BEND, Oregon: Beautiful, But It's No Place For Poor Folk

[@cecoya]

You weren't kidding about it being exspensive that house they want 3M for. WOW!!! Beautiful but very spendy. Thanks for sharing and you have a safe trip and day

[@nockee]

Hopefully you can go way out to the towns of far Eastern Oregon like Baker City. Interesting area.

[@dongillette1777]

I saw that as well! $3 million!! Holy moly!!

[@sharonm.t.2492]

Yep, $2,999,997. 4 bedroom, 4 bath

[@Westhamsterdam]

So basically, the property taxes are probably around $30k a year!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Wow!!!

[@ElSantoLuchador]

When I first started climbing in Smith Rocks more than 30 years ago there was nothing but nothing from Smith Rocks all the way to Bend, and now it's all built up. Bend was a small town for the average person back then. An undiscovered jewel that got discovered. This is why we can't have nice things.

[@dandangalodangalus9082]

LOL, oh really? Terrebonne and Redmond didn’t exist 30 years ago?

[@heavywoods]

Unfortunately Internet sites such as this along plenty of others are advertisements for these once affordable and beautiful places.

[@stacky512a]

I want to check out Smith. I don’t climb 5.12 anymore, but still want to see it.

[@loricole1880]

Fun fact about Pine Tavern: there’s a tree growing through the middle of the restaurant. The bar is in the front so maybe you didn’t get to see it. Yes, Bend is pretty expensive, but there are more reasonably priced restaurants. Pine Tavern is one of the most expensive in town. Another great thing about Bend is there is always something going on, especially in the Summer. We have lots of parades, festivals, multiple farmer’s markets, and more breweries per capita than any other town in the country. Thanks for showing our town and safe travels to you.

[@czarcastic1458]

Funny, i am from Dallas and married my wife in her home town of Bend in 1987 when it was small and very affordable and the mill was still working. Now it is like little Portland and a 50,000 dollar home is now worth 600,000.

[@ToddBoyle]

You completely missed the story of Bend's hyper-growth-- the key reason. When land use planning was implemented in Oregon around 1970, for a brief moment, cities had the ability to declare what's their city limits---- their growth boundaries. City of Bend drew huge boundaries allowing what is basically sprawl, akin to arizona or texas. If the cities in the Willamette Valley had done that, it would look like the Los Angeles basin by now

[@islandsteve8809]

I grew up here in the 1980's. Was just a small logging town. Now big money moved here from CA and CO. You cant get a house here for under 800k. Normal 2 bedroom rent about $2200. Still nice but not like it was. Traffic is horrible as the roads were not designed for the amount of people here now. You didn't even go to the real expensive areas on the west side. Most homes there are over 4 to 5 million a pop. The homes downtown are old but most are remodeled. In the 1980s you could buy a home here on land for under 200k. Them times are long gone now. All the lower income people were priced out of this town years ago. Homeless come here from CA in the summer to beg on the corners now.

[@barryoconnor721]

I remember when Bend was around 10,000 people. I knew an old guy who's parents were pioneers, his first job was hunting jackrabbits. When the railroad came through he hired on as mounted security from the packs of feral dogs in the area. Said he got chased into a barn with his horse and nearly froze there for a couple days until the dogs left. Interesting note, by the rr yard south of town there are piles of old oyster shells. They must have been shipped directly north from the California coast.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Amazing post!

[@JimmyDolittle-ot9ez]

I like to meet people like and hear them stories

[@Cfchild1]

My grandparents moved there from California to retire in the early nineties, also had an uncle who lived there just outside of Bend. It was so fun to go visit them and spend the weekend cross country skiing, cave exploring, or driving around out in the desert before they gated all of the roads.

[@SunriseLAW]

I live in Eugene, OR. We occasionally go the Bend area to hunt the elusive Jackalope. BTW... there are large piles of oyster shells near factories on the Oregon coast. As just one example, there were large piles of them at Winchester Bay. I read somewhere that recently a commercially-viable use for them was found but I dunno for sure.

[@barryoconnor721]

@@SunriseLAW yeah, when the railroads came through Oregon, coastal oysters on refrigerated reefers going north to the Columbia River were a hot commodity. Railroad ice houses were stationed at intervals to replenish the refrigerated cars.

