Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia River Gorge is one of the most underrated areas this side of the Mississippi River. As evidenced by it's name, the centerpiece of the Gorge is the Columbia River. One of the most beautiful national scenic areas on the planet surrounds the river with Multnomah Falls as it's top tourist attraction along with a handful of small cities spaced throughout.

The Dalles, Hood River and Mt. Hood highlight the area along with a bunch of small towns that we'll list below.

We're currently building a large "mega portal" to expose the beauty of the CRG for all to view and enjoy. In the mean-time, we're listing a bunch of cities below along with some of the key points of interest for each. If you have any questions about the area, please feel free to drop us a line at gorgeconnection@hotmail.com and we'll be happy to respond!

The Dalles: Known by many as the city of murals, TD is a small, old fashioned community which boasts amazing river views along with cool places to visit such as the Discovery Center and The Dalles Dam.

Hood River: This city serves as a weekend getaway for many who are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city (Portland). Windsurfing and Wine dominate visitor interest here as well as all the cool shops/boutiques in the downtown area.

Mt. Hood: The mountain provides both locals and visitors some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the country. Mount Hood is plentiful in lakes, hiking trails and campgrounds and is a great place to take a day trip to do some fishing or just enjoy the fresh air only found in a mountain range.

Cascade Locks: Located at exit 44 off of I-84 is a city that most drive past on their way to "somewhere else". We highly recommend that you take a few minutes to drive through this beautiful little town. The Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler docks here and offers an amazing trip down the river at a very affordable rate. It's quite possibly the best bang for your buck with regards to entertainment. Bring a camera! There's plenty of beauty to be placed in remembrance! On your way out of town, be sure to hit the East Wind Drive In for one of their famous (GIANT) ice cream cones. You won't be disappointed!

Stevenson: Opposite of Cascade Locks sits the small town of Stevenson, Washington. If you're looking for a weekend getaway you gotta check out the Skamania Lodge. Their Friday night buffet is off the hook and brings in people as far as 100 miles away. The lodge offers all kinds of activities including golf, massages, swimming and more.

Maupin: White water rafting anyone? Take a ride down the Deschutes River and then enjoy a GREAT meal at the Imperial River Co's restaurant which boasts river frontage and a cool motel as well.

Goldendale: This city is small with big upside. Many retirees are now calling this city home and unbeknownst to many, one of the most cool observatories in the nation can be found here in this tiny little town.

Other Points of Interest: Multnomah Falls! Many locals take this beautiful waterfall for granted because we've all seen it so many times. After taking a road trip around the country, it didn't take long for me to realize how lucky we are to have this wonderful venue right here in our own backyard as it sports beauty not found in most cities/states.

Stonehenge: Located on HWY 14 south of Goldendale sits a replica of Stonehenge. The monument is amazing as is the view up and down the Columbia River.

Our New Site Plan: Our new site will contain maps, web cams, a comprehensive list of lodging options including hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, vacation rentals and of course all the best restaurants and food the area has to offer. We'll also have tons of articles on scenic venues in which you can hike, picnic, camp and/or just shoot some cool pictures. The site will also feature valuable coupons redeemable at local area businesses as well as offer a FREE classifieds section and an interactive posting forum for people to communicate with each other.

We'd love to drop you a line once our web site is live. Drop us a line at gorgeconnection@hotmail.com with "newsletter" in the subject line and we'll make sure to let you know once we're live!