On our recent Oregon road trip, we had the pleasure to enjoy a short stay at the Running Y Ranch Resort. We used the ranch as our jumping off point for the lower Oregon area and Crater Lake National Park. The ranch featured an overall comfy western ranch-style atmosphere with attentive staff and nicely appointed […]
The Oregon coast has over 300 miles of rugged shoreline, windswept beaches and moody skies. We continued our spring break road trip hugging the Oregon coastline from Astoria down to Lincoln City. Around every twist and turn were rocky vistas, sleepy coastal towns, miles of public beaches and working fishing towns. Oregon’s unusually mild weather […]
Apr-2016
Nature in winter can be one of the most beautiful things you will ever witness. The crisp white of fallen snow seems to sharpen the contrast of the other colors in the environment. The greens and browns of the landscape pop out and the blue of the sky and deep water appear endless. On our […]
Perched atop pilings 300 feet or so out into the swift current of the Columbia River is a unique building. The Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa was the dream of a local Astoria native, Robert Jacob. It took Jacob thirteen years to see his dream built, but it was well worth the wait. Location The […]
Mar-2016
Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada’s Gold Country is this 1850’s boomtown frozen in time, Columbia, California. Once one of the largest cities in California, after the gold rush dried up the city fell into decline and was finally saved from demolition in the 1940s when the State of California bought the town […]
Mar-2016
On the way home from a recent Yosemite trip, we decided go off the beaten path and explore the Merced National Wildlife Refuge. Located in the San Joaquin Valley, the refuge hosts up to 15,000 wintering cranes, large concentrations of ducks and geese. Since our kids were tired from our Yosemite hikes, we opted for […]
Mar-2016
With nearly 4 million people visiting the majestic Yosemite National Park each year, it is hard to avoid the crowds. People from around the world flock here to see the soaring granite cliffs, peaceful grassy meadows, raging waterfalls and au inspiring vistas. Let’s face it, Yosemite’s unforgettable splendor is one of the reasons California is […]
Feb-2016
We recently took our kids to Disneyland for their first time. While you’re more likely to find us hiking a mountain or visiting a European museum, every kid loves amusement parks and we felt it was time to explore the Magic Kingdom. With so much information out there about Mickey’s home, there is no need […]
Jan-2016
If you are a resident of Southern California, you already know why we pay so much to live here, the beautiful year-around weather. With so many sunny days, it’s easy to plan a quick getaway, like our recent trip on our kids’ winter break to San Diego. Location We stayed at the Manchester Grand Hyatt […]
Dec-2015
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, is a zoo, aquarium, botanical garden and natural history museum all rolled into one. It features two miles of wide walking trails (stroller-friendly), live demonstrations, native animals and exhibits of the natural history of the Sonoran Desert. The 98 acre grounds are filled with 230 animal species and over 1,200 types […]
Dec-2015
Every year make the trek to “The Old Pueblo” to visit family. One of our favorite activities while visiting is taking a desert hike. We are sharing a few favored local hikes. So lace up those shoes, grab water, and smear on the sunblock—we are going exploring! Finger Rock Trail/Santa Catalina Mountains We start this […]
Tucked away in northwest Washington, on nearly 1million acres, is the geographically diverse Olympic National Park. Within the park’s boundaries are snowcapped mountains, amazing waterfalls, glacial lakes, rugged coastlines, temperate rain forests and an array of wildlife — it’s no wonder this spectacular landscape was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sol Duc Falls Less […]