Step Off the Mat: Three Downtown Bend Must-Dos During Festival Week
Bend is a playground stitched together by sun, sage, river paths, and a surprising amount of quirky local flavor. When you’re not on your mat soaking up session magic at the Bend Yoga Festival, here are three downtown stops that bring joy, nature, and nostalgia right into your festival week.
Vector Volcano Arcade
Address: 111 NW Oregon Ave, Bend, OR 97701
Website: vectorvolcanoarcade.com
Storefront of Vector Volcano, downtown Bend.
Retro vibes meet modern energy in this downtown arcade lair. Think pixelated classics, pinball noise that’s most definitely nostalgic, and that unmistakable whoosh of lights and blinks that says you’re exactly where fun lives. You can chase high scores with friends between festival flow sessions (or later into the night) with craft sodas and brews on tap if you want something cool in hand. Some folks come for Pac-Man and stay for the giant Pong table — it’s the perfect social reset button.
Whether you’re challenging someone to pinball or just grabbing a laugh over an impossible level, Vector Volcano feels like a collective exhale of joy. It’s easy to make this part of your festival ritual.
Tip: Check hours before you go! Bevvies for sale there.
McMenamins Old St. Francis School Soaking Pool
Address: 700 NW Bond St, Bend, OR 97703
Website: mcmenamins.com/old-st-francis-school
After bending into new shapes all day, nothing says restorative like slipping into warm, mineral-kissed water inside a beautiful indoor saltwater pool at the historic Old St. Francis School. The tilework and stained-glass details make this feel more like a secret garden than a pool — music is mellow, voices are soft, and everyone’s there to decompress.
The soaking pool at McMenamin’s Old St Francis, downtown Bend.
Architecturally and artistically, the pool is a stunning gem. Built in 1936 as part of a parochial school, the soaking pool has been preserved and is now part of the connected hotel. Its history involves artist Justyn Livingston designing its stunning Budapest-style tilework depicting St. Francis harvesting grapes, with hand-glazed tiles and stained glass by David Schlicker, creating a unique, open-ceiling thermal bath experience.
Reservations are required for public soaking hours (10:30 am–4:30 pm), and swimsuits are, of course, mandatory. It’s a perfect midday break or evening cool-down, especially on chilly evenings in Bend. You can stay for a pint or two on their lovely patio, too!
While you’re here, you’re also a stone’s throw from Bend’s best breweries and pubs. A soak plus a pint is the kind of local combo that festival memories are made of.
Note: Can be busy, and most fun in a group! Be sure to make your reservation. $10 for one hour soak time for those not guests of the hotel. And, although the pool is saltwater, chlorine is used for keep it sparkly clean.
Deschutes River Trail through Drake Park
Address: Can’t miss it! Head north until you hit a trail at the river.
Website: Deschutes River Trail, Drake Park Loop
If you want movement meets nature without straying far from town, the Deschutes River Trail winds right through Bend with scenic views of water, basalt rimrock, and towering pines. It’s serene, photogenic, and almost meditative — the kind of trail you wander with no agenda other than fresh air and good thoughts.
Listen to the river, watch paddleboarders drift by, or simply stroll under shifting light and tall trees as the day fades. Pick up lunch at a grab-n-go and picnic with it at the park. Early morning here can feel like a secret bonus session — birdsong, cool air, and that deep inhale that reflexively turns into “ahhh.” And in mid-June, you’re bound to duckling and goslings getting their wobbly sea-legs.
Feeling extra energetic? You can take the trail all the way to the Old Mill — and exceptionally lovely walk, 99% of it along the water, and enjoy exploring all shops and restaurants there.
These three gems — arcade nostalgia, warm soaking vibes, and riverfront trail bliss — make downtown Bend a delightful complement to your festival experience. They’re easy to weave into festival downtime or late-night adventures, and each tells a little story about the town that hosts your yoga communing. Enjoy!