When I looked up lodging in Yosemite, so much came up that I got really overwhelmed and ended up just searching for the cheapest available places that also had heat thus landing us in Half Dome Village cozied up in one of their canvas tent cabins. It was really fun "camping" in the snow. That was a first.
It Took 20+ Years, But We Finally Made It [Yosemite 2018]
Turns out Yosemite really is everything it's cracked up to be.
Neither of our parents ever took us, so David and I decided it was about time to take ourselves (especially now that we live only 5 hours away!) Gideon beat us there by a long shot – hopefully he'll make the trip again before he hits his 20s.
Happy Traveling!
We Went to Canada Instead
| 04.26.17 |
Remember that amazing place we went last year on our anniversary...well I really wanted to go again this year – being the sentimental sap that I am – but none of my schemes worked out. Flying down to Ojai for a short stay was just a little too ridiculous to make happen. But believe me, I tried my hardest, and David even humored me for a couple days while I attempted to figure out a way. Finally after all my sentimental daydreams had failed, I gave in and decided I would have to settle for somewhere local, and boy did I end up on top!
We decided to finally go check out British Columbia – something we had been meaning to do since we moved to Oregon. The border is only a 5 hour drive from Portland! I don't know why it took us so long to finally make the journey.
We scoured AirBnB for a cool and affordable place to stay and ended up choosing a cute little back-house in Steveston, Richmond, BC – 40 minutes south of Vancouver (known for being the setting of Storybrooke from the hit ABC series "Once Upon A Time").
The trip was amazing! We had three days of great weather, not even a little rain – it was beautiful!
Happy Anniversary!
Here are some of the gems we discovered on our short weekend trip through British Columbia:
Rocanini Coffee Roasters in Steveston
The Steveston Harbor and Fisherman's Wharf (with a fresh fish market)
and Buro Coffee (thank you Spencer + Tabitha)
Stanley Park, Vancouver
Renting Bikes on Davie Street and circling the Island
The Photogenic Lions Gate Bridge
Driving the 99 north to Squamish
Making a pit-stop at Porteau Cove Provincial Park
(near to the Sea to Sky Gondola – which we skipped this time, but I've heard is epic!)
Keep driving north towards Whistler as the mountain views become even more breathtaking.
Viewing The Stawamus Chief from the harbor in Squamish
Howe Sound Brewery for a meal with views of the Chief
Rowena Crest
The Rowena Crest View Point is an idolized location for photographers and travelers alike. Sitting along the Columbia River Gorge are a handful of horseshoe curves in the road that make for a satisfying sight.
I've always loved bird's eye views of roads surrounded by nature, but since I don't have a drone to make those photos happen myself, I have to find high points from which to capture them. Rowena Crest is a perfect spot to get that shot. And not only do you get a beautiful view of a road in this picture, but you get a road unlike many others.
Well, now I feel silly spending so much time talking about road, but sometimes it really is the simplest things that get me going.
So I'd suggest heading down highway 84 and making your way just 13 miles east of Hood River to check out the twists and turns of Rowena Crest.
I've heard this spot is a must to see in every season, so I'll be heading back this spring!
Happy Driving!
