Mt. Hood: America's Very Own Mount Fuji ⛰️

My exploration of the Mt. Hood loop has barely scratched the surface—less than a tenth of it uncovered so far! But on a clear, sunny day, heading to Trillium Lake to snap photos of the snow-capped mountain is pure magic 📸. I recently visited both Mt. Rainier and Mt. Hood, and both snow-capped peaks remind me so much of Mount Fuji. It’s like that old saying: once you’ve loved the "original" (Mount Fuji), every other similar sight feels like a gentle echo of it ❤️. I drove straight from downtown Portland to Timberline Lodge—a spot forever tied to the legacy of The Shining 🏨. The road up the mountain is surprisingly easy to navigate, not too steep at all. But the wind noise in my Wrangler was so loud, it practically recreated that eerie background music from the scene where Jack’s family drives up to the Overlook Hotel 🎵. There’s a dedicated visitor parking lot, and the lodge itself is open to tourists for free—you can wander inside, check out its cozy guest rooms, grab a bite at the on-site restaurant, or even catch a glimpse of the ski slopes nearby ⛷️. Even in August, the mountain air is brutally cold—colder than the disappointment I felt when my experiment results didn’t pan out ❄️. Standing in front of the lodge, though, it didn’t feel as imposing as it did in Kubrick’s ；I’d imagined the hotel’s real-life prototype to be much larger. Inside, it’s nothing like The Shining—the decor is totally different, with warm, solid wood structures throughout. The lodge proudly bills itself as a National Historic Landmark, as if its connection to the movie is an afterthought (even though every visitor can’t stop talking about The Shining 😂). Head out from the lodge’s second floor, and you’ll find hiking trails for every level—there’s a quick 15-minute loop for a casual stroll, or longer paths if you’re up for a proper hike 🚶. Trillium Lake: This is the classic spot for photographing Mt. Hood. It costs $10 for entry, and there’s plenty of parking available 🅿️. Hood River: A charming little tourist town—perfect for stopping to grab a meal or wander around the shops 🛍️. I popped into Mugen Noodle for some ramen, and it didn’t disappoint! Their signature dish is black garlic ramen, which smells absolutely amazing. After seeing so many ducks at Trillium Lake, I went for the duck ramen and shrimp ramen 😋. The duck ramen had a sweet, savory broth—so delicious! After eating, I drove down to the lake to feel the breeze on my face; it was such a peaceful, happy moment 🌬️. On the drive back to downtown Portland, I took Highway 84 West. Cruising along as the sun set, painting the mountains, rivers, and lakes in warm golden light—it was the perfect end to a wonderful day 🌅. #MtHood #TheShining #TimberlineLodge #Oregon #Portland #StudyAbroad