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Sunriver is the Perfect Place For Your Workcation

Posted on by Tony Kinney

Have you spent the last few months (or even years) working from home and find yourself craving a change of scenery, a change in your routine or just feel cramped in your home? If so, then it may be time for you to take a workcation. What is a workcation? It’s an opportunity to travel somewhere while keeping up with your work projects.

You may have already experienced something like a workcation in the past. Have you ever brought along your laptop when visiting family over the holidays or wrapped up a project while on the road? These situations are like a workcation but with one huge difference, you’ll be working.  In the past when you’ve brought along your laptop or work phone you were not certain whether you’d have to work while you are away. Simply having your work devices with you creates anxiety that can loom over your vacation and essentially negate the positive benefit of taking time off.

When you take a workcation, you already know that you’ll be working during your normal work hours and anything that ‘comes up’ can be addressed in the same manner you normally would while working from home. However, the big difference is that your downtime or off work hours is spent exploring a destination of your choice with the convenience of already being in that location at the end of the workday.

Riverfront patio of 16795 Pony Express Way

 

It’s no secret that a change of scenery is likely to increase your productivity, creativity, and motivation.  In a recent Nature Neuroscience paper (mentioned in this NYU article) subjects reported that “on days when people had more variability in their physical location—visiting more locations in a day and spending proportionately equitable time across these locations—they reported feeling more positive: ‘happy,’ ‘excited,’ ‘strong,’ ‘relaxed,’ and/or ‘attentive.’”

Benefits of taking a workcation

Increased productivity, creativity, and motivation.

Return home feeling refreshed and full of energy.

See places you’ve dreamed of going to.

Easily take advantage of downtime to relax or explore.

 

Imagine having a Zoom meeting from your vacation rental’s deck that overlooks the mighty Deschutes River. Have a conference call while wildlife frolic in the woods in your peripheral vision. Simply taking a walk or bike ride on your break could be what you need to inspire your next great idea. After work, you’ll be able to switch from work to play with ease because you are already physically located in the destination of your choice!  Whether you’re craving an evening of mountain biking, stargazing, hot tubing, tubing, hiking or simply letting the day take you, your workcation destination doesn’t get any better than Sunriver, Oregon.

Riverfront deck of vacation rental 56079 Snow Goose Ct.
View from deck of 56079 Snow Goose Ct.

 

Reasons why Sunriver, Oregon is the perfect destination for your workcation!

 

It’s easy to get here. For many major cities in the Pacific Northwest such as: Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, and Boise you can drive to Sunriver within 7 hours, making it the perfect drive-to workcation destination.

No plane ticket necessary. You don’t need to buy a plane ticket to get here! Conveniently located in Central Oregon, Sunriver is easily reached by car all over the pacific northwest. However, if you do want to fly in the Redmond Airport (RDM) is just a short drive away!

There’s so much to do! Central Oregon and Sunriver is widely considered “Oregon’s Outdoor Playground” and offers many family-friendly and pet-friendly outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, swimming, spelunking,  skiing/boarding, and a local waterpark with lazy river!

The Lazy River at SHARC (Sunriver Homeowners Aquatic & Recreation Center)

 

Sunriver is perfect for families and pets! Bring the whole family along (including your furry family members) and enjoy the most kid/pet friendly town you’ve experienced! Many of our vacation rental homes are pet-friendly so no one has to be left behind!

Fort Rock Park – Sunriver, OR

 

Don’t sweat it if you forgot to bring something.  We have a local grocery store. If you forget to pack an essential ingredient for your meal or you’d rather not eat out for every meal, we’ve got two grocery stores in town to grab what you need.

Sunriver is the only Dark Sky Friendly city in Oregon. Visit the Nature Center and Observatory. Sunriver was recently named Oregon’s only Dark Sky Place in Oregon (see the report). Our observatory also has the most outdoor telescopes accessible to the public and a retractable ceiling for an experience you’re sure to remember for a lifetime.

Sunriver Observatory and Nature Center

 

Shop & Dine! Go shopping or dine at The Village Mall in the heart of Sunriver.

The Village Mall located in the heart of Sunriver

 

Love golf? We’ve got 3 golf courses right in Sunriver and many more in the surrounding area for you to enjoy!

