Stormy Christmas Drive

Spectacular storm clouds are rolling through this Christmas weekend in Oregon.

Washington D.C. Reflection

Portland City Reflection

Portland’s city lights reflecting in the Willamette River. This photo was taken with my iPhone while on a run along the river bank trails.

Mountain views from Maryhill Winery

From the patio of Maryhill Winery along the Columbia River Gorge in Washington, savor sippable views of Mt. Hood with a glass of their Rose of Sangiovese.

For more about my recent trip out to Maryhill Winery, check out my wine blog Oregon Winette in the coming week.

Kramer Vineyard's Glowing Grapes

Helped harvest earlier this month out at Kramer Vineyards. Picked Chardonnay grapes and wandered the vineyards with other volunteers!

Don’t worry, I did survive the Tough Mudder and will tell all of you about it later this week!

Terrible Tilly: Tillamook Rock Lighthouse

Looking out for ships nearing the coast of Oregon from 1881 – 1957, the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse perches delicately in the Pacific on its ocean pedestal. For the best vantage point of this lighthouse, also known as Terrible Tilly, hike the 2.7-mile Clatsop Loop trail in Ecola State Park starting at the Indian Beach parking lot.

What is your favorite lighthouse?

Saddle Mountain Hike

Located just a few miles off of highway 26 near Seaside, Oregon this spectacular hike takes you high into the coastal range – 3,283 feet to be exact for views of the ocean, mountains, Columbia River and surrounding forests. A 5.5 mile round trip hike, the walk up Saddle Mountain is steep at times with grated fencing underfoot to help retain the trail and your footing, but the views just get better and better as you climb.This is a great half-day hike, especially if the coast Gods grace you with a clear sky.

Along for the ride, my nephew came with us on his first hike ever! He didn’t make it quiet to the top with his parents, but for a 13 month old, he is a tough kiddo.

Escape the sand or city with your family to walk this trail together!

Here are more photos from the hike:

View from half way up!

Me standing on the edge of one of the trails.

Last section of the hike and by far the steepest!

September Sunset in Seaside

The Oregon Coast can have some of its most spectacular sunsets in September when the clouds begin to build and the breeze becomes cool. This photo was taken in Seaside, Oregon on the north Oregon Coast just after the sun fell below the horizon.

Summiting the South Sister

Climbing the last stretch, a mile straight up through red-brown silt and gravel, I kept my eyes on the peak ahead. The blue sky over the rounded bulge summit at 10,358 feet beckoning me like a turquoise pendant. Reaching the top of this mountain however, awarded me with a hiking high better than any jewels could offer.

Hitting the trail, I completed the first hike of my “10 hikes in 10 years” plan by summiting the South Sister in central Oregon. The third largest mountain in Oregon and the highest of the three sisters, the South Sister is one of few climbs of its size in the state that doesn’t require technical equipment. A 12-mile round trip trail leads from the base of the valley at Devils Lake up the mountain plains then finally along a rocky ridge to the mountain’s summit.

Summer at Willamette Valley Vineyards

This past weekend, I attended the Wine Blogger’s Conference in Portland, Oregon. As part of a wine excursion, I visited Willamette Valley Vineyards just south of Salem and snapped this photo as the sun was just beginning to set.  For more about the wine conference, check out my wine blog: Oregon Winette.