Hood River, Oregon is perhaps one of my favorite places on Earth. It is a small town conveniently located just about an hour East of Portland. I find that it is close enough to visit for a weekend (or even a day trip!) while being just far away enough to truly feel like a unique getaway.
After having a baby who hated the car seat, I spent the last year dragging my feet on making the trip back. However, after investing the time into planning a kid-focused weekend for my birthday, we enjoyed a fun family trip in March with Spring weather just around the corner.
Here is my itinerary and my recommendations for a toddler-friendly weekend in the Columbia River Gorge!
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The Drive
Now that I have a toddler on the run, I find it is actually easier to prepare for a drive since she can now cruise around and wear herself out.
I had originally planned for an early departure to allow for a few hours running around the Oregon Zoo, but last-minute packing and unexpectedly sold-out zoo reservations forced a change of plans.
Luckily, running circles around our living room burned enough energy to squelch the battle of getting into the car seat. Success!
Grab-and-Go Lunch in Hood River
This last trip, we decided to stop in to grab sandwiches to-go at the New York City Sub Shop. The online platform was convenient for placing an order mid-drive, so that we were able to minimize carseat time by avoiding waiting for food.
They have a small parking lot where we had no trouble parking on a Saturday at lunch time.
I enjoyed my turkey sandwich while my toddler finished up her car nap and we drove to our next stop.
The Best Kids Park
Children’s Park is just a short drive from the sandwich shop, with picnic tables available around the play area. We claimed a picnic table and my husband and our toddler happily ate in the sunshine.
This park has one of the best play structures I have seen, with seemingly never-ending places for older kids to run and discover. It is solid enough for adults to accompany adventurous little ones. There is also a fantastic section for smaller kiddos with swings and an entirely separate structure built for younger kids.
My 16-month-old loved it and her four and six year old cousins were just as entertained. My sister-in-law was able to comfortably watch from the side with her new baby in her stroller. My mom enjoyed being able to sit in the picnic area to rest, watch the running grandkids, and cuddle with the newest family addition.
Hotel Check-In
After comparing some options, we decided to go with the Hampton Inn & Suites in Hood River. In the past, I have explored other hotels in downtown and other parts of the Gorge. There were a few amenities that I felt made the Hampton Inn & Suites a more family-friendly choice.
While it can be difficult to get a party of 10 to agree on anything, the proximity to Hood River Waterfront Park, indoor pool & hot tub, and free breakfast helped make booking this hotel an easy choice for all.
The rooms were clean, parking was easy, and the staff were friendly and responsive.
Getting from the Hotel Down to the Water
Following a smooth check-in, quick unpacking (and a brief rest!) we were looking forward to continuing the birthday festivities. We all settled on venturing down to the Hood River Waterfront Park.
My husband and I decided to walk with our toddler from the hotel down to the park. We passed off our car keys to my parents with plans to drive back together after dinner (a decision we were thankful to have made as the temperature dropped following sunset). My brother and his family decided to drive with their three kiddos and easily found parking.
The trail to the park was a nice walk with paved sidewalks, a small dock, and a grassy field for lots of side-adventures. My daughter had a blast being chased around the field by my husband and unexpectedly befriending a perfectly kid-sized statue of a frog.
The Waterfront
The Hood River Waterfront Park was a wonderful place to spend the afternoon. The kids loved running around, exploring the spaced-out play areas (including a popular rock climbing installment), riding scooters on the sidewalk, and running through the sand down to the water. The way they have spread out the different amenities makes the space feel open and can comfortably accommodate a number of kids of varying ages.
I also feel safer knowing it is a bit of a walk down to the water with the sand literally slowing kids down if any were to run off in that direction.
This area also has a few dining options and Stoked Coffee. While it is not my absolute favorite coffee place, the convenience cannot be beat.
Dinner with a View
My sister-in-law had the forethought to put our names down early to grab dinner at Pfriem. This restaurant can be very busy, especially on weekend nights. It was an hour wait which we easily blew through while running around the park.
This restaurant was yet another hit for us! It was great to have let the kids run out some energy and we were all hungry for dinner. My husband and I were happy with our meals and our toddler loved her kid’s meal of chicken bites and house made applesauce–YUM!
Free Breakfast — Maximize Hotel Perks!
The included hotel breakfast buffet was great! There were a variety of options for a range of palates. I loved this because it is always hit or miss with what my toddler will want to eat that day. Here, we had the opportunity to try all sorts of options which left the entire family happy and satisfied.
They had scrambled eggs, sliced sausage, breakfast potatoes, a cereal bar, assorted baked goods (muffins, scones, bread, bagels), yogurts, boiled eggs, fruits, oatmeal, and a waffle station with mini or regular waffle irons and both chocolate and malted vanilla batter. The already plentiful options were further complemented a variety of condiments, toppings, whipped cream and more. There were also a variety of juices, water, and a well-stocked coffee and tea station. The attendant was on the move the entire time keeping the entire area stocked and spotless.
After a wonderful breakfast, the dads and kiddos enjoyed a second round of swimming while the mamas enjoyed some rest and quiet time to pack up the hotel rooms before an easy checkout.
We burned up a little energy walking over the small bridge behind the hotel and then heading back to the waterfront area for playtime and more caffeine before beginning the drive back to Portland.
Lunch, Ice Cream, Playground!
Our last planned stop was the Sugarpine Drive-In in Troutdale. About 45 minutes West of Hood River Waterfront Park, this is just over the halfway point on the drive back to West Portland. This first half of the drive was just long enough to give my toddler a quick nap and get everyone hungry for lunch.
After reading about the popularity of this stop, I decided to place our order online through the restaurant website during our drive. This was a quick and easy process with nearly spot-on timing.
The Sugarpine Drive-In has some indoor seating with additional picnic tables located just outside. We tried and enjoyed a variety of goodies: the “waffle” grilled cheese and Mississippi pulled pork sandwiches were tasty and filling. My toddler enjoyed the grilled cheese. I did go back to order the mango and sticky rice sundae, in addition to the s’mores hot chocolate. The food was creative and delicious.
The real hidden secret is located near the restrooms just located a short walk away from the eating area. If you make the walk down, you will see even more covered seating in addition to an entire play structure! The kids loved playing here, cementing the Sugarpine Drive-In as a new, must-stop for any future Hood River trips.
The Review
Overall, I had an amazing birthday weekend in Hood River. This is an excellent destination for everyone from infants to grandparents with lots of things to do, foods to eat, and places to tire out young ones with seemingly endless energy. I cannot wait to go back!
Do you have any other family-friendly recommendations for visiting the Columbia River Gorge? Leave them below!
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