Mt Hood Vacation Rentals

Escape to Mt Hood with cozy cabins, romantic cottages and beautiful chalets!

Give a Memorable Experience this Holiday Season

Give a Memorable Experience this Holiday Season
Posted by Mt Hood Vacation Rentals | Monday, October 1, 2018

Mt Hood Experiences for the Perfect Holiday Gift
It is that time of year when everyone is thinking about holiday gifts for friends and family members. Instead of circling the parking lot looking for an empty space and battling the crowds at the mall, give a memorable experience or specially crafted artwork as a gift this year. Your friends and family will appreciate the unique, different and thoughtful gift and you will have a much calmer holiday shopping season. Here is a list of unique gifts and activities from local Mt Hood area businesses.

Take the Train to Christmas Town

Every holiday season, the Mt Hood Railroad transforms the historic train into a holiday excursion, a unique excursion through the Hood River Valley on the east side of Mt Hood. The Christmas Town Train is a magical experience for everyone in the family and includes holiday music and caroling, Christmas cookies and hot cocoa, Santa and his elves and special gifts for everyone. Passengers are encouraged to wear holiday attire.

If you are unable to Take the Train to Christmas Town this holiday season, buy tickets for the Parkdale Express which runs June through October or for the Western Train Robbery themed ride traveling on select dates during the summer.

Mt Hood Railroad

Private Ski or Snowboard Lessons

Does your friend or family member love snowsports? Give them a private lesson so they can hone their skills and improve in the areas they want to work on. A private lesson is tailored specifically to the skier or rider and they will see the results immediately when they go sliding down the hill. For the kids, you can enroll them in a full-day kids’ session. all of the ski areas make it fun with hot cocoa and snow play. Mt Hood Meadows, Timberline and Mt Hood Skibowl all have great ski school and offer private and group lessons for all ages.

Mt Hood Meadows Ski School
Timberline Ski School
Mt Hood Skibowl Ski School

Take the Family Cosmic Tubing

Cosmic Tubing at Mt Hood Skibowl is all the rage and rightly so; it is a ton of fun. You and the tube ride up a conveyor belt, so no more walking uphill dragging the innertube behind you. Then ride down a lane lit up with multi-colored lights while music plays. The tubes are not plain, either. They are shaped and colored like bananas, hamburgers, sharks and just about anything else you can think of. You can go inside to the lodge right next to the tube hill for a hot drink and a snack, too.

Cosmic Tubing at Mt Hood Skibowl

Dinner in the Cascade Dining Room at Timberline Lodge

If you have a foodie on your list, give them a gift certificate for the Cascade Dining Room at Timberline Lodge. They will appreciate the opportunity to dine in this historic setting with awesome views. Executive Chef, Jason Stoller Smith has created an unique menu designed around fresh northwest ingredients. The wine list is created to compliment the food with a special focus on Oregon wines.

Cascade Dining Room at Timberline Lodge

Relaxation Massage

Everyone loves a relaxation massage and there are several great massage therapists in the Mt Hood area. You can buy a gift certificate for your favorite person that they can use during their next visit to Mt Hood. And some will come to your vacation rental as well, so your loved one does not need to do anything but relax. Or maybe your special person would prefer a facial or pedicure; these pampering treatments are also available.

Massage Therapists in the Mt Hood Area

Private Yoga Lesson

Give the Yogi or Yogis in your family a private lesson in a Mt Hood Vacation Rental. Lauren Carusona, Registered Yoga Teacher, will come to you with props and music; you just need to bring your yoga mat (she has mats if you forgot yours). She teaches Vinyasa Flow, as well as Restorative yoga and likes to incorporate some acupressure points, self massage and energy medicine yoga as well to further promote deep relaxation, healing and self care. She checks in with everyone to find out about any injuries and what everyone is looking to get out of the session. Private or group sessions are available.

Whole Hearted Yoga and Nutrition

Local Coffee and Beer

If your best friend likes their beverages to be local, you can gift them with their morning brew and their evening brew all concocted at Mt Hood.

Mt Hood Roasters is a family business located in Rhododendron where they roast their coffee daily. You can tour the coffee roasting facility, buy a cup of coffee or pick up bags of beans or ground coffee for holiday gifts, 7 days a week at Mt Hood Roasters.

Coffee House 26 is a family business located in Welches. They have been serving coffee and breakfast and lunch treats for years and recently started roasting their own beans on-site. Stop in for a coffee clatch with friends, then pick up your gift bags of coffee for your holiday gifts. Watch for visits with Santa during Christmas Vacation.

