Sunset and mountain view as we cruise along the Columbia River on our Un-Cruise Adventures trip.
Photo Friday: Columbia River
Oregon is Pretty Damn Amazing!
Oregon slapped us in the face.
Just slapped us in the face, shook us hard, and said “You think you know Oregon? You know nothing”.
It was probably when Tom commented that the GPS couldn’t possibly be right when it said we were five minutes from the beach because geez we are in the middle of the mountains and then hey! there was the beach with the mountains literally not even stopping but just heading right down into the water that we thought huh.
Beach at Ecola State Park
We don’t know a damn thing about Oregon.
We knew to expect rain forests. We knew that. We had been to Seattle and to British Columbia and we knew Oregon was in the general vicinity and there would probably be lots of rain forests. Pretty much everywhere.
We knew Portland was a kitschy, interesting city with great food and that Oregon had a coastline but we figured pretty much everywhere else was sprawling, dark green, dense, northwest rainforest.
As they said in the movie ‘Independence Day’, “that’s not entirely accurate”.
There are, indeed, hundreds of acres of amazingly beautiful rainforests in Oregon; the Columbia River Gorge is truly one of the most gorgeous places we have ever seen with astonishingly spectacular waterfalls and a river that was gouged out from solid rock.
The Lower Lewis River waterfall
Hallmark Resort in Cannon Beach, Oregon
Staying at the Hallmark Resort in Cannon Beach was actually just an extremely happy accident.
Before our Un-Cruise Adventures cruise on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, we decided we should see a little bit of Oregon since we had never been there. Since I am the beach lover and Tom is the mountain lover, we compromised and went to both.
I knew absolutely nothing about the Oregon coast but didn’t want to drive too far from Portland where the cruise was embarking so I narrowed it down to towns that were not too far from Portland. And then I just proceeded to contact several of them to see who would like to work with us on a press visit. I had several replies but when I checked out the Hallmark Resort in Cannon Beach there was no question about where we would stay because it looked wonderful.
And it was.
In every single way.
After flying into Portland, we picked up our rental car and drove straight to the coast. It was a beautiful drive but nothing unusual that we hadn’t seen in other states; mountains, pine trees, winding roads. Finally, we reached a point where our GPS told us we were only five minutes from the coast. Tom scoffed.
“There is no way we are that close to the beach. We are in the middle of the mountains. The GPS must be wrong”.
Five minutes later, we were at the coast.
This was our first introduction to the idea that Oregon is not like anyplace else. In Oregon, the mountains go right to the shore. And then they continue into the water. This provided a stunningly beautiful coastline which kept us awed with its beauty right up until our last day at the coast.
Hallmark Resort is located right in front of Haystack Rock which is an iconic tourist destination in Cannon Beach. We had a vague idea that Haystack Rock was some sort of boulder on the beach and this is accurate as far as it goes but, in reality, Haystack Rock is truly astonishing. It’s actually a towering monolith which is home to all kinds of nesting birds and marine invertebrates like starfish all year long. Tidepools, which are created when the tide is low, are home to a variety of sealife. Read more
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Categories: Accommodations, Beach, Cannon Beach, Cities, Countries, Cruises, Family Travel, Oregon, Resorts, Travel with Children, Un-Cruise Adventures, United States
Tags: Cannon Beach, Cannon Beach Accommodations, Cannon Beach Resorts, Hallmark Resort, Haystack Rock, Jan Ross travel blog, Jan Ross travel writer, Oregon, Oregon Resorts, Tom Ross Photographer, Tom Ross Travel Photographer
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Photo Friday: Lower Lewis River Falls
Beautiful location at the Lower Lewis River Falls.
Hotel Highland, Birmingham, Alabama
It’s lucky that Birmingham is on the way to Florida as it makes a perfect stopping place to create a car trip that is a leisurely pleasure instead of one that leaves you exhausted when you arrive. It’s even luckier that the darling little upscale, boutique hotel, the Hotel Highland, is located in Birmingham and that we were able to spend the night there recently.
Because it’s quite, quite lovely.
Hotel Highland.
Located in the middle of the trendy Five Points South neighborhood near the University of Alabama – Birmingham and plenty of local tourist attractions, the Hotel Highland is really situated in a great location. With several excellent local restaurants and shops located an easy walk from the hotel, you really don’t even need your car after the valet parks it for you.
We pulled up in front of the hotel and headed into the quiet lobby which gives a fabulous first impression of the hotel. Rich, vibrant jewel tone colors enhance the modern vibe of the area with comfortable, plush furniture.
Comfortable seating in the beautiful lobby.
More lobby seating and modern décor.
Modern artwork in the lobby.
Categories: Accommodations, Alabama, Birmingham, Cities, Countries, Family Travel, Girlfriends Getaway, Hotels, United States
Tags: Alabama, Birmingham Alabama, Boutique Hotels in Birmingham Alabama, Five Points, Five Points Birmingham, Hotel Highland, Hotels in Birmingham, Hotels in Five Points, Jan Ross travel blog, Jan Ross travel writer, Tom Ross Photographer, Tom Ross Travel Photographer
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Cruising the Islands of New England
An old lighthouse and the bridge to the island.
If you have never visited New England, as we hadn’t, a cruise of the area is the best way to visit and really enjoy your trip. And the Islands of New England cruise on the Grande Caribe from Blount Small Ship Adventures is the best cruise to take. One of the most wonderful things about cruising is that you can take your cozy, comfortable cabin along with you on your travels! Unpack once, then spend your week relaxing on board as you drift along visiting some of the most well-known locations in New England.
The Grande Caribe is not an overwhelmingly huge cruise ship; instead, it has space for about eighty passengers in small but comfortable staterooms and is just the right size to be homey. The lounge area on the main deck is furnished with plenty of comfortable upholstered furniture and tables for playing games, reading, or simply enjoying the passing scenery. The adjoining bar area includes soda dispensers, where you are welcome to fill a glass with ice and a drink whenever you want, and space for the liquor and wine bottles that Blount encourages you to bring aboard. Not only do they welcome you to bring aboard your own liquor and wine – they even provide snacks and mixers to accompany them, and there are two very nice cocktail parties during the weeklong cruise that serve scrumptious hot appetizers.
Read the rest of this article on Travelhoppers HERE.
Pin ItPhoto Friday: Fall View of Mt. St. Helens
We actually didn’t see a lot of fall color in Oregon but managed to catch some on a day trip to view Mt. St. Helens.
Family Getaway to the Ocean Ritz in Panama City Beach
My goal in life is to be half as cool as my mom is when I am 89. From her, I inherited my height, long legs, and great complexion.
Thanks, Mom.
My mom on the beach in the 1950’s.
She also taught me how to shop for bargains, how to dress nicely no matter what the occasion, and how to be a true lady of the south. Bless her heart. She also took our family to the beautiful Gulf Coast regularly so that when you say vacation, I say beach.
I’m the blonde kid.
Born in Pensacola, a true Florida native, and a lover of the white sand beaches of the Gulf Coast, she announced a few months ago that she wanted to see the beach one last time.
And I, her travel writer daughter, decided to make that happen.
Luckily, I have worked with Sterling Resorts several times in the past and, when they heard that my mom wanted to visit the beach, they offered us a perfectly lovely, oceanfront condo at the Ocean Ritz Resort.
The Ocean Ritz Resort. Photo courtesy of Sterling Resorts.
Photo Friday: Ecola State Park, Oregon
We simply could not get over how beautiful the coast of Oregon was; Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach was especially gorgeous.
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