Hood River

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Hood River Activities

Hood River is an amazing and quaint river town in the Columbia Gorge and is a world renowned kite surfing destination. There is SO much to do in Hood River and the surrounding area, we couldn't possibly capture everything but here are a few of the endless activities to fill your weekend in the beautiful Columbia Gorge.

We fell in love with Hood River as we were making a drive between Redmond and Portland during our month-long stay in Oregon in June of 2021. The water and ongoing hills also remind us of the views in British Columbia, Canada where we got engaged. We hope you enjoy this corner of the country as much as we do and take advantage of all it has to offer if your time allows.

Our suggestions

Everything outlined below hardly scratches the surface!

Go for a hike

There are so many incredible hikes in this area. A few favorites are: Latourell Falls (moderate), Lost Lake (easy), Starvation Creek State Park (moderate), Wahclella Falls (moderate), Rowena Crest/Plateau Trail (easy), Tamanawas Falls (moderate), Dog Mountain (challenging), and Mount Defiance (very challenging).

Visit Multnomah Falls

A visit to the Gorge isn’t complete without a stop at this 620-foot tall waterfall (the second largest in the US). There are a number of wonderful hiking trails, or simply stop by the visitor's lodge to see the Falls up close. Reservations are required to visit so remember to plan ahead!

Explore the Hood River Fruit Loop

A 35 mile stretch of country roads housing 27 on-the-farm fruit stands, wineries, breweries, cideries, and fields of flowers. Explore on a self-guided tour, stopping at as many spots as you can: https://www.hoodriverfruitloop.com/

Get out on the water

Go windsurfing, stand up paddleboarding, catamaran sailing, or jet skiing: hoodriverwaterplay.com or https://www.hoodriversupandkayak.com/

If you aren’t feeling up for taking on the challenge of wind surfing but still want to take in what has coined Hood River as the wind surfing capital of the world, stop by the Waterfront Park for a front row seat to the adventurers.

Go golfing

Indian Creek Golf Course has views of both Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood and is surrounded by orchards, which will be in full bloom in late May.

Go Wine Tasting

Hood River is home to many fantastic wineries with views to boot. Check out Marchesi Vineyards, Cathedral Ridge, or Viento just to name a few.

Go mountain biking

Some of the best trails you can find at all difficulty levels. Check out Mountain View Cycles for rentals and the MTB Project for maps and detailed descriptions of trails.

Check out the Farmer's Market

Saturday from 9am to 1pm on Columbia Street in downtown Hood River. Some of the finest local crafts and produce as well as live music.

Bike or Walk the Mosier Twin Tunnels

The Mosier Twin Tunnels are part of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, a paved, car-free trail that's great for walking or biking. The tunnels were completed in 1921 as part of the Columbia River Highway. They were built by dynamiting through basalt rock.

Questions?

Here's some (hopefully) helpful information to guide you.
Email LauraAndEric2025@gmail.com with anything else.

How do I get to Hood River?

Fly in to the Portland Airport (PDX) and then rent a car for the scenic drive to Hood River.

Where should I stay?

We suggest staying directly in Hood River! We have a hotel block at The Hood River Inn (Best Western Plus). There are also many smaller Bed & Breakfasts, Inns, and Airbnbs to fit whatever your preference may be. We will be kicking off their high season, so we would suggest booking ASAP for the best availability and rates.

You can access the hotel block through this link.

What is the best way to get around Hood River?

The historic downtown of Hood River is a very walkable street with many shops and restaurants to explore. Additionally, the waterfront is a 3min drive or a 15min walk from there with many breweries and restaurants. There is street parking as well as parking lots so you can easily visit both places. Visit en.parkopedia.com/parking/hood_river/ to see available parking in the area.

Uber just started operating in Hood River in the last summer of 2024 so currently there are minimal options for Ubers but we expect this to increase as we head into Spring 2025.

The Hood River Inn hotel block is full and it says that it doesn't have any availability online. I would like to stay there! What should I do?

The hotel does not open up general availability until 45-60 days in advance. They more than likely still have plenty of rooms available.

If the block is full, please call the Hood River Inn at 541-386-2200 and say you are with the Burtness - Johnson wedding and that you would like to book a room. They can help you to book a room over the phone.

Is there transportation to/from the wedding?

Yes! There will be two pick up and drop off spots from Hood River to The Griffin House - one will be at The Hood River Inn and another near Oak St & 4th St. Pick up will likely be around 3:30/3:45. More info to come as we get closer to the date.

If you are driving in from Portland for the wedding and not staying the night in Hood River, you can find parking lots to park in here: en.parkopedia.com/parking/hood_river/.

Is the wedding indoors or outdoors?

The ceremony & cocktail hour will be outdoors. The reception will be hosted underneath a tent.

What should I wear?

Cocktail attire. There are many grass and gravel areas so we would suggest for women to wear flats or block heels. The temperatures can quickly drop in the evening bring a warm jacket/shawl/etc for when the sun goes down.

Are kids invited to the wedding?

While we love your little ones, our wedding is going to be an adults-only event. However, we would love for you to bring your kids to the Welcome Party on Thursday evening or the Saturday event!

Is it okay to park at the venue?

Due to the venue's requirements, guests are not allowed to park at the venue. A mandatory shuttle service will be provided. The shuttle will depart from the Hood River Inn and another near Oak St & 4th St. Following dinner and reception, the shuttle will return to both locations. If there are any specific concerns about this, please reach out to Laura & Eric.

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What other activities are planned for the weekend?

Check out our Schedule for full weekend details.

If your travel plans allow, we would love to see you at the Welcome Party on Thursday evening from 7-9pm at the Hood River Inn.

The Big Day is from 4-10pm on Friday.

We will also plan a get together on Saturday morning/early afternoon and later in the evening on Saturday for whoever is still exploring the Hood River area. More details to come!

If you're spending the weekend in the Hood River/Portland/Bend area, we have also added recommendations for activities, restaurants, etc. on the Activities page.

What will the weather in Hood River be in May?

The Griffin House is right on the Columbia River Gorge, which is one of the top windsurfing destinations in the world, so it can get pretty windy! Prepare for big wind gusts. We will be kicking off the start of summer so temperatures could be anywhere from 65-75 and cooling off as the evening goes on.

This is my first time in Hood River - where should I go? What should I do?

Check out our Activities page!

Additionally, we would suggest getting beers at Pfriem, ordering danish pancakes at Broder Øst, going for a walk/run/bike ride along the Historic Highway, picking up some fresh fruit along the Fruit Loop, and hiking in the Gorge.

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Will there be a registry?

Your presence at our wedding is really the gift we love the most! If you would like to share something extra there will be a registry listed here in January.

What if I have more questions?

Feel free to reach out to us with any questions directly via text/phone call. You can also email us at lauraanderic2025@gmail.com. We are so excited to celebrate with you and if there's anything we can do to help you plan your weekend, we would be happy to help!

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