[@Kamikazette15]

There is a reason things cost so much here, I was born and raised here. It's litterally one of the most beautiful cities and the vibe here is amazing having amazing summers and winters and all 4 seasons to its fullest... river lakes mou rains the ocean only a few hours away, the valley only a few hours a way... it truely is a beautiful city but thats what's happened tourist's have taken Over came in and baught up homes and drove out the true central Oregonians people and generations who have lived here before anyone knew what Bend was... they drove the people that deserved to be there out with their high bids and high prices and Los Angelesizing the city... and many come and are not educated on how to live here... and truely have ruined it for so many and put people on the streets or had to move. go see for yourself and talk with anyone.... they forced out Hometown people with their corrupt BS. it's sad honestly specially when your feom a town like this and you have seen what happend over the years.

[@sonny9149]

🎯

[@gretchenburton7184]

Sad. It has happened in many other areas as well.

[@kensporalsky3784]

Yep. Grew up in Bend. Lived there 40 years. Just moved to Tennessee . They were making running an agriculture based business nearly impossible and I saw no future for my kids. I was literally told that Bend didn’t want my type and I should leave. I did and I’m happy.

[@meredithheath5272]

We also have a pretty, rural (for fairly urbanized Massachusetts) town, Hardwick. However, we are Extremely fortunate that people here DO cherish the town character. 17 years ago, Casella tried to put in a regional landfill on the edge of town and, thankfully, it was voted out!! Enough citizens saw through the bs promises that "money would be coming into the town" from Cassella. A couple of years ago, a group of billionaire investors who wanted to establish a gambling center - under the guise of "horse raising and racing" - was shut down - over 800 against the gambling center to only ~ 300 for the gambling center. ( Yup, we are a small town) Casella is trying to come back - again - with trying to place a regional dump in our town - and the citizens are even more strongly against the dump than even before. We are a very fortunate town to have citizens who have the foresight to be against this stuff. (Yes, unfortunately, the real estate taxes are fairly high, but they are all over New England)

[@meredithheath5272]

​@@kensporalsky3784Wow - they didn't want agricultural businesses?? There must be newer people in the administration, running the town 😢

[@amycook6468]

My grandmother was a waitress at the Pine Tavern in the 40's. The food *IS* amazing! I grew up in Central Oregon & still live 20 miles North of Bend. I've experienced the population boom starting in the 90's & prices skyrocketing both of which are staggering. Thankfully I bought a house in 2000. I'd never afford to buy a house in Central Oregon now. Great video! Happy travels!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Wow, amazing. Thank you for the comment.

[@jefferyronson8950]

did you live in Redmond?

[@SlammedZero]

Walking through that Blockbuster felt so nostalgic. Miss those days!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

With you there!!

[@600barrel]

My thoughts too.

[@aazhie]

I just visited this place and it was very wierd to walk back in time, but a fun experience!

[@r8chlletters]

It’s a shame but bend used to be a little ski town with seasonal folks coming to work and play in winter…it was a haven. Now it has become a haven for retired Californians who have pushed up real estate astronomically and brought their bad driving. It grew too quickly with poor city management. I suggest you look at the magic of towns like sisters, at the foothills of the range.

[@thePrisoner1000]

They called it "Farewell Bend" because it was a jumping off point to cross the mountains and people would stay there for awhile to wait for the snow to melt. And they had great memories and were sad to leave.

[@jjarm]

Excellent info. Nice addition to the great history lesson we got!

[@judyostrom8972]

I have lived just south of Bend for over 10yrs now, cannot wait to move, the town is beautiful, the people, not so much!!!

[@Brandon-so9fp]

Housing, overall cost of living, I remember reading it's In the top 5% of the US a few years back. And crime is of the charts. I live here, if someone tells you different just look up the stats. Car, house, place of work gets broken into expect absolutely nothing from the police. Even if you have video footage. Completely overwhelmed infrastructure here.

[@arlenesanchez9562]

Hi, I lived in Bend from 1996 to 2008, not as expensive then as now, been to blockbuster many times!! Thanks for the memory!I II worked at The Riverhouse Hotel for many years. Beautiful hotel overlooking the Deschutes River, I had many? If you go back there go up pilot butte, you can oversee the entire city!!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Very cool!

[@tammyr2966]

Love the Riverhouse , I went there for dinner for my Senior prom. I grew up in Central Oregon from 1980 to 1985. Then left to Portland to college and came back from 1987 to 1989. Lots of fishing, snow mobiles, camping, lakes, swimming, hiking! Great place to enjoy the outdoors!

