HAPPENINGS

Mar 22 The 13th Annual Snow Beach Festival comes to Mt Hood Ski Bowl, featuring pond skimming contests, cosmic tubing, hot dog and hot wing eating contests, and local brews at the Suds on the Slope beer garden.  

Mar 22-29 Spring Whale Watching Week starts tomorrow at 24 locations up and down the Oregon coast, as hundreds of gray whales begin their migration north. For watching sites (and volunteering opportunities) visit, oregonstateparks.org

Remember, March is Portland Dining Month, so pick from one (or many) of nearly 100 local restaurants and dig in to a $29 three-course meal. Choices include everything from Besaw’s to Racion. downtownportland.org/dining-month 

Mar 29 Next week, Red Bull Schlittentag comes to Mt Hood (“Schlittentag” is German for “sledding day”) Watch as forty three-person teams launch themselves down the Skibowl in contraptions of their own construction. 

COOL NEW STUFF

Summer festival is coming fast. And we've got your back. Check out our guide to the biggest and best fests, from Sasquatch to Pickathon to Paradiso. 

Good news! Oregon's national parks are raking in the big bucks. Read about a new report on their economic impact here. 

DEALS

Thru April 1 Coast Hotels has a bonanza of deals centered on "family getaways" and Northwest deals abound. Skiing? Check. Pirate-themed? Check. LEGOs? Check check check. coasthotels.com/family-packages/

April 22 Celebrate Earth Day with FivePine Lodge in Sisters, OR and have a tree planted in your honor. 50% of your room rate will be donated to the National Forest Foundation, who'll match proceeds at .50 cents to the dollar. For more information, call (541) 549-5900.