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Road Trip Across America
I recently moved from Vancouver, British Columbia back home to Georgetown, Ontario. After two and a half years I have acquired a lot of furniture, books and knick knacks, so the only way to get back is to drive. Going out west I did a road trip through Canada, this time my father and I drove across America. During the trip we saw Craters of the Moon National Monument, Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore. It was an insane amount of driving but was worth the trip. One of my favourite random stops was Wall Drug. This roadside attraction is in Wall, South Dakota and has 5 cent coffee. The town…
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Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore is outstanding. We almost missed out on this landmark after getting so lost in Yellowstone. We started in Montana and the drive was extremely long, but it was worth the trip. The beautiful sculpture, featuring former presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, is located in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. The project began in 1927 and ended in 1941 and had 400 workers with no fatalities. Walking up the mountain and seeing the carvings for the first time is incredible. Since we went in early May the monument was pretty quiet which was really nice as we walked the trail and around the base. Half the trail…
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Road Trip in Yellowstone National Park
We got so lost in Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone is a massive protected area filled with wild animals, geysers, waterfalls, mountains, lakes and mineral pools. We only spent a couple hours looking around but you can spend weeks exploring. Within the first ten minutes of being there we ran into a herd of buffalo. They are giant, beautiful animals and my long lens made me happy I could get close shots. The mineral pools and geysers were my favourite part of the park. The colours of the pools are fascinating, and even though the sulphur smell was gross, it was gorgeous. Since we went in the spring some of the roads…
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Road Trip Through Craters of the Moon
Craters of the Moon National Park was the first real stop on our American road trip. Located near the town of Arco, Idaho, Craters of the Moon is a protected park close to the mountains and covered in lava. The park was established in 1924 to preserve the unique and beautiful lava fields. The plants and trees that have broken through the lava make the landscape more appealing. It is incredible to see how nature can withstand any environment. The park has even been visited by astronauts. In August of 1969, four of the man who were going to take flight on Apollo 14 came to the park to understand the geography of the moon…
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Road Trip Through America Day Two
Day Two of our road trip through America featured a lot of driving. We finished Washington and Oregon and tried to get through as much of Idaho as possible. The first and one of the only lookouts we found in Oregon was on the top of a mountain, overlooking beautifully sculpted fields and farms. As we continued the drive we noticed the mountains creeping on the right side of the car. The snow capped blue giants in the distance looked stunning against the dark fields. Our last photo stop was in a small town after a long bout of mountain driving. We were just in time for the sunset and…
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Portland’s Art District – Part One
Portland’s Art District was my favourite stop in the city. We first drove past on our way to The Kennedy School and knew we had to go back. The street is ten blocks of street art, adorable shops and incredible restaurants and bars. We didn’t explore much of the food scene but did try to find as much art as possible. This was not difficult. The buildings were covered with sensational artwork. Even the graffiti was stunning – bright, bold and beautiful. One alley was redesigned as someone’s thesis, trying to make every inch of the city appealing. Downtown Portland is interesting but not what you imagine when you think of the…
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Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls was my favourite waterfall. Everything in Oregon is so lush and green, that the white from the falls was dazzling. The walk from the car is ten minutes through thick trees along a trail. From the top of the hill you can hear the stream but cannot see it until you get around to the front. Since we were there in early May, and during the week, it was quiet. The waterfall is thicker than the others on this drive, and flows down from Larch Mountain to make its way to the Columbia River. There is also another hike, a loop around the forest, that you can do…
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Latourell Falls
Latourell Falls is the first waterfall along the Columbia River Gorge and it is a stunning first stop. When you get your first glimpse, through the bright green foliage, it looks tiny but by the time you reach the bottom of the cliff you are the small one. Standing at 224 feet, this waterfall packs a punch, even if the stream is small. The bright yellow lichen covering the side of the cliff, and almost neon moss around the base, make the falls outstanding. You don’t even realize how much time has passed while watching the water flow. It is incredible how close they are to these stunning waterfalls. Latourell Falls definitely…
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Historic Columbia River Highway
In early April a friend and I took a trip to Portland, Oregon. We had no real plan so my family took us to the Historic Columbia River Highway, to see the gorgeous waterfalls. The first stage of the journey was the stunning lookout at the Portland’s Women Forum of the Columbia River and the gorge. The cascading mountains along the water, even on a grey day, was breathtaking. Everything is already so green from the mild winter, and the trees lining the hills were beautiful. The second stop was the the Vista House at Crown Point. I saw the building at the first lookout and was immediately drawn to…
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Seattle 10/23
Last week I popped down to Seattle, Washington for a couple days. I grabbed a last minute train after scoring tickets to the screening of Laggies. Walking around the streets downtown was wonderful. Every time I am in the city I discover something new, and this time was no exception. Here are some shots from my weekend trip, enjoy!
