Here’s a heads-up for folks who are considering their first trip to Central Oregon or locals who need a few ideas of what to do with guests unfamiliar with the area: The 2014 Visitors Guide to Central Oregon is out, and it’s available either as a glossy tabletop-worthy bound version or a handy-to-share-with-friends online read.
Along with the traditional Visitor Guide fare (pages devoted to each community, lists of where to go and what to see and do…) are a few slightly less-predictable features that even locals might find interesting and informative. Scattered throughout the guide are several mini profiles of well-known Central Oregonians (such as decathlete Ashton Keaton, surfer Gerry Lopez, slam-poet MOsley WOtta and chef Bette Fraser) that include descriptions of how they entertain their out-of-town visitors.
There’s also a page of fun facts about the region, which include a few lesser-known nuggets worth passing along. To wit: Aviator Amelia Earhart had ties to Central Oregon (albeit tenuous — her husband was once mayor of Bend), and mid-‘60s astronauts trained on the area’s volcanic terrain to prepare for their trips to the moon.
Who knew?