Travel Diary: Columbia River Gorge
the vibes were giving adult summer camp and the gorge was gorge-ing (sorry, I can't help it!)
I spent 4th of July weekend in the Columbia River Gorge, a scenic gem in the Pacific Northwest. Picture a massive river canyon with the jaw-dropping Cascade Mountains as a backdrop. This place is S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G.
It was my first time visiting the area, and it was one of those trips where I didn’t know what to expect or had any input in planning the itinerary. The trip was for my boyfriend’s buddy’s 40th birthday (yes, I’m attending those now), so I left all the planning to the birthday crew and happily tagged along, ready for whatever.
Where we stayed
We stayed at The Society Hotel Bingen, a boutique hotel near White Salmon, WA, just across the bridge from Hood River, OR. Bingen is about an hour from Portland's airport—an easy drive with incredible views along the gorge.
The property, originally a schoolhouse, has been converted into a cool hotel that mixes upscale style with a rustic vibe. They did a great job keeping the building's history while making it feel luxurious but still down-to-earth. We explored the grounds while waiting for our rooms to be ready, and it felt like we were in a luxe adult summer camp.
The hotel offers a nice mix of accommodations. There are bunk rooms perfect for solo travelers, private rooms in the renovated schoolhouse, and chic cabins surrounding the spa and bathhouse. We opted to stay in one of the cabins for the extra amenities. Our cabin came with a cute kitchenette, an indoor lounge area, and an outdoor seating area with a picnic table and hammock that looked enticing for midday naps. It was the perfect, cozy retreat for our holiday getaway.
What we did + what I wore
A heatwave was on the forecast all weekend so I kept my looks casual, unfussy, and breathable. For our friend’s 4th of July BBQ, I wore a cotton eyelet top (similar vibe) with denim bermudas, and strappy sandals.
On Friday, we spent the morning at the spa and bathhouse at the Society hotel. I made my way through the bathhouse circuit—saltwater pool, hot pool, cold plunge pool and sauna—in my go-to (comfiest) swimsuit.
After a relaxing morning at the spa, we got dressed for lunch and wine tasting. It was a high of 100 that day, so I wore the most breathable thing I packed—a lightweight cotton mini dress (similar vibe)—which I paired with jelly flats (similar vibe) and a raffia bucket hat.
We grabbed lunch at Confluence Cafe in Lyle which overlooks the mouth of the Klickitat River (say that three times!). The space is bright and chic, and boasts live edge wood tables, and gorgeous wood paneling and trim. I had the most refreshing homemade strawberry lemonade with a yummy “haute” dog—a perfect hot summer day meal.
After lunch, we showed up at Cor Cellars for an afternoon of wine tasting. I loved their casual, down-to-earth vibes—the wines are served to your table in chic glass carafes tied with handwritten card stock labels. After the winery, the crew went down to the river for paddle boarding, while I went back to the hotel spa for a Gua Sha mini facial. I enjoy paddle boarding, but it was too effing hot to exert unnecessary energy doing activities—so, back to the spa I went! I knew it was the right choice (duh), because I fell asleep in a cool, air conditioned room and woke up with de-puffed and glowing skin.
I forgot to take a pic of what I wore to dinner that night which was an old Zara crochet set—it felt ok to wear since it cooled off significantly in the evening.
The next day, we grabbed breakfast at White Salmon Baking CO (their coffee and pastries are A+) before heading across the bridge to explore Hood River. It was another scorching day, and I could’t be bothered so I kept my look easy and casual.
We spent the day hopping from one brewery to the next to stay cool and hydrated. I always feel lethargic from extreme heat (my poor body working overtime to keep me cool), so I decided to go back to the hotel for a much-needed midday snooze. While I napped, the crew went down to the river to watch kite-boarders do their thing. I didn’t realize until we got there that Hood River is a big destination for kite boarding and other water sports—in fact, the Kiteboard 4 Cancer fundraiser event was happening that weekend. They got to see the kite-boarders so close to beach. It looked v kewl.
For dinner, I threw on an easy, gingham shift dress and headed out. We got excellent Mexican food at Lake Taco on Main St in Hood River. I sampled two of their tacos—a classic grilled mahi, and chorizo with melted cheese on top (it was insane), both on corn tortillas. For dessert, we had flan. I LOVE FLAN.
Post tacos, we stopped by the afterparty for the Kiteboard 4 Cancer fundraiser event at Common House, a local lounge, bottle shop, and event space. I love people watching and it was fascinating to observe the kiteboarding community and Hood River + White Salmon + Bingen locals. I was surprised to see a significant elder Millennial community composed of corporate folks and young families that moved from Portland or Seattle to enjoy scenic views year round and a very active lifestyle/culture. The style vibes were very casual—think tank tops and tees with shorts and sandals. The conversations mostly revolved around kiteboarding (obvs), hiking, and other outdoorsy/active stuff that literally everyone and their mother participates in all the time.
The next day, we had a mid-morning flight, so we went straight from hotel to the Portland airport. It was a pretty seamless drive that let us take in the views of the gorge before we head back to SF. I’ve been wearing these pants non-stop since they’ve been gifted to me, and they are the perfect travel pant—so comfy but still polished. I paired it with an old black linen shirt and the comfiest fisherman sandals.
Later this week, we are off to Cape Cod for our annual east coast summer getaway. It’s my favorite summer tradition that I’ve adopted since I started dating my boyfriend—he grew up spending summers there with his family. This will be year 5 for me, and I’m so excited to go back to our favorite beaches, eat massive amounts of lobster rolls and cape cod chips, wear breezy linens, take post-beach pre-dinner naps, and spend time with loved ones. Stay tuned for my Cape Cod travel diary next!
Hope you’re having a lovely summer!
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Beautiful place! And photos! And looks! ❤️