Tag Archives: Gorge Guide

Feed your travel dreams with AFAR, Lonely Planet

29 May

Travel is a series of stepping stones touched one after another after another. Strung together, they constitute a narrative, of how we got from there to here. Each narrative is a little different, no matter how familiar or cliched the venture.

At the  Hood River Hotel, we love being part of your travel narrative. Yes, you stay with us, and yes, we try to make it the most pleasant experience possible. But it isn’t just about the hotel. It’s about your time away from the hotel. We’re just the hub on the wheel, sending you spinning out to the circumference. We want you to have a great time while visiting Hood River, and welcome the chance to suggest things to do. Just ask.

As one stop in your travel narratives, we love to dream of our own travels. And share the collected wisdom of our peers in the business. Follow us on Twitter, and you’ll see us passing along savvy advice from local colleagues at the Gorge Guide and Hood River County Chamber of Commerce.

We also realize that you travel beyond the Gorge, so we hope to help you there, as well, with nuggets of wisdom from more worldly sources. Such as? The Lonely Planet folks just keep pumping out useful guidance. We also love the new travel publication, AFAR — Where Travel Can Take You. Go spend some time at their sites, and feed the dream.

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Gorge Guide tallies votes for annual Best of the Gorge selections

31 Jan

If you’ve been to the Columbia River Gorge, or browsed the brochure rack near the front desk of the Hood River Hotel, you’ve probably picked up a copy of the Gorge Guide. For several years now, the editors there have asked visitors to vote for their favorite Gorge activities and establishments online at BestoftheGorge.com.

Well, the voting for 2011 is done (voting goes on all year, and ends Dec. 31), and the results are in.

“For 30 years we’ve been showcasing the Gorge for visitors and our second annual Best of the Gorge contest was extremely insightful. We asked visitors to tell us about their favorite experiences in the Gorge, and the voice of the visitor is what you’ll see here,” said Jeff Jones, editor of the Gorge Guide. The categories range from

Oh, BTW, advertising deadline for the 2012 Gorge Guide is Feb. 15. Contact Annisa Olsson Jones at 541-386-7440.

You can vote here for your “best” picks for 2012 at the magazine’s web site, or check out results from 2011.

For those of you who can’t wait for hyperlinks, here are the results:

2011 BEST OF THE GORGE WINNERS BY CATEGORY

Best Art Gallery: Columbia Center for the Arts, Hood River, OR

Best Museum: Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum, Hood River, OR

Best Cruise or Excursion: Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler, Cascade Locks, OR

Best General Attraction: Multnomah Falls

Best Lake: Lost Lake, Hood River, OR

Best Park (tie): Marine Park, Cascade Locks, OR / Hood River Waterfront Park, Hood

River, OR

Best Tour: Martin’s Gorge Tour

Best Viewpoint: Rowena Crest

Best Scenic Drive: Historic Columbia River Highway

Best Waterfall: Tamanawas Falls

Best Rest Area: Starvation Creek

Best Fair or Festival: Hood River Hops Fest

Best Orchard, Farm or Fruit Stand: Cody Orchards, Hood River, OR

Best Band: Tony Smiley

Best Campground/RV Park: Timberlake Campground and RV Park, Home Valley, WA

Best Hotel: Inn of the White Salmon, White Salmon, WA

Best Bed & Breakfast: Carson Ridge Cabins, Carson, WA

Best Winery/Tasting Room: Marchesi Vineyards, Hood River, OR

Best Brewpub: Double Mountain Brewery, Hood River, OR

Best Coffee: 10 Speed Coffee, Hood River/Mosier, OR

Best Restaurant Atmosphere: The Glass Onion Restaurant & Gallery, Goldendale, WA

Best Restaurant Food: Nora’s Table, Hood River, OR

Best Brunch (tie): Bette’s Place, Hood River, OR Skamania Lodge, Stevenson, WA

Best Happy Hour: Columbia Gorge Hotel, Hood River, OR

Best Pizza: Solstice Wood Fire Cafe, Bingen, WA

Best Restaurant Service: Brian’s Pourhouse, Hood River, OR

Best Wedding Venue: Cascade Locks Marine Park, Cascade Locks, OR

Best Salon: Salon Visio, Hood River, OR

Best Shopping (Clothing): The Trunk Show, Hood River, OR

Best Shopping (Gifts and Home): Twiggs, Hood River, OR

Best Shopping (Sporting Goods): 2nd Wind Sports, Hood River, OR

Best Kiteboarding School: Cascade Kiteboarding, Hood River, OR and Stevenson, WA

Best Kiteboarding Site: The Sandbar, Hood River, OR

Best Windsurfing School: Big Winds, Hood River, OR

Best Windsurfing Site: The Event Site, Hood River, OR

Best Rafting School: Wet Planet Whitewater, White Salmon, WA

Best Ski Resort: Mt. Hood Meadows, Mt. Hood, OR

Best Hiking Trail: Klickitat Trail, Lyle, WA

Best Mountain Biking Trail: Post Canyon, Hood River, OR

Best Fitness Facility: Crossfit, Hood River, OR

Best Golf Course: Hood River Golf Course

Best Free Family Activity: Hiking

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