Timberline Lodge

Authenticity is the name of the game at Timberline: since it first opened in the 1930s, the proprietors have strived to nurture a traditional American Alpine ambiance in the Oregon lodge. The walls are wood-panelled, lending interiors a cosy, rustic air that is only complemented by solid hand-carved beds, open fireplaces and original, handmade fabrics and drapes. For groups or families, there are also bunk-bed rooms available for a more communal experience. Rooms feature televisions, heaters and complementary toiletries for your pleasure. Beyond the privacy of your room, the lodge unfolds as a homey, welcoming space where you can explore and find your own ‘spot’ – for bookworms, the well-stocked lending library offers itself up; social butterflies may prefer one of the hotel bars; table tennis and board games ensure that evenings are filled with as much fun as the day; and when stomachs start to rumble, there is a wide selection of culinary options available. The Cascade Dining Room offers premium quality hand-prepared cuisine with mouth-watering hearty meals such as the sinfully delicious Lodge Smoked Bacon Wrapped Pork Chop, or the rich and tantalising Crisped Duck Confit with Pappardelle Pasta & Black Truffle Butter. For guests yearning for a simpler palate, the Ram’s Head Bar serves Fondue, Bratwurst sausages, sandwiches and bar snacks, while the Blue Ox Bar has a selection of pizzas, ales and wines. Of course, Timberline’s top attractions are the excellent skiing slopes right outside the doors of the lodge. At an elevation of 6,000 feet, there is year-round snowcover, and the five quad lifts can move nearly 10,000 visitors an hour. This is your number one choice for high-quality skiing – learners can join a ski school while experience skiers can enjoy any one of the fourty-one trails on the mountain. Apart from skiing, guests may like to try hiking, mountaineering or mountain biking. And if none of this tickles your fancy, did you know that Timberline Lodge was the shooting location for Stephen King's 'The Shining'? Luckily, the only danger you'll be in is of staying an extra week because you can't bear to leave!