[@patriley9449]

My wife and I were there at exactly the same time. I just got back home to Reno after a week in Bend. Had not been there since 1978 and what a change. I am not sure if I could live there and am positive I couldn't afford it, but it was beautiful and the people that I met were very nice. Lots of great restaurants, scenery and oh, those round-abouts. I went to Blockbuster and got a hat. Bend seems to be a place where people live healthy lifestyles. Even though there seems to be lots of traffic, especially when heading towards Redmond, the drivers were polite and obeyed the speed limits, unlike here in Reno where the speed limits are only a suggestion. One of the nicer places that I have visited this past year of driving to 16 states.

[@howardbeale661]

Been visiting Bend since 1998 and moved here in 2012. Even 10 years ago, it was still a hidden gem (slowly growing larger), but when AAA featured Bend on the cover of its quarterly magazine, the end of the magic was in sight. I miss the 'biggest small town / smallest big city' that this Central Oregon haven used to be.

[@marksnyder8022]

Bend is the most desirable address in Oregon east of the Cascades. The three sisters mountains are a beautiful backdrop to a beautiful town. I looked at houses there years ago. The closest I could get to Bend was about 30 miles out. And the prices are higher now!

[@sandrapisarski6597]

I lived here of 4 wonderful years. We moved back to the I-5 valley because we could not afford living there anymore. Our landlord made everyone stop using their fireplace and was raising the rent by $75 every 10 months, we were priced out as most who lived there was. It is a wonderful town when the until intitled Californians show up. The town goes from 90,000 to 150,000 and the visitors are mostly obnoxious. Horne start honking and bad driving and behaviors from May until September. When they go back home one can feel the calming traffic, claiming noise and calming ambiance. I'm is a wonderful town from September until May. Winters can be mild or snowy. Great skiing. Good restaurants (expensive), cool shops, great micro-brews! It is great for young rich kids and rich retired people. Otherwise one has to live in Madras or Prineville. I loved Bend, but I got priced out like all the natives.

[@Bob-iv1wi]

I lived in Bend, 77-78 when it was "the fastest growing small town in the US." Was my favorite place i ever lived, i would trout fish the Deschutes on my lunch hour.

[@timothyogburn7656]

Fun fact bend Oregon, sees more sun than most ski resort towns ,it snows at night a lot of the time and the sun is shining while riding the mountain . It also might be the only land locked town that has a small surfboard industry with a smsll collective of shapers who love to snowboard ,Jerry lopez ( pipe master) was the first to arrive in bend ,the guy loves boarding.

[@LARSJOHNSON-v7w]

Sun?bs smoky summers bend sucks now

[@greenhousermhcc]

This was an outstanding video. I don't know if you saw it when you were eating but in the dining room there is a giant ponderosa pine tree growing inside of the building and it exits out of the roof.

[@hollylarsen8944]

Lived in Bend for 20 years! Now Palm Desert, seems not so much different in cost of living. Used to be called poverty with a view!

[@stevendorantes6311]

Moving there next year can’t wait! Love the outdoors and working hard to get there! Thanks for all the knowledge!

[@robinwilson8435]

There was no tax on your bill because we have no sales tax here in Oregon, although some small communities charge a sales tax, especially on the coast. We have a quite high income tax instead. CA refugee here, good real estate deals can still be had in rural areas, which I sought anyway. Not as good as when I bought in '10, but relative to bigger cities, what I'd call good deals. BTW, it's not only Californians who moved to Oregon, jacking up prices, although native Oregonians blame them. I know just as many who have moved from the East Coast or Midwest-NY, MA, OH, FL, UT, MT and other states.

[@melodymyers8941]

Don't miss the floating rapids through the middle of the Mill District. It's full every summer of floating tubes down through town and getting out in downtown. So fun

[@chrisrankinsmusiccrush9493]

Joe here in Perth Western Australia a suburb called Morley had the second last Blockbuster so when it closed in March 2019 the one there in Bend became the last.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Interesting!

[@FandT]

We also have an exceptionally large homeless population in the area.

[@starandflurry]

FYI, there is no retail tax in Oregon. It is not being hidden in the price.

