Join us for a day of reflection and renewal on September 24, 2011.

The Summer Solstice has come and gone, and while days are still long, we are now gradually making our way towards autumn. Before we get there, we should all fill warm summer days with as many fun excursions and romantic getaways as we can. Yet we ask that you take a moment to look at your fall calendar and consider setting aside time in September to participate in a “Goddess Within Workshop” at our Columbia River Gorge Cabins.

Participants will explore stories and myths traditionally associated with Autumn. Through meditation, yoga, guided exercises, and writing sessions, we’ll examine ourselves and our potential. The equinox is a time of balance, and it is a wonderful time to pause and build balance within the self.

Our Goddess Within Workshop Series is lead by Rhea Wolf and Latisha Heilman. Come for the day – September 24, 2011 – or the weekend. For more information and to register, please visit our Columbia River Gorge Events page.

Hike nearby Dog Mountain while staying at our Columbia River Gorge Cabins.

If hiking and wildflowers make you smile, now is a great time to hike the Dog Mountain trail.

Dog Mountain is not for the faint of heart; the elevation goes from 60 feet to 2860 feet in just over 3 miles. The good news is that the bulk of the strenuous climbing takes place at the beginning. Switchback trails lead hikers ever higher through the forest until (cue the music) you break out of the woods onto a glorious mountain meadow. The remaining trail to the summit traverses these meadows, which are, as of this writing, in full bloom with bright, yellow flowers.

It gets better. From the summit, hikers are treated to stunning views of the Columbia River Gorge, Mount St. Helens, and majestic Mt. Hood. Simply glorious.

Hikers will want day packs full of water and food. The round trip hike to the summit of Dog Mountain should take approximately 5.5 hours, but you’ll want to allow plenty of time to admire both the wildflowers and the view. It’s best to plan for an all day outing.

The trailhead for Dog Mountain is less than 15 minutes from our Columbia River Gorge Cabins. Sleep late, drink copious amounts of freshly brewed coffee with your breakfast, and then head east along Washington Highway 14 until you see signs for Dog Mountain, between mileposts 53 and 54.

Guests of our Hood River Cabins are always thankful for the hot tubs, for nothing eases sore muscles quite like a warm soak. After that, a bottle of wine, a loaf of bread, cheeses, salami, and fruit … perfect. Enjoy the feast on the porch of your private cabin as you watch the sun set over the Cascade Mountains.

Bring home a delicious cherry pie from The Fruit Loop

Fruit has been grown along the Fruit Loop since the mid 1800s, and many of the farmers run farms that have been in their families for generations. They are friendly and generous with their land – visitors are encouraged to walk through orchards and pick their own fruit. And truly, there is nothing quite like the taste of freshly picked fruit, be it cherry, apple, or pear.

Many fruit stands line the Fruit Loop, so if you aren’t in the mood to pick your own, you may still enjoy freshly picked fruit. Indeed, snacks are abundant on the Fruit Loop – especially the healthful kind. Of course, if you prefer to ingest your fruit slathered on toast (jam) or with a scoop of ice cream (pie), you’ll find these options on the loop, too. There are a wide assortment of locally made preserves at the Apple Valley Country Store, where you can also lunch on barbecued chicken, ribs, or pulled pork. Be sure to complete the meal with a sinfully good Huckleberry ice cream shake.

As has happened elsewhere in the country, many farms in the Columbia River Gorge now grow grapes. Folks who travel the Hood River Fruit Loop will find quite a few excellent Oregon wineries:

• Wy’East Vineyards
• Mt. Hood Winery
• Pleasant Valley Winery (certified organic)
• Hood River Vineyards
• The Gorge White House
• Cathedral Ridge Winery

At the end of the day, you will want to do nothing more than return to our luxurious Hood River Lodging with arms full of locally produced wine and fruit. You’ll probably also want a loaf of freshly baked bread (available several places on the loop), jam, and a pie. Touring the Fruit Loop is hungry work, so sit back, admire the view, and enjoy a healthy, locally grown, feast.

Consider staying in one of our Hood River Cabins during the following Fruit Loop Festivals:

• Hood River County Fruit Loop Wine Celebration: June 18-19, 2011.
• Hood River County Fruit Loop Cherry Celebration: July 16-17, 2011.
• Lavender Festivals at various local Lavender Farms: July 9-10, July 16-17, 2011.
• Hood River County Fair; July 27-30, 2011.
• Apple Valley’s Huckleberry Jam & Country BBQ; August 13-14, 2011.

More information about the Fruit Loop is available at the Hood River Fruit Loop.

