HotelTonight – Hood River, Oregon Hotels
Whenever I'm in Oregon, and I'm there a lot for work these days, I look for almost any excuse to drive along the Columbia River. I do so because it gives me a chance not only to see the Columbia River Gorge one more time, but just driving along the shores of this iconic river gives me the feeling that I'm near something historically important. Unfortunately, I've never really found the time to explore any of the communities that sit along this river, as I've always been driving as quickly as possible to Portland or some other place for meetings. That all changed one day as I was driving to my next day of meetings. I got a call that informed me that those meetings were not going to happen. All of a sudden, I had an entire day to do with as I pleased. I would have been pleased to see one of these riverside communities, and I'd always wanted to see Hood River in particular. That was it, then – I was going to visit this community. I wasn't worried about finding a place to stay, either, as I travel with HotelTonight. I'd book a Hood River hotel room in a snap.
The Hiking
I love to hike, and I could not wait to see what type of trails were in store in a place that sits near the Columbia River Gorge and the Cascade Mountains. I was sure there would be scenic options available for me, and I was right. I jumped on a trail that took off almost directly out of town, and I could not believe the views I got to enjoy. The mountains looked close enough for me to touch them and the river looked like it was just below my feet. I took hundreds of photos.
Downtown
After an exhilarating hike, I was ready to spend some time in civilization. I wanted to see downtown Hood River up-close, and that's what I did. This is a quaint, charming little city of around 7,000 people. The main drag downtown is filled with little shops and locally-owned businesses of all different types. People walk around and do their thing without a care in the world. People stop and greet each other and engage in pleasant conversations. Everyone I made eye contact with gave me a heartfelt greeting as well. This is a happy place.
The Dining
For such a small city, I was surprised that there were so many different dining options. I felt like having some fresh seafood, as I had been looking at the river all day long. I went to a place that looked like a loft in a big city, but it had all sorts of Oregon wines and local beers for me to enjoy. I went with some mussels that were served in a frying pan dish, and they paired it with a wine that completed the entire meal.
HotelTonight – Hood River Hotels
I was full, happy and ready to crash. I opened my HotelTonight app and booked a Hood River hotel room in a matter of seconds. It was only a block away, so I walked over there and fell asleep almost immediately. I promised myself I'd come back here someday to spend more time.
