The travel bug

04/30/2025

My favorite time of year!!

03/08/2024

Mt. Spokane snowshoeing. Kit Carson loop - 3 miles. Gradual incline on the first bit, steep (thank heavens it’s short) incline after the warming hut, and then narrow trail down through the trees back to the car. Pictures include the warming hut for snowshoers, a trail map with the section that we did highlighted and the second to last picture is of a hard working woodpecker that wasn’t the least bit bothered by us 😊

03/08/2024

Mt. Spokane has beautiful snowshoeing trails! This is the upper part of the Kit Carson loop trail, there’s a steep section after the warming hut (a wonderful fire was waiting for us) and then the trail winds through the trees and descends gently back to the start of the trail. Gorgeous day!

11/09/2022

06/01/2022

This is PeeWee Falls up near Boundary Dam. It is a beautiful waterfall only accessible by boat. The narrow canyon walls along this gorge are so much fun to explore. The water is a beautiful, clear green blue color. There are caves that only appear when the water level is low. The dam provides power to Seattle, so when usage is high in the city, the water level drops by as much as 6-8 feet. This is a remote area close to the small town of Metalline Falls, population 230. Boundary Dam has several updated and pretty campsites with a clean bathroom. Sites are first come, first serve so it’s best to get there early as there’s only about 10-12 sites. The scenery is so pristine and inspiring that it’s well worth the effort!

02/10/2022

Latourell Falls on the Columbia River Gorge. 242 feet tall. Yeah..... it’s that spectacular!

02/10/2022

All along the Columbia River Gorge, you can see majestic waterfalls just off the main highway. This is Latourell Falls and it is the second highest at 242 feet, with the famous Multnomah Falls at 542 ft being the king. Parking for Latourell Falls is at the “Guy W. Talbot State Park”. My favorite way to hike it, is backwards. Meaning, by starting at the end, you walk into the bottom of the waterfall quickly, and get the prettiest views. Totally worth it! It’s easy to walk almost directly underneath the Falls, and even walk behind the Falls too. It’s a great hike with a beautiful reward at the end.

01/21/2022

This beautiful hike is called Drift Creek Falls and it is a half hour drive from Lincoln City, OR. It is a hike that has it all- beautiful tall pine trees, wide kid-friendly trail, a suspension bridge AND a waterfall! It’s a 3.2 mile (total) hike that is out and back. The trailhead is easy to find on Google maps, has easy parking and a bathroom. The trail gently slopes downward toward the bridge and falls. It’s a pretty popular trail so it’s best to get an early start if you want to have some time to enjoy it by yourself. It’s always a good day when you can breathe in the smells of trees and earth. Also, the picture in my post 3 days ago is of the this trail, so pretty! Enjoy the hike!

“Jobs fill your pockets but adventures fill your soul.” Jaime Lyn.

01/17/2022

These are Panther Creek Falls, found along the Columbia River Gorge between Oregon and Washington. It’s a pretty drive (paved) into Gifford Pinchot State Park. Lush moss covered rocks and gorgeous pine trees in every direction. The trail is easy to find and not more than 15-20 minute hiking from parking area. The trail splits into a viewing platform and heading to the bottom of the falls. Heading to the bottom is the most breathtaking view. Please stay on the trail— due to wet weather and way too many people leaving the platform- the surrounding area has been eroded and is dangerous. There is a sign at the bottom of the falls mentioning that there have been deaths at that sight because of ignoring warning signs. That said, the falls are BEAUTIFUL and one of my favorite!

01/17/2022

Confession: Being outside in the fresh air and experiencing someplace new is a coping mechanism for me. Sometimes when life seems overwhelming and oppressive, I know that if I can get outside, breathe in pine trees and the different scents carried in the wind, I can close my eyes and magically, my heart starts to open up and life seems hopeful, beautiful and full of possibility again. As Covid has stressed me out and travel became harder to do, I began (and continue)to search out the outdoor beauty that was/is close by and accessible. And the amazing thing is that there are endless possibilities!

There’s also something really special about having some trip or adventure to look forward to. It took me a long time to recognize this truth about myself. I found that in the summer months when everything was grey, I planned all of my summer trips. I was ALWAYS a planner. I enjoy planning! I love sinking my “explorer” teeth into a new adventure and trying to find ways to maximize the experience. And in the process it gives me this wonderful gift, the gift of anticipation. 😊. So, as these cold days of winter are upon us, I hope that you’ll find some ideas that will spark your own creativity in creating a summer adventure to come for you. In my next post, I will share some of the amazing waterfalls that we explored this summer. P.S. they’re really beautiful 😊