| Bend Oregon is one of the best places to | | | | visitors can literally ski in the morning and |
| retire in the United States. It has | | | | golf in the afternoon. Known as "the sunny |
| everything a retired person could want. The | | | | side of Oregon," the Cascade Mountains act as |
| recreational opportunities are abundant; | | | | a protective buffer, giving Bend only 12 |
| everything from mountain biking, hiking, | | | | inches of precipitation per year. That |
| rafting, golfing, fishing, rock climbing, | | | | compares to 42" for Portland, 36" for Seattle |
| camping, downhill and cross country skiing, | | | | and 20" for San Francisco. |
| snowmobiling, general sightseeing and much | | | | |
| more. | | | | St. Charles Medical Center is located in Bend |
| | | | and is the regional referral center for more |
| The weather is perfect. Moderate days and | | | | than 230,000 people in a 32,000-square-mile |
| cool nights characterize Bend's year-round | | | | area of central and eastern Oregon. With more |
| climate. Because of the high altitude and | | | | than 240 physicians on its medical staff, |
| clear air, nighttime temperatures average 30 | | | | representing 40 specialties and |
| to 40 degrees below the daytime highs. | | | | sub-specialties, and more than 1,950 |
| Evenings are generally cool, even in the | | | | caregivers, it provides many services usually |
| summer, requiring sweaters or jackets. Annual | | | | found only in larger urban areas. These |
| temperature extremes show that only one year | | | | include open heart and neurosurgery, |
| out of five has a temperature colder than 17 | | | | comprehensive cancer care, inpatient |
| below or warmer than 100 degrees. Frost can | | | | rehabilitation for stroke and major injury, |
| occur during any summer month. | | | | sophisticated imaging technologies and more. |
| | | | |
| The average annual precipitation in Bend is | | | | St. Charles is Oregons' only level 2 trauma |
| less than 12 inches, over half falls between | | | | center east of the Cascade Mountains and has |
| November and February, often as snow. Brief | | | | the region's only Level 3 neonatal intensive |
| thunderstorms usually provide most of the | | | | care unit. The hospital increased its |
| light summer rain. The average annual | | | | inpatient bed capacity to 216 in late 2004 to |
| snowfall is 33.8 inches. Snow rarely | | | | keep pace with Central Oregon's population |
| accumulates to more than a few inches in | | | | growth and is in the midst of expansions in |
| depth nor lies on the ground for an extended | | | | facilities, technology and equipment. |
| period. Snow depth in Bend exceeds 24 inches | | | | |
| in only one winter out of twenty. At Mt. | | | | St. Charles and the many other medical |
| Bachelor, the ski resort 22 miles southwest | | | | facilities in Bend provide state of the art |
| of Bend, snow normally reaches depths of 160 | | | | health care for the retired person. Many of |
| to 180 inches. | | | | the nations top Physicians and Surgeons live |
| | | | in Bend because of the life style found in |
| Bend was originally called Farewell Bend and | | | | Central Oregon. |
| received its name because it was at this | | | | |
| place that travelers over the pioneer roads | | | | Bend also has golf courses for everyone. |
| had their last view of the river. Today it is | | | | Central Oregon's spectacular high-desert |
| only a few hours drive to the Oregon Coast. | | | | landscape and ideal climate, four-star |
| Portland is 3.5 hours away if you are looking | | | | resorts, public, semi-private and private |
| for a big city. Redmond International Airport | | | | courses have been rated 23rd in the world as |
| (Roberts Field) is only 16 miles North. | | | | a golf destination by Golf Digest. Choose |
| | | | from more than 25 unique courses, some |
| Bend is nearly the geographic center of the | | | | easygoing to championship layouts like |
| state and is also the most populated city in | | | | Sunriver's Crosswater course, designed to |
| Central Oregon with a population of more then | | | | challenge even the lowest handicappers. |
| 75,000. To the east you will find high desert | | | | |
| vegetation and to the west, Bend is | | | | Bend also has many volunteer opportunities. |
| surrounded by U.S. Forest Service land. At an | | | | Habitat for Humanity, The Oregon High Desert |
| elevation of 3,628 feet, Bend enjoys the | | | | Museum, Hospice, and Saint Charles Medical |
| predominately dry climate of the Great Basin. | | | | Center are only a few of the many |
| Sunny days, low humidity and cool nights | | | | opportunities to give back to the community. |
| provide the most common weather pattern. | | | | |
| | | | Bend Oregon real estate prices are still |
| Bend has the highest average number of sunny | | | | moderate compared to some parts of the |
| days in the state. Clear days average 158 | | | | nation. The median home price is around |
| days per year with an additional 105 days | | | | $350,000. Real estate prices have been rising |
| that are mostly sunny. Many of the remaining | | | | steadily over the past decade because Bend is |
| days provide substantial sunshine. Days that | | | | such a wonderful place to live and retire. |
| are totally cloudy do not often occur. Bend | | | | |
| is the outdoor recreation capitol of Oregon, | | | | If you are thinking of moving when you retire |
| with snow-capped peaks dominating the | | | | give Bend Oregon strong consideration. It is |
| skyline. Bend is one of few places that | | | | a great place to live. |