Not ready to be back in a routine? (Me neither.) Wanting another weekend away? (Yes, please!)
If you live in the Portland-area, we’ve got an easy solution for you. Head to Mt. Hood while the weather’s still perfect. We love summer and fall at the mountain.
Here’s an itinerary for a lovely, low-key getaway with the family.
Friday
Pick up the kids from school and hit the road. Check out these suggested stops along the way:
On your way to the mountain, pull over at the North American Bigfoot Center (31297 SE Highway 26 in Boring). While small in size, the space is big in intrigue. The museum delves into Bigfoot lore, with artifacts like molds, photos, and videos of sightings. There’s a life-sized Sasquatch replica that greets visitors upon entry. The gift shop is full of quirky Bigfoot merchandise.
Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for kids age 6-12, and free for those under age 5. The museum is open daily from 10-5. You’ll probably spend about a half-hour here. If you don’t have time to stop on your way to the mountain, consider stopping on the way back home.
If it’s a clear day and the mountain is out, set Jonsrud Viewpoint (15652 Bluff Road in Sandy) as the next destination on your Google map. I’ve passed the sign for this viewpoint so many times, and I’m glad I finally stopped here. It offers a gorgeous view of Mt. Hood and the Sandy River valley.
Get back on the road and head for the Mt Hood Oregon Resort. But make sure to pull over for a late-afternoon donut from Joe’s Donut Shop (39230 Pioneer Boulevard in Sandy). Your kids will be thrilled! The colorful red-and-white checkerboard building on Highway 26 is hard to miss. This Sandy institution has been serving donuts since 1974. It’s open daily from 5 am – 5 pm.
By now it should be time to check into your hotel. You’ll want to stay at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort in Welches (68010 E Fairway Avenue in Welches). The hotel’s in a centrally located spot on the mountain. Not too far from the city, but just far enough to feel you’ve escaped the hustle bustle.
The property consists of several buildings, with family-friendly and pet-friendly, rooms. Some rooms have fireplaces. The property also features a pool, spa, and golf course. The main restaurant, Altitude, serves breakfast and dinner. Mallard’s Cafe & Pub, at the golf course, is open for lunch and dinner. You can sit outside and enjoy the surrounding mountain views. Live music is offered on some evenings.
If the kids need to get some energy out before dinner, take them to the pool. The outdoor pool is heated and open year-round. There’s also a hot tub. If you don’t feel like swimming but need to stretch, there’s a small children’s playground, walking trails, and other outdoor activities at the resort.
When you’re ready for dinner, you don’t need to venture far. Koya Kitchen’s about a 5 minute drive from the hotel. You’ll order at the window and seat yourself. There’s plenty of outdoor seating, or you can sit inside a school bus. The food is Japanese and Pan-Asian, serving things like sushi, potstickers, noodles, and ramen. The food and atmosphere are great. The casual setting makes the space ideal for families.
Interested in a quick dessert? Pull into the Thriftway parking lot on the way back to the hotel. You’ll find a small ice cream stand inside Hoodland Bazaar (68272 Highway 26 in Welches).
[ Related: Girls’ Getaway in Hood River, Oregon ]
Saturday
Get up at your leisure. Breakfast is available at the hotel. Hotel guests receive a discounted breakfast at Altitude. There isn’t a specific kids menu for breakfast, but the entrees are large and could be shared with those who have smaller appetites.
Hop in the car, and make the short drive to the Hoodland Farmers Market (68211 E Highway 26 in Welches). It’s open every Saturday between mid-May and mid-October. In addition to local produce and wares, there’s often live music or other entertainment offerings.
From there, head to the Wildwood Recreation Site (65670 Highway 26 in Welches). It spans 550 acres of forested land alongside the Salmon River. For an easy walk, take the Cascade Streamwatch Trail, an accessible mile-long loop that includes a fish viewing window. There are a few other trails available here, too. Visitors can fish and swim the Salmon River. Parking costs $5 and is paid upon entry, payment is by credit card only.
From here, we’d suggest driving up to the historic Timberline Lodge. We love exploring the historic lodge. During the Great Depression, artists were employed by the Works Progress Administration to build the lodge. You’ll see many of their works of wood, metal, textiles, and paintings preserved throughout the lodge. There’s a mini-museum on the ground floor.
Timberline Lodge has excellent dining options serving Northwest-inspired and sourced dishes. For lunch, we’d suggest the Ram’s Head Bar or the Blue Ox Bar inside the lodge – or the Y’Bar at the Wy’East Day Lodge.
After lunch you might explore some of the hiking trails around the lodge. There are options for all skill levels.
KidTripster Tip: It the timing aligns with your visit to Timberline, hop on the Magic Mile Sky Ride. It operates July – through Labor Day. The chairlift takes passengers to 7,000 feet. There’s always some snow at this elevation. The kids can make a snowball in summer! The lift costs $20 per person, with discounts for a family of four and kids under 6. It’s a fun ride, with breathtaking views!
[ Related: 10 Things to Do at Timberline Lodge Besides Skiing ]
Do you or the kids need an afternoon nap? The drive back to Mt Hood Oregon Resort is about 25 minutes.
For dinner, you’ll want to check out Chicali Cantina (68256 E Highway 26 in Welches). It’s located inside the Hoodland Park Plaza, just a short drive from the hotel. We’d driven past this shopping center many times and had no idea that this amazing restaurant was inside. Chicali Cantina is open for lunch and dinner and offers a creative twist on traditional Mexican food. Save some room for dessert because churros are on the menu. It was so good. We’d make the drive from Portland just to eat here again.
Sunday
Check-out at the Mt Hood Oregon Resort isn’t until 11 am, so you can have a leisurely start to the day.
For breakfast, head to the Zigzag Mountain Cafe (70170 E. Highway 26 in Welches). Perhaps you’ve noticed the rustic log cabin off the side of the road on your previous visits to Mt. Hood. Well, today’s the day to go inside! The family-friendly restaurant has a menu that includes traditional breakfast items, sandwiches, burgers, and more. Be sure to try the cobbler, made with seasonal fruits. It can be busy on weekends and now we understand why.
Next up, the Mt. Hood Adventure Park at Skibowl (87000 Highway 26 in Government Camp). It’s a summer playground, with the largest Alpine Slide in the Northwest. There’s also Indy Karts, a bungee jump, zipline, mini golf, tubing, batting cages, rock walls and more. Depending on how daring your kids are, you can choose between an “Action Pass” or “Adventure Pass”. The Mt. Hood Adventure Park is open mid-June through the end of September. You could spend a few hours – or several at Mt. Hood Adventure Park. Buy your ticket ahead of time online to save a little money.
There are limited food options at both the East and West locations of Skibowl. If you want a more filling lunch, you could stop at Skyway Bar and Grill (71545 E Highway 26 in Zigzag) as you make your way down the mountain. It serves BBQ, burgers and famously delicious mac-n-cheese.
We hope you enjoyed your weekend at Mt. Hood – where there’s always something to do, no matter the season.
[ Related: Cosmic Tubing on Oregon’s Mt. Hood is Snow Much Fun ]
The author was hosted by Experience Mt Hood and the Gorge for purposes of this article. All opinions are her own.
