All Posts by Kelsey Samsel

If you are looking for a difficult, longer hike, check out Paradise Park. This trail begins and ends at Timberline Lodge in the Mt. Hood region. You should be able to see wildflowers on this trail until early September. Your legs will be tired from the extreme ups and downs but the lush green landscape […]

Old Salmon River Trail is a family-friendly, short walk along the Salmon River. It’s only 2 miles long one way so it’s a great way to experience the Mt. Hood National Forest if you have small children or don’t want to do one of the longer hikes. This trail has an abundance of local flowers […]

Thai Home may be small in size, but their food is big in taste. Enjoy great food, both spicy and mild, or adventurous and cautious.   This restaurant is the perfect, cozy destination if you want rich curries or spicy noodles. If you are staying at Whispering Woods Resort, this is the closest Thai restaurant […]

Zigzag Mountain Cafe is inside of a cozy, rustic log cabin. The restaurant is family friendly, with lots of meal options for everyone to enjoy. Zigzag is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner serving sandwiches, burgers, chili, and for dessert homemade cobbler.  The restaurant also doubles as a store so be sure to walk through […]

If you are looking for a quiet, stunning location to camp or hike, Burnt Lake is for you. Wear sturdy shoes and pack a picnic lunch to eat once you get to the lake. This is the perfect trail for a day-hike or for a short camping trip by the lake. Bring a camera to […]

Lower Twin Lake is a great destination all year long. In the summer, hike to the lake to swim in the blue-green water and break out your snowshoes in the winter.   There are also a few campsites to choose from if you want to spend the night. Book your campsite well in advance so […]

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash It’s hard to believe that it’s almost Easter, but it will be here before you know it. We found some festive events that are happening in the Portland region for you to enjoy on your own, with friends, or with your family. Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival What better way […]

At 620 feet, Multnomah Falls is the tallest waterfall in Oregon and it’s the most visited natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest. More than 2 million people stop each year. Currently, the trail is only open up to Benson Bridge because of the 2017 Eagle Creek fires but you can still get the most […]

Head out to Tamanawas Falls in the Mt. Hood National Forest if you are looking for a quick, family-friendly waterfall hike. About 40 minutes past Whispering Woods, this hike is a great opportunity to get off the grid for a couple of hours. This relatively short hike leads to a magnificent 150-foot waterfall. Hang out […]

Trillium Lake is one of the most popular places to camp in the Mt. Hood National Forest. It’s also a great place to get an Instagrammable photo of Mt. Hood. If you aren’t interested in camping, stop at Trillium to watch the sunset. THINGS TO KNOW Pets allowed on a leash You will need a […]