By Celeste Brash
National Geographic

At the edge of Oregon’s high desert — home to sage brush, river canyons and snow-streaked volcanoes — is Bend, the state’s outdoor sports capital and fastest growing metropolitan area. That proximity to nature means you can river raft in the morning, ski in the afternoon and be back in town for a locally produced T-bone steak for dinner, prepared by a lauded chef. There’s a craft brewery seemingly around every corner, too — best sipped under some of the best stargazing skies in the contiguous US.
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