A few weekends ago I spent a couple of lovely days in Central Oregon with more than a dozen female family members as we gathered for a girls’ weekend to celebrate an upcoming wedding, a milestone birthday (mine!) and the simple blessings and joys of family. The focus of our celebrations was my brother and sister-in-law’s vacation home at Black Butte Ranch, 30 miles west of Bend. It was my first visit there, and I instantly fell in love with the thickly forested lots; the narrow, lazily winding roads; and the open meadows, small lakes and range of activities which dot the more than 1,800 acres of the property.

The Ranch, a private resort community, sits at the eastern edge of the Cascade Mountains and offers views of several snowcapped peaks: Mt. Jefferson, Three-Fingered Jack, Mt. Washington, Black Crater and the Three Sisters, ranging from just over 7,000 feet to more than 10,000 feet in elevation. The resort itself, at an elevation of 3,350 feet, boasts a pleasant high-desert climate: dry, warm in the day and cool at night with fresh, clean air — perfect for viewing the stars in the dark night skies.

No matter the time of year and no matter one’s interests, there is always something to do. Choose from two 18-hole golf courses; five outdoor pools; miles and miles of hiking, bike and nature trails; a spa; boating on Phalarope Lake; and horseback riding. In the winter, all those trails translate into plenty of options for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Not far beyond the resort’s perimeter one can fly-fish in clear mountain streams; ski on world-class runs; go whitewater rafting; or shop in nearby Sisters, a quaint western town offering everything from cowboy boots and camping gear to custom jewelry and one-of-a-kind quilts and original art.

Tucked in among the pines and aspens are beautiful private homes, condominium units and a lodge boasting 3- to 5-star accommodations. One can choose to rent from single rooms, cabins, condo units and custom homes. Our overflow crowd rented a nicely equipped home with a roomy loft and huge deck. Guests pay a per-day resort fee of $8 — eminently reasonable, considering all there is on offer.

With just a few days there and lots of catching up to do with each other, we didn’t really get the chance to delve in to all that the Ranch had to offer, but I did enjoy some quiet walks among the trees and the chance to just kick back and breathe in that dry, fragrant mountain air. Now that I’ve been introduced to Black Butte Ranch, I’m more that eager to return for a longer, more active visit.

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor