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Hood River Attractions
The Fruit Loop
Before windsurfing took center stage, the Hood River Valley was known as one of Oregon's top fruit-growing regions, and today the valley is still full of apple and pear orchards. From blossom time (Apr) to harvest season (Sept-Oct), the valley offers quiet country roads to explore. Along the way, you'll find numerous farm stands, wineries, museums, and interesting shops that reflect the valley's rural heritage. Pick up a brochure called Hood River County Fruit Loop Guide to Local Farm Stands at the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce visitor center.
Be sure to start your tour of the Hood River Valley by stopping at Panorama Point, off of Ore. 35 just south of town (follow the signs). This hilltop park provides a splendid view of the valley's orchards, with Mount Hood looming in the distance.
In the fall, fruit stands pop up along the roads around the valley. Rasmussen Farms, 3020 Thomsen Rd. (tel. 800/548-2243 or 541/386-4622; www.rasmussenfarms.com), is one of the biggest and best farm stands in the valley and is off Ore. 35 about 6 miles south of Hood River. Also not to be missed is the nearby Apple Valley Country Store, 2363 Tucker Rd. (tel. 541/386-1971; www.applevalleystore.com), where you can stock up on homemade jams and jellies and maybe buy one of the store's legendary 4-pound apple pies. You'll find the store west of Rasmussen's on the opposite side of the valley. Also in the valley are numerous orchards and farms where you can pick your own fruit. Keep an eye out for U-PICK signs. Between June and August, you can also cut lavender at a couple of area farms. Lavender Valley, 3925 Portland Dr. (tel. 541/386-1906; www.lavendervalley.com), has 4 acres of lavender and is just north of the Apple Valley Country Store. Hood River Lavender, 3801 Straight Hill Rd. (tel. 888/528-3276 or 541/354-9917; www.lavenderfarms.net), with views of Mounts Hood and Adams, is toward the middle of the valley just south of the community of Odell.
The little hamlet of Parkdale, at the south end of the Fruit Loop, is home to the fascinating little Hutson Museum, 4967 Baseline Dr. (tel. 541/352-6808), which houses lapidary, archaeology, and anthropology collections, of which the rock collection and exhibits of Native American artifacts are a highlight. Museum days and hours vary with the seasons, so call ahead. Also in Parkdale, you'll find the Elliot Glacier Public House, 4945 Baseline Dr. (tel. 541/352-1022; www.elliotglacierpublichouse.com), a brewpub with a great view of Mount Hood from the picnic tables out back.
Any time between April and late December, but especially during fruit-blossom time, the Mount Hood Railroad (tel. 800/872-4661 or 541/386-3556; www.mthoodrr.com) offers a great way to see the Hood River Valley. Trains operated by this scenic railroad company depart from the historic 1911 Hood River depot on 2- and 4-hour excursions. The 2-hour excursions go to Odell, and the 4-hour excursions wind their way up the valley to Parkdale, where you can get a snack at a cafe or visit the Hutson Museum. For the 2-hour excursion, fares are $25 for adults, $23 for seniors, and $15 for children 2 to 12; fares on the 4-hour excursions are $30 for adults, $26 for seniors, and $18 for children. The schedule varies with the season (July-Aug it's Tues-Sun). There are also regularly scheduled dinner and brunch trains and other specialty excursion trains. Reservations are recommended.
Wine Touring
The Hood River Valley is one of the fastest-growing wine regions in Oregon. Because this region is much hotter than the Willamette Valley in the summer, different varieties of grapes are grown. Stop in at a Hood River winery and you'll be tasting not only pinot noir and pinot gris, but also merlot, Syrah, zinfandel, Viognier, and other Bordeaux and Rhone varietals.
If you're wine touring in the Hood River valley, be sure to stop by The Gorge White House, 2265 U.S. 35 (tel. 541/386-2828; www.thegorgewhitehouse.com), a beautifully restored old farmhouse that now serves as a tasting room for many area wineries. If you're short on time and want to taste wines from several wineries, this is the place to head. Note that the White House is closed from November to March.
12 Results
- Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Cathedral Ridge Winery
This winery produces a good Riesling, as well as pinot gris, chardonnay, a cabernet-merlot blend, and several other varietals. There are great views of both Mount Hood and Mount Adams from here. - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Hood River Vineyards and Winery
This winery is best known for its many excellent fruit wines, some of which are sweet and some of which are dry. They also produce a variety of port-style dessert wines. - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Marchesi Vineyards
This little mid-valley winery has a decidedly Italian feel to it, which is not surprising considering that owner and winemaker Franco Marchesi is from Italy's Piedmont region, which is known for producing some of the world's best red wines. While Marchesi produces pinot gris and… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Mt. Hood Winery
With a large tasting room on the edge of several acres of vineyards, this mid-valley winery produces a wide range of wines, including pinot noir, pinot gris, chardonnay, malbec, Syrah, and a delicious port-style wine. The wines can be hit or miss, but the location is convenient if… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Naked Winery
If you think wine should be taken seriously, then you need to get Naked -- Naked wine, that is. This downtown Hood River tasting room always offers a long lineup of surprisingly good wines with slightly naughty names: Foreplay chardonnay, Missionary cabernet, Gay rosé, Escort pinot… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Pheasant Valley Vineyard & Winery
At this winery in the middle of the Hood River Valley, you can sample the wines of Pheasant Valley, which produces some of my favorite area wines. There are usually some good values to be had here. - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Phelps Creek Vineyards
With a tasting room right on the Hood River Golf Course, this is one of the prettiest places in the valley to sit outside with a glass of wine. Phelps Creek does several pinot noirs and a couple of chardonnays each year. - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Quenett Winery
If you have only a passing interest in wine, this is the best place in the area to sample a bit of local vino. The conveniently located downtown tasting room is a pretty little wine bar. The winery specializes in red wines, including zinfandel, sangiovese, and barbera. - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Springhouse Cellar
Housed in an old building near the Mount Hood Railroad depot, this winery is another great place to visit for outstanding values. White wines, including chardonnay, Viognier, and pinot blanc, are in the $15 to $18 range, while reds, including sangiovese, Syrah, and cabernet… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
The Pines 1852
Although this winery is actually in The Dalles, it has a tasting room in downtown Hood River. Because the wines here are produced by Peter Rosback, one of the best Oregon winemakers, they are some of my favorite area wines. Don't miss an opportunity to sample these lush wines,… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Viento
Excellent wines at reasonable prices make this one of my favorite Oregon wineries. Look for Grüner Veltliner, a wine most popular in Austria and rarely produced in the Northwest, as well as Rieslings in varying sweetnesses, Viognier, barbera, sangiovese, and superb Syrah from… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Wind River Cellars
This winery is located across the Columbia River, near the town of Husum, Washington, and produces a wide range of reds and whites that are mostly in the $20 to $25 range.
Hood River Shopping
In downtown Hood River, drop in at the community-sponsored, nonprofit Columbia Art Gallery, 215 Cascade St. (tel. 541/387-8877; www.columbiaartgallery.org). On the first Friday of each month from April to October, downtown galleries and shops are open from 5 to 9pm with local artists on hand to sell their work and demonstrate their skills. Between May and September, you can sample local produce at the Hood River Saturday Market at the corner of Fifth and Cascade streets in downtown Hood River. The market is open on Saturday from 9am to 3pm.
