8 Best Sights in The Dalles, The Columbia River Gorge

Dozens of strikingly ornate neon signs designed from the late-19th through the mid-20th centuries are displayed in this restored 20,000-square-foot former Elks Club building. The museum's owner, David Benko, often personally leads visitors through the two floors of exhibits. In addition to recognizable vintage neon signs for Shell Oil, Buster Brown Shoes, and Coca-Cola, you'll see countless signs from diners, shops, and other independently owned businesses. There's also a cache of photos, documents, and other historical materials that trace how neon signage influenced American culture and commercial design through the midcentury.

Views from atop Rowena Crest bluff are a knockout, especially during the March and April wildflower season, and there are a couple of fairly short and wonderfully scenic hikes that lead from the bluff parking lot through a pristine nature preserve operated by the Nature Conservancy. The 3½-mile (round-trip) trek up to McCall Point is especially scenic—it affords great views of Mt. Hood.

Run by charming winemakers Gabino and Adolfo, this cheerful tasting room with a covered patio and a light-filled tasting room overlooking the Columbia and the Dalles Dam has vineyards and a winery just across the river in Dallesport, Washington. Take in the friendly vibe—kids and pets are welcome—while sipping Tierra de Lobos' crisp Sauvignon Blanc and bold Bordeaux-style red blend. Light appetizers are available, and Latin American specialties, such as quesabirrias and pupusas, are served sometimes on weekends. 

Exhibits and artwork at this expansive, contemporary museum just off Interstate 84 as you approach The Dalles from the west highlight the geological history of the Columbia Gorge, back 40 million years when volcanoes, landslides, and floods carved out the area. History exhibits focus on 10,000 years of Native American life and exploration of the region by white settlers, from Lewis and Clark to the early-20th-century engineers who developed the Historic Columbia River Highway. The paved, multi-use Dalles Riverfront Trail connects the museum to downtown and the Dalles Dam, 10 miles upriver.

At this hydroelectric dam 50 miles east of the Bonneville Dam, you can tour a visitor center, which is located on the Oregon side of the river at Seufert Park, with surprisingly even-handed exhibits presenting differing perspectives on the Columbia River dams, with input from farmers, utility companies, environmentalists, and indigenous tribes. There's also a live feed of salmon and sturgeon scaling the fish ladder.

The 1856-vintage Fort Dalles Surgeon's Quarters ranks among the state's oldest history museums. The first visitors came through the doors in 1905. On display in authentic hand-hewn log buildings, originally part of a military base, are the personal effects of some of the region's settlers and a collection of early automobiles. The entrance fee gains you admission to the Swedish log-style Anderson Homestead museum across the street, which also displays pioneer artifacts.

You won't find many wineries situated in more unusual buildings than this early-1900s flour mill with huge grain elevators that soar over the southern end of The Dalles's downtown. Inside this dramatic old structure that once nearly fell to the wrecking ball, you'll find the tasting room for both Quenett—which produces first-rate Grenache, Viognier, Sangiovese, and others—and Oregon Mountain Estate, which is known for refined Pinot Noirs. Drive-in movies are shown many weekends.