The gorge is a beautiful area and would be a good fit for both of you. LOTS of outdoor activities and very scenic. As for places to stay, check out the Edgefield, in Troutdale, which is sort of the gateway to the gorge. You could also stay in or around Hood River. If you stay around Troutdale, head to Corbett for the 4th. They have a wonderful all day event. An old time parade through town, and then lots of activities at the school, and then a really good fireworks show in the evening. The fireworks are very good and it draws people from all over the metro area, not just the nearby residents.

The gorge has tons of hiking trails for all abilities/desires. What are you looking for in terms of miles and elevation gain? Dog Mountain is one of my favorites and has a fantastic sweeping view of the gorge.

Hi MMS- thanks for the tips. We had wondered about the Hood River area as being a possible good fit.

I'm not sure if I'm googling the wrong place for the Edgefield - it looked quite busy with all the entertainment etc? If I have googled the right place, then this has been helpful for helping me realise that we probably want somewhere a bit more tranquil / less hustle & bustle

Ideally we'd love somewhere where was can enjoy nature / great scenery during the day (either by hiking, horseriding etc - probably up to a max of 4 hours 'active' hiking) and then be able to either stay at a nice lodge/b&B for dinner & chilling out or alternatively wander into the township for a yummy dinner.

ps - Dog Mountain view looks *amazing* oh, so little time for all the great places.

loveners--Yes, the Edgefield can get busy, but it is a lot of fun and the grounds are huge so you can always get away from it all. The McMenamins buy old properties and turn each one into wonderful, unique destinations. All that said, if it isn't right for you then no worries. I can't help with personal recommendations in Hood River because we stay with friends there, or backpack nearby. But I would check the reviews on Trip Advisor and see what appeals to you.

Thanks again mms

Fellow Fodorites - one question nagging in my head... do you think with our time available, we might be able to do some coastal driving and then end up in Hood River on our first night (or early 2nd morning)?


I have consulted the map and obviously HR is inland eastwards from Portland - are there any nice driving loops that would make sense from Portland, take in the coast and then end up in HR (or a similar outdoorsy area)

Would love to hear your ideas (or whether you think I should ignore the nagging in my head for a subsequent visit).

Thans

Loveners

Hood River would indeed be a great spot for a base. In addition to the Columbia Gorge, you could also spend part (or all) of a day on Mount Hood. Timberline Lodge is around 90 minutes' drive from Hood River, up the beautiful Hood River Valley. In early July there will still be some snow nearby, but you might also have a great wildflower display. Mount Hood from the valley floor: http://gardyloo.us/20100509_85a.JPG

We actually like to stay at a more "official" hotel in Hood River, the (Best Western) Hood River Inn - http://www.hoodriverinn.com/ . It's right on the river, so many rooms have a view of the river and Gorge, e.g. http://gardyloo.us/20100509_96a.JPG

If you want a quick taste of some real "old west" country as well as vineyards etc., then you could head east for 45 min. through the Gorge to Maryhill, on the Washington side of the river, for a visit to Maryhill Museum - www.maryhillmuseum.org - a fascinating little explosion of art and history in the sagebrush country. By the time you get to Maryhill, the landscape has changed dramatically from Hood River and the "wet" side of the Cascades, well worth experiencing.

Hood River is full of nice cafes, brewpubs, etc., so it has all the necessities for a lovely couple of days.