Visit Central Oregon, Visit Bend, and Mt. Bachelor are urging Central Oregon’s snow enthusiasts to go online and vote for both Bend and Mt. Bachelor after being named finalists in a slew of categories in the 2023 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
Bend was one of 20 cities in North America, and the only one in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, to be nominated in the Best Ski Town category. Three other categories in the annual USA Today competition help illustrate why Bend is so highly thought of as a winter sports destination. Mt. Bachelor — North America’s sixth-largest ski and snowboard resort — was picked as a finalist in both the Best Ski Resort and Best Place for Snowboarding categories. And Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Fund (MBSEF), a Bend nonprofit that runs a wide range of programs, was nominated for Favorite Ski School.
Twenty finalists in each category were chosen by a panel of experts before voting was turned over to the public on Monday, October 23, which will decide the winner. The public is invited to vote daily by visiting the Best Ski Town, Best Ski Resort, Best Place for Snowboarding, and Favorite Ski School sections of the USA Today 10Best Awards, which also includes a current leaderboard and a list of the competition in each category. Voting closes at 9am PDT on Monday, November 20, and the winners will be announced on Friday, December 1.
“We are honored that Bend and Mt. Bachelor were both included among some of the most recognizable destinations in North American winter sports,” said Julia Theisen, CEO of Visit Central Oregon. “We urge Central Oregonians to vote early and vote often and show the world that we are proud to be among North America’s premier winter destinations.”
“Bend’s inclusion as Best Ski Town is a great testament to Mt. Bachelor’s incredible terrain and our town’s opportunities for visitors when they’re off the slopes,” said Visit Bend CEO Kevney Dugan. “Adventure offerings such as moonlight snowshoeing with Wanderlust Tours combined with great dining, art, and cultural opportunities such as The Greenhouse Cabaret and Tower Theater make Bend an incredible winter destination. We are proud to be included on this list.”
In nominating Bend as a finalist for Best Ski Town, contest organizers praised both Central Oregon and Mt. Bachelor. “Home to the Mt. Bachelor ski area, Bend sits astride the Deschutes River in the High Desert of Central Oregon. But it’s hardly a barren place. In fact, there’s far more to do in Bend beyond its amazing skiing and snowboarding, including hiking to the top of an extinct volcano right from town, exploring a lava tube, paddling the river, sipping through the Bend Ale Trail, or getting in touch with nature at the High Desert Museum.”
About Central Oregon:
Located on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range, where vast forests give way to the arid high desert, Central Oregon is characterized by year-round adventure, authenticity, inspiration, and environment. From the towering peaks of the Cascades to the pristine waters of the Wild & Scenic Deschutes River, and from the more urban experiences of Bend, Sunriver, and Redmond, to the rural charms of Sisters, La Pine, Prineville, Madras, Warm Springs, and Maupin, Central Oregon offers a perfect mix of recreation and sophistication. Barely three hours from Portland, and with daily direct flights from eight major markets, getting to Central Oregon is a breeze. For more information visit call 800-800-8334.
About Visit Bend:
Visit Bend is a non-membership, nonprofit economic development organization dedicated to promoting tourism responsibly on behalf of the City of Bend. We’re a leading provider of information on Bend, Oregon hotels, restaurants, activities, and Oregon vacation planning. To learn more or to order a complimentary Official Visitor Guide to Bend, contact Visit Bend at 1-800-949-6086.
About Mt. Bachelor:
Mt. Bachelor is the premier ski area in the Pacific Northwest, offering 4,323 acres of lift-accessible terrain with 360-degree descents from its 9,065’ volcanic peak. The mountain resort is served by three carpets and 12 lifts, eight of which feature high-speed quads. Mt. Bachelor also features fifteen terrain parks, 56 km of groomed cross-country trails, snowshoeing, tubing, and sled dog rides. Summer attractions include downhill mountain biking, ZipTour ziplining, and whitewater rafting with Sun Country Tours. Mt. Bachelor is part of POWDR, a family-owned and operated Adventure Lifestyle Company.
