Even though Hood River is only about a 45 minute drive from Portland, I haven't been since I was a child. I decided that needed to change, so David and I took a day trip to get out of the city and see something new. Normally we would have hiked in the Gorge either before or after hitting Hood River, but David had hurt his leg playing kickball, so we decided to save it for another day.

Our first stop was Pfriem Family Brewers, a great brewery/restaurant down by the river. The atmosphere was gorgeous, and our beers and lunch were delicious. It was great getting to eat outside with such nice views, even with the heat.

After lunch we took a short walk along the river, then headed up into the main part of town for a brewery tour at Full Sail. I have done a handful of brew tours in the past, but the one at Full Sail was definitely my favorite. Our tour guide was informative but funny, and I really loved hearing about the ways that Full Sail is working to stay local and sustainable, while still making fantastic beer. We also got Full Sail pint glasses at the end of the tour which was a great bonus!

We were planning on going to the Full Sail Pub for a beer after the tour, but it was absolutely packed. Instead we went to Naked Winery, a local winery with a fun tasting room. We both got the full flight (6 samples for only $10, plus a wine glass!) and loved everything that we had. My favorites were the Naked Pinot Gris and the Gay Rose, but everything was delicious. The person helping us out was very kind and knowledgable, and even gave us an extra sample.

After Naked we walked around town and relaxed in a local park. We went to David's favorite ice cream shop in Hood River, Mike's Ice Cream. He got a fresh, local huckleberry milkshake, and I had a scoop of cookie dough ice cream. On our way out of town we headed back to Full Sail to sample their beer, which we enjoyed from a great covered outdoor patio.

Next time I go to Hood River I want to make sure to do some outdoorsy activities. It is usually pretty windy there, so it is a popular destination for windsurfing. On calmer days people like to lay by the beach, or go paddleboarding in the river. Like I mentioned earlier, there are tons of amazing hikes in the area that provide great views of the river and gorge. This trip, though, I was happy just eating and drinking my way through the town.