Tag: pnw reviews

family adventures, hiking, pnw

Horsetail & Ponytail Falls Hike ~Columbia River Gorge

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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

Check out our reel with videos below ⬇️

coffee, pnw, Review

Fika @Farm 12 Valentine’s Treats

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Check out this fun cold brew we ordered at @farm12puyallup Fika. The Cupid’s Cold Brew …yumm❤️ It was so good and even had tiny heart sprinkles!

They have a fun Valentine’s Special Menu ,but only for a limited time , so grab a friend and go!!

And check out all these amazing treats!!

Book, Review

Porcupine Cupid ~ Children’s Book

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We are always looking for good books to read for the different seasons and holidays . It’s so hard to find unique ones and so when we found this , I knew I needed to share!
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This is such a cute book! Beautifully illustrated and such a cute story of love ❤️. We will be adding this to our personal collection of Valentine books.

family adventures, hiking, pnw

Gold Creek Pond Snowshoe

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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

Bringing in the New Year on the Slopes

coffee, family adventures, Review

Seattle Starbucks Reserve Roastery ~ Holiday Menu

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The Starbucks Reserve in Seattle never disappoints ☕️

We went right before Christmas to try some of the holiday flavors, like the Starbucks Reserve peppermint mocha, which by the way was delicious! The eggnog cookie was a fun treat that had the sprinkled star, the raspberry cornetto was delish , and my husband always looks forward to the Whiskey Cold Brew when we visit.

Check out how they serve the Whiskey Cold brew with the old fashioned ice cube.🧊

Want a tip on to save for parking? Comment coffee below and I’ll send you how we save on parking ❤️

pnw, Review, travel

Skamania Lodge Review

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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❤️
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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


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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 Lobby
Views❤️
Looking ahead to the New Year

coffee, Gathered thoughts, travel

Waking up to Beauty

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I could wake up to this beauty every day ❤️ Even though you can’t see it , there was snow on the ground and the air was so crisp. I literally had to step carefully to not slip on ice on the deck.
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So thankful to get to be in this moment .. hot coffee in hand at a beautiful home with the Columbia George in full view and laughter and chatting all around me.
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Here’s to a year of many more memories like this❤️

Airbnb, family adventures, Review

White Pass Airbnb Review

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Loved the bathroom

Check out this cute Airbnb we stayed at on our recent trip to White Pass. It was the perfect spot to stay to refuel, rest and play games before heading back to the Mountain. The hot tub was amazing and we loved the fire and the cabin feel.

Cute living space

Loved the kitchen ❤️
Coffee Bar


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Comment “Getaway “ below and I’ll send you the info on this Airbnb for your next getaway 🎿

Check out our reel below ⬇️

coffee, Review, travel

Thirsty Coffee Bar Review

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Check out this hidden gem @thirsty_coffeebar in the Cascade locks area. It was such a sweet reward of coffee after we finished hiking the Colombia Gorge area.


We loved so much about this adorable coffee shop ,like the puzzle that was set out to build , chess boards throughout, photo ops with the joy wall and seating areas ,the adorable water station ,and ofcourse the coffee ❤️ We could have spent our whole day here.

Sign in book


One of the other special touches that we really loved was the Bible verse on the floor, such a sweet touch❤️

“When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭94‬:‭19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

They also have a punchcard to get a free drink ..yay! More coffee❤️
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If you are in the Colombia Gorge area, stop by and support this small business❤️❤️

Check out our reel below ⬇️

hiking, Review, travel

But First Coffee ☕️

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Randonnee Coffee Co @randonneecoffee was a great place to stop and grab coffee on our way back home from our hiking trip. It was super cute and the baristas were so nice! They even tried to help us plan lunch by recommending a stop ❤️

They offered a great selection of drinks including matcha tea , cappuccinos ,Cortado and so many flavors of lattes …yum! And the food smelled amazing! We could smell bacon just going in the store ❤️


Add this to your list of stops on your next adventure when you are in the Columbia River Gorge area…it’s a must see and offers great coffee❤️