Mt Hood Brewing has been around for close to 30 years brewing favorite craft beers in Government Camp including their signature beer, Ice Axe IPA. There are several other regular beers plus many seasonal beverages. Have lunch or dinner at the Brew Pub, then pick up a few growlers for your friends.

Local Mt Hood Art

Sue Allen Studio Ink creates hand-screened cards and wall art in a whimsical style depicting the flora, fauna and wildlife of Mt Hood with a special focus on history and landscapes using bright and cheery colors in their Brigthwood studio. Watch for holiday studio sales this fall.

Lindsoe Clayworks crafts hand-thrown pottery for practical uses in the kitchen and home as well as art for your walls and garden in Dulcie Lindsoe Johansen’s garage studio in Rhododendron. You can have a custom-made dog bowl thrown, too. Watch for holiday studio sales this fall.

Wy’East Weldworks in Welches turns scrap metal headed for the recycle bin into works of art including holiday ornaments, wall art and industrial-style furniture. Check out Sally Butler Unkefer’s Etsy page and if you don’t see what you want, contact her for a custom one-of-a-kind piece of art.

Gary Randall Photographic Art is a highly-regarded local photographer specializing in landscapes throughout the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and Hawaii. Pick up a card, print, photo on metal or a calendar on Gary’s website. Or treat the budding photographer in your family to a one-on-one photography workshop with Gary Randall.

Mt Hood Vacation Rentals Gift Certificate

Give your favorite person in the whole wide world a vacation this year. You can purchase a gift certificate for the full amount at a specific vacation rental with specific dates or you can purchase a gift certificate in any amount that your loved one can use towards their choice in a cabin or lodge at Mt Hood for the dates that work best for them. Just call us with the details and we will email a printable gift certificate to you within 24 hours. (Note: our offices are closed on December 24 and 25, so plan ahead accordingly.)

Contact Mt Hood Vacation Rentals at 888-424-9168 to purchase a gift certificate.

Holidays At Mt Hood

5 Mother’s Day Activities at Mt Hood

5 Mother’s Day Activities at Mt Hood

Fun Things to Do with Mom on Mother’s Day at Mt Hood
Are you still looking for something fun to do with Mom this coming weekend, for Mother’s Day? There are lots of fun things to do at Mt Hood whether you like to get up and go or kick back and relax. Here are a few of our favorite things for you to do with Mom.
Family Hiking along the Little Zigzag Falls Trail

Hugging an Old Growth Douglas Fir Tree on the Salmon River Trail

Go Take a Hike

We have lots of great trails at Mt Hood for all ages and abilities and distances.

Little Zigzag Falls Trail: This is a short, out and back scenic trail that follows the Little Zigzag River in a slight uphill path to the waterfall. There are plenty of places along this small river for family photos or looking for treasures (the rock and twig kind). The total round trip distance is .6 miles and even small kids can do it.

Old Salmon River Trail: This is one of our most popular trails and for many good reasons. You can walk along the relatively flat trail that follows the river for up to 2.5 miles. You can turn around when you are ready and head back to your car, choosing your distance and time. Or you can hike the Salmon River Trail which starts at the bridge for a more strenuous uphill hike that passes through old-growth Douglas Fir trees. This trail goes for 9 miles.

For more hikes, check out our hiking guide.
Cascade Dining Room

Dessert at the Rendezvous Grill

Take Mom to Brunch

This is the classic, tried and true activity for Mom; let someone else do the cooking and at Mt Hood, we have lots of great chefs preparing awesome food for the family celebration.

Cascade Dining Room at Timberline Lodge: Treat your mom to Mother’s Day brunch buffet prepared by chef Jason Stoller Smith with complimentary mimosas. After brunch go outside and play in the snow at 6000 feet.

Rendezvous Grill: Chef Mathais Engblom prepares his only brunch of the year just for mom. The special meal is served through mid-afternoon and includes entree choices from a menu with sides and appetizers from the buffet table.

We have more Mother’s Day Brunch options listed on our Events Calendar.
Historic Mt Hood Brochures

Take a History Lesson the Fun Way

Mt Hood Cultural Center and Museum: Learn about the history of Mt Hood, Government Camp, the national forest, skiing, interesting and unusual residents and more at this eclectic, cozy and non-pretentious museum in Government Camp. There are lots of “real” exhibits of items people have used over the years plus a miniature fire look-out and more.

