If you want a vacation that’s more than just lying around on a beach, take a turn off the beaten path to Bend, Oregon. The region lies in a high desert climate, perfect for tumbleweeds and junipers, with only about 12 inches of rain a year. All that sunshine means plenty of days to play outside — and you’ll want to play outside. All around are beautiful views of snow-capped mountains and dense evergreen forests. You’ll see runners, bikers, hikers and horseback riders along every road, taking in the views. Like other cities in the state, Bend (population 75,000) is a progressive town that prizes and protects its natural resources and emphasizes healthy and green living.

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If you’re of a certain age, you might remember commercials for the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, which challenged kids to “run, jump, pull-up, sit-up and throw a softball” in the President’s Physical Fitness test.

Due to the nation’s growing obesity rate and the effect that’s having on the public health, now the President’s Council is expanding its efforts to promote fitness. Adults as well as kids will be able to take the National President’s Challenge. The program encourages all Americans to be active for 30 minutes a day, five days a week — a routine that would go a long way toward improving our national fitness level. There are separate programs for kids, teens, adults and seniors and you can register through April 3.

Adults may enter one of two categories: The “active lifestyle” program is for those who are not regular exercisers. For eight weeks, track your progress online as you work up to the 30-minutes-five-days minimum. If you reach that goal for six of the eight weeks, you’ll get a Presidential Active Lifestyle Award. You don’t have to join a gym to participate: The Challenge lists nearly 100 activities that count toward the award — everything from walking to fishing to juggling.

The Presidential Champions category is for those who already exercise the minimum amount. You accumulate points according to the intensity of your exercise (running counts more than playing darts). If you’re a hard-core gym rat, there’s an “advanced” level that requires you to accumulate twice as many points to get awards. As for the awards, the points you get determine whether you get a gold, silver or bronze medal. And if you actually want a medal, you can buy it on the Web site.