Sometimes when we travel to new places we wonder how to meet the locals and learn what they are generally about and the vibe that they exude. Well if you’re ever in Bend, Oregon (and are wondering the same thing) we’d recommend giving their Farmer’s Market in the Northwest Crossing neighborhood a try.
If I were to overly simplify the local vibe I’d describe it as laidback. Not like the SoCal surfer mindset where most things are deemphasized in importance (“Dude, you should just chill!), but more like the quality of life mindset where living and appreciating each moment carries great value (“Man, isn’t it great to be HERE right now?”). Clearly participating in the proverbial “rat race” holds little value in this place.
Hosted every Saturday (June-September, 10:00-2:00) you’ll find a wide array of unique booths to stroll by. You might expect the fresh produce, but may be surprised by the honey, gourmet mushrooms, grass fed beef, pies, hummus, and soaps. The emphasis here is on the local products that they proudly produce.
We heard about the Farmer’s Market from several of the locals and they suggested that spending 2 hours is pretty typical. While we wondered if that might be more than we needed, we found ourselves losing track of time because we became immersed in meandering about just soaking up the atmosphere and chatting with the locals (both the attendees and the vendors).
If we lived here I think we might just come back every week!
And that’s…Henry’s Take.
Northwest Crossing Saturday Farmer’s Market
NW Crossing Drive
Bend, Oregon