It is the goal of all of us here at our Columbia River Gorge Cabins to help create a most relaxed, serene, and perfect wedding for our guests.

This starts with our location; though we are located just an hour outside of Portland, Oregon, our setting in the Columbia River Gorge feels remote and peaceful. It is convenient for members of the wedding party and guests to travel to Carson Ridge Cabins; and once here, the stresses and pressures of everyday life will dissolve so that the wedding takes central stage.

Weddings at our Hood River Lodging are relaxed because they may take place over the course of a day or several days. Many wedding parties arrive a day or two prior to the ceremony. The bride and her bridesmaids have time for a Bridal Shower, luncheon or tea, massages, or yoga classes. The bridegroom and the men who will stand with him have time to bond over an outdoor adventure like whitewater rafting or golf. The Wedding Party may enjoy a leisurely rehearsal dinner on site, and the bride and grooms may retreat to separate cabins prior to their marriage.

The wedding lawn overlooking the Columbia River Gorge.

Hood River Weddings at Carson Ridge Cabins may take place in your cabin (ideal for elopements and intimate weddings), in our lodge by a wood burning stove (ideal for small winter or rainy day weddings), or on our Wedding Gardens overlooking the Columbia River Gorge and the Cascade Mountains (ideal for summer weddings of up to 75 people). There are few places in the Pacific Northwest so perfectly suited for outdoor wedding ceremonies and receptions.

Brides are invited to stay in our Mt Hood Cabin, especially for summer weddings. A path leads directly from the cabin to our new Wedding Lawn. Guests watch as she exits her cabin and walks to the alter and her new life as a married woman.

Our romantic Columbia River Gorge Cabins are ideal for honeymoons, too. Some couples spend their whole honeymoons here, while others spend only the first night or two as a married couple here, before traveling to far-flung places.

Relaxed. Serene. Perfect. That’s what weddings at Carson Ridge Cabins are like.

Please call 877.816.7908 to speak with us about hosting your wedding here.

This could be you when you stay at our Columbia River Gorge Cabins in June.

All guests who stay at least two nights at our Columbia River Gorge Cabins during the month of June will receive this excursion credit. It’s great incentive to spend a few days away from home, be it in Portland, Eugene, or Seattle. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Columbia River Gorge, fresh air, and a fun activity. Or simply unwind with a massage here.

Our Golf Excursion takes place at the golf course at Skamania Lodge, which is just a few miles away from Carson Ridge Cabins. The course is challenging and lovely, with 18 holes, a driving range, practice bunker, and chipping and putting greens.

Our Fishing Excursion is with River Run Guide Service. Spend 8 hours on a 21′ covered and heated sled on the Columbia River, fishing for over-sized Sturgeon and Shad.

Of course, you may find it most relaxing to have a massage. Our massage therapists offer a variety of massages, from Swedish to Thai Yoga Massage to Reiki. Take your pick, and indulge in the ultimate form of relaxation.

The $50 Excursion Credit at our Hood River Lodging runs throughout the month of June. Please call 877.816.7908 for more details.

The Columbia River is minutes from our Columbia River Gorge Cabins. Guests may spend their days on the river, whitewater rafting, wind surfing, or kite surfing. They can take a scenic cruise aboard the Sternwheeler or explore the shoreline in a kayak.

Our Hood River Lodging is also close to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, where our guests hike, mountain bike, and find peace on the numerous trails. Hikers may also visit one of the nearby waterfalls that spill into the Columbia River, or head to a nearby volcano – Mount St. Helens or Mount Hood.

2 for 1 Massage Special at Carson Ridge private luxury cabins throughout May 2011

There is one more excellent reason to stay at Carson Ridge private luxury cabins during the month of May: a free massage.

Guests who stay at our Columbia River Gorge lodging for at least two nights this month may opt for a 2 for 1 massage. The massage therapists at our Columbia River Gorge Cabins are trained in a variety of massage therapies. Indulge in a full body massage that incorporates both deep tissue work and trigger point techniques, or a Swedish Massage that will soothe, increase circulation, and quiet your nerves. Warm your core with a Hot Stone massage, or see what Thai Yoga massage is all about. We also offer Reiki, which is a holistic energy healing technique. Our May Special gives you two massages for the price of one, but who says you can’t try every form of massage during your stay?

The 2 for 1 Massage Special runs May only, but our massage therapists are here every month. Come see for yourself.

The experience of wine tasting begins en route to the first winery. The beauty of the Columbia River Gorge infuses the senses and relaxes the soul. By the time the first winery is reached, tasters feel ready to linger and sip.

Juliet Pouillon in the Tasting Room of Domaine Pouillon.

