September 2021 – Near & Beyond

Things to do in a day trip to Mt Hood National Forest, Oregon, and Lavender Valley

Trillium Lake is one the most spectacular places to view the reflection of Mount Hood on the lake. It is an easily accessible path from the parking area. It’s a wonderful place and definitely, a must-go place if you are around. We did spend a generous amount of time around the lake and later headed to Timberline Lodge where we went to the visitor center and spent some time roaming around and seeing Mt Hood up close. If you are in Lavender season why not visit Lavender Valley. We did take some wonderful photos of the lavender farm with Mt …

Oregon Travel travel us

Chasing waterfalls in Columbia River Gorge, Oregon in a day

It was a weekend trip to the Portland area in Oregon from Seattle which we did on Friday and planned the Saturday to drive along the Columbia River Gorge and the mission was to experience as many waterfalls as possible. The first spot of the day was Chantclear point where you can see the vast stretch of the mighty Columbia River, its twists and turns with a backdrop of the cascades mountains around. It’s an amazing landscape up from the viewpoint. It takes you through the historic Columbia River highway. The second stop of the day was the vista house …

National Parks of US Travel travel us

A day trip to Petrified Forest National Park

Want to see something unusual, so come on my friend on to a one-day trip to Petrified Forest National Park. The park has so much to offer to start with quartz-wrapped trees as old as 225 million years to badlands with colors ranging from orange/red on the northern side of the park to blue, gray, white, and purple in mostly in the central part. And finally to a gigantic deposit of petrified woods on the southern side. The Park is basically bisected by I-40. It’s in a stretch of 26 miles from the North visitor center(painted desert Visitor Center) to …

National Parks of US Travel travel us

Things to do in Saguaro National Park in a day

Saguaro National Park is located near Tucson in southern Arizona. It basically has two sides located around the vicinity of the city and takes about an hour’s drive(you will need a car to visit either side). Saguaro East is on the Rincon Mountains and the Saguaro West is on the Tucson Mountains. Saguaro National park holds the country’s largest Cacti, the Saguaro. They can reach a height of approximately 50 feet. Not only saguaro it is home to many different plant species such as Prickly Pear, Cholla, Mesquite, Palo Verde. We have America the Beautiful annual pass which is quite convenient …