Where to Go in 2026: The Pacific Northwest's 80-Mile Playground Just Got Even Better

It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's ⁠⁠Where to Go list⁠⁠. And this year's list is a little different. Because in 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.

Like the Columbia River Gorge, a Pacific Northwest icon where waterfalls tumble from towering cliffs, the landscape shifts from rainforest to arid grasslands in under two hours, and a historic highway is being transformed into a car-free trail.

In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Zoe Baillargeon, a Portland-based travel writer who has spent years exploring this 80-mile stretch of cliffs, rivers, and vineyards. Zoe shares what's new in the Gorge—from a glamping resort with stargazing tents and views of Mount Hood to a newly reopened hot springs spa with thousand-year-old Indigenous roots, plus a James Beard–recognized wine farm and a historic highway being transformed into a car-free trail.

Plan Your Columbia River Gorge Getaway

(First, explore our Oregon travel guide.)

Stay

—Book a stargazing tent at Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge, a new glamping resort on 120 acres near White Salmon

—Soak in natural mineral hot springs at the newly refurbished Bonneville Hot Springs Resort & Spa.

Eat and Drink

—Get in line early at Grasslands Barbecue, a Hood River food cart that sells out daily

—Book a farm-to-table tasting experience at Hiyu Wine Farm, a biodynamic winery and James Beard semifinalist for outstanding wine program

—Drive the Fruit Loop trail through the valley behind Hood River for wine tastings, u-pick fruit, and farm stands—stop at the Gorge White House for tastings and views

See and Do

—Drive the historic Columbia River Highway, the nation's first planned scenic byway, for waterfalls, forest views, and towering gorge walls

—Hike or bike the newly opened Mitchell Point Tunnel section of the historic Columbia River Highway State Trail.

—Watch (or attempt) windsurfing and kiteboarding in Hood River, one of the world's top destinations for wind sports

—Visit the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles for regional history, or the Maryhill Museum of Art for an eclectic collection in a stunning setting

Resources

• Follow Zoe's work on Instagram

• Explore all 24 destinations on Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list

• Follow us on Instagram: @afarmedia

Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series

E1: T⁠⁠⁠⁠his Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude ⁠⁠⁠⁠

E2: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret⁠⁠⁠

E3: ⁠⁠⁠The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago⁠⁠⁠

E4: ⁠Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate ⁠

E5: Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention E6: Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting E7: The French Riviera's Last Stop Before Italy—and Its Best-Kept Secret E8: Skip the Serengeti Traffic Jams for This Under-the-Radar Kenyan Safari E9: The Pacific Northwest's 80-Mile Playground Just Got Even Better (this one!)

Stay Connected

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Explore our other podcasts, ⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and⁠⁠ ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Unpacked by Afar is part of⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices