The Columbia River is home to tons of salmon that swim upstream to spawn and then head back out to the ocean. It is so beautiful and picturesque and we thought one of the best ways to see it was to take a ride on an old fashioned paddle wheel steamboat. Out on the deck we listened to the narrated tour which clued us in to the history of the area and the native wildlife. During the season a limited number of permits are issued to fish out on the river and some of the only few allowed to do it all the time are the Native American Tribes who make their home in the area. They are preserving their way of life, fishing to feed their families using their ancient techniques. You can see their little makeshift docks up and down the river. The outfit we rode with was the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler and the ride was wonderful-not too long and not definitely not boring. They also offer many different types of cruises—some even including dinner. Check it out.
