Olympic National Park Road Trip

 Last spring my husband and I took a road trip to the Olympic National Park. 

This is the route we drove from Boise, Idaho.

We spent our first night at Cascade Locks in the Columbia Gorge.

Our next stop was the Quinalt Lake Lodge in the park where we stayed for two nights.

 

Our room had a beautiful view of the lake and a cozy fireplace.

The lodge lobby has lots of comfy sofas and chairs in which to curl up and read in front of a big fire.

The lodge restaurant has wonderful service and delicious food. The ambience is intimate and romantic with a beautiful view of the lake and mountains. 

 

We spent our days there exploring the surrounding rain forest. This was our first time in a rain forest, and it was truly a magical and mystical experience.

We left Quinalt Lake and drove north along the coast. We loved the stormy skies and huge waves.

The Tree of Life.

Ruby Beach

Leaving the coast, we drove inland to the Hoh Rain Forest. This was the most incredible of the forests we visited. It's completely different than any other ecosystem we've ever seen. The sense of present time fell away, and we could easily imagine dinosaurs here munching on the giant ferns.

 

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We continued driving north through the small town of Forks to our resort accommodation on the Quillayute River. The view of the river from our suite was spectacular, and we watched bald eagles fishing from the tall surrounding trees from our window.

We spent two nights here and visited nearby La Push Beach and Rialto Beach. The stormy skies, misting waves, twisted driftwood, incredible rock formations, and tree covered islands were highlights. 

We left Quillayute and drove towards Port Angeles. We turned off into the park and drove up the beautiful Sol Duc Road. We stopped for short hikes at the uncrowded Salmon Cascades and the Ancient Grove, but passed by the hot springs and falls when we saw all the people. 

We continued on our way driving along lovely Lake Crescent. 

Another cozy lodge awaited us in Port Angeles.  This was our home base for two more nights. Unfortunately, the nearby Hurricane Ridge Road was closed for road work, but we still had plenty to see and do exploring the port, beaches, parks, and nearby towns.

The Salt Creek Recreation Area was one of our most beautiful unplanned stops with a gorgeous beach and shell covered tide pools. 

From Port Angeles, we headed south towards Olympia, stopping for a picnic lunch at Lake Cushman.

We spent one day sight-seeing in charming Olympia. Though not usually interested in buildings, the imposing Washington State Capital building was definitely worth a quick visit. 

 

The next day we passed by Mount Rainier on our way to a one night pit stop in Pendleton, Oregon. Then it was back home to Boise.

This was another wonderful road trip for us. We highly recommend visiting the Olympic National Park, especially for the rain forests. These unique ecosystems are truly unusual and  spectacular.

Thanks for coming along!

Spring Break Road Trip to Red Lodge, Montana

Today, I'm sharing a few of the wide open Montana spaces my husband and I love so much. We hit the road recently to visit family in Red Lodge, Montana, and I tried to capture some of the scenery on my phone camera through the car windows as we sped along the highway.

  The Madison Mountain Range east of Ennis, Montana.

 Buffalo grazing near the pass between Ennis and Bozeman, Montana.

 Big Sky Country.

 The Absaroka Mountain Range south of Livingston, Montana.

 The Crazies north of Livingston, Montana.

Road trips aren't for everyone, but my husband and I cherish the long hours spent alone together talking about anything and everything as we watch the beautiful scenery pass by. 

How about you? Do you like to travel by car? Have you taken any spring road trips this year?

How about a spring break link party?! Join me at

Calypso in the Country

California Road Trip

I hit the road to California with my hard-working husband this week for some crisp mountain air and much-needed R and R. 

 We took off going south through the Oregon and Nevada deserts. The vistas stretched in every direction as far as our eyes could see.

 We crossed over the Sierra Mountains at the Sonora Pass, one of the most beautiful roads we've ever traveled.

We unpacked and settled in at my brother's beautiful Twain Harte lakeside cabin.

Then yesterday we hit the road again for a day trip to Yosemite National Park. It was a glorious and perfect autumn day with no crowds. 

This vacation is paradise! We have beautiful sightseeing and hiking during the day, followed by Margaritas on the lakeside deck watching the Canada Geese land at sunset, followed by snuggling up in front of the warm cozy fire with a good book in the evening.

Life is good!

Quick Trip To Red Lodge, Montana

I hope everyone is enjoying the last month of summer. I remember back when our seasons revolved around the kids' school calender, and our summers seemed to end the day the kids went back to school in late August or early September. Now that we're empty nesters, our summers follow the weather and the traditional calender. So while some of you are turning to fall in your minds, we still have a whole month of summer left here at our house. I do have to say, though, I am longing for fall, my favorite season, especially after the hot and humid summer we've had here this year. 

We had a little break from the heat over the weekend with a quick road trip over to Red Lodge, Montana, where my husband's mother lives. The days were soft and warm and the nights were blissfully cool. I left my camera at home but snapped a few phone photos to share.

About twenty-five years ago we bought six acres at the base of the Absarokee Mountain Range just outside of Red Lodge, with thoughts of building our dream cabin and retiring here one day. This is our property in the foreground overlooking our favorite view of the meadows leading up to the foothills and palisades of the Rocky Mountains. The Red Lodge ski hill and snow capped Pryor Mountain peaks are just out of sight to the right. Yellowstone Park is out there a-ways, too, and the rolling prairie stretches out behind us in the other direction. Whenever we visit Red Lodge, we park our car here on our dirt road and drink our morning coffee while the sun rises. As we listen to the cows lowing off in the distance and watch the deer and elk pass slowly by munching the hay in our meadow, we imagine one day enjoying it all from our own deck.     

ISLAND AT ROCK CREEK

 On this visit we stayed with my sister in-law and her husband at the gorgeous resort they're developing next to the charming little tourist town of Red Lodge, called Island at Rock Creek. The resort's architecture is inspired by the old coal mine that was once here and is landscaped with waterfalls, ponds, and acres of beautiful perennials. Flowers always seem brighter to me in the crisp Rocky Mountain air.

The beautifully furnished and appointed townhouses are right on Rock Creek, and our bedroom door opened onto a balcony overlooking the water.  It doesn't get more relaxing than falling asleep to the sound of a tumbling creek.

 Whenever we go to Red Lodge we always enjoy some rare (and so delicious) vacation junk food from The Red Box Car, just south of town on the way to the Beartooth Highway. They have huge homemade onion rings and my husband's favorite Pork Chop John sandwiches. (That's him in the white hat, sandwich in-hand.)

Two twelve hour days riding in the car for two days of Rocky Mountain bliss. Worth every minute!

Have you ever been to beautiful Montana?