One of the highlights of our recent trip to Bend, Oregon was a full day exploring downtown, enjoying a bit of nostalgia, and getting outside at Pilot Butte.
Downtown Bend
We started the morning with a walk around downtown Bend, taking in the local shops, cafés, and the city’s relaxed, walkable vibe. It’s compact enough to see a lot in a short time while still feeling like you’re discovering little corners of the city.
Blockbuster
From there, we made a stop at the last remaining Blockbuster. Walking the aisles was a fun throwback—nostalgic and slightly surreal, but a unique part of the Bend experience.
Blockbuster Video was founded in 1985 in Dallas, Texas, and quickly became a household name as the go-to video rental chain in the U.S. Its rapid growth in the 1990s made it a cultural icon, with stores in nearly every city. However, the rise of streaming services like Netflix led to a dramatic decline, and most locations closed by the late 2010s. The last remaining Blockbuster, located in Bend, Oregon, became a piece of nostalgia and a small tourist attraction, preserving the experience of browsing physical media in an era dominated by digital streaming.
Pilot Butte
After that, we headed to Pilot Butte for a hike. The trail is approachable but rewarding, and the views from the top offer sweeping panoramas of Bend and the surrounding high desert landscape. It’s a great way to get a sense of the area’s geography while stretching your legs.
Pilot Butte is a volcanic cinder cone that rises about 500 feet above downtown Bend, offering panoramic views of the city and surrounding mountains. It formed roughly 78,000 years ago during the region’s volcanic activity and is considered a “monogenetic” volcano, meaning it erupted just once. Native Americans used the butte as a natural lookout, and early settlers likely used it for the same reason—hence the name “Pilot” Butte. Today, it’s a popular spot for hiking, biking, and viewing the surrounding high desert landscape.
McMenamins
By mid-afternoon, we wrapped up the hike and went to McMenamins St. Francis School to catch a movie. The historic school turned theater, bar, and hotel makes for a laid-back, distinctive theater experience—perfect for relaxing after a morning of walking and climbing.
St. Francis School was originally built in 1936 as a Catholic school in downtown Bend. After operating for decades, the building eventually closed as an educational institution. In recent years, the historic building was repurposed by McMenamins, a company known for restoring and converting historic properties into hotels, pubs, theaters, and entertainment venues. Today, it serves as a theater, bar, and hotel, retaining much of the original school architecture while offering a unique space for films, events, and dining.
That evening, we had dinner in town and reflected on a day that combined downtown exploration, a quirky stop at Blockbuster, an outdoor hike, and a cozy movie experience. It was the kind of day that captures Bend’s balance of small-city charm and outdoor adventure, all without feeling rushed.
Smith Rock State Park
The next day, we continued the adventure with a visit to Smith Rock State Park, which offered a completely different kind of landscape and hiking experience—towering cliffs and winding trails that contrasted with the city-focused day before.
Smith Rock State Park is located about 30 minutes north of Bend and is often credited as the birthplace of modern American sport climbing. The park was named after John Smith, a settler who ran cattle and sheep in the area in the late 1800s. The park features dramatic cliffs and spires formed from volcanic activity and erosion over millions of years, creating some of the most striking landscapes in Oregon. Today, it’s a state park offering hiking, climbing, and scenic views, attracting outdoor enthusiasts from around the world.
