Fodor's Expert Review Timberline Lodge

Guest rooms are simple, rustic, and charming (a handful of them lack private baths), but don't expect a cushy experience—the reason for staying here is the location and setting. The approach builds excitement: an unforgettable 6-mile ascent that curves its way up to an elevation of about 6,000 feet on Mt. Hood. Then the Lodge materializes out of the mist, and you momentarily forget about the snowcapped peak high above. No wonder Stanley Kubrick used shots of the exterior for The Shining. Complementing the size and majesty of Mt. Hood, the massive structure was erected using timber and rock from the forest and mountain: in 1936–37 more than 500 people toiled, forging metal for furniture and fixtures, sculpting old telephone poles into beams and banisters, weaving, and sawing. A 22-minute film, shown on the lower level, tells the story. You don't need to be a guest to appreciate Timberline—there are daily tours in summer, and day visitors can wander around on their own. Enjoy the restaurants, snow sports, and hiking paths, or relax by the massive fireplace in the "headhouse."