This is the come-back kid of The Gorge.  The town has always been able to rely on a thriving agricultural base, a consistent timber industry, and the lure of Mt. Hood - except when it couldn't.  In the 80's, when businesses were closing and there were more boards across downtown windows than customers across thresholds, the one real constant in Hood River, the wind, came to the attention of bored surfers everywhere, and the Windsurfing Capital of the continental United States was reborn. 

 

Windsurfers brought much-needed tourism dollars and made the locals already in place afraid that Hood River would go the way of other overrun tourist Meccas.  Then the other constant of Hood River came into play:  It's beauty.  Well-heeled windsurfers (windsurfing is not an inexpensive sport) came to play and fell in love to stay.  They brought many of the same values already held by this pioneer community along with new interests and new businesses, as well as a determination to preserve what attracted them in the first place.  In Hood River, there's no clash of generations or cultures, just a synergy that has spread throughout The Gorge.

 

In the last 20 years, Hood River has become a town of superlatives.  A new survey comes out almost monthly naming Hood River or one of its businesses "The Best".  One of "The Best" retirment communities.  One of "The Best" small town hospitals.  One of "The Best" wedding destinations.  One of "The Best" romantic hotels... The list goes on and you get the idea. 

 

   

Hood River History Museum Fruit Heritage Museum WAAAM - Columbia Center for the Arts Tour the Historic Downtown Watch the windsurfing from "The Spit" Panorama Point Twin-Tunnels Trail Mountain Bike Post Canyon Drive the Scenic Byway, Hwy 35, to Mt. Hood