Boutique Hotel Perched on Bluff Above Columbia River Gorge

Stretching for more than 80 miles through the Cascade Range, the Columbia River Gorge is one of the Pacific Northwest's most beautiful sights. Towering waterfalls spill over black-basalt cliffs amid forests filled with lush greenery. A 2013 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence winner, Columbia Cliff Villas gives visitors prime views of the breathtaking scenery from a cliff-top perch more than 200 feet above the river. This getaway also includes vouchers for wine tasting at two to six nearby wineries in the Columbia River Gorge wine country.

Columbia Cliff Villas is a boutique hotel offering 37 villa suites and hotel rooms. Euro queen and euro king rooms are simply decorated and equipped with flat-screen TVs and WiFi. Euro king suites have fireplaces and kitchenettes. Guests of Columbia Cliff Villas have access to the amenities at the historic Columbia Gorge Hotel next door. There, guests can enjoy the award-winning locally-sourced restaurant and spa. Be sure to seek out the hotel's well-manicured gardens and the 208-foot Wah Gwin Gwin Falls.

Hood River, Oregon: Riverside Town with World-Class Watersports and Wineries

Hood River is located one hour east of Portland, at the intersection of the Columbia River Gorge and the Cascade Range. Its diverse terrain unravels like a slideshow of quintessential Pacific Northwest landscapes—snowcapped mountains, woodland trails, and river rapids abound—making it a top destination for outdoor sports. There are spots for small- and largemouth bass fishing, waterfall hikes, and year-round skiing and snowboarding at Mount Hood.

The Columbia Gorge wine region's various microclimates produce an assortment of unique wines ranging from albariño to zinfandel. Fruit orchards and farm stands dot the countryside, providing the ingredients for a sophisticated dining scene downtown.