Sunriver Resort is what you’d call an Oregon treasure. Matt and I had never been before and, to be honest, it’s never really been on my radar. I assumed it was a travel destination better suited for families instead of two little wild things like us but I was wrong. This place truly has something for everybody! And at so many different price points!
We drove from Portland and arrived late in the evening but still had time for a delicious dinner at the Twisted River Tavern before turning in for the night. Although it still wasn’t super cold at night, the fireplace in our bedroom was incredibly cozy. The room was quiet and had all of the comfortable amenities, including a refrigerator and the yummiest smelling soap. You can tell a lot about a place from the soap.
Our first morning, we slept in then headed to the Bike Barn to rent bicycles for the weekend. One of my favorite things about Sunriver is how bike friendly it was. The resort has over 40 miles of paved trails on the property, and it winds through beautiful countryside with lots of places to stop and admire the river. The next time we go, we’ll be sure to bring our own bikes as I prefer our own BUT if you don’t have a bike then they’ve got you covered.
After bike rides, we spent the rest of the afternoon at The Cove Aquatic Center! Which we LOVED! Our room was just across the parking lot from The Cove and let me tell you, it’s impressive. Exclusive to Sunriver guests, The Cove offers year-round swimming! Featuring an indoor and outdoor pool, jetted spas, private outdoor cabanas, an indoor and outdoor waterslide, a gently flowing eddy, nature walk and discovery area, lakeside trails, a spacious deck and lawn and more. We ordered lunch from The Spotted Frog Cafe then sipped cocktails in the shade poolside. Talk about heavenly.
The pool area got pretty packed towards mid afternoon but we were there right when it opened and we had the place to ourself. Matt is the reigning corn hole champion of this household so I’m pretty sure the lawn games were his favorite part. Or maybe the water slide. Or the hot tubs. Or the mini corn dogs we shared for lunch. Too hard to choose! I could have stayed all day but felt a nap coming on so we headed back to the room for a quick snooze before a beautiful sunset bike ride. For dinner, we had steak and delicious fish at Carson’s American Kitchen.
The food and drinks at the Sunriver restaurants are so good! Everything you need is on the property but if you do prefer making meals in your room, they have a market to shop from as well. It’s located next to the Starbucks in Sunriver Village. See? Told you they have it all. After dinner, we went back to the room and watched movies until we fell asleep by the light of the fireplace. D R E A M Y!
The next morning, we woke up for a lazy brunch then drove to the Marina to pick up an inflatable raft to float the river. Name it, they probably have it available to rent. You could choose between various sizes of rafts, inner tubes, kayaks, canoes and stand up paddle boards! The float was a leisurely six miles long and took about 3.5 hours to complete. We packed plenty of snacks and beverages for the ride. The water was freezing but felt amazing in the summer sun. Floating is one of the most relaxing activities one can do and we highly recommend it. Plus, it’s just so beautiful!
Sadly, we had to pack up after our float and head home but the entire experience was a blast and we can’t wait to come back. I’m planning to return with my niece and nephew to share the magic of Sunriver and I can’t wait. They’re going to love it! Many of our friends grew up visiting Sunriver every summer and I can now understand why. It’s a gorgeous, luxurious feeling place and you will feel incredibly relaxed after a few days in the beauty.
Special thanks to the team at Sunriver for putting together an amazing trip and making sure we had the best stay possible. I miss that heated lazy river every day and will be back again soon! Until next time!