Sisters Round Up

I took off for Central Oregon last weekend with a few girlfriends and we had a great time visiting some old haunts and exploring new ones! I spent a lot of time in the Sisters area years ago when I worked at Suttle Lodge (fun fact: this is where Goldy and I met!) so I have a deep fondness for the area. I hadn't been back in forever, so I was really happy to be in the high desert again. We tooled around Bend a bit, and I got to spend a sweet afternoon with an old pal. We shopped around, did our favorite hike up the Metolius, and had a VERY FUN happy hour pop up on the Skip Bar deck at Suttle Lodge! People SHOWED UP and Scarlet and I had a fab time dressing everyone, including three generations of one family! 

Here's my short list of recs for the Sisters area:

If you're able, stay at Suttle Lodge! They have a range of lodging options, but if you can't get in, consider camping at one of the 3 campgrounds around Suttle Lake. Then, you can walk over on the easy lake trail to eat some yummy food, sunbathe on the dock with a pebble ice margarita and maybe catch some live music. The chill lakeside vibes are real, and there are many dogs and children around. Camp Sherman is 15min away, Sisters is only 20 minutes, Bend another 20 minutes. It's the perfect launchpad for adventuring.

My friend Amy opened a vintage shop in Sisters a couple of years ago, and I finally had the chance to visit! I've known Amy since my SL days. She had a long history as a vintage dealer in Los Angeles before moving to Sisters with her family a decade ago. I almost cried when I walked into Crazy Like A Fox Vintage - it's a dream! The shop is beautiful-  a meticulously organized and merchandised space with soaring ceilings! Amy sells everything (clothes, tchotchkes, furniture, art) and her eye is keen. I picked up a 1996 US Open sweatshirt that I love, a perfect vintage LL Bean chambray oxford (a staple!) and a really neat vintage handmade ceramic jar with a lid to add to my collection of functional vessels that I do not use for any function. My pal also scored some very cool vintage tops! This is a must-stop if you're in the area!

I didn't have time to hit my other favorite Sisters gems, but I'll tell you about them. There are two Habitat for Humanity shops in downtown Sisters. The one on the main drag is where you'll find the clothes, tableware, books, etc. I scored a set of 12 Health teacups and saucers here once- I think they were $.99 a set. There is a second Habitat store a few blocks north of downtown and this is where the furniture and art is! I have several pieces of art in my house from this shop, including this one and this one that are at my desk and that I love so much. I also scored a mid-century curio/bookshelf/storage piece there. Getting that piece home was a story for another time. Needless to say, the Habitat stores are a treasure trove.
 

I was also a fan of frequenting the CardioStart Thrift shop in the bi-mart parking lot. The only pair of cowboy boots I own are from there, and they also are a good spot (or at least they used to be!) for vintage Wranglers. The owner of this shop is a horse lady, so she's fun to talk with too. A good stop to dig through!

For our outdoor adventuring, we went to the tried and true Metolius River in Camp Sherman. The hike from Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery is really more of a nice walk than a hike, but the river is stunning and always a treat to see up close. And, half the fun of hanging out in Camp Sherman is going to the Camp Sherman Store where you can get a great sandwich, fancy snacks, and a cold beer! I've never had the chance to do it, but my dream is to rent the Main House at House on Metolius some time. We took a tour there once when we were opening the lodge, and the story of the family who owns the place is epic, and the house is incredible. Put it on your list!

Back in Sisters, please get donuts or a seasonal pie at the Sister's Bakery and definitely eat at The Barn for at least one of your meals! My old pal and the inaugural chef at Suttle Lodge, Jacob Rodriguez, is now cooking at the Barn and it is SO GOOD! We also enjoyed a giant protein rich hippy salad at a new women-owned vegan cart at the Barn (sorry I forgot the name of it!) and it was ridiculous (in the best way). Of course, there was also live music, many more cute dogs and kids!

Go east, my friends.