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Smokey Bear Gift Guide
I grew up hearing Smokey Bear commercials advocating for responsible campfires. I can still hear him say in his deep bear voice “Only YOU can prevent forest fires.” It was a campaign with lasting message that urged kids not to play with matches and urged adults to put out any campfires they make. This year on August 9, Smokey Bear turned 75 years old. He’s lookin’ pretty good I’d say! What birthday would be complete without some gifts? In honor of Smokey the Bear turning 75 this year, I created a quick gift guide with great ideas for anyone who loves Smokey Bear as much as I do! I had…
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Vacation Planning in the Digital Age
Summer is just around the corner and like many of you, we are excited to see some new sites. There are so many great online resources available for planning a vacation and admittedly I am totally obsessed with anything that helps me with my trip planning. I think about it All. The. Time. I like to think of trip planning like a little mini vacation where I can day-dream about all the fun we’re going to have. Some people call this “procrastination” or “a coping mechanism,” but whatever! Once we’ve decided on a location…like just seconds after, I go into research mode and scour the interwebs for all there is…
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Lavender Daze Festival in Hood River
The Hood River Lavender Farm is nestled between Mt Hood and Mt Adams in the Hood River Valley, about an hours drive from Portland. In July, they host Lavender Daze where lavender enthusiasts can wander around the lavender farm, taking in the mountain views and breathing in the heavenly scent of lavender growing all around. Local artisans and craftsmen have booths set up for you to shop if you so desire, or just grab a chair and listen to the live band playing while sipping a glass of wine from Stave and Stone Winery. If the site and sound of bees buzzing all around makes you uneasy, this might not…
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Family Adventures with our National Parks Passport
For the past three years our family mission has been to travel to as many National Parks as we can given the constraints of school and work schedules. Thanks to our National Parks Annual Pass, we have seen some pretty amazing places all within driving distance from our home in Oregon. We bought our National Parks Passports on our first family road trip to Yellowstone in 2015 and have pretty much planned our vacations around national parks ever since. Not only can you get cancelation stamps at national parks, but there are also stamps at national monuments and national historic sites. There’s a whole list of places to check off inside the…
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Mosier Plateau Hiking Guide
Sometime between mid-April and early May, photographers and nature enthusiasts start making the trek up the Columbia River Gorge to see the wildflowers in bloom. Rowena Crest is a popular spot as is Dog Mountain. Unfortunately Rowena Crest is not dog friendly and well, Dog Mountain is not people friendly…Just kidding! Dog Mountain is great if you enjoy steep hikes, but it’s definitely not a leisurely hike. If you’re looking for a gorgeous wildflower hike where you can bring your dog and ease your way into the hiking season, look no further! Tucked up in the hills of Mosier Oregon is a breathtaking view of the Columbia River from on…
