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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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America the Beautiful National Parks Pass
Did you know that the United States is home to 59 National Parks and 117 National Monuments? There is so much natural beauty in the US just waiting to be explored. Three years ago we set out on our first family roadtrip to one of the top national parks in the country, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. While there we purchased the standard 7-day pass for the park, but quickly upgraded to the America the Beautiful National Parks Annual Pass when we realized what a great deal it was. National Park entrance fees will run you about $30 per car for a 7-day pass for one park. This is an amazing…
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Dry Creek Falls Hiking Guide
Our family set out to find a new hiking trail that is both family friendly and not too crowded like many of the better known trails. While this trail did have a gradual slope, I would classify it as an easy hike with the biggest incline at the last 1/4 mile before the falls. Located in the town of Cascade Locks, Dry Creek Falls is a family friendly hike through forest trails in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge. This short hike follows along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and takes you through a beautiful forested area to Herman Creek. It’s the perfect spring hike when the weather is…
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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…
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Spinach Artichoke Tart
I found this amazing recipe when I was going through my hard core Paleo phase a few years back. Even now, I still eat pretty clean and would probably consider my diet somewhere between Paleo and Keto, however because this recipe does contain cheese, it would fall more in-line with Keto foods than strict Paleo. Regardless, it is a delicious way to satisfy your quiche cravings. Not that I really ever have “quiche cravings,” but this dish just feels really indulgent, like a comfort food, when in reality, you are benefiting from a pretty generous portion of spinach and artichokes…and well, cheese! The crust is made from almond flour, so…
