TRAIL RUNNING: Voted America’s Best Trail Running Town by Outside Magazine, Bend features nearly 50 miles of in-town trails including the 11-mile Deschutes River Trail and the Phil’s Trail network, most of which are accessible year-round. Evidence of Bend’s trail running obsession can be found at FootZone, a local running store that carries a full line-up of Merrell products including trail running shoes.

MERRELL RECOMMENDS: You’ll feel right at home on the Deschutes River Trail with the men’s Cruise Control or women’s Overdrive II trail running shoe. With temperatures that can swing as much as 50 degrees in a day, layering is a good idea and the moisture wicking men’s Traction or women’s Spree provide an ideal base.