Find more interesting things to do at our Concierge page.
Skyway Bar and Grill

Listen to Good Music with Real BBQ and Yummy Mac-n-Cheese

Skyway Bar and Grill: The most popular place for casual dining with friends and listening to good music. Chef Jason Hornor prepares real barbecued meats in the smoker out back and his mac-n-cheese is even famous in Portland. There is a full bar, craft beers and wine and weather-permitting a firepit outside in the garden. Local band, the Steelhead Stalkers will be playing jazz including Dixieland, swing, big band, latin, traditional and modern styles from 6 – 9 PM.

For more Mother’s Day activities, visit our Events Calendar.
Mt Hood Views at Mountain View Hideaway

Make it a Weekend

Bring Mom to Mt Hood for the weekend, so you will have plenty of time to do everything on your list. Why not make mom feel extra special with a cozy cabin or spacious lodge tucked away in the woods or beside a creek or river. All of our vacation homes include fully-equipped kitchens (in case you decide to fix meals for Mom), fireplaces and woodstoves, TV and wifi. Most have private hot tubs and most are dog-friendly, too.

Find the perfect Mother’s Day Vacation Rental.

Mt Hood Vacation Planning

6 Tips for Planning Your Summer Vacation at Mt Hood

6 Tips for Planning Your Summer Vacation at Mt Hood
Posted by Mt Hood Vacation Rentals | Sunday, April 15, 2018

Six Things to Consider While Choosing a
Mt Hood Vacation Rental to Stay in This Summer
Staying in a vacation rental home is the most popular lodging choice for summer vacations at Mt Hood. Mt Hood Vacation Rentals are located in scenic locations with forest, river or mountain views just minutes from hiking, biking, golfing, fishing, skiing and snowboarding. P.S. Even if you don’t plan on hitting the slopes this summer (which you can do), it is fun to go up to Timberline to play in the snow in July! We offer fully-equipped cabins, cottages, lodges and condos to choose from, so one of our vacation homes is sure to meet your needs.

Benefits of staying in a Mt Hood Vacation Rental
  • Living like a local at Mt Hood during your vacation; get to know your neighbors and do the things the people who live here like to do during the summer
  • Relaxing with your friends and family in a spacious home, cabin or lodge; you may never want to leave your calming mountain retreat
  • Sitting by a fireplace in the great room or gathering around the backyard deck.
  • Preparing meals in a completely equipped kitchen or on the gas BBQ on the deck; you have options with everything you need in the kitchen and a deck with a BBQ and furniture
  • Watching your favorite shows and movies on flat screen TV’s with cable, satellite and Internet TV; or maybe you will just skip the TV and enjoy the scenery instead
  • Staying connecting with free wifi; find a restaurant or activity on your phone
  • Soothing your tired body in a private, outdoor hot tub; most of our vacation homes offer private hot tubs just for your group
  • Revitalizing your spirit while being surrounded by the peace and quiet of the forest, birdsong and flowing rivers

