Our anniversary isn’t until next month, but our schedule will be busy on the actual date. With the kids old enough to take care of themselves, we took off for a few days during spring break to explore one of the wonders of our state: Mount Hood.
We stopped at Timberline Lodge to learn about the historic location and those who championed it. The buffet was delicious and knocked me out on a food coma for the afternoon. Jenni strapped on the snowshoes and hiked around the scenery.
We stayed nearby at an AirBnb with an incredible view of Mount Hood from the window doors. The cute tiny home allowed us to have the amenities of a home at the size of a hotel room (and below the cost). After we arrived, we spent an hour watching the sunset on the loveseat.
The following day, we hiked 3 miles to Mirror Lake. While I was disappointed that the lake was covered in snow, we were delighted by the Canada Jays who were very eager to steal our trail mix. Jenni channeled her Disney princess persona (with the help of peanuts) to invite the birds to softly land on her hand.
Before the severe thunderstorm arrived, we made our last stop at White-Sno Park West so that we could sled down the hills. I love this sledding area because the clouds provide the best timelapse with Mount Hood.
The clouds stayed after the storm and obscured our view of Mount Hood for our last day. We stopped by a hidden viewpoint in Sandy, Oregon, called Jonsrud Viewpoint. We’ll have to return on a different day when we can see the mountain as well as the valley below.
We’re so grateful for that this wonder is so close by, along with deserts, beaches, and rainforests. The Pacific Northwest is an amazing place to appreciate natural wonders and remember the beauty that God has given us in our world.