Tag: Mt. Hood Scenic Byway

5 Things to Do in the Mt. Hood Area 

Considered a year-round playground in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon’s Mt. Hood area has plenty of reasons to visit. First off, who can resist a tiny house glamping stay as autumn begins its descent in the Pacific Northwest? Book a tiny house at the Mt. Hood Tiny House Village and set off to discover the natural beauty, outdoor adventure and whole lotta fun found in this beautiful part of Oregon.  

Mt. Hood Tiny House Village

1. Bagby Hot Springs: Take a dip in the natural, geothermal spring complex in Mount Hood National Forest and let the waters work their wonders. Also known as Bagby Hot Springs, visitors can soak in communal or private cedar tubs in the roughly 138-degree water. Soaking in the waters is said to improve circulation, relieve stress, reduce inflammation and promote better sleep. For information and location details, visit bagbyhotsprings.org. 

2. Steiner Log Church: How often do you get the opportunity to visit a built-by-hand log church? Henry Steiner and his sons built 100 log cabins and two log churches in the forest lands of Mt. Hood over roughly 27 years beginning in 1925. One of the churches, the 1937 Steiner Log Cabin, is now a historical landmark in Oregon and open for visitors to tour. For details visit steinerchurch.com. The church, which has been restored by Steiner’s son Harry and Mike Gudge, has amazing architectural features like basalt fireplaces made from nearby river rock; door handles made from gnarled tree roots and arched window exterior doors. 

A woman and man walk on a trail in the forest in early fall. Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon.

3. Trail Happy: There are countless trails to explore here but a must-do list should definitely include the Mirror Lake Trail, a moderate 4-mile trail with views of Mt. Hood; the Tom, Dick and Harry Mountain Trail, a longer, more difficult hike at 9 miles but you get to see Tom, Dick and Harry, three distinct mountain peaks along the way; and the Old Salmon River Trail, a relatively easy and flat, less than 3-mile trail that come September provides the opportunity to see salmon spawning as you hike along the Salmon River.   

4. Visit the Mountain Towns: Several mountain towns worth a visit can be found a short distance from Welches including Government Camp, which is home to the historic Timberline Lodge and the Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum; Rhododendron, named for the colorful shrub that blooms here in spring and offers access to the Ramona Falls Trail; and Boring, which is anything but as it is home to the North American Bigfoot Center which is all about the local celeb, Sasquatch himself.  

Mt. Hood Scenic Byway

5. Mt. Hood Scenic Byway: Of course, the best way to get to know an area is to take a drive and make notes of where you want to stop and visit or head back to. The Mt. Hood Scenic Byway is probably one of the top scenic drives in the US and is definitely a great way to get a taste of what this area of the Pacific Northwest has to offer. The 100-mile roadway takes you past berry farms, wineries, flower and farm fields, rivers, mountains and more.  

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3 Indoor Glamping Adventures for Staying Cool This Summer 

The great thing about glamping accommodations is that the weather isn’t the biggest factor when in comes to changing plans. How many times have you been sweating through a heat wave and tempted to end the camping trip early? With glamping accommodations like cabins, cottages and tiny houses, we say bring on the sun, wind, and rain since the roof over your head is pretty solid. Plan your next glamping expedition in a glamping accommodation with us and check out our list of indoor attractions where you’ll have fun, whether or not the weather cooperates.  

Mt. Hood Tiny House Village: Rent a tiny house accommodation and if the weather proves too inclement for all the outdoor fun here, check out the North American Bigfoot Center for some “big” indoor fun at this museum that includes bigfoot evidence, artifacts and a life-sized sasquatch replica! The Mt. Hood Scenic Byway is a great way to see the area from the controlled climate of your vehicle – this 100-mile loop circles the south side of Mt. Hood. You can also opt for the less than an hour drive into Portland to see some of Rose City’s best indoor attractions including the Portland Art Museum, the Pittock Mansion, and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.  

Natchez Trace Tiny House Village: You never know what Mother Nature has in store, so maybe a tiny house accommodation is a good idea if you plan on visiting Nashville on your next glamping trip. Indoor attractions worth a look in Nashville include the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Ryman Auditorium and the Frist Art Museum. And if you’re looking for cozy comfort food, take a drive to the Loveless Cafe for their homemade biscuits and southern comfort food or Hattie B’s for a taste of some of Nashville’s famous hot chicken. 

Cottages at Encore Tropical Palms
Cottages at Encore Tropical Palms

Encore Tropical Palms colorful cottages: OK, so this is a Disney-friendly location in Kissimmee offering colorful glamping cottages, but what is there to do in Disney when you need an escape from the heat? According to mostmagicalblog.com, Disney is still very doable and alternatives to outdoor attractions include indoor rides like the Haunted Mansion, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, The American Adventure and Country Bear Jamboree, to name a few (there are plenty more!) Plus, the shops and restaurants provide dry spaces throughout the four theme parks in Walt  Disney World! Other indoor attractions in the area include the Museum of Military History, the SEA Life Orlando Aquarium, and Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition.  

