Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is a 725-acre park of wildlife and wilderness conservation. Opportunities to get outside and enjoy nature are made possible with a Wild Drive (in your vehicle) and a Wild Walk. These opportunities are by appointment, and timed tickets can conveniently be purchase online. One of the greatest parts of these little adventures is that they are family-friendly.
Read MoreMidweek we took a trip to Stevenson to check out the new aerial park at Skamania Lodge. The Lodge’s zip line activities are well known in the area, and this new addition puts Skamania on a whole new level (literally, a higher level, up in the trees). It was pouring rain most of our 3+ hour drive over to Stevenson. It had already been a long day when we arrived at the lodge around 8 pm, and we were looking forward to a good rest. We quickly unpacked the Jeep and checked in.
Read MoreLonging for ocean breezes, scenery, sunsets, wildlife encounters, quirky art, and history rolled into one destination? Anacortes on Fidalgo Island is a taste of island life that will leave you charmed and craving your next trip.
Read MoreThe river canyon known as the Columbia River Gorge on the Washington/Oregon border is one of only nine National Scenic Areas within the United States. Stretching from Portland and Vancouver in the west, all the way to Wasco and Klickitat counties in the east is the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Passed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1986, this became the second scenic area of its kind. The 292,500-acres of land contain a wealth of history, gorgeous landscapes, and interesting places to see and explore. This is one road trip you do not want to miss!
Read MoreThe Snoqualmie Tunnel is a 2.3 mile abandoned train tunnel which was built from 1912 - 1914 by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) for part of the Chicago to Seattle line. The last train to pass through the tunnel was on March 15, 1980. After that, Washington State acquired the right-of-way for recreational use. Now part of the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail rails-to-trails project, this tunnel provides no light, is roughly 20 degrees cooler than the outside, and leaks water throughout. Sounds like a great place for a first date!
Read MoreDo you like heights? What about bridges? Does the thought of the tallest bridges in the state of Washington get you excited? If your answer is yes to any of those questions, read on. If your answer is no to all questions, still, read on, only so you know where not to go! Hoffstadt Creek Bridge, High Steel Bridge, and Vance Creek Bridge are the three tallest in the state. They each provide thrilling views, impressive feats of engineering, and terrifying photo opportunities. The hype is real, jump for joy, just don’t fall!
Read MoreLocated on the 73rd floor of Columbia Center, at a height of 902' with 360 degree views of Seattle and the surrounding areas, is Sky View Observatory. On a clear day one can see as far as the Olympic Mountains, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, and much more. The vehicles on the downtown streets below, the ships in the Puget Sound, and the Seattle Great Wheel all look like miniature toys moving in slow motion from this vantage point. You're on the top of the world here, at least, that's how it feels.
Read MoreSometimes you need a place to get away. San Juan Island is the perfect escape! It's a beautiful rocky island surrounded by the swirling waters of the Pacific Ocean. Sightseeing, wildlife, shopping or just lazing about are all perfectly acceptable options. It's your time, use it the way you choose!
Read MoreThis past weekend we set out by ferry to San Juan Island to explore something that we'd recently heard about on the Lore podcast. That is the John S. McMillin Memorial Mausoleum, commonly known as Afterglow Vista. This mausoleum is hidden on a hill by trees, only accessible by walking a trail which goes through a nearby graveyard. Once you come to the monument you're awe struck by the size, beauty, design, and all of its masonic symbolism. Sitting on one of the six limestone chairs may make you feel uneasy if you know what lies within them. This memorial is astonishing with all of its history, symbology, and secrets.
Read MoreDedicated in 1921 by Washington philanthropist Samuel Hill, Peace Arch is a one of a kind monument. In the interest of peace and nations, this is the only international gateway of its kind in the world. The arch straddles the 49th parallel, the international border line, and the surrounding park lies within both the U.S. and Canada. Visitors from either nation may walk through the arch and park without passing through customs, so long as they remain in the park boundaries and exit through the same side they entered.
Read MoreAdded to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, Astoria Column is a 125-foot tall tower overlooking the mouth of the Columbia River. Settled atop the highest point in town, Coxcomb Hill at 600-feet above sea level, the views from here are amazing.
Read MoreThis Stonehenge is a curiosity, kind of in the middle of nowhere. This memorial sits atop a windswept hill overlooking the mighty Columbia River. We found out about it while looking up information on area campgrounds.
Read More15 steel ponies. Each life-size. Posing in a galloping fashion. Bronze and rustic in color. The herd appears to be stampeding toward a cliff. All of this on a ridge high above the Columbia River Gorge.
You’re looking at Grandfather Cuts Loose the Ponies, a public art sculpture in central Washington, along eastbound I-90 near the city of Vantage. David Govedare, the creator of this piece, worked on the project from 1989–1990. Though the work looks amazing as is, it’s still unfinished, due to a lack of funding.
Read MoreThe 848-foot monolith, Beacon Rock, is located along the north side of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in Washington’s Beacon Rock State Park. Discovered by the Lewis and Clark Expedition on October 31, 1805, and sold for $1 a little over a century later, this rock was almost destroyed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers with plans to use its material for the jetty at the mouth of the Columbia River.
Lucky for all of us, it still stands today.
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