[@opulentlilt455]

Note about the winters, you always need to have at least 3 weeks of food and water supply and alternative heating when living there. Most years there are a couple spells that drop so much snow or low temps you have to stay in your house and end up with cabin fever or unable to get to work without a lifted jeep and traction tires. Tire change over season happens twice a year and it is a major pain. The first year I lived there 4 feet of snow in town for over 60 days. Some winters are so bad you can't drive to Sisters, only 15 minutes away. The summer wildfires have gotten worse over the years and you can get boxed in with no evacuation. The smoke comes in your home and can be so dense they have requirements to stay inside. I sometimes think this town may end up like Paradise CA because of how they built it with cheap plastic houses lined up like matchsticks. People are also unfriendly and generally won't talk to you. Recently, you have to wait an extremely long time for service because the property management agencies drove out the service workers with excessively high rents. (more than doubling them) I literally could have stolen 12 pies at Sherri's the last time I was there just waiting for a person to show up for seating. It also happened at the nail place in the mall and at Pastini's in the Old Mill because there was only one waitress for both the inside and outside spaces.

[@dgrfsthrgsergwrtghasefq]

People like yourself moving to a town they know absolutely nothing about (it snows in Bend), driving up all prices on everything and then continuously complaining about others not serving your every need immediately makes the actual residents rude...... imagine that.

[@scottw368]

15 minutes to Sisters? Maybe you shouldn't be doing 90 in a 55mph zone that has signs all over that tell you to watch out for deer and elk. But thats your call I guess

[@adrianelias2365]

I vacation a lot in Oregon. It's my favorite state. Last summer I did an Oregon Coast trip. Started in Florence, Oregon and went all the way to Astoroa, Oregon and ended my trip in Long Beach, Washington.

[@Gratefulman1965]

Grew up in central oregon. As a kid in the 1970’s things were cheap. My grand father paid 100.00 an acre for his land. My mom and dad and us kids lived in Bend on Boyd acres road on five acres. My dad was a supervisor for Moana Maintenance. They were the company that did all construction and maintenance on all the Northwest resorts back in the day. Bends nickname back then was “Poverty with a view” I miss the old central Oregon. As kids we played baseball in the old (Brooks Scanlon) mill yard. Now it’s a theatre and condos and homes. Very sad but time marches on.🇺🇸

[@elvislovesme]

Sisters, Oregon is my favorite town! Best bakery Sisters Bakery their apple fritters are the size of a baseball mit.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

We drove through Sisters and took some scout footage for a future video. You're right, it's a beautiful town.

[@Jen-in-Texas]

Yes! I wish they would visit Sisters!

[@elvislovesme]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip oh "Yay" u made my day knowing u guys went thru Sisters. The only bad thing living where I'm @ is the Cascadia's, I'm surrounded by them all even Three Sisters. U can see the very big breathtaking snowed cap on Mt. Jefferson driving down my street heading home.

[@CattywhumpassproD]

I eat the whole wheat sourdough bread from there every day, but everything they make is fantastic. I absolutely love the smell when you walk in the door. If they sold Oliebollen I'd be in heaven. I love living in Central Oregon.

[@elvislovesme]

@@CattywhumpassproD you get fresh bread there everyday? I'm jealous, I'm lucky if i make it twice a year there.

[@kalark]

Grew up in bend and now live outside seattle, whenever i go back to visit my family i'm always surprised at how expensive things are getting! Rent and houses for sale getting pretty close to seattle metro prices which just seems insane to me.

[@Flashbatninja]

Thats interesting, I also grew up in Bend and I've been considering moving to somewhere a bit outside of seattle

[@david-o6g1h]

Some notes on my road trip a few days ago. Started in Idaho, crossed into Oregon on US 20. Drove through John Day country, ended up on I-84, spent three days in Portland area. Took side trip up to Astoria. Came back south on I-5, went east, south of Salem on Hwy 228. Fell in love with little town of Brownsville (where "Stand by Me" was filmed). How is it that town hasn't been californicated yet? Went through Sweet Home, the mountains, Sisters (nice town, though it seemed it was created for tourists, unlike Brownsville), then into Bend. Boy, they love their roundabouts. Walked downtown, had lunch at the Pine Tavern. Delicious pastrami sandwhich, out on their rear deck overlooking the river. Expensive, but not out of line with other places on my trip. Checked out the whitewater wave/park on the Deschutes downtown. Crazy traffic, nice place to visit but glad to leave. Lonely drive through the prairie to Burns (how hot does that place get?). Loved the drive from Burns through the rolling hills and scenic cliffs along the Malheur river back to Ontario. Only car on the road for much of it. Then back on I-84 east and home to Sun Valley, Idaho.

