Spa sessions, Mediterranean mezze, and first dibs on a Wild Winter Sale.
Summer gets the love in Hood River: windsurfers, waterfalls, gorgeous days on the Columbia. But ask a local, and they’ll tell you that when the temperatures drop, and the crowds subside, Hood River becomes one of the best mountain towns around.
Misty mornings, snow on Mt. Hood, and a subterranean spa to wash the adventures away. A room upstairs that’s built for people who prefer to get out, do, and see.
Just an hour east of Portland, Hood River is far enough away to feel like an escape, but close enough that in just two nights, you’ll return home better than you came.
Here are seven reasons we’re heading to Hood River this winter.
Check In & Check Out Hood River
Drop your bags at Lightwell Hotel, the new 69-room boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Hood River. Recently ranked among Sunset Magazine’s Best Places to Stay: Near Nature, citing its on-site adventure concierge, but more on that later. With its century-old roots (the hotel originally opened in 1904 as the Waucoma Hotel), the historic landmark has a new lease on life, with thoughtfully designed guest rooms, a rooftop bar, a spa for slowing down, and an all-new restaurant, Alia, which opened this fall. Speaking of accolades, the restoration alone is reason enough to visit: Lightwell Hotel has just been awarded the DeMuro Award by Restore Oregon.
With Lightwell as your home base, you’re within walking distance to downtown’s boutiques, breweries, and small-town events, including the Annual Hood River Tree Lighting & Holiday Festival (December 4), and the Mount Hood Train to Christmas Town (November 20 – January 2). The Mount Hood Railroad station is just one block over from Lightwell and offers scenic, seasonal, and themed rides throughout the year.
Wellness & Waterfalls
Bring your hiking boots or your skis: winter in the Columbia River Gorge is for the adventurers. Waterfalls are still flowing, with icicles and fresh powder giving them a rare kind of beauty. Mt. Hood is close enough for a day on the slopes, and Lightwell offers weekend shuttles through their on-site adventure concierge, powered by First Nature. Hop the luxury shuttle to the mountain, or embark on a weekly, guided snowshoe tour complete with a s’mores-inspired espresso martini back at the Lobby Bar.
If you prefer to keep your adventures closer to town, explore downtown Hood River’s independent shops, galleries, and nearby museums. In partnership with the Historical Society, Lightwell hosts Local Legends, a speaker series diving into the history of the region. The series runs the first Monday of each month; the next event takes place on December 7: “Rock and Roll: the Dynamic Geology of the Gorge,” featuring Professor Scott Burns.
Take your pick of adventure, lore, or a bit of both.
Slow Down
After the day’s adventure, retreat to Spa at Lightwell. Reserved for guests 16 years of age or older, dive into a contrast therapy circuit that’ll melt away the highs and lows of the day.
Robes are provided in each guest room upstairs, and hotel guests are encouraged to take the elevator down to the spa level (spa use is complimentary for overnight guests). Enjoy the cedar sauna, warm pool, and ice shower. The serene setting features exposed original stone walls, Gorge-inspired tile, lockers, showers, and private changing rooms.
Begin with a session in the cedar sauna before a 1-3 minute ice shower, then soak in the warm pool before another restorative ice shower, while practicing deep breaths or box breathing along the way. Massage therapists are available by appointment for 60- and 90-minute treatments. Day use is available to the public by booking a massage appointment.
Alia Mediterranean, Now Open
Escape to the Mediterranean by way of the Columbia River Gorge at Alia, the newly opened restaurant tucked beneath the soaring atrium at Lightwell Hotel.
The relaxed, blue color palette, geometric lights, and playful glass sculptures suspended from the literal light well provide plenty to admire between courses. A private dining room is also available for intimate events and celebrations.
The seasonal menu features fish from local waters, heritage cuts from nearby ranches, classic cocktails, handmade desserts, and an impressive list of wines from the Columbia Gorge and beyond. Menus & Reservations
Gorge Wine Experience
On day two, set out to explore wine country but don’t go it alone: the guides at First Nature are eager to show you the way. With a dedicated outpost at Lightwell Hotel (the aptly named Adventure Lounge), the team at First Nature is on-site and adventure-ready seven days a week.
Maybe you’ll head for Mt. Hood on the weekly shuttle or snowshoe tour. Or, perhaps you’re looking to eke out the last of fall, and if so, the Gorge Wine Experience, complete with private transport, is for you. Depart from the hotel in a private luxury shuttle for an estate tasting and vineyard stroll at Phelps Creek Vineyards, followed by a scenic valley drive with views of Mt. Hood, and a stop at a local farm stand before returning back to the hotel.
Early Access: Wild Winter Sale
The only thing better than a winter weekend in Hood River? Getting a wild winter deal on it. Get on the list to receive Lightwell’s Wild Winter Sale directly to your inbox, arriving just in time for Black Friday. Subscribers get first dibs on the best rooms and rates this winter.
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