begin packing our lunch. “We’re biking to a water fall and then we’ll have a picnic.”
While our two children have been biking Paulina Plunge for many years during our annual family vacation, some of the teenagers on this trip haven’t been on a bicycle since the days of training wheels and Schwinn banana seats. I pack a small first aid kit into a back pack - just in case.
Nancy Brown and Sunriver Stables Guide Diana, horseback riding in Central Oregon
Horseback Riding at Sunriver Stables
As the teenagers begin to stumble out of bed, and trickle into the kitchen for breakfast, they ask about my horseback riding adventure the day before. A horse lover my entire life, I made sure to book myself a private trail ride at Sunriver Stables during our family vacation in Central Oregon.
Horseback riding in the high desert, surrounded by Ponderosa Pines, with the Deschutes River following along the trail, is a treat for family members young and old. No riding experience is necessary for the half hour Bald Eagle Loop. Young buckaroos will ride on ponies lead by capable cowgirls, and experienced riders will be able to trot and lope on private trail rides. Sunriver Stables is able to cater to every riders ability during your family vacation.
Kayaking the Deschutes River at Sunriver Resort, Central Oregon
Splish Splash I was Taking a Bath
Surrounded by lakes, rivers and streams, Sunriver Resort has got it covered when it comes to family vacation activities. Our teenagers hung at the Sunriver South pool and slid down the giant water slide.
Another day we paired the teenagers two by two, like Noah’s Ark, as they paddled down the gentle Deschutes River in canoes. The solo male teenager in our group opted for a single kayak to navigate the clear blue water.
Golf Galore on your Family Vacation in Sunriver, Oregon
If you prefer your water activites to be on a golf course, Crosswater Golf Courseis a winner. Sunriver Resort offers three golf courses for every skil level. The golf course gave our father/son duo time for bonding during our family vacation.
These are some of the activities our family enjoys on our annual vacation to Sunriver, Oregon. We also added soaring, white water rafting and standup paddle boarding to our outdoor adventures. Of course, nothing beats sitting in the hot tub watching a Central Oregon sunset.
Watching the sunset on a family vacation in Sunriver, Oregon