A Few Favorite Columbia River Gorge Wineries:
Domaine Pouillon. It’s hard to find two more interesting people than Vignerons Alexis and Juliet Pouillon. The tasting room is cozy and the view from the estate is breathtaking. The wines are good, too.

Cascade Cliffs Vineyard & Winery. You’ll find quite a few excellent Estate Wines at this winery, which is nestled against cliffs overlooking the Columbia River.

Pheasant Valley Estate Vineyard & Winery. $5 buys you 6 wine tastings at a turn-of-the-century mahogany tasting bar. Try the fresh pear wine.

Maryhill Winery. The setting is unparalleled. Try a variety of wine poured at the beautiful Tiger Oak bar. Picnic on the terrace, or enjoy one of the summer evening concerts.

We hope you’ll join us for one of the Community Dinners at our Columbia River Gorge Lodging – the next two are scheduled for May 21and June 18, 2011. Spend the day discovering a few of the wineries along the Columbia River, and the evening sharing a bottle of local wine with friends.

Wine tasting isn’t fun unless it’s safe. Martin’s Gorge Tours will collect you at Carson Ridge Cabins, transport you to 4 wineries, and deposit you safely back here. Please see our Carson Ridge Cabins Packages for more details.

Wine. Chocolate. Yoga. May 27-29 at Carson Ridge Cabins.

It’s easy to be intimidated by yoga. We imagine walking into a class of incredibly fit people who can hop around on one hand. We feel certain that we need to practice yoga ourselves before trying a class – just as we feel we have to clean before the cleaners come. For this reason, it can be hard to start a yoga class.

Yet in truth, yoga is not a competition. Even in a large class, yoga is an intensely private experience. Energy is focused within, attention stays within the confines of our mats. It really doesn’t matter what the people on either side of you can or can’t do; you do what feels right for you.

What better way to experience yoga – for the first or the umpteenth time – than during the Wine, Chocolate, Yoga Retreat at our Columbia River Gorge Cabins.

Wine, chocolate and yoga have more in common than you may first think. They can protect the body from aging, reduce blood pressure, balance hormones and heighten senses. When consumed in moderation, wine and chocolate can focus your attention and give great pleasure – so too with yoga.

It will be a sensual weekend. We will indulge the body in exercise, and gratify the appetite with fine chocolate and wine. We will learn about chakras, and discover how chocolate can activate them. We will taste and savor, stretch and meditate.

The Wine, Chocolate, Yoga Retreat at our Hood River Lodging runs May 27-29, 2011. Indulge in this voluptuous weekend. You deserve it.

See Carson Ridge Cabins Events for more details, or call 877.816.7908 to register.

Folks who travel to our Hood River Lodging in May, 2011, have a choice of specials: enjoy a 2 for 1 Massage here at Carson Ridge, or $100 off a third night.

For some guests, the massage may be just right. Our massage therapists are trained in deep tissue work, relaxing Swedish Massage, and several other practices; choose what feels best for you both, and let tension dissolve.

Other guests may decide to extend their getaway for a night. If you feel that you would benefit most from an extra night in our luxurious Columbia River Gorge Cabins, choose this option.

Our monthly specials are designed to make our guests feel special. We appreciate your decision to stay at our Columbia River Gorge Cabins. Thank you.

Indulge in a soak for two after your 2 for 1 massage.

Celebrate Mother's Day at our luxury Hood River Lodging.

We also know that, from time to time, it’s nice for mothers to take some time away from their children. When thinking of the perfect gift to give to your wife this year for Mother’s Day, consider whisking her away for a romantic weekend with you.

Let your children prepare a special breakfast in bed for Mom on May 8, 2011. Spend the day together, as a family, enjoying each others’ company. When the time is right, give your wife your present to her – a romantic weekend at our luxury Hood River Lodging, located just an hour outside of Portland, Oregon.

While your children have a special weekend with grandparents, cousins, or good friends, you and your wife can relax, unwind, and reconnect at our Carson Ridge private luxury cabins. Soak in the tub, sip wine together by the fire, and enjoy one of our several spa packages – our May Special is 2 for 1 Massage; you can both indulge in a massage, or treat your wife to two massages. What a Mother’s Day gift that would be!

Adult children may also want to consider treating Mom to a weekend at our Hood River Lodging. When was the last time you spent some quality time with your mother? Enjoy wine tasting in the Columbia River Gorge and quiet evenings talking together. It’s a gift she’ll always remember and appreciate.

Call 877-816-7908 to reserve vacation with the special mother in your life, or book online at Columbia River Gorge Cabins.