The seeds of growth were planted in central Oregon in the mid-1960s when a onetime military encampment a dozen miles south of Bend was transformed into the Sunriver Resort community. The resort, with its mix of private houses, rental units, and a lodge, has an increasing number of year-round residents, but it is still largely a hub for families looking to rent a house in central Oregon for a week.

And indeed, this is an ideal spot for a family get-together, with miles of bike paths, swimming pools, tennis courts, and the lovely Deschutes River for fishing. It’s also an easy base for exploring the nearby volcanic landscape and sites along the Cascade Lakes Highway and, in the winter, for skiing Mount Bachelor.

The mid-August Sunriver Music and Arts Festival (541/593-1084 or 541/593-9310, www.sunrivermusic.org), held in the magnificent log-and-stone structure called the Great Hall at Sunriver Resort and in Bend’s Tower Theatre, has been pleasing capacity crowds since the festival’s inception in 1977. The concert series features top performers from around the world. Highlights include the gala pops concert and the gourmet dinner as well as four traditional classical concerts and a family concert.