What We Love
The Beverages: Vineyards around The Dalles (Oregon) and Red Mountain (Washington) produce fine wine. Portland jump-started the craft beer movement, while Skunk Brothers in Stevenson (Washington) distills throwback moonshine.
Pendleton: This eastern Oregon town offers a slice of the old frontier in its Wild West heritage sites, rodeo culture, and namesake checked woolen shirts.
Best Known For
Columbia River Gorge: Eighty miles long and up to 4,000 feet deep, this majestic canyon carries the river past thickly wooded banks and mighty cascades like Multnomah Falls.
Lewis & Clark: The Columbia provided a natural route to the Pacific for the intrepid duo during their 1804-06 expedition of discovery. Historic sites in both Washington and Oregon recall their epic journey.
Best Ports
Astoria: Perched on the spot where the Columbia empties into the Pacific, this Oregon city counts among its attractions a dramatic bridge, several interesting museums, and nearby Lewis & Clark sites.
Clarkston-Lewiston: The Snake River separates Clarkston (Washington) and Lewiston (Idaho), twin gateways to Hells Canyon National Recreation Area and the Nez Perce Indian Reservation.
Portland: The City of Roses is also celebrated for craft beer, artsy counterculture, and the trendy Pearl District of renovated factories and warehouses along the riverfront.
Stevenson: Nestled in the Columbia River Gorge, this quaint little town in Washington state flaunts a funky main street, zipline adventures, a scenic golf course, and the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center.
Don't Say We Didn't Warn You
Fickle Summer Weather: Summer weather along the river route is highly changeable from day to day and even hour to hour. Bring rain gear for the Pacific end, shorts and T-shirts for the eastern Washington portion.
