The mountain enjoyed record snow pack this year so barring an unexpected heat wave, there should be more snow play opportunities than ever this summer.

Of course, beyond the snow, there is plenty to see and do in the Mt. Hood area. We love camping at Trillium Lake, hiking the Old Salmon River Trail, and exploring the bounty of the Hood River Valley.

What are your Mt. Hood summer highlights?

Kiyokawa Farms: This is where we do our apple picking! This farm is in the Parkdale area and it’s main claim to fame is its extensive and delicious Asian pear selection. They also have a huge play fort area for the kids!

Draper Girls:  We go here for peach and cherry picking in the summer but we end up at Draper Girls on every trip to the area. The setting is lovely with a small picnic area with clear views of Mt. Hood and a big tree swing. There is also a farm animal area where kids (and adults!) can pet and feed the animals.  But our main attraction is the unpasteurized apple cider! Mmm, mmm!

Rasmussen Farms: Our big fall stop. Rasmussen is a little bit of everything. They hvae a large farm stand with produce and many locally made delights – including caramel apples on most days.  But the big draw is the story book corn maze, and the otherworldly display of creativity called Pumpkin Funland.

Packer’s Orchard: Our fave baked goods on the loop are the cookies, pies, and turnovers at Packers!

Apple Valley Country Store: This quaint store is open all year round. This is the place to pick up all the local taste of Oregon preserved in jam and jellies. More importantly, this is where top off every Hood River trip with a slice of pie and a Huckleberry Milkshake!

Photo: Gael enjoying cherries at Draper Girls!

Here are the details courtesy of the Concordia Neighborhood Association:

Fernhill Park – NE 37 Ave, north of Ainsworth, 6:30-8:30 PM

• July 9: Stephanie Schneiderman Band (alt rock)
• July 16: Quick & Easy Boys (funky tonk)
• July 23: Jon Koonce & One More Mile (blues)

Concordia Neighborhood Association presents National Night Out Concert
Tue, Aug 3: Black & Blue with Devin Phillips (traditional New Orleans jazz) and a special appearance by the 2010 Teen Idol Winner

Food vendors: Aladdin Café, Hot Dog Ernie’s, Knights of Columbus Council 678, Mountain Ice, NePo 42

Sunday Parkways connects neighborhoods and people: walkers, runners, bicyclists, seniors, adults, and children all enjoying streets filled with surprises, performers, physical activities and food — and traffic-free. The 6-8 mile routes connect Portland’s beautiful parks and offer a chance for participants to listen to music, try other activities, such as hula hooping, or just relax and enjoy the smiling faces.

Here is the schedule for 2010:

• May 16 Northeast Sunday Parkways — connecting Wilshire, Fernhill, Alberta, and Woodlawn Parks
• June 27 North Sunday Parkways — connecting Peninsula, Arbor Lodge, and Kenton Parks
• July 18 East Portland Sunday Parkways — connecting Lents and Ed Benedict Parks
• August 15 Southeast Sunday Parkways — connecting Col. Summers, Laurelhurst, and Sunnyside Parks

See you there!

• Snowshoeing: We love snowshoeing on the Barlow Trail and Trillium Lake in the Mt. Hood area. We also love Old Man Pass in Washington state. Need gear? REI sells and rents snowshoes. So does Next Adventure and they have a coupon in The Chinook Book.
• Hiking: We love hiking the trail from the Audubon Center to Lower Macleay Park any time of year. The trails at Tryon Creek State Park are also under an evergreen tree canopy and fun to hike any day of the year.
• Nature Watching: View wildlife from the warmth and comfort of your car any time at Ridgefield wildlife refuge. Winter sights there for us have included trumpeter and tundra swans in flight and afloat, countless herons, hawks, kestrels, coots and sparrows, and river otters frolicking in the water and on the ice. For in town wildlife viewing, we go to Oaks Bottom as well as Smith and Bybee Lakes any time of year.
• Camping: Yes, you read that right. Both L.L. “Stub” Stewart and Champoeg State Parks have cabins available for rent all year long – no tent required! The cabins are heated. They also have outdoor fire rings , so don’t forget the firewood and marshmallows!

Hillsdale Farmers Market

When: Sundays 10am – 2pm – thru November 26th
Where: Reike Elementary School parking lot
1405 SE Vermont – West of Wilson HS

Hollywood Farmers Market
When: Saturdays 9am – 1pm, May Through November 21
Where: Between 44th & 45th & NE Hancock

Lloyd District Farmers Market
When: Every Tuesday until 12/22/09
Where: Oregon Square Courtyard,
NE Halladay St., between 7th & 9th Avenues
Next to the MAX line.

The last Portland Farmers Market at King Elementary School for this season is THIS Sunday, 10/25! And if you want to take a road trip this weekend, the Hood River Heirloom Apple Celebration is this weekend.

But here are a few more suggestions we would to add to the NW Kids list:

• Indoor rock climbing at The Circuit
• Bowling at Interstate Lanes
• Visiting the Audubon Center. They have an indoor interpretive area, and the viewing are for the birds at the rescue center is sheltered, also the nearby trails have a substantial tree canopy that can work for wet weather hiking.
• Want to get AWAY from the rain without boarding a plane? For a day trip, check the forecast for Hood River, OR which is often dry when Portland is wet. For a weekend, we often escape to Kah Nee Ta in October and early November to see the sun (and before snow makes the trip tricky).

Love to hear your suggestions for rainy day fun in the Portland-area as well!

Via MotherSource.org:

We are having a birthday party on Friday, August 7th in Laurelhurst Park; please join us!

We are celebrating our 5th birthday with a picnic in Laurelhurst Park on Friday, August 7th from 11 A.M. To 1 P.M. We invite all families and business owners who work with families to pack a picnic lunch and join us to meet new friends and reconnect with ones you haven’t seen in awhile!

There will be a free Rookie Rock class for kids with Sound Roots School of Modern Music http://www.soundrootsmusic.com/ The first 12 families who arrive will get a free (super cute) Mothersource onesie! There will be raffle prizes from MotherSource business members, including a gift certificates Milagros and Integrative Massage with Savannah Mayfield, a photos session with Campbell Salgado Studio and Pilates exercise kit from Mamalates. And best of all, yummy cake from Piece of Cake.

Donations will benefit Baby Blues Connection. http://www.babybluesconnection.org/

You can find us at Laurelhurst Park across the street from the tennis courts, near the doggy area. Just follow the signs!

Festivities at Fernhill will start with a parade (which YOU can be in!), tons of free activities at the park for kids and adults, and then a concert featuring Locust Street Taxi. The fun starts at 6 pm! See you there!

Another great community event for families this week is the MotherSource celebration on Friday, August 7.

The 11th Annual Pickathon is bigger than ever but on the rolling 80 acre Pendarvis Farm, it still promises opportunities for community and face-to-face intimacy (with musicians and new friends) that makes this event so special.

In addition to nearly non-stop music, there is no shortage of kids activities. Tickets don’t come cheap but kids 12 and under are free and you get a camping spot with your weekend pass. Honestly, I can’t imagine a better summer event investment.

We will have a booth set-up again, so if you are there please come by. We’ll have free temp tattoos for the kids as well as free “Got Breastmilk?” bumperstickers.

Hope to see you there!