As the temperatures drop and the snow falls, some of us automatically burrow into a comfy spot, grab a mug of hot cocoa and cocoon away while watching the winter beauty happen... through the window.
The Danish word for it is hygge. While the pronunciation may not be intuitive. It's pronounced "hoo-ga," kind of like an old car horn. The closest translation is "coziness," and it's a pretty instinctive act for many. Hygge is something that is felt or experienced more than simply explained. It's curling up on the sofa with a loved one on a cold winter's night. Hygge is filling a rustic cabin with good friends, great wine and delicious food while having deep conversations or playing games. It's reading a good book in front of a blazing fireplace, or walking arm in arm with someone close along a scenic stream. If that sounds like how you want to spend a winter's day, then we like your style, and you'll like it here in Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory.
When the weather gets colder, there's no better time than to snuggle with someone you love. There are numerous cozy vacation rentals on Mt. Hood that are perfect to embrace the hygge lifestyle and go on a romantic retreat or a family bonding trip. Light a fire in the fireplace, put on some music and enjoy a game or two while basking in the warm glow of an evening in.
Of course, hygge means more than that. A warm environment doesn't come from a blazing fireplace alone, but from good company and good food. Enjoy a romantic dinner at a cozy bistro, or indulge in some warm comfort food, followed by handmade chocolates. Meet friends for a delicious burger and craft beer or sample artfully made wines while enjoying beautiful works of art created by the wine maker. Stroll through downtown Lake Oswego and take in the eclectic works of art in the Gallery Without Walls or go the small town route and explore the Artback Murals in downtown Estacada.
The point is, there's no right or wrong way to embrace the hygge lifestyle, but there is a right place, and outside of Denmark, it's Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory.
