Located on the eastern slopes of the Cascades in central Oregon, 
Bend is a nice change of scenery from the Puget Sound area. This high desert airport is just over 200 miles from Seattle or about a 2 hour direct flight in a C172. Along the way you have several opportunities for mountain tours as a direct route takes you within miles of Mt. Saint Helens, Mt. Hood and Jefferson. A slight detour to the east will take you by Adams as well. Mt. Bachelor is only 20 miles SW of the airport.
Airport Considerations
Bend is an uncontrolled airport but has plenty of activity. Watch out for numerous GA airplanes and helicopters. At 3,500′ it isn’t necessarily high altitude but you will notice a performance difference compared to sea level, especially on hot days. Temperatures during the summer easily exceed 90 degrees which significantly drives up the density altitude and convective activity. With a 5,200′ runway takeoff distance generally isn’t a problem but don’t expect your normal climb performance after liftoff. In the winter the area gets plenty of snow so be sure to check notams for runway and taxiway contamination.
Professional Air has a nice FBO with ramp parking and fuel. Self serve fuel is also available to the north along the taxiway. A restaurant is located on the second floor of the FBO with a good menu and friendly service.
Things to Do
This area is a hotspot of outdoor recreation. During the summer you can golf, ride the Dechutes rapids and camp. Mt. Bachelor ski area is the main attraction during the winter. Please post your comments and suggestions for activities as I don’t have a lot of personal experience. The flight down and back is worth the trip alone!