[@BamBamBigelow..]

Seems to be a lot of places not for poor people these days

[@crispy9985]

Yup

[@silentqueue2344]

'Murca- commodify everything.

[@ElSantoLuchador]

There's always Appalachia, but once the men in suits come in and measure the drapes you know a bunch of rich people are coming to the quaint rural area to live their 'best lives'. Collectively they'll turn it into the opposite of what drew them there in the first place. I'm 58, and I watched this happen to the Bend area. Sad, but inevitable.

[@nailady2207]

Even middle class folk would struggle financially to live there.

[@tenaguin1054]

Lived there 1975 to 1989. Loved it, beautiful Cascade Mountains. Great snow and water skiing. Mt. Bachelor and Round Butte Dam is close by. Outdoor recreation is the best! Just got too cold in the winter and became a hardship back in the day.

[@rbmcobra]

Go to a Walmart in Bend, and then go to a Walmart in Salem, OR. HUGE difference!!!!!! You don't have to worry about being mugged by weirdos in Bend!!

[@ej9641]

You absolutely need to worry about weirdos in Walmart here! Maybe not mugging, but creepy dudes following women to their cars, etc. Even in broad daylight. Trafficking is a real concern.

[@dankerns1558]

I'd go there just for the block buster! Just watching this video made me feel like a kid brought back so many good memories to a time when the world was simpler and people were kind to eachother

[@howardbeale661]

That Pine Tavern final tally - for 2 people - was obscene. 5 years ago, a happy hour priced hamburger plus fries was $4.95.

[@AmericastCasi]

Right?! For what you get TOTAL RIP OFF!

[@williamlloyd3769]

Downtown Bend reminds me of Old Town Pasadena. Looks like the city did a good job of keeping the place in character and scale.

[@beckyramos5952]

You should’ve driven up on top Pilot Butte! Best part is seeing all the mountains peeks! When we drive over to Bend we always go ip on top! There is a lot of information about the names of the mountains and the native people names and history! If you get a chance go back!! I was shouting through my tv.

[@jackblah5842]

So funny yelling at your TV :D You aren't wrong, it is a must see in fact I think I'm gonna bring my dinner up there tonight.

[@shoeprano27]

that house 605 NW Congress St., $2,999,997. 4bed 4bath 5,674sqft. pictures of the backyard and inside of the house is beautiful.

[@donbrandos1754]

This home was built in 1919

[@elvislovesme]

Clark Gable worked in the Old Mill lumber.

[@aisle_of_view]

Eugene is like that as well. Beautiful houses and 200 year old trees jutting out to the sky on the front lawns.

[@Pladderkasse]

Oregon, by the way, produces some of the best Pinot Noir grape red wine in the world outside Burgundy France. The pinot is a very finnicky grape, which requires exactly the right conditions regarding, sun, rain, terroir and craftmanship from the winemakers. Oregon seems to have the right conditions and the red wines from this region are really making headway in the world.

[@weltonwelton6899]

the tax in on property owners...you should start reporting property taxes on average on the medium home prices you list

[@lorenschwiderski]

Nice place in the 60's and 70's. Just like San Luis Obispo, which was a great place back in the day. I have no idea what Bend is like today. I assume the traffic is terrible, as they have no freeway -- well at least some years ago. Cannot imagine how many people live in Bend these days.

[@hankhanson6922]

Yes, SLO was great 30 plus years ago. Now it's a huge sprawling condo strip mall mess.

[@ej9641]

It was still awesome in the 90’s-early 2000’s. It’s just gross now. Traffic is bad, because it wasn’t before, but compared to Portland or Las Vegas, it’s not the worst. But there is so much crime, you have to be vigilant. People will steal gas out of cars, and pretty much anything not nailed down! Needles all over the place, too. And poop. Lots of poop.🤢

[@suzyashby8777]

Thanks for sharing. I have been in central Oregon since 2020. I love it here. Thanks for sharing.

[@plainandsimple2576]

I was an Ag inspector at the California border. All the people from The Bay Area were who went to Bend. Hence the cost and the wage! They went on vacation there and wanted to retire. Traveled through once, stopped at the Walmart and the prices were worst than California! Thanks

[@Anthony-ot8vl]

Did you skip Crater Lake?? It's amazing!!🎉

[@RoxanneGoin]

I hope they don't miss that....

