Hoodoo ski resort provides an excellent skiing resort for families with small children. There is also a great tubing hill called “The Autobahn.” While skiing at Hoodoo, book a family cabin at the Suttle Lake Resort. If your kids are 14 and older, you can stay in the actual Lodge at Suttle Lake.
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What’s to Love: Located about 2 hours east of Seattle with less rain, more sunshine, and a lifetime-worth of outdoor recreation, the small town of Leavenworth is the “Bend, Oregon” of Washington state. If that were not enough, Leavenworth is one of the most family-friendly towns I’ve ever visited. While gas is cheap, I highly recommend taking the family on a 5-hour drive for some exciting winter fun including (depending on your experience): snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, backcountry skiing, ice climbing, alpine climbing, downhill skiing, sledding, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, and some of the wildest tubing you’ll ever experience!
Sure, you could just drive up to Mt. Hood; however, Leavenworth provides a small, Bavarian-style village that will make you feel like you’re on a trip in the alps (well…almost!). All the winter activities can be had right in town or within a 45 minute drive. This town provides a cozy, winter wonderland that you just can’t experience at larger destinations.
What’s to Love: What’s not to love? Hood River is my favorite small town outside Portland. For the outdoor enthusiast, there are a myriad of options: windsurfing, kiteboarding, mountain biking, road biking, kayaking, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, sledding, mountaineering, hiking, etc. To detail all of the activities is a book in-of-itself. Many of my favorite outdoor activities are right outside town including the incredible ridge hike, “
Cooper Spur” and mountain biking the spectacular
Surveyor’s Ridge – not to mention all the amazing hikes in the Columbia River Gorge. The fun never seems to end in Hood River. This town is not just a world-class outdoor destination, there are some excellent restaurants, great cheap eats, and unique, independent retail shops.
What’s to Love: This could easily turn into another generic article on the iconic Timberline Lodge. Built during the Great Depression, it has been in operation since 1937 and literally every aspect of the lodge has been covered by a multitude of articles, documentaries, Hollywood films, photographers, etc. Even folks disinterested in the history or craftsmanship of the lodge are genuinely moved as they enter the lobby. Can I possibly say something fresh and new about Timberline? I’ve had so many pleasant experiences up here, but I think I finally have a new angle. Due to my focus on kids, I hope to present a unique view of Timberline for all my parent-readers out there. Perhaps, you’ll see Timberline Lodge in a whole new light. And, you’ll make the drive up the mountain for a night’s stay, skiing, snowshoeing, a joy-ride on the “magic mile” chair lift, dinner at the Cascade Dining Room, or simply to relax by the fire and enjoy the amazing “Cloud Cap Hot Cocoa!” Woody Guthrie would be proud to hear me say, “This is YOUR lodge!”
What’s to Love: I may catch some flack from skiing purists, but if you’re trying to teach a 3 – 5 year old how to ski, you cannot beat this place. It has many advantages over the nearby resorts.
- It’s less crowded, it’s less expensive, it’s easier to access the lift, the terrain is better, the ski run is long (when compared to other bunny hills), and there is tubing right next to the parking area. As a beginner-level-area, it’s hard to beat the The Summit.
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