Nathan Allen

Outdoor Gear Editor

I'm not sure what it is with my friends and Hood River—a sleepy town in the Columbia River Gorge about an hour east of Portland. But I'm not going to complain about it. I've been to more destination weddings in the wind sports-focused town than any other location on the planet. And I'm already hoping one of my next friends to get hitched follows suit.

If you've never been to Hood River, now's the time—even if it's just a day trip from Portland. The views are worth it enough as Hood River sits at the bottom of large foothills and in between Mt. Hood to the south and Mount Adams to the north, both of which were still snowcapped when I was there at the beginning of May.

But I recommend taking in those views while picking your own fruit at one of the many farms or orchards in the area. Or while sitting outside at one of the region's many breweries or wineries. Or, for the more adventurous, rent a mountain bike, go rafting, or try out a wind sport on the Columbia River.

Some tips if you do want to visit Hood River:

Rent a car (or road trip). There's no immediate or easy public transportation around the area. And you'll definitely want to explore the surrounding area. At the first wedding, we met friends with a car. The second, we road-tripped from our home in Berkeley, California. And at the latest, we rented a car at PDX.
There's a fun annual Fourth of July festival and fireworks show over the river. Plus, July is one of the best months to visit Hood River.
While public transportation might not be the best, Hood River is very walkable (if you don't mind hills). There's a pedestrian bridge across the interstate, connecting the downtown area to the newer area along the river, with many restaurants and breweries. We recommend taking your time and walking around both spots.

My upshot advice: If you ever get invited to a wedding in Hood River, go. Actually, just go anyways.

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Destination of the Day

Montana

The majestic Rocky Mountains, wide-open prairies, and clear winding rivers make Montana a true vacation wonderland. It's the ideal place to go for outdoor adventures, with hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, camping, horseback riding, and skiing here for everyone to enjoy. You'll see an abundance of wildlife inside Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, as well as all over the state on trails and throughout the numerous green spaces. Plus, the food scene here is unlike anywhere else in America. Bison, elk and steak make an appearance on most menus. Visit Big Sky Country for wild spaces with big and small adventures around every bend.

Vacation Like a Pro

This summer, if you're looking for the crème de la crème of outdoor experiences in Montana, it may seem like a no-brainer to spend your entire vacation in the national parks. But consider the crowds this time of year, and keep in mind that the entire state is worthy of exploration—especially the lesser-known state parks! Consider splitting the trip up into three parts: book an iconic ranch-style stay somewhere like The Resort at Paws Up; spend two or three days poking around Glacier and/or Yellowstone; then do something more off the beaten path. This could be camping near the Boiling River (hello, natural hot tubs!); hike around Kootenai Falls and cross the swinging suspension bridge; or explore the beauty of Medicine Rocks State Park.

Ellie Nan Storck
Travel Editor

Your Packing List

No matter what time of year, you'll want to pack layers to make the most of your time spent in the outdoors.

If you're planning to hike the national parks, Deuter's Speed Lite 20 Pack is a do-everything multisport backpack at a reasonably accessible price. There are many reasons we love this pack, but the top one is how functional it is in many situations. It's super comfy thanks to padded shoulder straps and a back panel, and the pack is hydration compatible if you've got a water reservoir.

If you do run into problems with a bear, one of the simplest ways to defuse the situation is with bear spray, a non-lethal deterrent that outperforms firearms when it comes to preventing injuries. As a top choice of park rangers and experienced hikers, Counter Assault is a reliable and effective bear spray that's reasonably priced. The 10.2-ounce can of spray is larger than some of the others, has a range of up to 40 feet, can empty in 8 seconds, and allows the user more control of the spray amount.

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While port wine, usually just referred to as port, is undoubtedly Portugal's most popular export, it's not really the same until you've tried its myriad forms in Portugal. Visit Porto and tour the producers' cellars, where you can learn about how the wine is made and sample some of its most famous varieties—for an even more in-depth experience, visit the Douro valley where the grapes are grown.

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