[@blitztim6416]

I used to drive thru Bend when I was a trucker. It always smelled like juniper. Thought I might move there one day. Out of reach now.

[@michaelvandyke6715]

It's a California city now! Not worth moving to ..

[@sonny9149]

This is a Norman Rockwell video of Bend. Far from reality.

[@blitztim6416]

@@sonny9149 ok

[@alexandralovesgoats3360]

Bend is very nice! I love the downtown and homes. Enjoyed the Blockbuster tour. A trip down memory lane. The river in opening shots is gorgeous! Would definitely visit. Looking forward to Salem.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you, Alexandra!!!

[@StrodeStuff]

Been following you for some time, and great to see you in my hometown - and at our favorite tavern. Pleasant journeys!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@CodeNameV]

Oh my goodness, how many beautiful memories came flooding back when you went into that blockbuster. Absolutely love it, thank you for sharing.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Right!!!? Me too. I was thrilled to walk around in there.

[@stevenmiller175]

I’m glad you made it up to Bend. I was hoping you were going to visit Deschutes Brewery, but you hit all the other highlights of Bend. I hope you enjoyed your visit.

[@kentwalker1496]

My dad lived in Florence, Oregon. 30 years ago, I would drive from Boise Idaho through Bend Oregon. Bend was just a small quaint town with very little traffic. Now you know you're getting close to Bend due to the traffic. I try and get through Bend as quick as possible.

[@dfree1here]

That kind of seating in the alley sprang up during Covid on West Coast. It’s all over Northern CA as well. Their called parklets.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Interesting.

[@gtcnote]

And no one uses them in town.. The Fakedemic is over! 🤦‍♂️

[@SajjadKhan-jn7cw]

thanks Joe and Nic beautiful town and food looks delicious 👍

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!

[@janinecarson8380]

Bend is a beautiful place with a serious homeless problem. It may not be obvious downtown but people are living in tents and campers out in the desert. Working folk have to live somewhere and there's nothing they can afford in town. And of course there are the druggies and mentally ill too. China Hat Road is a nightmare.

[@sonny9149]

Maybe the should of toured China Hat, Dirt World and the area around Bi-Mart. 🤣

[@WilmerCook]

In case you haven't noticed it's like that everywhere. There's no lower middle class anymore, rent is ridiculous if you can find it. So you either have money or your poor.😢

[@janjackson7732]

We spent our honeymoon there, 41 years ago and have been there nearly every summer since. We just got home a few hours ago from Bend! We spend as much time there as possible and living in the Portland area, it makes it very easy. We have watched it go from a tiny, 30,000 population to the near city it is today. There are so many things to do there, it's hard to imagine, especially if you like to get outside. It can be expensive to visit, but we have learned our way around that. Living there is spendy, but there are payoffs, too, like the amazing year around stuff to do and the nearly daily sunshine. Love it!! Thanks for the great video!

[@martinginsburg7222]

Enjoy breathing the daily hazardous smoke 4 months of the year

[@Sv_vic]

Done a few road trips from the bay area to the Gorge in Washington . Bend was cheap about a decade ago , house on land for about 150k . Things have changed . I remember passing a ghost town just north of there .

[@sandrabonner8208]

My brother made his money in the tech/financial sector in San Francisco in the late 70's, purchased land in Bend and had a VERY nice house built there. Of course, he brought his California liberal philosophy with him. He is now upset that crime and homelessness is becoming rampant in Bend. I think of it as "East little Portland." While I fled to Oregon decades later, a socioeconomic refugee from California, I took flight to a near middle-of-nowhere tiny town with conservative values that is affordable and align with my political views; little crime, "down home" values serves me well. Would I like to live in Bend? Yes, but the cost of living is insane and ever so far above my pay grade. No shootings at our grocery store.

[@loricole1880]

You must live on the West or South side of town lol. We did have a grocery store shooting a couple of years ago.

[@alancohen102]

There was no tax on the check because Oregon does not have a state sales tax...though some local communities (like Ashland) do charge one. Also, Shaniko is shan rhymes with stan, and iko like ich and oh. It's a cool place to visit in Central Oregon. Looking forward to the Salem video.

