Plan Your Bend Vacation and Get Tattooed at Monolith Tattoo Studio

Looking for things to do in Bend during your upcoming vacation? Whether you want to bring home the ultimate Central Oregon souvenir or you’ve been aching to have Edward Kehoe start that Star Wars sleeve you’ve always dreamed of, start planning your vacation around getting tattooed in Bend. We love living and working in Bend, Oregon, and know many people love traveling to Central Oregon as much as they love getting tattooed. Browse our artist portfolios and read our blog for tips on what to do on your Bend vacation before getting tattooed.

We suggest planning your tattoo appointment at the end of your vacation, so you can fully enjoy all that Bend has to offer. The summer months bring plenty of water sports and outdoor activities and the winter means skiing and snowboarding at Mt. Bachelor. Come and live the Bend life and come away with a stunning tattoo that will make all of your friends jealous upon your return home.

Things to Do in Bend, OR Before Getting Tattooed

Located in Central Oregon, Bend acts as the gateway to outdoor recreation in the Pacific Northwest. But, that’s not all. Bend has a vibrant arts, culture, food and music scene that draws in visitors from all over the world. Did we mention the beer? Central Oregon has risen to the top of the craft beer industry as one of the top beer towns in the country. Blondes, browns, sours and you better believe you can get an incredible IPA in this town. Tour a bevy of craft breweries from the well-known Deschutes Brewery and Boneyard Beer to up and comers like Monkless Belgian Ales to small-batch, unique breweries like The Ale Apothecary.

When trying to determine things to do in Bend, it’s best to classify activities by season. The spring and fall offer great mountain biking, rock climbing and hiking. Throughout the year you can catch live music any day of the week, meet friends at Spoken Moto for brunch with Scoutpost food cart and find your bliss. Your Bend vacation wouldn’t be complete without getting tattooed at Monolith Tattoo Studio, voted “Best Place to Get a Tattoo” seven years in a row by readers of The Source Weekly.

Summer

When you plan your trip to get tattooed in Bend during the summer, you can take advantage of the area’s rivers, lakes and unlimited hiking locales. Spend your visit paddleboarding on the Deschutes River or for something more relaxing you can always float from the Old Mill to Downtown on an inflatable unicorn. Travel along the Cascade Lakes Highway and stop off for a day at one the dozens of lakes that line the thoroughfare. Grab lunch at Elk Lake Resort and take your friends out on one of their rental boats. You can also head north towards Sisters and Suttle Lake, which also has a great resort and cafe.

Challenge yourself by hiking to the summit of South Sister. This famous hike isn’t for the faint of heart, so be prepared for sore muscles the next day. Fortunately, you can rest your bones in the soaking pool at McMenamins Old Saint Francis School and treat yourself to a tasty meal at one of Bend’s fabulous restaurants. Summertime brings plenty of patio dining options including tapas and margaritas at Barrio in Downtown Bend or fine craft beer at the newly opened Boneyard Beer Pub on Division Street.

Winter

When planning for your next tattoo, we often recommend getting tattooed in the winter months due to less sun and water exposure. Winter also offers a wide array of activities for visitors to Central Oregon, anchored by world-class skiing and snowboarding at Mt. Bachelor. Mt. Bachelor is the fifth largest ski resort in the country and offers miles of incredible terrain to explore. Whether you plan on refining your skills on the bunny hill or exploring the cone and backside of the mountain, you’ll find runs to match your skill level at Mt. Bachelor. Don’t forget to head over to the Sunrise Lodge to grab beers in the Sun Bar or toast your friends with your favorite hot beverages at the Clearing Rock Bar at the West Village Lodge.

Want to get outside, but skiing downhill doesn’t appeal to your sense of adventure? Rent a pair of cross-country skis or snowshoes and explore the area on foot. Snowshoe to the base of Tumalo Falls for stunning views or discover the forest as you hike around Swampy Lakes.

While outdoor recreation may be the first thing that comes to mind when visiting Bend in the winter, there are plenty of other activities to occupy your time. Foodies will love dining at restaurants and food carts that span the gamut of tastes and flavors. We have a variety of food cart lots including The Lot, On Tap, Podski and River Place. Visit over the first weekend of the month and enjoy free samples of wine and local artists during the First Friday Art Walk. Catch an independent movie at Tin Pan Theater or check local live music listings and attend a concert at Volcanic Theatre Pub or the Domino Room.

Monolith Tattoo Studio Voted Best Place to Get a Tattoo in Bend

We’re proud to claim the title of “Best Place to Get Tattooed in Bend” for the past seven years. Readers of the local alternative-weekly newspaper The Source Weekly have honored us with this title every year since we opened and we couldn’t be happier. We would like to invite you to become part of the Monolith fam be getting tattooed her on your next vacation to Bend. Maybe you want a picturesque blackwork forest scene typical of the Pacific Northwest done by Deke Harms or something more traditional by the man Andy Beswick. Monolith also offers microblading and shading by the amazing Melanie Kehoe.

Browse our artist portfolios to get an idea of who you would like to tattoo you in Bend and then contact us to schedule a consultation. We encourage you to reach out for a consultation before booking your Bend vacation as some of our artists are booked out months to a year in advance. We look forward to creating your next awesome tattoo and look forward to sharing our wonderful mountain town with you. If you want to travel for great tattoos, consider visiting Bend and the talented artists at Monolith Tattoo Studio. We look forward to tattooing you!