We had positive experiences at Seahorse Academy and genuinely wanted to continue. Unfortunately,…read moreafter I emailed the owner Amanda with straightforward scheduling questions, two months passed with no response despite multiple patient follow-ups. She finally responded when I held off paying an invoice, and rather than acknowledging the delay, she responded dramatically and defensively, made ridiculous accusations about my intentions, and abruptly removed my daughter from the schedule entirely. Despite my request for a conversation to repair/start over, she once again never responded. I had prepaid for my son's next session and was owed several makeups from Amanda's own cancellations (which I had also reached out about multiple times), but given the hostility, we decided we'd rather walk away and absorbed the loss. I later learned from other local parents that experiences like mine are not uncommon. Before enrolling, I'd encourage prospective families to read reviews carefully and also spend time on the website itself. Even the FAQ page, written by the owner, should give you pause.

My girl started swim here as a young baby because I wanted her to have water skills as we are a…read morewater-loving family! We started in Mommy & Me group classes which were fun and beneficial for us both, and then she graduated to private and partner lessons and is doing GREAT! I love the cute pics and vids they send and the updates they give after each lesson. My girl is ROCKING IT and she just loves the Seahorse ladies soooo much! They are so sweet and so good with her. I love the facility too. So thankful for this team of wonderful ladies!!

My son attended Camp Tumalo's day camp in June 2025 and had a fantastic experience. We've done…read moreseveral Camp Fire programs across the region, and this was one of the best-run camps we've seen. The setting is absolutely beautiful, right along the river, peaceful and scenic, yet just a short drive from Bend with easy parking and access. What really stood out was the communication and openness. Each day, I was able to chat briefly with the counselors at drop-off and pickup. They were warm, engaged, and clearly loved working with the kids. We also received daily emails with thoughtful recaps and great photos, which really helped us feel connected to what our son was doing. Each group had its own focus depending on the team lead. Our son's group leaned into outdoor adventure, and he came home excited to teach us new outdoor skills he learned that week. Other groups seemed more craft-focused, so there is room for different interests. They also offer a one-night overnight for 4th graders, which was a perfect transitional experience for my son. It offered just the right balance of independence and support. I would recommend this camp to any parent. It is well-organized, parent-friendly, and clearly puts a lot of care into creating meaningful experiences for kids.

I've been involved with Camp Fire Central Oregon as a board member for two years now and have been…read morereally impressed with their programs and their teams. I've seen Beth, Kecia, Mary, and the rest of the team in action and am truly moved by how much they care about the kids, teens, and adults they work with. Their programs help kids and teens gain confidence and learn social skills that they can put to use outside of the programs. It is one of Bend's most impactful non-profits that not enough people know about.

This place is awesome. Our kids have been going here for around 8 months and they love it. The…read moreteachers are fantastic and my kids are always excited to go to class. It is a relaxed environment for both the kids and the parents and it is amazing how fast the kids develop in such a short amount of time. I really cant say enough good things about this place. Highly recommend you give it a try.

Simply put, THIS is the epitome of a hidden gem…read more By the end of our visit, you can tell that Gramma Rose (aka Linda) puts her heart into this place and it shows. This has got to be the best animal interaction tour or petting zoo on the planet. It may not be the most sophisticated, fancy or elaborate "zoo" but if you love animals (or have kids who love animals) and enjoy hands on, petting, holding unique animals, then this place is for you. Although it's a little over 3 hours from Portland, it's well worth the trip. Upon arrival, part along the side of the road and enter the small swinging gate and check in at the table. There's a single restroom available where the birds are housed. GR also has a small gift shop with stuffed animals and other unique small gifts available for purchase. For 2 hours, Mamma Rose provided us with a tour where we got to see, feed, touch and interact with a zebra named Maverick, multiple kangaroos including one named Margaret, llama named Saul, a Meisha pig named Daisy. And that doesn't include the myriad of birds, holding various reptiles (including a baby armadillo), tarantula, holding and feeding baby joey's, emu's, and feeding an albino porcupine and tortoises. She even has a Patagonian Cavy. On a side note, bring your own water and be patient as animals are shared amongst the group, especially if you have a larger group.

If I could give this place a 10 stars, I would! Our family had a wonderful experience meeting with…read morethe owner and all of her adorable animals. She had a wide variety of the cutest little fur balls all the way to reptiles and snakes. My twin boys were so entertained and what a healthy childhood experience it was! We spent a few hours there just walking around her cute property and seeing all Of her animals walk around freely. She was so gracious to bring out animals for us to hold and pet. It's obvious the owner is passionate about her animals and takes such good care of them. The animals themselves were all so friendly and loved people, a true reflection on how well they are loved and taken care of. We will be back for sure to bottle feed the wallabies next time we are in town. Such a gem and so glad we found this place.

great staff - very easy on the eyes if you know what I mean…read more a great time. well worth it! so friendly and great instruction.

