Viento State Park, Oregon

With a name that's sounds like a windswept river beckoning, Viento State Park nuzzles inconspicuously between the towns of Cascade Locks and Hood River, in the view climactic Columbia River Gorge, where rain makes trees look velvet green, wind brings kiteboarders from around the globe and hikes that don't lead to waterfalls are hard to come by. Visit Viento to check out the mile of automobile-free Historic Columbia River Highway and State Trail that will lead you to Starvation Creek, or spend an afternoon windsurfing, wading, fishing or simply regarding the way the river divides such monumental stretches of rock and tree with utter confidence. Viento puts you in a great position to hop over to Cascade Locks for a ride on the sternwheeler, a visit to the Historical Museum, a giant serving of East Wind drive-in ice-cream, or to head into Hood River and wine taste, art hunt or eat a locally sourced, farm-to-table meal.