[@zooologist]

There are some pretty cool share docks down there at the rust wind mingle in Bend Oregon. We used to tail strike and rub tickle some of that scrap managing tackles and then stroke chain with the flee token. Some have even reported having seemingly trust recorded them while hang staking them in a dull tree way.

[@garyseverson3094]

Is this English?

[@mrlarry999]

I enjoyed the video. As a Californian, I’ve spent time in various places in Oregon, but never Bend. The reason I enjoyed the video so much is that my sister just bought a house in Bend last year to be closer to her adult sons, and I haven’t had a chance to visit yet, and I didn’t know anything about the town. Your video gave a well balanced perspective on the city. Good job!👍🏼👍🏼

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!

[@mrlarry999]

Now I want to visit my sister! Hopefully her two twin sons can join us.

[@carolynridlon3988]

We spent many a spring/summer & fall in the Bend/Sunriver/La Pine areas (2011-2016) - loved it but it was then & worse now the Californication of the west Coast. The taxes (property, vehicle), insurances,... are outrageous & we chose not to retire there

[@joemeyers3127]

What a beautiful town. I am so amazed by the range of places you’ve taken us to - from ghost towns to this gorgeous place. Safe travels.

[@sonny9149]

That was the fantasy tour of Bend, not reality.

[@mamasinger49]

Fantastic and beautiful place. The houses were amazing and I couldn't believe it when I saw an Irish flag flying from the top window of one of the houses! I was born in the states but have lived most of my life in Ireland. So unusual to see that flag. Thank you again for a great video.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!

[@TrailHiker52]

Great video, I love all of the history you mixed in. My wife and I moved to Bend 2 years ago and we love it.

[@chetmack9640]

I grew up near Bend, the reason it's so expensive is peaple moved there from California. Astoria Or. Is a must see town please don't miss it🙂

[@longhaireddj4]

605 congress is just a few bucks away from 3 mil. Such a deal. I wasn't hungry until towards the end of this video dagnabbit. Thanks for another great trip.

[@davidellis5141]

Bend looks like an idyllic place to reside. Beautifully designed houses & so many nice trees.

[@kevinsealschott1090]

Much of Washington is desert also

[@misterhipster9509]

The traffic is from Hell.

[@michaelvandyke6715]

Yippy town with mostly young people...

[@mikewhitmore5440]

It has its fair share of problems. It's not all roses and chocolates.

[@davidellis5141]

​@@mikewhitmore5440Hi Troll ! 😆 🤣 😊

[@Jen-in-Texas]

We moved from Bend (Redmond) a couple of years ago and I miss it! Central Oregon is a beautiful place with so much to offer. You made a good choice eating at Pine Tavern - it is so good. Next time try Zydeco’s, and the food truck lot “The Bite”. I wish you had visited Sisters, which is right next to Bend. Cutest little town ever. Thanks for featuring Bend!

[@jjarm]

Another great video. You guys have nice taste in restaurants/taverns. That meal looked yummy.

[@lakenneth374]

FUN FACT: After planting asparagus seeds (19:30), it takes ideally three years before harvesting.

[@jackblah5842]

Well at least you get to enjoy it twice; while ur eating and later when you pee :P

[@ipsosmaati1971]

Beautiful. You gotta see the coast!!!! Thanks

[@robertabarnes4299]

You should stop in Albany, Oregon They have a carousel that is all hand carved on the premises . Very cool. Its a nice town.

[@EricPS]

Oh yes, I know the area in and around Bend is very beautiful country. I live in western Oregon and we went there about 2 or 3 years ago. There was a park to the south of Bend that was nice to go to. A lot of volcanic features around there. Also, another one, I think to the east of Bend, called Smith Rock. That place was nice as well. I really like Bend, but, yes, like you said, it's a very expensive place to live.

[@consentofthegoverned5145]

Funny- I just drove from the Willamette Valley to Boca Chica Texas and back for the eclipse! Welcome to Oregon! Glad you found the Blockbuster.

[@ipsosmaati1971]

Central Oregon was called The Valley of Fever, by indigenous folk.

[@Joe-uu7jt]

That was the Willamette valley on the west side of the cascades

[@NurseBetty-s4w]

A Blockbuster! Nooo wayyyy, that sold me !! Lol

[@carolhieter3916]

Bend is a beautiful town, but so expensive! We live in Prineville, about 30 miles from Bend, & even our little town is becoming more expensive to live in. It is a beautiful area, tho, so more & more people are moving to Central Oregon. And no, Oregon has no sales tax.

