Getting There -- Bend is at the junction of U.S. 97, which runs north and south, and U.S. 20, which runs east to west across the state. From the Portland area, the most direct route is by way of U.S. 26 to Madras and then south on U.S. 97.

Horizon and SkyWest Airlines (United Express and Delta Connection) serve Roberts Field/Redmond Municipal Airport, 2522 SE Jesse Butler Circle, (tel. 541/548-0646, ext. 3499), 16 miles north of Bend. CAC Transportation (tel. 800/847-0157 or 541/389-7469) operates the Central Oregon Breeze shuttle between Portland and Bend, with a stop at the Redmond Airport. Round-trip tickets are $81 for adults, $72 for seniors and students. There are also taxis operating from the Redmond Airport.

Visitor Information -- Contact the Bend Visitor & Convention Bureau, 917 N. W. Harriman St., Bend, OR 97701 (tel. 541/382-8048, fax. 541/382-8568 or visit their website). You can also contact the Central Oregon Visitor Association, 572 SW Bluff Dr., Suite C, Bend, OR 97702 (tel. 800/800-8334 or 541/389-8799).

Getting Around -- Car rentals are available from Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and Hertz. If you need a taxi, call Owl Taxi Service (tel. 541/382-1584).

Festivals -- The Sunriver Music Festival (tel. 541/593-9310) is a big classical-music binge that takes place in mid-August. When this festival finishes up, the Cascade Festival of Music (tel. 888/545-7435 or 541/383-2202), held the last week in August and the first week in September in Drake Park, picks up the baton.