About an hour outside of Portland, OR is the historic Skamania Lodge. It has been a legend of the Columbia River Gorge for years, and is a great weekend getaway. My in-laws sent us away for a night as our Christmas present, but with our schedules we couldn't get away until now.

The lodge is famous for two things: relaxation and amazing food. Just what we needed. When we checked in and got to our room the first thing on the schedule was lunch. The Lodge has two places to eat. The Cascade Dining Room, and River Rock their casual dining room and bar. For brunch or a nice dinner, The Cascade is an amazing ticket. For us, on a lazy Sunday afternoon the River Rock was more our speed.

More classic views from the River Rock dining room.

I went wit the classic River Rock Burger and fries. Featuring a yakima county beef patty, cheddar cheese, and apple smoked bacon this is a great burger. Their fries are something special. With white truffle oil, parmesan, roasted garlic, and served with a house pub sauce fries just don't get any more decadent than this. The classic burger is taken to a new level with fresh beef and ingredients. I'd rate this burger right up there with the best I've ever had.

The River Rock burger and fries rank high on my all time list.

If you have the opportunity, a stay at the Skamania Lodge is not to be missed, but even if you don't stay the night, a trip down the gorge isn't complete without heading across the Bridge of The Gods and visiting Skamania's amazing lodge.