World-class outdoors and secretly delicious food in Oregon

One of the tricks in the world of travel is finding a destination that gives you the chance to get two (or more) different travel experiences for one plane ticket.

This is a particularly useful and fruitful strategy for people who are short on vacation time or on a tight budget, as you can get the most out of your time and money.

There are many places in the world that offer this opportunity, but a special place is the mountain subway experience that you can get in Oregon.

Destinations Portland and Hood River are separated by just 60 miles and couldn’t be more different. Each of them offers unique and complementary experiences that together create a complete trip.

Portland embraces Oregon’s creative, artsy culture, including amazing cuisine, and nearby Hood River offers opportunities for hiking, swimming, wine tasting, and farm tours.

How to plan a trip to Portland and Hood River

The most important thing in planning a trip with two destinations is the order of visit.

I think it’s always better to start with the most populated area. In this case, start in Portland and explore its city streets, then head to Hood River for more space and views.

If you do it the other way around, the sudden spike in density and population can come as a shock when you leave a quiet environment and enter a bustling city.

Fly into Portland (PDX) and then take a rideshare, taxi or public transportation to your hotel. Explore the city using the same and rent a car the morning you plan to head out to Hood River.

Use a company located both downtown and at the airport, such as Enterprise, to make things more efficient. Rent a car in the city center and arrange to return it to the airport on the day of departure.

Where to stay in Portland

There are many bases in Portland, and your familiarity with the city can influence where you want to be. Maybe you’ve been before and want to check out a different part or have points at a certain chain hotel.

Despite these situational differences, one idea is to stay across the river from downtown Portland in the local area along East Burnside Street.

Things are a little quieter on this side of the bridge, with a number of local bars, cafes and restaurants, but you’re still within walking distance of its lively and famous areas such as Old Town and the Pearl District.

In fact, being in the area leads to a pretty cool experience: to get to downtown and Portland’s historic district, you can walk across the Burnside Bridge, which offers great views of the city skyline and the Willamette River. This pedestrian entrance is a pretty epic entrance and a scenic view of the city.

If this area intrigues you, check it out Hotel Jupiterwhich is actually two hotels in one. Located across the road from each other, The original of Jupiter has simple but artistic rooms (think large murals with a retro 3-star hotel feel) with a low apartment building layout, while Jupiter is NEXT is more modern, a bit more prestigious, and is a taller building with views of the Portland skyline.

What to do in Portland

Like most cities, Portland is a very diverse place with many neighborhoods to explore. Don’t miss the Pearl District, Nob Hill or Mississippi Street and more.

There are many platforms on which to explore the city—art, music, beer—but you might be surprised to learn that Portland’s best-kept secret is its cuisine.

Although it has been voted many times as one of America’s best food cities, it’s certainly not the first place that comes to most people’s minds (feel free to conduct your own polls with friends).

Last spring, Portland was named one of the top ten food cities in the world by Time Out Magazine; A 2022 WalletHub poll named it the city with the best food in the county, as did the Washington Post back in 2015. Local food restaurants and vegan scenes have also been highlighted and awarded in recent years, as has pizza (much to the dismay of New Yorkers).

For whatever reason, these praises have not penetrated mainstream thinking. But eating and drinking in Portland is definitely the thing to do, especially in our situation here, where fueling up for the active adventures to come to Hood River is priority number one.

To plan your meals in Portland, go to Eater Portlandwhere you will find the latest news about the city’s cuisine, including new, popular and unknown restaurants. Its maps can help you find any food you might be looking for in different areas (like pizza).

If you’re not sure where to start, check it out 38 of Portland’s Most Essential Restaurants.

To warm up your legs before an outdoor adventure on the Hood River, head to Portland Washington Park. Here you’ll find endless green spaces for picnicking, as well as some great scenic spots: the International Rose Garden, the Japanese Garden, and a host of other attractions that offer great views of the city below and Mount Hood in the distance. .

Things to do and where to stay in Hood River

Hop in your rental car and drive east from Portland and you’ll be in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Areaconservation area spanning 80 miles along the Columbia River on the Oregon-Washington border.

Long before you reach the town of Hood River, you’ll find yourself in a completely different world. Beautiful blue waters, craggy cliffs, tall spiers and pine-covered mountain ranges replace skyscrapers and city skylines.

Your travels will parallel the Columbia River with views that might tempt you to roll down the windows on a nice day. You’ll be in Hood River in about an hour, unless of course you want to slow down and stop at scenic lookouts along the way, including Shepherd’s Dell Falls, Bride’s Veil Falls, and various state… run parks.

Hood River is a recreation hub in the Columbia River Gorge and a jumping-off point for adventures in the nearby Cascade Mountain Range, including Mount Hood and the surrounding Fruit and Wine Trail.

In the city, you will find a variety of small housing options, including historic ones Hood River Hotel. Those looking for old-school accommodation with character should look no further; here you will be given a real key to your room with vintage-style furniture, historic photographs and local artwork to create a rustic atmosphere.

Restaurant downstairs, Broder Ostbrilliantly complements the modern aspects of traditional Scandinavian comfort food, creating a sense of olden times of mountain food sourced from local farms.

It’s a good place to recharge before heading out for a day of adventure, which may include hiking, biking, water sports, skiing, wine tasting or farm tours, depending on the season.

Here is a short list of the main recreation areas:

• Fruit and wine: Fruit loop it’s a 35-mile scenic drive through local orchards, forests and farmland. Fruit and wine are the main draw, but you can also find other opportunities like lavender and alpaca farms. Departure this database of local farms find an individual and unique experience.
• Mount Hood National Forest: Yes many local trails around Hood River, but it would be remiss not to drive a little further and visit Mount Hood National Forest. Here you can find plenty of hiking and biking trails, as well as skiing in the winter (Mount Hood Meadows Ski Resort).
• Columbia River: Hood River adjoins the Columbia River for a variety of outdoor activities, including rowing, windsurfing, sailing, or swimming. If you are not familiar with river conditions, I highly recommend contacting a local supplier for the best experience. Cool off after your hike with a swim at the local beach park.
• Other nearby small towns: To get a better feel for local life outside of busy Hood River, cross the Columbia River into Washington State and see White Salmon, or head upstream from the Oregon side to Dallesport. This is a map of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area it is useful to see all the nearest cities.

The recommended length of stay in Hood River is at least two to three full days to be able to experience a little of everything it has to offer. Of course, you could stay longer – there is a lot to do.

When you’re ready, enjoy the final sights on an easy one-hour drive and cruise back to Portland to depart PDX. Simply return your rental car to the airport to complete the loop and remember all you’ve seen in a short amount of time—one trip, two destinations.