Road Trip - Crater Lake National Park

As soon as the school was out this year we set out for a road trip to Crater Lake National Park in OR. There are lodges and cabin facilities available around the park for stay. We had booked a cabin about 20 miles off the southern entrance of the national park. We drove in on a Thursday. Friday was spent in the park. On Saturday we did few activities closer to where we stayed and on Sunday we drove back home.

Crater Lake National Park:

We entered the park from the south and stopped at Steel Visitor Center at the Park Headquarters. We watched a 22-minute film on the formation of the lake, got some information to plan the day and then headed out.

400,000 years of volcanic activity builds 12,000 foot Mount Mazama, then 7700 years ago eruptions bring it down to form a deep caldera and then years of rain and snow melts, fill it to create 'Crater lake'. Mazama is not an extinct volcano, it is still active and could awaken another time.

We drove east first on the rim drive and stopped at 'Vidae Falls', which can be accessed from the main road.

Vidae Falls

We kept on the East Rim drive and did the 2 mile kids friendly trek up to the Plaikni Falls. The wild flowers and tiny blue butterflies fluttering around them, near the falls was just so lovely.

Plaikni Falls

After the hike, we stopped at the 'Phantom Ship Overlook'. That is the first time we caught sight of the lake and first thing that seizes you is the blueness of the lake. 

The Phantom Ship Overlook

Then we started driving west and stopped at the 'Rim Village' which has a visitor center, gift shop and a cafe, to have our lunch. There are view points from here as well to see the lake.

The Wizard Island on Crater Lake

After lunch, we kept driving west and did the rim drive along the lake stopping at various view points, taking pictures.

The fact that you can actually see the entire lake in all its blueness and stillness stretching across below your eye level, on top of what is an active volcano, is surreal.

View of wizard island from 'Watchman Outlook'

There is a trail called the 'Cleetwood Cove Trail' in the north side of the lake, that goes down to the lake in a steep, strenuous hike. We didn't do it this time. Maybe next time when the kids are a little grownup.

There is a 2-hour boat tour around the lake which we heard will be operational July 3-Sept 13 only.

Mount Mazama in Oregon, is the 4th volcanic mountain in the Cascade Range I have visited, after Mt. Rainier, Mt. Helens and Mt.Baker in WA. Here is a list of all the Cascade Range volcanoes in British Columbia, WA, OR and CA.

Klamath and Western Railroad:

We had one more day left to explore and we took it easy. We visited the Klamath and Western Railroad. Luckily they had their Saturday rides open. It was so much fun to ride in those mini trains through a spooky tunnel, bridges, fictitious mini towns and railway station set up. The rides are free and they accept any contribution. It was an enjoyable activity for the entire family.

Mini Train Engine

Train Ride

Klamath Fish Hatchery:

After the train ride we headed to Klamath Fish Hatchery. We loved this place. There are areas in here where you can feed the fish. The location and the layout of this hatchery is so lovely with trees, a creek, green pastures and mountains beyond. Feeding the fish was a wonderful experience for the kids.

Feeding the fish

The tiny ones

There are lots of farms around here with cattle, horses and donkeys grazing out in the grass and goat and sheep in their pens, which was fun to spot and watch during the drive.

Crater lake resort:

The kids enjoyed the grounds and the play area of the place we stayed at immensely. The shallow creek, with a wooden bridge, canoes and a trail, was a favorite.

Of mountains and beaches...

Another year. Another skiing and camping trip with the family - check and check.

Skiing:

We went to Whistler Blackcomb ski resort this year in February for couple of days to ski. It is lauded as the largest ski resort in North America. We stayed in Pemberton, a little north of Whistler Village and drove in both days to ski.

This was our first time in Whistler. So the first thing we did when we reached there in the evening was to pay a visit to the visitor center in the 'village'.

Whistler Visitor Center

We picked up the ski trail map. It was a hodgepodge of color coded trails and lift information. There are two mountains - Whistler and Blackcomb and they have many different levels of slopes (green, blue and the blacks) with many chair lifts and gondolas to take you up to different elevation points in the mountains.

We decided to stick to just one mountain, the Whistler mountain.

