Mosier + Hood River

It's tough to capture the wild beauty of the Gorge during a storm (especially with a camera phone, while in the passenger seat), but it was a sight to behold - mist rising above the trees, patches of snow still sparkling from last weekend, wind rippling through the river. We were headed to Mosier, a few miles past Hood River, to join friends for the day.

This is the Mosier City Hall/Fire Department headquarters, a fittingly tiny building for a tiny town of about 430 residents on less than a square mile of land. Understanding firsthand the challenges of living in a small town, I hate to overstate its charm - but it's hard not to gush. 

We headed to lunch at Pfriem Family Brewers in Hood River, which we definitely recommend both for the beer and for the food. (Great vegetarian and vegan options, which also got thumbs-up from the meat-eaters in the crowd!) The Winter Ale was especially delicious on such a chilly day.

So different than last time, no?

If you keep driving on Historic Highway 30, you'll wind your way up to Rowena Crest. There are other vistas certainly worth stopping for along the way.

We ended the night by grabbing takeout from Rack & Cloth in Mosier, listening to a bluegrass duo while we waited for wood-fired pizza featuring local produce - the apple/blue cheese/balsamic vinegar pie was our favorite. We have it on good authority that Rack & Cloth makes the best cider around, so I guess we'll just have to come back and verify!