Having spent the majority of my life in rural Northern New York and Vermont, I love the outdoors. I jumped at the opportunity to review The Resort at the Mountain and experience the “Wild About Mt. Hood” package. This package allows guests to get in touch with nature just like Cheryl Strayed did in her memoir Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail that was recently made into the feature film Wild. This special package allows you the opportunity to work with the Resort's Nature Concierge to create a self-guided hike to fit your individual hiking experience, relax in the spa post hike, and then read up on the Pacific Crest Trail. Additionally, 10% of the package purchase price is donated to the Pacific Crest Trail Association to help preserve the trail.
The Resort at the Mountain
The Resort at the Mountain is located near the base of Mt. Hood in Welches, Oregon, near the border of the Mt. Hood National Park. I spent a lovely weekend with my oldest daughter relaxing and recharging in the beautiful setting of 300-acres of evergreen forest and lush mountain flora in the highlands that comprise the The Resort at the Mountain. There are 157 guest rooms and suites situated within walking distance of all Resort facilities. It's obvious why The Resort at the Mountain is the winner of a 2014 TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence. The Resort has something for everyone, with activities including hiking, skiing, the spa, golf, fly fishing, tennis, and croquet.
There is an outdoor heated swimming pool and hot tub near the Main Lodge. Despite the outdoor temperature only being 52 degrees Fahrenheit, my daughter still swam. It's the New Englander in her.
Accommodations: One-Bedroom Sunset Suite
Our room was one of the one-bedroom Sunset Suites, which is just down the road from the Main Lodge, overlooking the golf course. These suites are subtly nestled among the woods and wildlife. Our 720 square-foot suite was huge!
Whether you are there for a family weekend or a romantic getaway, the room is spacious and suitable for either. Complete with a kitchenette with mini refrigerator, workspace, and balcony, this suite has a full separate living space from the bedroom with ample space for lounging or for organizing your skiing or hiking gear. Our two queen beds were Simmons® Beautyrest Black™ Beverly Hills™ Plush memory foam bedding wrapped in luxury linens. We felt so spoiled and well rested!
Hiking
The Resort’s Nature Concierge Nate Seifert helped us to pick the perfect, magical small hike for a rainy winter Oregon day. We hiked the Zigzag Falls Trail. With no snow, the roads back to this trail were easy to get too. It's an easy, short, kid-friendly hike of about 1 mile round trip. This trail follows Little Zigzag Creek to Little Zigzag Falls. Even in the rain it's fun and easy. It ends at a water fall, which is fun for any age.
Spa
Who doesn't love the spa? The Spa at The Resort at the Mountain is so relaxing and charming, set against the backdrop of the lush evergreens of the Mt. Hood National Forest. I wish we could have relaxed there all day. Upon check in you trade your street shoes for spa shoes and receive a robe to change into, trading in the stress of your street clothes for the relaxation that comes only with a spa robe.
Change into your robe and head to the lounge for the most relaxing setting you'll have all weekend. My daughter and I experienced shared serenity massages after our rainy hike, so we got to relax as mom and daughter in a room together. Our massage therapists were excellent. We can't wait to go back. We then relaxed in the lounge post-massage with tea before treating ourselves to the steam room.
Spa selfie
Dining: Altitude
Altitude Restaurant provides casual upscale dining and is located in the Main Lodge. They serve a progressive cuisine, and while their menu isn't vast, it was complex with daily specials and plates to accommodate a variety of palates and tastes. We loved the dining experience. Everything we ate was perfectly prepared.
My daughter's favorite appetizer was the Hummus Plate Appetizer. While she loved the hummus, she also loved the picked vegetables; I did too. I'm also pretty certain they would have been killer in a Bloody Mary. They were really tasty.
Hummus plate appetizer (pickled vegetables, cucumbers, olives, sun dried tomato perto, sliced ciabatta)
For Friday night's dinner, I selected a pork chop, which may have been the most perfectly prepared pork chop I've ever eaten. It was cooked exactly as ordered, and the presentation was perfect. It was the perfect pork chop. And the flavors of the rest of the accompaniments were spot on. I would have ordered it again on Saturday, but I felt like I should try something else, too.
Grilled pork chop, root vegetable hash, apple horseradish gremolata, and sage brown butter mashed potatoes
If you have children, Altitude has a great children's menu, too. Great choices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with healthy side options. For breakfast, my daughter recommends the “Cakes” from the children's menu. Apparently they are VERY good pancakes. They were so good she had them two mornings in a row, and she loves eggs and other breakfast food, so it's not as if she only loves pancakes.
“The Summit” breakfast platter
If you're planning a day of outdoor activities, the breakfast menu has lots of options with protein to get your day started off right. I loved the breakfast choices. I wish the Altitude chefs could be at my house every morning.
Altitude also offers a full bar and great wine list that features many Oregon wines selections, as well. Dessert also shouldn't be missed. From fruit cobbler to creme brûlée, chocolate torte to molten lava cake, there's dessert choices for any desire.
We had creme brûlée we brought back to our room for a late dessert treat.
For Families
If you are looking for a family get away, The Resort is a great value for families, with their variety of onsite recreational activities accessible to guests (many are included with your room, but a few may require a small fee per room per day). On-site activities include:
- The Greens: 18-hole lighted putting course.
- Casual Croquet and Lawn Bowling Court: The Resort at The Mountain boasts the only resort regulated croquet courts and lawn bowling green in the entire Northwest. This course offers spectacular views of forests and mountains.
- Horseshoe Pits: Lighted two-lane tournament-ready Horseshoe Pits.
- On-Site Recreation and Activities: Tennis courts, sand volleyball court, basketball hoop, and children’s playground complete with swing sets, slides, and more. All sport equipment rentals included.
- Family Games: A wide variety of board games are available to borrow from the Guest Services desk in the lobby.
- Outdoor Pool and Whirlpool Spa: Located in The Resort’s courtyard just outside the main lodge, open year round and heated seasonally.
- Fitness Center: Available 24/7 for guests
- Resort Ranger Program: Led by Resort’s Nature Concierge Nate Seifert this program enables kids of all ages to experience and learn about the outdoors on select weekends.
For more information or to book your stay, visit http://www.TheResort.com.
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