IF YOU GO Windsurfing capital

Getting there: Hood River is easily reached by driving east from Portland, Ore. on Interstate 84, following the Columbia River. Hood River is about an hour's drive from Portland.
Things to do: Just about anything, if you're a devotee of outdoor recreation. There's windsurfing on the Columbia, mountain biking, road cycling, fishing, golfing, skiing on nearby Mount Hood, kayaking and rafting. For those who are less sports-minded, there are attractions such as the Mount Hood Railroad, which takes travelers from Hood River east into fruit-growing country, and the International Museum of Carousel.
Even more things to do: The Columbia River Gorge, extending from the Portland suburb of Troutdale to the Deschutes River, is rich with scenic sights. The Historic Columbia River Scenic Highway takes travelers along basalt bluffs overlooking the Columbia -- offering breathtaking views. The road also leads past the 620-foot Multnomah Falls. There's great hiking on trails that lead from the gorge into the foothills of the Cascade Range. Also worth a visit are the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles, the Hood River Historical Museum, the Bridge of the Gods in the town of Cascade Locks, and the Bonneville Dam, where you can watch salmon swimming upstream to spawn.
Lodging: Take your pick. You can stay at a luxury hotel, a bed-and-breakfast or a motel in Hood River, or move into a rental home for the summer. If Hood River is booked, there are ample lodgings up and down the river. For a list of lodgings, and other travel information, see the Web site for the Columbia River Gorge Visitor's Association: http://www.crgva.org/member.htm.
When to visit: Summer months west of the Cascade Range can be very pleasant, with sunny days, low humidity and temperatures in the 80s. The climate makes summer a good time to visit Hood River and the Columbia River Gorge. The better-known attractions can become crowded during the summer. So don't rule out visiting the area when the crowds leave, even in western Oregon's rainy winter months. The scenery's still spectacular.
On the Net:
Columbia Gorge Discovery Center: www.gorgediscovery.org.
Hood River County: http://www.hoodriver.org/
Associated Press