With the growth in popularity and availability of vacation rentals, there are some important things you can do to insure your visit will be everything you have been dreaming of and more. Here are 6 tips to help you decide which Mt Hood Vacation Rental is perfect for your summer vacation. Remember, we have Vacation Planners standing by at 888-424-9168 or [email protected], 7 days a week to offer recommendations, too. 
#1. Location
Is riverfront or secluded acreage a necessity? Would you like to be tucked away under the trees or are wide-open views more to your liking? Do you feel more comfortable with being able to sePicnic area along the Sandy Rivere a cabin next door? Or do you need to be in Government Camp for summer skiing and snowboarding activities? Typically the riverfront and secluded vacation homes are the most popular and they fill up more quickly. If this is important to you, book your reservation early. Also, the larger homes that accommodate more people book sooner. Visit mthoodrentals.com to start your vacation rental search.
#2. Activities
Mt Hood as a place is a collection of several small villages sprinkled throughout the Mt Hood corridor surrounded by the Mt Hood National Forest. The villages each have their own personality and charm, Kids can catch fish during the summer months at Mt Hoodhowever, the “action” is primarily centered around outdoor recreation like hiking, biking, fishing, paddling, golfing, skiing and snowboarding. You will not find a lot of nightlife including bowling alleys or movie theatres here, but you will find lots of locally owned and operated eateries, bars, recreation providers and specialty shops. If you know what type of activities and events you will be enjoying while on your Mt Hood Vacation, share that information with our Vacation Planner, so she can find the best home in the best location to suit your vacation plans. And while you are planning your vacation, check out our Concierge page for a listing of everything there is to do throughout the Villages of Mt Hood.
#3. Size of Home
How much square footage would you like? How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need to be comfortable? Do you want separate living spaces for the kids and the adults? Our vacation homes have occupancy limits for safety reasons, so you won’t want to cram too many people into one home. With a vacation rental you can afford to spread out as the cost is typically much less per person than renting several hotel rooms would be. And you have the added benefit of cooking in the home, so you save a lot of money by not eating out as frequently. You can search and view Mt Hood Vacation Rentals by size on our search page.
#4. Size of Traveling Group
Are you traveling with a large group of friends or a multi-geneHikers taking a fun selfie at Mirror lake at Mt Hoodrational family? You may want to consider renting two or three homes that are near one-another. This will give you more space, more cooking areas and of course more bedrooms and bathrooms. You may want to split up the group into families with small children in one home and the grandparents in a different vacation rental. You can find vacation homes that will work together on our website. If you are planning a romantic getaway such as a marriage proposal, honeymoon or anniversary, take a look at our Romantic Retreats.
#5. Amenities
WhichRoasting marshmallows around a campfire amenities are necessary and which would be nice? All Mt Hood Vacation Rentals are furnished with a fireplace or woodstove, fully-equipped kitchens, cable, satellite or Internet TV, washers and dryers, gas BBQs and wifi*. Many vacation homes also offer game rooms, private outdoor hot tubs, access to recreation centers and more. Most of our vacation rentals offer direct river access, too. Check out our list of amenities and features that are included with every vacation rental and to see what you need to pack for your trip. *One location does not have wifi connectivity which is perfect for an unplugged retreat.
#6. Dog-Friendly
Do you want to bring the family dog with you while on vacation? Most Mt Hood Vacation Rentals are pet-Dog taking a swim at Trillium Lakefriendly (we welcome well-trained and fully vaccinated dogs over 1 year old). There are lots of things to do with your dog while at Mt Hood like hiking or swimming in a lake. It is important to your pet that this is a vacation that you will be spending with your dog. If your dog is left alone in a strange home, he may cause damage and it really isn’t very fun for him either. View all of our pet-friendly vacation rentals while you plan your vacation.
Are You Ready to Make a Reservation?
Cari, Kayla and Fay at Mt Hood Vacation RentalsContact our Vacation Planners at 888-424-9168 or [email protected] and they will be happy to assist you in finding the perfect Mt Hood Vacation Rental for this year’s summer vacation. Or you can book online at our website, 24/7/365.

Mt Hood Vacation Planning

How to Book Direct with Mt Hood Vacation Rentals

How to Book Direct with Mt Hood Vacation Rentals
Posted by Mt Hood Vacation Rentals | Tuesday, February 13, 2018

5 Tips for Booking a Vacation Rental Directly with Mt Hood Vacation Rentals

1. Do a Google Search using  “mt hood vacation rentals” to start.

The Mt Hood area does not have a huge inventory of vacation rentals, so you may not need to add more words to your search terms. If you have specific amenties that you want in your vacation home, try something like “mt hood vacation rentals with hot tubs” or “pet-friendly vacation cabins at mthood” or “vacation rental managers at mt hood”. Almost always, Mt Hood Vacation Rentals‘ website will pop up at the top of the “organic” or unpaid search results. We also show up in the paid results, usually right behind the OTAs. Keep in mind that the first 4 search results are going to be paid ads. Also, try your search in Bing. Fewer companies and OTAs advertise there, so you may find fewer listings to sort through.

2. When you find a listing on an OTA that appeals to you, copy and paste the name of the vacation rental and Mt Hood in Google or Bing.

Usually, the page for that specific vacation rental will pop up at the top. If the vacation rental does not have a name (Cozy Cabin for example), then copy and paste the first two sentences in the description with “mt hood” and search in Google or Bing. Our vacation home information is sent to the OTA and to our website, mthoodrentals.com from our reservation software via an API data feed. The listings will be identical, so the home you are looking for will show up at the top of your search.

3. Search Google Local for Mt Hood.

Mt Hood Vacation Rentals is listed in Google Local. When searching for a vacation rental, scroll past the paid listings (the top 4 listings in your search that say Ad in small letters underneath them) down to the Google Local listings next to the map. Click on the map or in the listings for Mt Hood Vacation Rentals.

