Parks and Recreation | The Zesty Traveler

Fifty in Fifty

by The Zesty Traveler | Nov 7, 2014 | All Inclusive Experiences, Cities, Countries, Food and Drink, Lodging, Nature and Conservation, Parks and Recreation, Places I haven't been but would like to visit, Tips

I have struggled to find my voice with this blog and have decided to try a slightly different approach. Growing up it was important to my parents that we take a week long family vacation each summer. Nothing extravagant and always road trips. (more…)

Mt. Rainier

by The Zesty Traveler | Aug 10, 2013 | Parks and Recreation

Impressive. Awe inspiring. Simply massive. What I find most perplexing about Mt. Rainier is how close you can be without seeing it and yet how far away you can see it from. It’s a simple matter of topography but it still blows my mind. (more…)

Mt. St. Helens

by The Zesty Traveler | Aug 9, 2013 | Nature and Conservation, Parks and Recreation

: The land surrounding Mount St. Helens has gradually been rebuilding. In the foreground is what is left of a car that was smashed by the ash and debris during the last large scale eruption in 1980.

: Mount St. Helens is an active stratovolcano located in Skamania County, Washington. The faint appearance of clouds on the right of the volcano is actually smoke from the crater.

Mt. St. Helens is designated as a National Volcanic Monument rather than a National Park. Notorious for her catastrophic eruption in 1980, Mt. St. Helens is still an active volcano. From most distances and angles it is hard to see any evidence of the destruction but when you round the bend on the main road leading to her, the enormity slaps you in the face. The closer you get, the more you see old dead trees, young vegetation, and the gaping hole left in the crater itself. (more…)

Ramona Falls

by The Zesty Traveler | Aug 5, 2013 | Parks and Recreation

: Ramona Falls Trail in the Mount Hood Wilderness.

: Mount Hood and the Sandy River on the way to Ramona Falls.

: The shaded and more scenic side of the Ramona Falls Trail Loop.

I almost turned back. What a shame that would have been! I generally don’t sweat enough to properly regulate my body temperature (TMI?) and consequently tend to get heat exhaustion easily. It was a hot, dry day but ultimately I pushed through to complete the 7.1 mile trail. Aside from that issue, the trail really isn’t that difficult. The trail to Ramona Falls is a loop with the first roughly 3.6 miles to the falls gently climbing 1000′ in elevation. (more…)

Hood River Lavender

by The Zesty Traveler | Aug 4, 2013 | Cities, Parks and Recreation

: Lavender of Hood River, Oregon at the Lavender Farm.

: Hood River, Oregon Lavender Festival

: Hood River, Oregon Lavender Farm

The Hood River lavender farm should be on your list of places to stop if you’re in Hood River during the summer months. Admittedly the fields aren’t as expansive as we expected based on some of the pictures we had seen, but it is still worth a stop. No need to plan on spending much time here. Enough to see and smell (and oh wow what an amazing smell!) and maybe even cut your own lavender to take home. (more…)

Northern Cascades National Park

by The Zesty Traveler | Jul 28, 2013 | Nature and Conservation, Parks and Recreation

: Northern Cascades National Park Wildflowers

: Northern Cascades National Park in Washington.

One of the least visited of the National Parks is the Northern Cascades. Located in northern Washington State just over two hours northeast of Seattle, it is certainly one of the more secluded though surprisingly easy to get too…provided of course the snow has been cleared! (more…)