a weekend in Hood River, OR

Everyone loves a good weekend getaway. I love exploring the Pacific Northwest and Hood River, OR is a hidden gem on the Columbia River.

This small town is the perfect destination for a relaxing couple of days away.

My boyfriend, Casey, and I are big brewery people. A perfect trip for us includes visiting breweries, eating good food and drinking good beer, and spending time exploring the town. If you are like us, seriously, book your trip to Hood River ASAP!

LODGING

One of the great things about Hood River is that everything is very walkable. There is no Uber in this town, but there are some hotel shuttles and taxis if you do not want to walk.

We like to stay at the Best Western Plus Hood River Inn. It isn’t crazy fancy (I mean it’s a Best Western, not the Four Seasons) but it has some amenities that keep us coming back. We love that their pool and hot tub are outside, really close to the river, with a great view. The also offer rooms with balconies with a view of the river.

We have also considered Hood River Hotel, The Society Hotel Hood River – Bingen, Columbia Gorge Hotel & Spa, and Airbnb options.

Walkability and a hot tub were our main factors for our lodging choice but the other options may be better for you depending on your preferences.

LET’S EAT

Here are a couple fun food options! There is a surprising amount of delicious restaurants for the size of the town!

Broder Ost – This is a Scandinavian restaurant that has some of my favorites for brunch! You have to try the aebleskivers (Danish pancakes) or the Förlorade Ägg (lost eggs). Great food that you cannot get anywhere else! 

Solstice Wood Fire Pizza – We are suckers for a good wood fire pizza. This restaurant had a great atmosphere and you could tell that it is a favorite for both locals and tourists! You can walk there from some of the breweries that I mention below! 

LET’S DRINK

Okay, time for the fun stuff… beer!

Double Mountain Brewing – This place has some of the best beer I have ever had; hey have some fancy sours and barleywine if you love those like I do and plenty of IPAs if you love those. And it has good pizza. And live music on the weekends. And room to dance. And it is just wonderful. Get some pizza and a beer and you may end up being here for hours like Casey and I have.

Pfriem Family Brewers – The beer here is unmatched. From sweet stouts to hoppy IPAs, every single thing we tried was top notch. But wait, there’s more! The food!! Get the burger. You will not regret it. There is usually a wait here but I will tell ya,it is worth it!

Full Sail Brewing – Full Sail has been a staple in Hood River for a long time. The fun thing about Full Sail is the beer flights; they come in a stacked metal holder in the shape of a sail. This is one of the breweries in town that DOES have televisions, so if you need to watch sports, this is the place.

Ferment Brewing Company – This is a newer brewery with a hip, modern vibe. It is definitely different than the other breweries in town but the beer is still delicious. We both had some pretty bitter beers when we visited and loved them! Their outdoor seating area looks amazing but since we go in the off-season, it wasn’t open. 

BONUS - Naked Winery – If you are more of a wino, there are some wineries in the area. Naked Winery is a fun winery and we have visited both this location and their location in Bend, OR. Their sampler options are great for people like me who don’t really know wine!

One more thing, a lot of places in Hood River have kombucha. I don’t drink the stuff but if it is your thing there are a lot of options!

If you are not a beer drinker, you probably haven’t got this far but there is more to Hood River.

Take a walk on the river.

Walk through downtown and go to the shops.

Go windsurfing.

Hike or bike.

This place is the perfect combination of exploring and relaxing.