 

Once you’ve decided on the dates for your Sunriver workcation, you’ll need to consider homes that have workspaces in them to seamlessly allow you to work and play. We’ve curated a list of all our workcation ready homes here. You’ll also need to ensure that the home you choose to stay in during your workcation includes excellent Wi-Fi which is offered for FREE at all of our homes.  Below are the workcation essentials you can expect when you book a vacation rental home with Village Properties at Sunriver:

Benefits of booking your workcation with
Village Properties at Sunriver

 

Custom 12 person hot tub at Sable Rock Manor vacation home

ALL our vacation homes come with FREE Wi-Fi. We’re not going to nickel and dime you while you’re on your workcation like most hotels will. Any home you book with us will give you access to FREE WIFI, so you don’t have to worry about your video freezing or losing your work due to sketchy internet service.

Choose your view. Are you interested in a mountain, golf course, or river view? Click on the links to the view you prefer, and you’ll get a curated list of homes that speak to you.

Room to roam. When you rent a vacation home the entire home is at your disposal to work from. Start your morning on the deck while you answer your emails. Mid-morning switch to the livingroom where the cozy fireplace eases you into the busiest part of your day. At lunch, grab a bike and ride to one of our local restaurants. Mid-afternoon, finish your workday strong while seated at the desk in your rental and get excited for what the evening holds in store for you.

You get FREE SHARC passes when you book any of our homes. SHARC is the Sunriver Homes Owner’s Aquatic and Recreation Center which boasts, a lazy river, outdoor waterslide, indoor pools, kiddie pools, music on the lawn (summer only), and a winter tubing hill!

Need a list of homes that have built in workspaces just for workcations? You’ll find it here!

Now that you’re ready to take your workcation, be sure to use this handy list of items you’ll need to bring with you to have a productive and fun time!

Your laptop
Charging cables for your phone and laptop
Headphones
Foldable laptop table if you have one
External hard drive if you don’t use cloud storage
Power bank
Documents or other papers that are essential for your current projects (and maybe even upcoming projects).
Your phone
Credit cards/cash
Masks and hand sanitizer
Your toys! Bikes, skis, boards, paddle boards, kayak, tennis racquets, etc.
Sunscreen to protect you from those 300 days of sunshine!
Sunglasses because your future is bright and sunny!

Spring in Sunriver – Part 2

Posted on by Tony Kinney

With the mild winter we’ve experienced in central Oregon this year, we just can’t stop thinking about Spring. Blue skies, comfortable temperatures and longer days are giving us spring fever. That said, here are some more super fun ideas for your spring adventure in Sunriver.

Mountain Biking

There are tons of amazing mountain biking trails in central Oregon. A favorite for us locals is Phil’s Trail. This trail, located just outside of Sunriver, is a system of over 100 miles of interwoven trails. The trails vary from beginner to advanced difficulty levels. Not only is this trail a local favorite, but it’s I one of the most popular in the Pacific Northwest. Find directions from Sunriver here.

Another great ride is the Deschutes River Trail. You may choose to do a portion of the trail or ride the entire thing from Sunriver to Bend or vice versa. With views of lava flows, the Deschutes River and the chance to spot some wildlife, you won’t be disappointed with this ride. There are several access points. Check here for more. Spring bike riding in the area is not to be missed

Mt Bachelor

One of our favorite things about central Oregon is that you can take advantage of all that Mt. Bachelor has to offer through the spring! Ski, snowboard or check out the tubing hill through Memorial Day weekend. There are also some cool events to check out up there through the spring. Check out our other blog post about spring to check those out.

Floating the river

Down in the lower elevations we won’t be waiting for snow to melt to begin those summer-like adventures. Check out some of our favorite favorite local floats for fall here. Though this post was meant for fall, these floats are wonderful in the spring and any time of the year.

Marathons and races

For you runners, Central Oregon has lots of marathons all year long. In March, don’t miss out on the family friendly March Mudness right here in Sunriver. Later in the spring head to Bend for the Salmon Run 10k or 5k runs.

