Basking in Bingen, Washington

Let Oregon's Hood River have all the glory ― and the crowds ― while you explore the tiny town of Bingen, Washington, on the other side of the Columbia River Gorge.

Here, tasting rooms and farm-to-table restaurants have sprung up alongside antiques shops and fruit stands. The result feels lively and authentic ― like you're discovering Bingen (pronounced bin-jin) before the boom.

Late summer is the perfect time to pack a picnic with bounty from nearby farms and relax at the water's edge.