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What is…the Best Places to Glamp?

Since 1964, the game show Jeopardy has been a television viewer favorite and has maintained popularity 60 years later with more than 8000 episodes, 39 Daytime Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award. The category topics remain relevant and cover history, art, television, music, science and more with answers ranging from Actinium (the first chemical element) to Zendaya (Spiderman’s girlfriend and so much more.) We thought we’d have some fun with our own clues, à la Jeopardy, and see if you can guess which glamping location we’re talking about.

Clue: This Oregon location is home to a tiny house village that makes the perfect glamping spot to explore this part of the Pacific Northwest.

If you said “What is Mt. Hood Tiny House Village” you’re on the board. Indoors or outdoors, you’re a winner here. Take a ride and enjoy all 105 miles of the Mt. Hood Scenic Byway (roughly 3–4-hour drive, not including stops). Scenery includes of course the mountains, but also vineyards, farms, and orchards. Be sure to see the historic Timberline Lodge. Or choose to bike, hike, and look for Bigfoot. Yes, that Bigfoot – check out the North American Bigfoot Center in Boring (yes, that’s the town name!). The Center includes Bigfoot evidence and historic artifacts as well as all kinds of Bigfoot-themed merch. The Old Salmon River Trail is great for a short hike and, weather permitting, a dip in the water at the sandy beaches along the trail. Another interesting way to explore the area is the East Gorge Food Trail, which is an interesting mix of orchards, vineyards, farmers markets, eateries, cideries and breweries (eastgorgefoodtrail.com).

Clue: Nestled in New York’s Adirondacks, this glamping location offers outdoor adventure on the Queen of American Lakes.

The winning answer here is “What is Lake George Escape Campground”. Pick your favorite glamping cottage or cabin and take on the Adirondacks and all there is to explore here. For some history, check out Fort William Henry to experience life in a British fort, circa 1755, for kitschy, visit the House of Frankenstein Wax Museum with plenty to spook you from waxy monsters to the animatronic ones too! Cruise Lake George, which is known as the “Queen of American Lakes,” on a cruise offered by the Lake George Steamboat Company or hike to Shelving Rock Falls and see the beautiful waterfall. Relax waterside at Million Dollar Beach which is great for swimming and scenic views.

Cabin at Lake George Escape Campground
Cabin at Lake George Escape Campground

Clue: Located in the Granite State, this tiny house village is less than an hour from Boston and less than 30 minutes to Salsbury-Hampton beaches.

Call yourself a winner if you answered, “What is Tuxbury Tiny House Village” and keep up the good luck streak by taking a ride into Boston. Walk the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail, enjoy some cannoli and the other delicious Italian foods available in the city’s North End (Mike’s Pastry is often said to be the best cannoli in town!), take in a Red Sox game at historic Fenway Park or experience the vast and varied art collection at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury, Massachusetts has plenty of events going on during the summer including the Strawberry Festival set for June 15-16, the Blueberry & Flower Festival scheduled for July 20-21 and July 27-28 and in August plan for the Peach & Sunflower Festival running for two weekends, August 10-11 and August 17-18. And, of course, you can never go wrong with a day at the beach and when you stay at Tuxbury Tiny House Village you’re less than 30 minutes from the beach!

Tuxbury Tiny House Village
Tuxbury Tiny House Village

Clue: Awash with southern charm, these six tiny houses provide the perfect Tennessee glamping getaway with access to city and country attractions alike.

“What is Natchez Trace Tiny House Village?” is what you want to ring in with here. Once you’ve booked the tiny house that best suits you, consider all the options for fun you have here. Those options include the hour drive into Nashville to explore Music City with its lively entertainment scene, great food and plenty of museums; leisurely drives to the charming towns that surround the area, or outdoor adventures on the nearby trails and waterways. For trails near Natchez Trace Tiny House Village consider the Meriwether Lewis Loop, where you can see the grave of famed explorer Meriwether Lewis, or the Fall Hollow Falls Trail to glimpse a 20-foot waterfall. In Nashville, consider a skyline paddle, available through cumberlandkayakadventure.com or visit Harpeth River State Park for canoe and kayak opportunities. Small town visits can include Franklin (don’t miss the Carter House and Carnton Plantation here for Civil War history) and Leiper’s Fork with its distillery, winery, antique stores and shops and the unique Leiper’s Fork Market.

Natchez Trace Tiny House Village
Natchez Trace Tiny House Village

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