Hood River & the Columbia River Gorge Waterfront

The 35-mile agricultural loop through the Hood River Valley begins at Rasmussen Farms, 5 miles south of town — a fourth-generation operation growing 20 varieties of apples, sweet cherries, and pears on the volcanic slopes above the Columbia. The farm stand is open April through Christmas; the U-pick cherry operation in July is the region's most anticipated summer event. The valley's agricultural landscape, framed by Mt. Hood to the south and Mt. Adams to the north, is the most beautiful in Oregon.

Hood River's benchmark brewery, perched above the waterfront in a renovated industrial building with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Columbia. The Belgian-influenced program includes some of the Pacific Northwest's finest sour and barrel-aged beers; the wood-roasted mussels and the charcuterie board have developed a local following that drives from Portland. The IPA and the Pilsner are the most approachable starting points.

The Hood River waterfront is the windsurfing and kiteboarding capital of North America — the Columbia Gorge funnels consistent 20-knot winds through a channel wide enough for serious sails. The waterfront park has sand beaches, the Waterfront Park loop walk, and direct views across the Columbia to White Salmon and the Washington side of the gorge. In summer the sailboarders provide continuous entertainment from the shore.