Explore the journey — one trail, museum, meal, and memory at a time.
Willamette Heritage Museum
I didn’t know what to expect walking into the Willamette Heritage Center, but it turned into one of the more interesting stops in Salem. From the water-powered Thomas Kay Woolen Mill to the darker, colder Picker House and the surprisingly detailed historic homes, the entire site shows how wool became fabric—and how a community formed around it.
Salem Capitol, Oregon
A day in Salem, Oregon—starting with a solo tour of the State Capitol, followed by a walk along the riverfront, coffee shops, chance conversations, and a visit to the historic Reed Opera House. It’s a mix of small moments, local places, and the kind of day that unfolds without much planning.
Astoria/Portland
After a loud night in Astoria, I made my way up to the Astoria Column for early morning views of the Columbia River under heavy coastal clouds. From there, I drove to Portland and spent time inside Powell’s City of Books, getting lost in photography shelves and old techniques that still matter. A day of travel, history, and small moments that shaped the experience.
Haystack Rock & Columbia River Maritime Museum
Cannon Beach starts quiet with a walk along the sand toward Haystack Rock, where the scale of the coastline settles in slowly. The day continues north to Astoria and the Columbia River Maritime Museum, where the stories shift from scenery to survival. It’s a mix of calm coastal wandering and the reality of one of the most dangerous river entrances in the world.
Tillamook Creamery
From a quiet overnight spot above the beach in Newport to a memorable encounter with a local artist, the day unfolds along Oregon’s coast. A stop at Tillamook Creamery brings more food than expected—and consequences—before a misdirected drive to Cape Meares Lighthouse adds one more unexpected turn to a day that didn’t quite go as planned.
Oregon Coast Aquarium
Driving the Oregon coast from Florence to Newport turned into more than just another stretch of Highway 101. A stop at the Oregon Coast Aquarium delivered unexpected moments—from glowing jellyfish to close encounters with puffins—followed by a quiet overnight near the ocean. One of those days that ends up being better than planned.
John Dellenback Dunes
A solo hike through the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area along the John Dellenback Trail. From dense coastal forest to open sand and a quiet stretch of Pacific shoreline, this route delivers constantly changing terrain, challenging footing, and surprising solitude.
Coos History Museum
Rain forced a change of plans along the Oregon coast, turning a day of hiking into a visit to the Coos History Museum in Coos Bay. What followed was a deeper look at logging, shipbuilding, fishing, Indigenous languages, and a difficult piece of local history. The day ended at Cape Arago, a reminder that travel rarely goes as planned—but often leads somewhere better.
Harris Beach and Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor
From a quiet morning at Harris Beach to hiking the Indian Sands Trail in the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor, this stretch of the Oregon coast delivers nonstop views. Short hikes lead to cliffside overlooks, natural arches, and rugged shoreline. A practical look at what to expect, where to stop, and which trails are worth your time.
Lady Bird Johnson Grove and Fern Canyon
From towering redwoods to a hidden canyon carved by water, this day along California’s north coast delivered one unexpected moment after another. A chance encounter led to Fern Canyon, where moss-covered walls and flowing water create a surreal landscape. The day ended at Gold Bluffs Beach, watching waves glow in the setting sun.
The Founders Tree
Driving into the redwoods along the Avenue of the Giants feels like stepping into another world. In Founders Grove, massive old-growth trees rise more than 300 feet, surrounded by a forest that nearly disappeared to logging. This post follows a rainy walk through one of the most important preserved groves in Humboldt Redwoods State Park and the history behind how it was saved.
Point Arena Lighthouse and Redwoods
A foggy coastal morning near Point Arena leads to a slow drive north along Route 1, with dramatic cliffs, quiet towns, and reflective shoreline scenes. The route turns inland toward U.S. Route 101 and the Avenue of the Giants, where towering redwoods, muted forest floors, and a remote overnight stop mark a complete shift from ocean to deep forest.
Route 1 to Point Arena, CA
A quiet morning in Bodega Bay turns into a full day along California’s Highway 1, heading north toward Point Arena. With stops for coffee, coastal views, and a few hours at Manchester State Park, this stretch of road proves to be less about the destination and more about slowing down and taking in the landscape along the way.
Bodega Bay, CA
What started as a quick stop at Bodega Head turned into a full day on the cliffs. Between the wildflowers, coastal views, shifting light, and even a sheriff’s helicopter training exercise, this stretch of coastline delivered far more than expected. It felt like a reset after a rough month and a reminder of why I’m out here in the first place.
Lamoille Canyon and Wells Nevada
On a clear March morning I drove into Lamoille Canyon in the Ruby Mountains of northeastern Nevada hoping to reach the top of the scenic road at more than 8,000 feet. Snow stopped me halfway up the canyon, so I turned toward the small town of Wells and later visited the California Trail Interpretive Center along Interstate 80 to learn about the wagon routes emigrants once followed across Nevada on their long journey to California.
Cathedral Gorge and Pioche, NV
From the narrow slots of Cathedral Gorge to the silver mining scars above Pioche, this eastern Nevada road trip blends geology and Wild West history. I hiked Moon Caves and Miller Point, explored original Main Street buildings, ate at the Historic Silver Café, toured the Overland Hotel, and drove north into a storm after missing Great Basin National Park.
Valley of Fire State Park
I spent the day hiking Natural Arch Trail and Rainbow Vista Trail in Valley of Fire State Park, navigating deep sand, red rock washes, and hidden sandstone arches. In eighty-degree heat, the solitude of Natural Arch contrasted sharply with the crowds at Rainbow Vista. A bighorn sheep sighting and an evening drive toward Cathedral Gorge rounded out a long desert day.
Davis Dam and Laughlin, NV
I started the day above Lake Mohave watching sunrise, explored the history and engineering of Davis Dam, walked the Colorado River in Laughlin, drove through vast Nevada solar fields, and ended the evening on BLM land outside Valley of Fire State Park with warm desert air and an early night.
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Hike
I hiked to the old Victoria Mine before 8 a.m., walking four miles through saguaros, organ pipe cactus, cholla, and creosote bush in the Sonoran Desert. After signing out at the trail register, I left Arizona, stopped in Ajo for coffee, photographed a massive desert aqueduct carrying Colorado River water, and made my way toward Lake Mohave for the night.
Drive to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
I left Benson, Arizona debating whether to drive south to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The desert drive revealed abandoned buildings, desperate handwritten signs, and miles of roadside graves. Inside the monument, I learned how organ pipe and saguaro cacti sustain birds, bats, and Indigenous communities. It was a day of beauty, weight, and reflection in the Sonoran Desert.