Can you find me an acre of land, Between the salt water and the sea sand?

There are so many sights for aching eyes along the Columbia River. Even though it's not salt water til the very end, the acres of land with their chins up above the river make you want to lay down your head and count up all those blessings. Here are two of my favorite places, and as promised long ago, pictures of the area by four year olds.

The river. Picture by child

The Columbia Gorge Hotel

The view from the Columbia Gorge Hotel, via here

There is no better place to have lunch in Hood River. The walls are perfectly wallpapered, the window seat leaves you dangling above the river, and the staff is just snobby enough to remind you that President Roosevelt, Myrna Loy and Rudolph Valentino already stayed there. The original Native American name of Wah Gwin Gwin Hotel, meaning rushing water, was in honor of the waterfalls on the grounds. I'm assuming it was changed because of tourists painfully butchering the name as they asked for directions.

A Columbia Gorge Hotel Lookout, by child

Eighteen Mile Island

Four miles upstream of Hood River lies the only privately owned island in the gorge, and on it is a three story wood frame house from 1969.  Lewis and Clark mentioned the island as they explored along the river, stopping to smoke a pipe with new friends not too far away. I see a little boat ramp there on drives east, and am ready for my ride. Are you not as well??