Bailey Made/Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge
Where it’s located: A short drive outside White Salmon, 45 minutes from Mount Hood and in the middle of wine country, with 10 vineyards within 10 miles. This is the Cascades at their most majestic (and accessible, at just 90 minutes from Portland International Airport).
Why we’re excited: Think of this as a wilderness experience without having to actually trek into the wilderness. Each large, safari-style tent is built on elevated private decks and comes with all the comforts of home, like king-sized beds, USB charging ports, flushing toilets and ensuite bathrooms with hot pull-chain showers. Not exactly an adventurer yourself? There’s a dedicated Adventure Concierge on hand who can organize the best local experiences like hiking, rafting, fishing, and visiting any of the area’s numerous wineries. Traveling in a group? Book the Mount Hood Suite Tent, which is actually two tents connected by a private deck with its very own outdoor lounge space.
Courtesy The Wildbirch Hotel
Where it’s located: On Fourth Avenue, Anchorage’s most bustling and walkable part of downtown. It’s actually an area referred to as the “Mushing District”—which is fitting, as the hotel overlooks the starting line of the Iditarod.
Why we’re excited: With temperatures soaring pretty much everywhere these days, Alaska is sounding pretty good right now—and this is the boutique hotel that Anchorage needs. Local touches are integrated throughout the common spaces, whether that’s locally-roasted coffee at the lobby café, Canteen, or seasonal Alaskan ingredients at the restaurant Crimson. Upstairs, rooms are optimized for post-adventure unwinding, with cozy touches like Illy coffee makers and retro mini fridges, to Jonathan Adler bath amenities and plush bathrobes. Most notably, the premises are co-owned by locals Mark Begich and Sheldon Fisher—the former mayor of Anchorage and former Alaska State Revenue Commissioner, respectively. Wildbirch’s magnetism will only increase once its in-house brewery Undertap opens this fall.