4. Check the Mt Hood Area Chamber of Commerce, Visitor’s Information Center or Destination Marketing Organization websites.

They will have listings for all of the local vacation rental managers as well as for restaurants, shops, attractions and other things to see and do in the area. Here are a few informative websites to visit while planning your Mt Hood vacation:

5. Search social media for Mt Hood Vacation Rentals.

Mt Hood Vacation Rentals uses social media to connect with our guests, so you can find our contact information, interesting links for things to do and specials when you visit our Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter pages.
To learn more or to #bookdirect, visit mthoodrentals.com or call one of our vacation planners at 888-424-9168.

Mt Hood Vacation Planning

Family Road Trip Tips when Driving to Mt Hood for Christmas Vacation

Family Road Trip Tips when Driving to Mt Hood for Christmas Vacation
Posted by Mt Hood Vacation Rentals | Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Staying in a Mt Hood Vacation Rental with family and friends has been a tradition for decades. Many of our holiday guests drive to Mt Hood, so we thought it would be a good idea to share a few tips for getting here and getting around after you arrive.

Family Road Trip Vacation Travel Tips

Taking road tips longer than an hour with kids can be very challenging. Depending on the age of your children, road trips can be trying for parents and add the need for extra planning. Young children need a lot of attention and older kids will constantly need to be entertained. Here are some tips to make that road trip as much fun as the destination.

Family Tips For Parents

Relax and Breath – Your kids are going to play off your emotions. If you are stressed and in a hurry it will be more difficult for your kids to enjoy the car ride. Don’t be in a hurry to have fun. Plan an extra day at the front end of your holiday visit, so you will have more time to enjoy the holidays once you are here. If you are planning on preparing a big meal, bake pies, wrap presents or decorate a tree, you will appreciate the more relaxed atmosphere.

Be Prepared for Hiccups – With kids something is going to go wrong. It doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Plan for car mishaps, lost money, and possible medical issues.

Take the Right Car – Consider renting a car. Renting a car will alleviate wear and tear created by mountain driving on snowy or icy roads at Mt Hood. And a rental car might have a few amenities you don’t have in your personal vehicle that will make the drive easier for everyone. And if you rent a larger vehicle you will have more room to haul the family’s gear. The extra money might be worth it.

If you are driving your personal vehicle, make sure it is equipped with traction tires or devices for driving on snowy or icy roads. You also want to be sure your heat and defroster are working and you have good-quality windshield wiper blades. We recommend carrying a blanket, flares and drinking water in the car just in case.

Short Breaks – Make the journey as fun as the destination. Depending on the length of your road trip, you might need to stop a few times. Be creative on where you stop. Plan ahead so you can stop at popular and interesting destinations along your route. Let the kids take fun pictures along the way, then post them on your social media pages, Facebook or Instagram. If you have fun selfies, share them with us and we will post on our Selfie Hot Spots blog. Or plan your breaks around meal stops.

Family Tips For Younger Children

Extra Necessities – Make sure you pack extra baby wipes, diapers, snacks, medicine, drinks, bottles (for babies) blankets and pillows.

Car Games – This is a must for all families. Simple old-school car games can help occupy the kids for a few hours and will be fun and different for today’s digitally connected kids. Some possible games include 20 questions, the License Plate (finding 50 states) game, or I Spy.

Leave at the Right Time – Planning your departure time around your kids nap time can be huge. Also, try not to leave too early in the morning; let everyone get enough sleep before departing. Make sure you give yourself enough time to get here including delays due to weather, traffic and other unforeseen events.

TV/DVD Player – No parent wants to admit that they use the electronic baby sitter, but it really works on those long car rides.

Don’t Forget The Toys – Picking the right toys and books can help create some distraction time in the car. Bring at least one of your kids’ favorite toys.

Family Tips For Young Teens

Portable Electronics – Your kids already know how to keep busy with their smart phones and tablets, so for this longer road trip, let them go with it..

Necessities – Much like younger kids teens will love to have pillows and blankets for napping and snacks for when they are hungry.

Put Them in Charge – Take turns letting the older kids ride in the front seat and co-pilot with the driver. Giving an active child some responsibility will help occupy some of their time. This is also good training for when they get to help with the driving. Teach the kids how to use a paper map, comparing the route to the GPS on your smart phone or in your car.

Local Information – Let your kids help you find things to do and see along the way and once you arrive at Mt Hood using smart phones and tablets while driving.

Holidays At Mt Hood

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