Horsetail Falls is located in the “Waterfall Corridor “ of the Historic Columbia River Highway. It plunges a 176ft over a basalt cliff and is absolutely breathtaking. This waterfall is easily accessible for all . There is plenty of parking across the street but on sunny days come early because it fills up quickly.
If you want to add another short hike to Pony Tail Falls (Horsetail Falls #438) you will follow the trail to the left . It is a bit steep at first but it’s short so hang with it because when you come around a bend there is a beautiful waterfall that is in sight and feeds the Horsetail Falls. It cascades over a cliff and you can walk behind it . There is a beautiful pool that in the summer we have played in. It’s almost like a hidden pool…So beautiful!
📍Horsetail Falls and Ponytail Falls 🧭 Cascade Locks , Or 🥾 .8 miles RT ( we came in at 1.04) 🏔️ 301 ft elevation gain ( we gained 294) ⭐️ Stats based on AllTrails and Apple
Elevation Hike that makes you work for it! Mt Peak in Enumclaw has two routes .. Long and steady or short and steep . We took the short and steep on this trip .
Once we made it to the top , we enjoyed a break in the beautiful Fire Lookout and snapped some pics. It took us just about 2 hours round trip . Below are our stats⬇️
📍Pinnacle Peak Park via Cal Magnusson Trail 🧭 Enumclaw, WA 🥾 2.7miles RT ( we came in at 2.5) 🏔️ 1299 ft elevation gain ( we gained 1004) ⭐️ Stats based on AllTrails and Apple
Gold Creek Pond Snowshoe is a perfect beginner Snowshoe ✨
It’s located 1 hour from Seattle, and offers some of the best winter views . Check the trail conditions and snowfall before you head out. I always like to check WTA and AllTrails for recent reviews of the trail so I know more of what to expect.
Details of the Snowshoe 📍Gold Creek Pond ✅ Snow Park Permit required 🥾 Elevation Gain 45ft (we came in at 72ft) ⭐️ Distance 1.2 mile (we came in at 1.9 ) 🏔️ Difficulty easy
Stats are based on AllTrails
One of the bridges we crossed
If you are planning to visit Gold Creek Pond, here are a few things you should know before you go:
It’s in Snoqualmie Pass, WA You will take the Hyak exit If the road is closed , add 1/2 mile to your distance. Dog Friendly Microspikes /Snowshoes are advised Roads may be icy and may have snow so be prepared with chains in case they are needed.
Frozen Lake
Check out our Snowshoe Adventure at Whitepass if you want to add another Snowshoe to your list this winter
The husband and I were able to getaway for a few days to @skamanialodge for a romantic getaway right before Christmas which at first I thought was terrible timing but turned out to be just what we needed❤️ . Skamania Lodge has so many things to offer not just for the two of us but for the whole family. There are two restaurants on property , coffee and tea service that is complimentary, Spa , game room set up with games ,adventures like zip lining , on property trails and their Holiday Walk during our stay.
Fireside w/view King
We were able to hike on our way to the lodge and then enjoy the hot tub once we checked in , which was so nice! There is an indoor and outdoor one .. the outdoor was our favorite!
Playing chess
. While we waited for our dinner reservations , we headed to the game room to play a game of chess. After dinner, we grabbed a complimentary umbrella and headed out for the Holiday Light Walk. It was an added treat and we enjoyed it . The best part was hearing an owl throughout the walk …so cool!
It’s no secret we love the Columbia Gorge area and Skamania Lodge is located in a great location to access so many different adventures . There are so many trails in this area to hike , so much history to immerse yourself in , and gorgeous views every where you look!
From our window
Have you ever visited the Columbia Gorge area? If so , what’s your favorite thing to do there?
Beautiful LobbyViews❤️Looking ahead to the New Year
Bringing in the New Year on the Slopes 🎿 . We enjoyed our winter getaway @whitepass . It was the perfect family adventure to get out and enjoy the beautiful mountains and snow. We love White Pass because of how family friendly it is. They offer a variety of different options so that everyone in your family can have a great time. They offer a mix of lessons for all ages , they have 3 carpets that make it easy for our littles that are still learning , they also offer the more difficult runs like black diamond and double black for the expert skiers and snowboarders so no matter where you are there is something for you.
The main Lodge is beautiful and has a variety of yummy food. They also offer a water tap and hot water so you can refill water bottles or add hot water to tea or soup . We always grab a tray of fries for the family to share and they are huge!While the family is munching on fries, I always grab coffee :)
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The upstairs is adult only ❤️
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There is also a Nordic Track across the street that offers several routes for Cross Country skiing and snowshoeing. We went and did the Lake Loop at twilight and it was so beautiful!
A few things to note..
You do need a trail pass to do these. They start at $15 Ang go to $35. After 3:30 , it’s doggie hour and after 4 you don’t need a pass but you are on your own.
