Hiking at Wahkeena Falls

We went for a hike last Sunday, in the Columbia River Gorge. We cruised the Old River Highway, and the images in this post feature Wahkeenah Falls and the viewpoint at the Vista House. These inspiring natural gems are less than an hour from home--we are so blessed!

We're making plans for more hiking for the spring and summer in and around Portland and Oregon. Tell me about your favorite places to get into nature...

Images by Tina Pfeiffer - Apt 3 Photography, 2010.

Travel List: Napali Coast ~ Kauai, Hawaii

On the North Shore of Kauai, the incredible Napali Coast overlooks panoramic views of the vast Pacific Ocean. Along this spectacular coastline, you can walk amongst velvet green cliffs towering into the sky and cascading waterfalls plummeting into deep, narrow valleys.

The only land access to this enchanted place is via the Kalalau Trail, an 11-mile trail that crosses five different valleys and ends at secluded Kalalau Beach. The hike into Kalalau is often challenging, and sometimes even dangerous, with narrow sections and heavy rainfall that can make the topsoil muddy.

Many hikers choose to break the trail up into two days, setting up camp at the beach of Hanakapiai, then heading to Kalalau the next morning. Camping permits are required from the State Parks office in Lihue. A trail guide is recommended and hiking during the winter months is discouraged.

Even non-hikers can enjoy the amazing scenery. Zodiac boat tours and kayaking trips can give you access to awe-inspiring views of the Napali Coast, while helicopter tours can show you scenic Napali areas that aren't accessible by land or water.

QUICK FACTS
Name:
Napali Coast

What is it:
Iconic mountainous shoreline on Kauai's north shore

What to do:
Guided hikes, boat rides, air tours, take incredible photos of the Napali Coast

What to bring:
Hiking shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, rain poncho, camera, food and plenty of water, when camping please consult with a hiking guide

Directions:
Take Kuhio Highway (Route 56) and head to Haena State Park at the northwest end. The drive is 1-1/2 hours from Lihue Airport.

Info via. Images via Flickr.

Where the Columbia flows into the Pacific

Astoria is a nationally significant historic city at the western end of the Lewis & Clark Trail. Astoria is the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies; a place that takes visitors back to simpler times, its architecture dominated by hundreds of Victorian homes clinging to steep wooded hillsides and with a revitalized 1920s era downtown; all set against a backdrop of tremendous natural beauty in the temperate rain forest at the mouth of the Columbia River.


t 2 b: Astoria Theatre Detail by Tina of Pfeiffer Photos, Waterfront Trolley courtesy of airstreamlife.com/wordpress, Columbia Barge by Chris, Flavel House Museum courtesy of oldoregon.com

Visitors have an opportunity to escape into an appealing, intriguing past. Unspoiled and generally uncrowded, Astoria and nearby Warrenton have several first-class interpretive attractions including Fort Clatsop, the Columbia River Maritime Museum, the Flavel House, Fort Stevens State Park, the Astoria Riverfront Trolley and the Astoria Column. The area has an extraordinary sense of place and a feeling of history. [1]

Astoria has hosted the filming of a number of movies over the years including, Kindergarten Cop, Free Willy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, The Ring 2 and the most famous and beloved, The Goonies!



t 2 b: The Goondocks by Chris, The Goonies House courtesy of gosleepgo.com


A visit to Astoria for us means a stop for lunch at T. Paul's Urban Cafe. They describe their menu as Fresh-Eclectic Northwest Cuisine and we describe it as very tasty indeed. The atmosphere is casual, complete with a dimly lit coffee lounge in the rear. Overstuffed sofas surround a coffee table full of art and local magazines. A large saltwater aquarium glows in the corner. T. Paul's hosts live music on Friday and Saturday nights: blues, jazz or folk.



l 2 r: T. Paul's Urban Cafe by Tina

On our recent visit hiked the nearby 1.5 mile trail to view the Cathedral Tree, a 300-year-old spruce tree with a unique opening at the base.


Cathedral Tree by Tina

From the Cathedreal Tree the trail climbs to a wooded park towering above Astoria on Coxcomb Hill, Oregon’s highest hill. At the top the Astoria Column presents a spectacular view of the city and surrounding rivers, bay, forest, mountains and Pacific Ocean. The Astoria Column commemorates the westward move of discovery and migration. Built in 1926, it is 125 feet high and has 164 steps winding to the top.



t 2 b: Astoria-Megler Bridge and by the Astoria Column by Chris

Sometimes I think to myself that it would be nice to move to a smaller city with plenty of history, find an old house to live in and restore with my hubby and our two cats. Space to create, write, go outside, experience nature daily and steep in the quietness at night. A community that moves a bit slower, makes more personal connections with the people around us. Sometimes I just think this and that maybe, someday, it might be Astoria.


photos copyright of photographers as labeled.

[1] http://www.oldoregon.com

text [except as noted], copyright pfeiffer photos 2008