Horsetail Falls + Hood River

One of the things I've loved most about my life as a transplant is that it's made adventure a habit. Moving to a new city in a new state, daily life becomes novel (and sometimes exhausting). Two-and-a-half years in, I've barely skimmed the surface of what the greater Pacific Northwest has to offer. Here's another day trip from June, heading into another one of the Seven Wonders of Oregon: the Columbia River Gorge.

If you drive just a bit past Multnomah Falls, you'll come to another gem: Horsetail Falls. The lower falls are visible from the road, and the upper falls are a short-but-steep hike up the trail through a series of switchbacks. 

The view from the front of the falls is lovely, but I spent a good half-and-hour behind the falls, a treat for the senses.

With the quiet roar of the waterfalls still echoing in our ears, we headed into Hood River for wood-fired pizza that didn't quite live up to the hype, and stumbled onto cold-pressed coffee that totally made up for it. There's free parking along the Waterfront Park, and we enjoyed some classic early-summer Pacific Northwest weather (read: alternating sunshine and drizzle) while strolling along the river. The water sports are a blast to watch!

Just a few miles down the road, serenity awaits at the Hood River Lavender Farm. It's free to come, wander, and picnic, though I recommend you take a gander at the many homemade goodies available for purchase. You can also try picking your own lavender (May to October)! 

We ended our day driving a few miles out to Rowena Crest. I'll definitely be coming back in the spring for a glimpse of the wildflowers - hard to imagine that they were in full bloom just a few weeks before this photo was taken!