We live 90 minutes from Hood River and have been there many times but never for more than a few days at a time; our daughter was married there, which was extra special. But this time it was special in a different way. With our summer plans to fly east to visit family cancelled and the uneasiness of going anywhere with the pandemic brewing, we decided to take a week with our small family of 5 (that included our 16 mo old granddaughter) somewhere we all would enjoy. The Columbia Gorge is a true wonder of nature. It’s beauty and history are primal. We selected our lodging in charming Hood River based on being close to everything, and we found a perfect nest in the heights of town - a lovely, older craftsman home with a killer view of the river, the beach and all the windsurfing you ever want to see - in a charming neighborhood. The house is spacious (more than the photos show) with three bedrooms and 2 baths - comfy beds, lots of linens/towels. Two bedrooms have the view - the master has it’s own small deck with the best view. The extra large main deck is perfect the warm days and cool evenings. A Weber Grill, Tiki torches, a gas fire table and plenty of seating provide a wonderful setting for meals, evening happy hour, quiet time and playing. Our little one enjoyed the deck so much - all enclosed and safe for her. One thing, we put duct tape on the edge of a riser just outside the sliding doors to make it more visible to her.. That did the trick. Can’t say enough about Karen. She was nearby and always very accommodating. The kitchen is fully equipped with dishes/utensils/pots-pans, cleaning and sanitizing products, paper towels, spices, foil etc. A laundry area with detergent, etc. Lots of air conditioning options when it’s hot - just open the windows in the evening to catch that breeze. If you need a cardio workout, run the Hood River stairs (413), which are accessible just down the street and end up in town. Not for the faint of heart. Minutes drive to town. Good options for take out food - we did a lot of in-house cooking. Loved the park/swimmable beach in town - so did our little girl. She didn’t want to get out of the water. Not a lot of shade but several trees in the grassy area. And don’t forget the breweries...PFriem was our fave..and they have a take out window. So much do do in the Gorge that you wish you had more time. We felt so at home and comfortable...just what we needed. We’ll be back!