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Mt. Hood is known as a winter wonderland, with dozens if not hundreds of activities available during the winter season. Their excellent summer offerings are less known, but equally thrilling. Mt. Hood is located in Oregon, fifty miles southeast of Portland. The area has twelve glaciers, and at 11,249 feet Mt. Hood is the largest mountain in Oregon.

During the winter months Mt. Hood has six skiing areas, designed to suit the most basic skier up to the expert. The Mt. Hood Meadows Ski & Snowboard school offers classes for beginners, and adaptive lessons for skiers or snowboarders who already have some experience, but need to brush up on their skills. Th location has access to five lifts for skiers ready to hit the slopes after a lesson.

Mt. Hood also gives skiers a chance to ski in/ski out at their on site restaurants. The Alpenstube is sit down eatery with excellent microbrewery choices, while the Meadow Mart gives you a chance to grab a quick snack without interrupting your day on the slopes. While at the Alpenstube, try their famous Nacho Mountain with a cold beer, or try their strips and chips with a spicy mango habenero sauce, chipotle slaw, and waffle cut fries. Or grab a Jacob's Ladder at Manuel's Cantina.

Winter at Mt. Hood also offers the chance to try snowmobiling, and kids will love the Mini Z Snowmobile Track where they can learn how to snowmobile with adult supervision on a designated track. Winter at Mt. Hood also brings sleigh rides, snowboarding, skiing, and ice skating.

During the summer months Mt. Hood changes from a skier's paradise, to a haven for climbers. Over 10,000 people try to climb the mountain every year as it has many accessible points, and doesn't require too much technical expertise. Most climbers begin at Timberline Lodge, a designated National Landmarks, and move up to Crater Rock, then to Hogsback, the Pearly Gates, and then to the summit. Last spring shifts in rock formations have made the climb more difficult, even for climbers who have previously visited the area, but it is still not impossible even for beginners.

If you're visiting Mt. Hood during the summer, you should take your kids to the Indoor Super Play Zone. At two stories tall with 2,400 square feet, the Play Zone offers dozens of activities designed for kids. The park features 100 feet of tubing, 3 net walks, 2 ball pits, and a bumper room. And they offer a free ticket to the park with the purchase of an adventure pass, action pass, two hour kids pass, or a tow/tube ticket. They do require that all kids be under 60".

Or try the Adventure Park at Skibowl. The Park offers over 20 activities for the whole family, including a mile dual alpine slide, a 300 foot tube slide, and an Indy Kart raceway, with Kids Karts for smaller children.
They also have a 32' rock wall, a 100' freefall bungee tower, a mountain bike park, and a Sky Chair ride across Mt. Hood. Plus they offer miniature golf and batting cages. And don't forget that Mt. Hood also offers summer skiing.

No matter what time of year you plan to visit, Mt. Hood offers something for everyone.

Learn more about this author, Jennifer Eblin.
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