Central Oregon vacation rentals offer a lot of opportunities for some great day trips. The Central Oregon area offers scenic high-desert landscapes, majestic mountains and beautiful forests. If enjoying great outdoor pursuits or seeing small towns interests you, Central Oregon is just the right place.
Ghost Towns
Antelope is an historic ghost town with an interesting past. A small handful of people still call this little town home today. It had its start as a mining town in the 1860s. Most of the original town was destroyed by a fire in 1898, and it was subsequently rebuilt. During the 1970s Antelope briefly housed the Rajneesh commune. Ashwood is another old mining camp, located near Madras. Boyd is home to a few houses, along with the original grist mill. Shaniko is still home to the original town hall, the livery stables, hotel and a small assortment of other buildings.
Museums
Central Oregon's rich history includes the early Oregon Trail settlers, as well as thousands of years of rich indigenous history. The local museums pay homage to this history through their exhibits. The Deschutes Historical Museum in Bend has a number of fun exhibits for all ages, all related to the history of Bend. The Museum at Warm Springs is the product of efforts by the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation to reclaim their many historical artifacts. The museum is open most days of the year and lets the public get a good look at how the tribes once lived.
Interpretive Centers & Nature
One of the top reasons to visit Oregon is the state's many natural treasures. There are many places to visit that will let you experience the area's natural heritage. The Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory has an observatory with several telescopes that allows for easy solar observation. The friendly staff offers bird of prey demonstrations, as well as other fun educational programs. A nature trail and botanical gardens add to the fun. This is a great spot for a day trip from your Central Oregon vacation rental.
The Dee Wright Observatory offers scenic views that extend as far north as Mt. Hood. The nature trail is a 30-minute walk and takes you through some interesting lava flows. The stone memorial was constructed in the 1930s in homage to the architect. One of the area's more unusual outdoor sights is Fort Rock. The rock, which exceeds 300 feet, is what's left of the Fort Rock Volcano. This site has seen a lot of archaeological activity, especially within the caves. The Newberry National Volcanic Monument has a lot to offer for geology and volcanology buffs. The 18-mile caldera has one of the world's largest obsidian lava flows.
Visit VacationHomes.com to find Black Butte Ranch rentals or other vacation properties in Central Oregon. You can narrow down your search results by property type, price range and amenities offered. Find your dream rental today and start enjoying all that Central Oregon has to offer you.