I signed my two grandsons up to take some lessons. They were true beginners in that neither one…read morewould even put their faces in the water. After two lessons they were comfortable in the water and the 8yo was jumping in without hesitation. I look forward to them getting some more lessons before Summer kicks in!

truly the best swim teacher! we have used her for semi private lessons 2 years in a row and plan on…read morecontinuing! I've seen progress with my son's skill and credit that to her experience and wonderful ability to interact with the kids. can't recommend enough!

Every time we go to Sunriver, I make sure to go on a trail ride at the stables. There are many…read morethings I love about it, and some things I wish I knew before the first time I rode here. 1. It can be very buggy along the river. It was never bad enough to stop me, but bug spray is definitely a good idea. 2. If you're an experienced rider, go for a private trail ride- totally worth it. If you go in a group, the skill levels will be varied and your trip may not be as exciting. If you want to have fun and run through the woods, private rides are the way to go. 3. Don't expect an absolutely stunning view. The path does partially run parallel to the river, and it's very pretty while you're there (you also get a few views of the mountains) but you will be mostly in the woods and fields (which is, in my opinion, still beautiful). 4. If you once rode a horse you liked while you were there, and go back to ride again, request that horse when you make your reservation. Sometimes you're able to get the horse you want. 5. Definitely overpriced 6. If you have your own riding helmet, bring it. The stables do have helmets of all different sizes there, but it's much more convenient if you have your own. 7. Keep in mind the weather! 8. All the guides are very friendly and make the ride enjoyable. I would recommend the stables to anyone who enjoys horses! P.S- If you get up early(ish) and bike to the fields, you can see the horses being herded into the stables from the fields. That is a cool experience!

Beware of hidden fees, when booking it states there is a non refundable booking fee. Yet there is…read moreactually two fees. An additional hidden "drought surcharge" that is not shown on any disclaimer or your emailed invoice. You can only discover this fee on ONE page and you have to manually expand the taxes and fees after noticing that there should be no tax and that the fee amount is more than 5%. When we contacted customer service we were met with arrogance and disdain, and no customer service. We asked them to explain what the hidden surcharge was and they then told us to 'NEVER CONTACT THEM AGAIN'. ??? We have ridden here before and experienced the same general disdain in person. You get the feeling they don't want customers and the trail rides are the worst part of their jobs. I have ridden most of my life and done multiple guided rides across the US. Sunriver Trail Rides was the worst experience by far. Between the ride being shorter than the promised time and the hidden fees it is a money grab with no real passion or care. We recently booked at another ranch, and we will continue to use other ranches in the future even when staying in Sunriver.

These guys are awesome! Our pilot was experienced,…read moreknowledgeable and friendly. The ground crew were amazing too. They took video of us lifting off and landing which they sent to us free of charge. We flew right over Smith Rock which was stunningly beautiful. I can't recommend Big Sky Balloon Co. highly enough.

The stunning Central Oregon crisp sunrise was picture perfect, as we trusted pilot Darren and…read morechaser Garrett from Big Sky Balloon Company take our godson on a "bucket list" moment 2,000 feet over Terrebonne and Crooked River with unparalleled views of the Cascade Mountains that became snow capped over the past couple of days. We marveled at a new viewpoint of Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top, the three Sisters (Charity, Hope and Faith), Mt. Washington, Black Butte, Three Fingered Jack, Mt. Jefferson, and Mt. Hood... we even saw Mt. Adams in Washington state. All white with new snow. Even the view on the imposing Smith Rock from the high vantage point was spectacular. Garrett asked me to help inflate the 180,000 cubic foot balloon, and having this hands-on experience was kinda cool. This flying (or floating) in a hot air balloon experience was epic!!! But what made this 5-star, was the crew. Darren and Garrett were so welcoming, knowledgeable, and really made this memorable based on how they treated their passengers. Darren answered all the crazy questions in flight, with a genuine smile and rich answers. Garrett's hugest asset is his personality, humor, and enthusiasm. He had us cracking-up with laughter from start to finish. If you want a balloon flight, I am sure there are multiple options. If you want an amazing "experience," then book with Big Sky Balloon Company. Thank you Darren and Garrett. You guys ROCK!!!