Whistler Mountain Ski Trail Map

The simplest trail I was told, was the 'Lower Olympic Trail'. I have skied few times and feeling quite confident that I can manage the 'green' slopes, I got on the lift 'Fitzsimmons', to tackle the 'lower olympic trail' which is marked as the easiest one.  As the lift started up, I found that this mountain is nothing like any other places I have skied. As the lift kept ascending (which felt like forever to me), with me gaping at the intimidating valleys down below, my heart started pounding.

After a few apprehensive runs in this trail, I pep talked myself to take on a higher 'green' slope. So I took the 'Garbanzo Express' lift to go to the next high point.

There are few ways to come down from there to join the green 'pony trail', cruise down the green 'expressway' and eventually down to the 'lower olympic' trail.

Up there the real trouble was that I couldn't locate the 'papoose' trail which was the 'green' path. There are 2 other 'blue' trails (banana peel and orange peel) which will join the green path as well. In the state of panic, I couldn't locate the right one and I still am hazy about how eventually I ended up in the green 'expressway'. The 'expressway' was so fun to cruise and from there I made my way down the lower olympic trail again.

I did not have enough nerves left that day to take the 'Garbanzo Express' one more time. That's for another time, another winter.

The Whistler Village is a smorgasbord of restaurants, book stores, coffee shops, boutiques and grocery stores where we spent much time hanging out.

Whistler Village

Whistler Village

Camping:

We camped at Nehalem Bay State Park again this year in august. This time we stayed for two nights. The days were warm, evenings windy and the nights wet and cold. The kids biked around the camp site, played in the sand at the beach.

Nehalem Bay State Park

Nehalem Bay State Park

We went to Manzanita, a quintessential beach town, right next to the state park, for coffee, ice cream, grocery and food.

Manzanita, OR

Manzanita Beach, OR

Manzanita, OR

We lounged, read books and huddled together when it got cold.

Whenever we cross the Columbia River to get to OR, I get mesmerized by the grandeur of the river and the breathtaking views you get, when you cross the bridges across the river. On our way to Nehalem Bay we went through Astoria and crossed the Astoria-Megler Bridge. On our way back to WA we used the Lewis and Clark Bridge. Both of these bridges are majestic, preserve the character of this region and offer stunning vistas.

Camping - Nehalem Bay State Park and Cannon Beach, OR

After our camping at Cape Disappointment State Park, WA in 2011, we had been wanting to go there again. This summer we went to 'Nehalem Bay State Park' (this one is in OR) a little south of Cape Disappointment State Park. We camped there one night and stopped at Cannon Beach on our way back to WA.

This park is also by the beach. We could walk to the beach from our camp site. The beach was beautiful. Call me crazy, but I like the enigmatic and poignant Pacific Northwest beaches better than the hot, vibrant Florida beaches. 

The campsite had great facilities - water and electricity are hooked to each camp site. 

We would definitely go back here.

Nehalem Bay Beach, OR

Nehalem Bay Beach, OR

View point on the way to Cannon Beach from Nehalem Bay

Cannon Beach, OR

Road Trip - John Day Fossil Monument, OR

Beginning of July we went on a road trip to John Day Fossil Monument, OR. We stayed in a small town called John Day few miles east of the monument. From Seattle, we drove to Kennewick in Eastern Washington and then drove south from there. The drive from Kennewick to John day was an undulating terrain with multiple mountains and prairies. The monument is in the middle of nowhere.

The monument is divided into three geographically separate units spread across a vast area. Plant and animal fossils found here date back to 44 million years to the 'age of the mammals'. The Sheep Rock Unit has a paleontology center with fossils on display. I am amazed at the number of fossils that has been found here. This is probably the first time I have seen animal, plant fossils and so many geologically variant rock formations in the place it really happened and not in some museum. 

We managed to cover all three units in one day. The Park Trail map that you can get in the paleontology center, illustrates the different trails in each unit. We explored 2 or 3 in each of them. There were interpretive signs on some and some looked like work is in progress. It is a good idea to pack lunch as there are not much options to eat once you leave John Day.

Sheep Rock Unit

Clarno Unit

Clarno Unit

The painted hills unit was beautiful and its geology fascinating.

Painted Hills Unit

Painted Hills Unit

Painted Hills Unit

Painted Hills Unit

You can find more information about this place here. The next day we made our way back to WA - stopped at Mt Hood for a quick photo op and drove along the imposing Columbia River.

I want to visit Dinosaur National Park one summer soon.