Do you plan winter getaways? Or have a favorite Ski Resort? If so share them! We would love to know ❤️
We spent the day with friends last weekend enjoying the beautiful waterfront , farmers market and visiting some fun thrift shops like this upscale one .. Megs & Mo. .
The store is beautiful and the items are all presented well. I was impressed with some of the designer labels they had and the price points for those items. Louis Vuitton , Hermes , Kate Spade ,Ulla Johnson and so many more !
They also had a great vintage section to shop from if you’re looking for some vintage pieces. There is something for everyone! Purses, shoes ,accessories and a mix of price points from 10-15$ to around 400$ depending on items.
This is a great shop to check out especially if you love thrifting and higher end items ❤️ I’m newer to thrifting but after this experience I’m excited to do more! I would love to know if you are a thrifter and if you have any tips to share.. leave in comments below ⬇️ and check out our virtual tour ⬇️
Fika at Farm 12 is a fun experience. The building and property are beautiful. Trendy and inviting. You will often have a line extending out the front door with those waiting to order their fav coffee and treat.
The prices are comparable to the main chain coffee shops with an exception.. the profits go to help train and educate mothers as part of the Step by Step Program. A great way to enjoy coffee and help someone ❤️ . One of the elements that makes Fika super inviting is there are lots of comfy spots to chat with a friend,have a meeting or just have some time to yourself. Everywhere you look , you are welcomed with seating inside and outside. They have picnic tables , chairs around a fire pit and several couches and tables throughout .
The drawback is the mugs. We love having a mug in hand to enjoy our espresso with froth art as we meet with others but we have found that we get a mug 1 out of 3 times and the other visits have been disposable. So be prepared you may not get a mug .
Oh and did I mention the pastries? They have some of the best pastries around and all between the 3-5$ range .
We were up early to try to beat the crowds and were so thankful when we pulled in a little after 8am and there was still parking! Yay! Praise God!
The trail starts steep but then levels out for a bit where you almost think ,”where is the elevation gain? “ Oh no worries .. the last part of the hike is all elevation.
Be on the lookout for rock climbers also. We saw several sets of them ascending the rock face which was very cool.
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As you get closer to the summit you will have some rock scrambling so trekking poles are super helpful especially coming down.
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When you come to the top clearing you are met on the left side with a stunning view( top picture on this post) ! In fact it may be our favorite view even more then the summit!
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Then you climb a little more and are on the summit of Little Si. Mt.Si is behind you and the whole Snoqualmie Valley is in front of you .
Such a fun family hike! It took us about 3 hours round trip and we logged just over 4.5 miles on our Apple Watch.
We started our Easter Weekend by going to Knutson Farms for their Spring Bloom. It is happening now through May 5 🌷Tickets are $15 per person on the weekend and $12 during the week . It includes all the rides , games , animal barn , Easter Egg Hunt ( limited to March 29/30) , and all the fun photo ops that are throughout the farm.Check out all the fun things we did that were included in the admission ⬇️
Photo props – There are so many unique photo props scattered throughout the farm. We loved exploring and getting pics with them all especially the Jeep ❤️
Beautiful #instaworthy photo spot Swing photo opDuck racesBull riding or lasso practice Easter Bunny was visiting Easter Egg Hunt 29/30 only
Animal Barn – Who doesn’t love visiting the animals on the farm? This is one of our family’s favorites! The sheep were super friendly, the goats were so cute fighting each other and the miniature donkeys were braying at us and showing off their teeth . The chickens were on full display and we even saw a Bob Ross imposter duck … 😂
Ready for a pic Bob Ross imposter 😂
Cow Train & Hay Ride – These were both so fun! They also have a Grain Train you can ride that looks like mining buckets .
Games – sandboxes, jumping pillow , tricycle races , and so much more!
You can also purchase some additional items like the mining experience ⬇️ .. this was so much fun for all my littles! They all got a great assortment of gems and the whole experience was great.
Look at all those gems!!
Another extra you can add on is the the U Pick tulips ⬇️ We all enjoyed picking out just the right ones to take home , and loved learning after the flower dies we can save the bulb to replant 🌷
Oh and can we add the Coffee Cart drinks were amazing! We ordered a few drinks …Berry Bloom Italian sodas and an Iced Lavender Haze ☕️ The lavender haze was so good!! The drinks were also at great price points .
Another #instaworthy photo spot but also a great place to catch up with friendsThey have a reward card to earn a free drink .. yay!
Lots of Food Options – and affordably priced!
There is also a super cute store and flower shop . There are all kinds of gift options inside .. cards, gardening, candles , stationery and lots more. We enjoyed picking out some flowers for friends we are meeting this weekend 🌷
Video clip of the adorable store
There is something here for everyone! I was surprised how long we stayed enjoying all of the fun..over 3 hours! This is definitely something you want to add to your plans.It is a great way to support Local Farms in your area❤️
Here is a fun reel of our day at the Spring Bloom ⬇️
