We were craving an easy escape; a weekend away that felt like getting out of town without a long drive—and Hood River delivered perfectly.
We stayed at the Best Western Plus Hood River Inn, which might sound ordinary, but it’s anything but. Set right on the river, it offers gorgeous views and immediate access to the waterfront trail. Those are our sneakers in the photo — we are literally sitting on our patio enjoying that view. It’s also pet-friendly, so our elderly dog Ginger got to join the adventure. Ginger is pictured below smelling the grass with the early morning steam coming off the hot tub in the background.
Just steps from our room, the paved riverfront trail begins—an easy, scenic walk to Hood River Waterfront Park and back. On a warm day, you can watch kite surfers catching the wind and soaring across the water—it’s mesmerizing.
The view of the Hood River Bridge is prominent from the hotel and I was so curious about the towns on the other side, so we ventured over. What I learned is this: if you don’t bother crossing, you aren’t missing much; they charge you $3.50 in EACH direction; but there are incredible views of the Columbia River Gorge as you cross.
While we expected to explore a variety of restaurants in town, we stumbled upon a surprise: the hotel restaurant is fantastic. Seriously a surprise standout: expectations for “hotel dining” are usually… measured. But this one completely flips the script. Sitting right on the river, it delivers both in atmosphere and on the plate. Think cozy, warm interiors paired with expansive views. We ended up having both of our dinners and breakfast there and loved every bite. And shockingly, while many restaurants have nice views from a higher elevation, this is the ONLY restaurant in the entire town that is actually ON the river.
A good first stop when you come to town is the Hood River County Visitor Center. The friendly guide was incredibly helpful, pointing us toward local hikes, happy hour spots, and one of the area’s signature experiences: the Hood River Fruit Loop.
So what exactly is the Fruit Loop? It’s a roughly 35-mile scenic drive winding through farmland, connecting more than 25 farms, orchards, wineries, and fruit stands. Depending on the season, offerings vary—but the views are always postcard-worthy. Be sure to grab a map at the visitor center, as hours and availability will change throughout the year.
We were tempted by a longer nearby hike (nearly 10 miles roundtrip), but decided to save that for another visit. Instead, we explored one of the area’s more unique walks: following a trail that runs alongside (and sometimes atop) the Hood river on a pipeline that historically carried water through the valley. It feels delightfully off-the-beaten-path, like you’ve discovered a local secret. In fact, without the detailed directions from the visitor center, we never would have found it.
We also made time to wander through town, where we found a rooftop bar, enjoyed a relaxing break, and took in even more of those beautiful Gorge views.
A major highlight—and where we happily spent a big chunk of one afternoon—was the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum (WAAAM). It was so memorable, in fact, that it deserves a feature all its own here in this space. I have plenty to say about this one—stay tuned!
