Timberline Lodge

Oregon’s elegant Timberline Lodge, constructed of massive logs during the Great Depression, makes for an incredible place to base a weekend of adventures or even just to dine while looking at some of the best scenery in the Northwest. Part of the lodge faces majestic Mount Hood, with its perpetually snowcapped peak.

The lodge was immortalized in the 1980 horror film The Shining, which filmed the lodge’s exterior in several shots. But the lodge is anything but scary. It’s an ode to human ingenuity during one of the toughest periods in American history, and it’s a beautiful icon of the Northwest.

Rooms are basic but comfortable, and some sport fireplaces and views of Mount Hood or nearby mountains. There’s also a heated outdoor pool and a hot tub, perfect for relaxing after a long day of outdoor activities.

The lodge’s restaurants and bars, while a bit on the pricey side, are worth checking out, especially if you can score a spot by the lobby’s massive fireplace or a window seat looking out over the scenery.

The lodge knows it has an issue with noise; guests are provided earplugs with a note about the thin walls. But earplugs don’t cut it, and guests can hear neighbors walking, snoring, flushing the toilet and more, as if they were sharing a room. This is a huge detraction and inexcusable for the price point of a night here.