This article appears in print in the January 2020 issue. Click here to subscribe.

When you step off the plane in central Oregon, the intensity of the azure sky trips a mental reset switch. Crossing the tarmac, the scent of fresh juniper further eases you into a sunny escape from the smog and bustle of Seattle. 

Bend, Oregon, has long been a destination for craft beer lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, but a new boutique resort is adding more luxe amenities to the list of reasons to visit. Set in an old-growth juniper forest, Huntington Lodge opened last spring to bring the perks of its parent property, Pronghorn Resort—a residential and rental community with golf courses, a spa and upscale dining—within reach of short-term guests. It’s a chic addition to a city flush with flannel and rustic charm, and each of the lodge’s 104 rooms reflects a modern desert aesthetic, with fireplaces, colorful handmade tapestries and plush white bedding, suggesting a place of both relaxation and invigoration. A generous ski season and proximity to Mount Bachelor mean guests who time their visit right can hit the slopes and tee up on the same day.

On-site fine dining at Cascada delivers the eclectic vision of Washington-raised chef Kevin Linde, whose six-course tasting menu, with optional wine pairings, features dishes such as porcini-crusted elk loin with house-made black truffle pappardelle or Thai curry with scallops and green papaya salad.

Photo by Pronhorn Resort

Back in the lodge’s bright, airy lobby lounge (think Palm Springs meets ski chalet), cocktails, such as gin-based The Huntington, can be sipped fireside, indoors or out. The resort’s outdoor pool is heated year-round, and a Himalayan salt stone massage or yoga class are just a few of many ways to warm up and de-stress—though the resort’s most relaxing activity might be sipping a glass of Willamette Valley wine while watching the sunset over the Cascade Mountains from your private patio.