Top 5 Reasons to Choose a Vacation Home Rental Instead of a Hotel Room

Posted on by Tony Kinney
  1. Kitchen – A vacation home rental will provide you with a full kitchen. This means a full-sized refrigerator, cupboards, a stove and oven plus more. Our Sunriver vacation rental homes come fully-stocked and ready to go. Grab your groceries on the way in and have all the food you love right at your fingertips. Not only is this a comfort of home, but cooking your own meals can be a big money-saver. Having a kitchen while traveling will also make accommodating any dietary restrictions much easier.
  2. Laundry – Our vacation rental homes are stocked with washers and dryers. No need to worry about gathering coins for a load of laundry. Being able to do laundry while traveling will save you time, money and you’ll be able to pack lighter! If you are traveling with the kiddos, you already know how beneficial this option can be.
  3. Live like the locals – With a vacation rental, you’ll most likely be staying within the neighborhoods where locals are living rather than on a main highway with lots of traffic. Be sure to ask our friendly Sunriver staff (all locals) for their insider tips on the best restaurants and activities in our area.
  4. Fur babies – If you travel with your pets, you know that finding a hotel that allows your buddy is not easy. Even when you do find such a location, stuffing you, your family and your pet in one room is never much fun. Give your crew more space, your pet some room to run and, if you find your dog feeling nervous and barking, the living quarters are large enough to allow for some extra noise.
  5. Space – As mentioned above, a vacation home rental provides a lot more space for your family to spread out. No more bickering over who gets to sleep with who; everyone gets their own bed! No more arguing over what to put on the TV; there are usually more than one. Have you forgotten what the word privacy means? How does Mom and Dad having their own room sound? Our home at Duck Pond 6 is a great example of one with TONS of space.

Plan Your Weekend Staycation In Sunriver

Posted on by Tony Kinney

Summer is busy. With the long days and the kids out of school, it seems we are always trying to fit in just one more activity. Planning a vacation in this busy time can be a feat of its own. Why not take a bit of pressure off and plan a vacation close to home – a staycation in Sunriver?

This is a great way to get away from home, from the nagging laundry and that project that’s been staring at you since last Spring. Venture to Sunriver, stay in a home that has all the comforts of home, but without the pesky chores of home, all, without breaking the bank. Here are some thoughts:

A Vacation Rental With a View

Hotels are great for fast-paced travel. But for a relaxing getaway, a vacation home that includes all the comforts of home can’t be beat. Peruse the rentals that Village Properties at Sunriver has to offer. Most all of our vacation rentals offer a deck with comfortable seating and a view. Whether you’re looking out over the river, at a skyline of the mountains, or even a forested wildlife inhabited back area, you’re sure to feel the peace and quiet that Sunriver has to offer. Our homes offer fully equipped kitchens, outdoor BBQ’s, seating for all and so much more. Bring some cool beverages and an assortment of munchies, kick up your feet and let the relaxing begin, without stressing.

BYOG (Bring Your Own Games)

When was the last time you sat down with the family for a classic game of Monopoly? I remember playing with my family for several days. We’d leave the game out on the table for days, returning to see who would own the most hotels and become the richest paper money holder of the game. If we didn’t have Monopoly awaiting us, we would all gather around a table to share in the challenge of piecing together 1,000 pieces or more of a puzzle. These are the memories that I hold near and dear to my heart. These are the times that the kiddos remember; the simple time together. Many of our vacation rentals come equipped with some board games, but be sure to pack your favorites to soak up your money-saving and relaxing staycation here in Sunriver. If you forgot a game, or want to try something new, check out Tumbleweed Toys in the village. You won’t be disappointed.

Bike the Paths

Many of our vacation rentals are stocked with bicycles for the whole family. However, if you find yourself short a bike or two, or want to try a different style, Sunriver has lots of options for bike rentals. Did you know that Sunriver has over 35 miles of paved bike paths? These paths weave throughout the property, giving you views you will never see in a car. The paths zig and zag out to the stables, along the river, through neighborhoods, and under roads through giant tunnels. It’s an experience like no other. Have the entire family hop on a bike and zoom through Sunriver to create memories like never before.

Go Paddleboarding

Paddleboarding is just one of many ways to get out on the water in Sunriver. If this is an activity you’ve always wanted to try, this is the area to try it out. Good-to-Go in the Sunriver Village has rentals for you to take advantage of. They will even pack you some lunches for your adventure so you don’t have to think twice about the day’s needs. With lunch and your paddleboard in hand, head on up to North Twin Lake. This lake is one of the few in the area that prohibits motorized boats. It’s small enough that you can paddle around the entire lake. And, while you’re standing on that board and looking down into the lake, you can see through the clear warm water. In fact, the lake is warm enough that you can paddle out into the middle, working up your body temperature and take a dive off of your board for a swim. This is an experience you won’t want to miss. Elk Lake is another great option for trying out this activity. Elk Lake has a couple of great beaches to set up a day camp and take turns trying out your paddleboard. There is also a resort with a restaurant along the shore of the lake where you can grab a great hamburger and a cold drink. Of course, right here in the neighborhood, you can paddle on down the Deschutes River as well. Put in at Harper’s Bridge and paddle down to the river to the boat launch near Hola. Grab a margarita and some guacamole after your day on the river.

These are just a few of the many relaxing and family-friendly activities that you can find in Sunriver. Check out our past blogs and keep your eye on us for more great Sunriver advice.

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    Sunriver, OR 97707

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