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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With one of the most ambitious touring schedules in country music, Brooks & Dunn are adamant about scheduling time to work out. On the afternoon before a show, Ronnie Dunn and a few guys in the band will find a local gym that’s not too crowded.

“When we’re on the road, we work out every single day, just to get rid of the bus heaves,” he says. “You get cooped up in there, or the plane, so to get out and blow it out is important. It’s more for your mental state than a physical issue. We’ll generally 30 to 45 minutes of cardio, and then we’ll do light weights – not trying to pump up, just to keep it in shape.”

Meanwhile, Kix Brooks either golfs or rides a bike that he keeps under the bus. “I pedal hard for 30 or 45 minutes, or sometimes an hour, just to get some fresh air and get outside and clear out the cobwebs and get the heart beating.”

Of course, all the traveling can cloud their sense of direction.

“It’s easy to get lost,” Dunn says. “You take off in strange towns and wake up in an odd place. You don’t really know where you are. I bought a pocket GPS not long ago and I have it on my phone too. It will save you. We were at Qwest Stadium in Seattle, which is in the middle of everything. I just took off and realized after a few blocks, ‘I’m not sure whether I went left or right here…’”

Brooks adds, “I am more concerned, when I get out in the country sometimes, especially at fairs and festivals, when you hear a big dog barking and you realize there’s not a fence around… You’ve got to gear down and really pedal hard!”

Jason Aldean used to hit the gym every day, but now that he’s about to start his first headlining tour, he’s sure to indulge in his favorite athletic pursuit – golf.

“I’ve been playing golf for about 10 years but I could never really afford to go that much,” he says. “I’d play five or six times a year, and now we’ve got a good system going – we’ll trade tickets to our show if they’ll let us come play golf. It’s a pretty good deal. Now I get to go about three or four times a week, and that’s only been going on for the last two or three years.”

He says that fresh air is reason enough to visit the local country club. “It really clears up your head a little bit. It gets you ready for the next 16-hour trip that you’re about to take. It gives us a chance to get off the bus and do something. Otherwise, I think you go stir crazy. Buses are nice these days, don’t get me wrong, I love it, but at the same time, you can only be on there for so long before you start going crazy and have to get off.”

Since he’s been heavily touring over the last two or three years, his golf game has improved gradually, but he acknowledges that his game is not quite up to par – or would that be under par? “I’ve gotten to where I’m pretty consistent, as far as hitting drives on the fairway. Now, that being said, my second shot leaves a lot to be desired,” he says. “If I can ever figure out how to get from the middle of the fairway on the drive, to on the green in two, I might be doing all right. That’s what I’m working on next.”