[@ron9381]

Yes they do. They charge a half a percent on the gross.

[@tonymande3600]

I knew one of the Groffs. Back in the 70s they had trucking company in Prineville.

[@legacyteam5581]

I stopped off at Blockbuster and the Pine Tavern because of this vlog. Awesome stuff.

[@viffer94]

I was in Bend around 17 years ago. Nice little quiet community with a few quirky microbrews and restaurants and of course great access to the outdoors. Thought it might be a nice place to settle down given houses could be had for around $100k to $200k. Guess other people figured the same thing. 😳💰💰💰 PS: No sales tax in Oregon.

[@jackblah5842]

Yup, 3 breweries back then now we have dozens

[@sandraoettle1476]

Ah dang! I missed your visit by two days! I came in from The coast on the 18th for my birthday weekend. 🙂 Did you make it to the High Desert museum? It's a gem.

[@Dingo7423]

I'm a resident of Bend, this city is very clean (no graffiti) and friendly. But everything is so expensive compare to CA. Car wash : $24 vs $37. Pho $9 vs $18. Alteration for pants $ 12 vs $ 24.

[@sonny9149]

No graffiti? You must not get out or keep up with the recent local news.

[@Dingo7423]

​@@sonny9149 Nope, I'm a resident here, never seen the graffiti.

[@thea5714]

Pilot Knob isn't the only extinct volcano in the Bend city limits - there is also Awbrey Butte on the Northwest side. As others have mentioned, a panoramic shot of the surrounding topography would have helped viewers to understand the draw Bend has. Beautiful place - we enjoyed our visit there. Sure hope you guys did too~!

[@Yawndave]

Hey there, happy Saturday! I've been to Bend several times but never actually walked around downtown, so it is cool to see what's going on there. The main attractions in that area for me are volcanic, namely Pilot Butte(was the road to the summit closed?), Newberry National Monument, and Lava River Cave. See you next time in Salem...happy trails!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks, YD!!!

[@CatC-cow]

We used to have a fun convention for Northwest Fitness clubs when I was in that business. We would stay at a golf resort kind of Inn. It was hard to find people to keep a bar open past 10 pm. Also, we’d just buy almost all of our food from the grocery store because restaurants were so expensive and fancy and open only weird hours.

[@pattytheseeker8902]

Love the old houses! I own an old house. Way out in the country. In Texas. I have a wooden bridge in my driveway. It was built in 1910. Grew up in a Victorian Gingerbrèad. Older homes with craftsmanship & character. That appetizer looked like a delicious meal to me, 😋 yummy.❤

[@gregparrott]

Thanks for posting. I've never been to that part of Oregon. One thing about the homes which surprised me was that very few had driveways or garages. I assumed they must be at the back. But on multiple occasions where you turned left, no side street or road appeared that would gain access to the rear. Am I missing something?

[@Mariel_Moon]

Beautiful town. I love the old small houses. ❤

[@juliogonzales5441]

Thanks Joe and nic ❤...THE FOOD LOOKS GOOD 😊

[@sharonfisher1850]

I live in CRR. I would highly recommend Smith Rock. Redmond and Terrebonne are my neck of the woods.

[@user-pv4ml6td7s]

I was the GM for 4 motels for 14 years and lived there for 25 years, beautiful place love the mountains, but prices are off the charts🤣

[@mayermargolis8990]

One more comment about the craft breweries in Bend. The brew pubs attached to the breweries sell rare craft blends not usually available outside Bend. Either take a tour or make sure that you have a designated driver.

[@briandoyle6188]

That food was looked excellent especially what joe had and that desert yummmmmy 🤗...even the salad just looked quality and fresh...

[@ssourick]

Great video as always. If you are going to Salem next, why not venture 30 minutes out and visit my hometown of Silverton, Oregon? Home of the Oregon Garden, a nice quaint downtown with lots of good restaurants, as well as Silver Falls state park.

[@sonny9149]

Definitely and Mt. Angel, Both my stomping grounds. Living just outside of Bend, but not for long.

[@martinginsburg7222]

Just don't get it. Open mouth & crowds of clowns follow. You just don't get it

[@tammyc1276]

Hey Joe and Nic. This is fun, I live in Sutherlin, Oregon. Love your videos