Multnomah Falls, Oregon: What to Know Before You Go

Waterfall: Multnomah Falls, Oregon

Multnomah Falls was one of those places I’d seen in photographs so many times that I thought I knew what it would look like. I didn’t. It’s much taller in person than a photograph makes it feel, and when you’re standing at the bottom looking up at the falls and Benson Bridge, the scale finally … Read more

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park: What to See and Know Before You Go

There are some places that don’t look quite the way you expected when you finally see them in person. The redwoods are one of them. We visited Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in early September, and photographs really don’t give you a sense of the scale. You can photograph an enormous tree, but it’s hard … Read more

Ha Ha Tonka State Park: What to See and Do When You Go

Ha Ha Tonka is one of our favorite places to visit at the Lake of the Ozarks. The castle ruins are what get most of the attention, and they’re absolutely worth seeing. But they’re only one part of the park. There are trails, bluffs, caves and rock formations, a huge natural spring, and some pretty … Read more

Thor’s Well: The Oregon Coast’s Awesome “Drainpipe of the Pacific”

Thor's Well erupting.

Thor’s Well was one of those Oregon Coast stops I’d seen in photos long before we actually went. And it’s much easier to understand once you’re standing there. It’s not a giant hole in the ocean, even though photographs can make it look that way. Water rushes into an opening in the volcanic rock and … Read more