A Self-Guided Tour of the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

When visiting Portland, Oregon earlier this summer, I wanted to see the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area – an area I had only heard of and wanted to learn more about.

To see the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area we traveled 30 minutes east of Portland to the Historic Columbia River Highway. Constructed between 1913 and 1922, the Historic Columbia River Highway was designed to allow travelers to see the scenic sights of the Gorge and is considered to be America’s first scenic highway. The area includes various stops for waterfalls, vistas, and hiking trails.

Here is the itinerary I planned along the highway to see the highlights of the region.

Note: You will need a car for this tour. I do recommend doing these locations in the order listed below, otherwise you will end up having to go back and forth on I-84 to get to the correct exits.

Continue reading “A Self-Guided Tour of the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon”

A Spring Weekend in Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville, North Carolina has a little bit of something for everyone. It has a plethora of breweries and bars, ample delicious restaurants and eateries, a strong arts scene, and plenty of opportunities to get outside in nature. Our visit in mid-April was marked by temperatures in the mid-60s, which was the perfect not-too-cold, not-too-hot temperature to explore the city. Here’s what we did, ate, drank, and where we stayed in Asheville.

Continue reading “A Spring Weekend in Asheville, North Carolina”

Hidden Caves and Petroglyphs: Grimes Point in Fallon, Nevada

Grimes Point, an hour east of Reno in the small town of Fallon, Nevada is an area that is a step back in time to the days when hunter gatherer Native Americans lived off the land. Hidden caves and petroglyphs dominate in this fascinating historical site, with the desert backdrop only adding to the intrigue. Continue reading “Hidden Caves and Petroglyphs: Grimes Point in Fallon, Nevada”

Hiking in the Cotswolds: Leckhampton Hill

One of the things I love most about living on the doorsteps of the Cotswolds, an area of designated natural beauty in England, is the ample hiking and country walk opportunities that the region provides.  And, after recovering from a cold last week, the first thing I wanted to do was get up and out, so I headed to Leckhampton Hill, a popular hiking area in the Cotswolds near Cheltenham. Leckhampton Hill has the Cotswolds Way, a walking path that stretches across the area. Continue reading “Hiking in the Cotswolds: Leckhampton Hill”