For sweeping views of The Dalles, Columbia River below, and surrounding landscape stop at Kelly…read morePoint View. Located along East Scenic Drive across the street from Sorosis Park, the views are spectacular, especially at sunset when the entire sky is illuminated in vibrant colors. For those that enjoy history, Kelly Point is dedicated to the memory of Virgil Kelly who made many contributions during his years of service city councilor (1939 -1961) Kelly View Point is also the site of several veterans' memorials honoring those that served our country in various wars, and who gave the greatest sacrifice. Take the time to visit each memorial, read the inscriptions and honor those that selflessly served. The memorials are: the Loren R. Kaufman Monument, the Vietnam War Memorial, the Veterans Memorial, and the Desert Shield-Storm Memorial. This area has its own parking strip so you can pull right up. Perched overlooking the expansive landscape of The Dalles below, it's a beautiful spot. There is a great walking path across the street if you want to enjoy a one mile walk and really take in the sweeping views. There are always people walking and jogging along the path. Across the street is Sorosis Park with a playground for the kids, picnic tables, covered gathering areas and restroom facilities.

Old 1923 Baldwin steam locomotive formerly operated by the Great Northern Railway, located near the…read morerailway port just off Main Street, Wishram. Seems to be in pretty good shape.

Oh, John Day Dam... drumroll, please this is the big boy…read more Rolling the long spine of the Columbia River Gorge, you pass beauty, you pass history but when you arrive here, you feel it. This isn't just another stop. This is the pinnacle. The mighty "Jay." The kind of place that makes a man stand still, squint into the sun, and realize just how small he really is. Now let's stack a few facts behind the legend. Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, construction ran from 1958 to 1971, costing around $500 million at the time. This beast stretches roughly a mile across the river, with turbines pumping out enough power to light up entire regions. And here's the kicker the fish ladder system? One of the most advanced on the Columbia, built to help salmon and steelhead muscle their way upstream like nature intended. Watching those fish launch themselves skyward it's not science, it's a show. And I've seen it up close. Back in my government days, I got the full tour behind the curtain, boots on the ground. We walked the ladders, watched the fish fight their way upstream, even fed a few. It wasn't just educational it was something else. Something honest. You're standing there watching life push forward against impossible odds, right next to a structure built to control a river. Strange balance. Beautiful balance. Now let's talk real life. We pulled over for a quick photo nothing fancy. Sun hanging just right, warm air, no wind (which out here feels like a minor miracle). Coats in the car, completely unnecessary. The river calm, the whole place glowing like it knew we showed up at the perfect moment. And then chaos. Out of nowhere, a squirrel makes its move. No hesitation. No fear. Just straight-up bandit behavior snatches a snack clean out of my wife's hand (yeah, let's correct that before I get in trouble), and vanishes like a legend. And somehow, in the middle of that nonsense, we get the perfect picture. You can't plan that. That's road trip gold. There are campgrounds nearby, open spaces to stretch your legs, and viewpoints that let you just sit and take it all in. And if you're the kind of person who enjoys standing next to something massive just to feel small this is your cathedral. Five stars. No hesitation. Warm sun, calm waters, a little wildlife crime, and one of the greatest feats of engineering in the Northwest standing right in front of you. Couldn't ask for a better time to be here.

Started in '58 and completed in '71. Highest lock in the U.S. (110'). Fish ladders on both sides---…read morewhich is good, b/c this is primo angling country, amigos. You're likely to see hundreds of bass boats nearby in the Columbia, although it's not a rare sight to behold bank anglers haul in keeper quality sturgeon! But of course, it isn't just a dam--- it's also a bridge, adjoining some nifty terrain on either side o' the Columbia. The bridge is so named, of course b/c this is where the John Day River empties into the mighty Columbia and that means more angling opportunities--especially Steelies and Bass, with some big ol' channel cats not far off.... Biggups to the Army corp of Engineers for yet another lasting marvel passed down through the generations. My Grandpa drove a Cat moving earth helping build this project as well as up and down the I-84, and I am truly humbled every time I am reminded of that.

As you drive east on Highway 97 and enter Goldendale, the hills are covered with hundreds of giant…read morewindmills. It's truly an incredible sight! Since there are no trees, these giant windmills stand tall against the blue sky and create a stunning vista. There is a pullover on the right side of the road. And about 50 yards further up hWY 97 is a parking area so you can safely park and get out of your car to take pictures or just enjoy the scenery. These windmills stand 70 meters tall and the blades are 50 meters. They are part of several windmill energy projects in Klickitat County that provide renewable energy to WA and California. The mountains are green in the winter; summer brings yellow balsam root and blue lupine; and in late spring the wild purple snap peas create various shades of color on the hills that have turned golden in the sun. Beautiful in every season! Even in the winter but you will need chains to drive here because they get a lot of snow.

I love our library. It has great sections for adults, children and teens. They have free kits…read morethat they give to library card holders that my daughter LOVES (and I love them as well.) Thanks The Dalles Library. We love you..

Older building with lots of space. Books and more books. DVD rentals. WiFi is decent. Lots of…read moreseating with desks. Lots of windows to let natural light in. Self checkout kiosk. Photo scanner. Outdoor seating. If this library could get a hefty philanthropic donation, a facelift for the building would set this library off. But it is endearing as it is now. I got the impression they are loved by the children and local schools.

I set my GPS for the Wasco County Historical Society and it took me to the Columbia Gorge Discovery…read moreCenter & Museum. We learned that the Wasco County Historical Museum is contained the the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum. Well worth the time spent there.

The "Sam Hill Memorial Bridge" (U.S. Highway 97) is also known as the "Biggs Rapid Bridge". It…read moreconnects Biggs Junction, Oregon, with Maryhill, Washington. The Washington State Department of Transportation owns and maintains the bridge. The "Biggs Rapid Bridge" is located 13.6 miles above The Dalles Dam, and has a clearance of 88 feet at the center of the fixed highway span. The bridge consists of 12 spans of welded plate girders and main span. Bridge length is 2,567 feet and 2 inches, with a 26 foot deck width. The bridge was the dream of entrepreneur Sam Hill, and on November 1, 1962, was dedicated as the "Sam Hill Memorial Bridge". The bridge was a toll bridge when first constructed.

The Biggs Bridge, the 97 Bridge, the Boonies Bridge....this Bridge has many names, but all I know…read moreis this bridge helps me to avoid the boring drive on the I-84 east of Biggs (the drive on the 14 on the Washington side is much better---when traveling between Tri-Cities and Biggs). This single lane bridge curves skyward to allow barges and other big boats passage along the Columbia. It links the WA and the OR. There's no toll, and I really think of it as being the gateway to the Columbia Gorge (when heading West). If you ever venture off the behemoth I-84 here, you really should check out the Maryhill Museum, "Stone henge", and the fruit stand (http://www.yelp.com/biz/maryhill-fruit-stand-and-orchard-goldendale) on the other side of the bridge.

Even though I visited on a day when they were closed, meaning I could not go into the schoolhouse…read moreor other buildings, I still enjoyed walking around this outdoor museum and marveling at the buildings and farm equipment. It totally transports you back in time to the days when pioneers followed the Oregon Trail and settled in communities to farm and build a new life. Still a farming community, at this outdoor museum in Dufur, you can see several wagons that were used back in the late 1800s and early 1900s by pioneers embarking on the Lewis & Clark Trail. Even a Studebaker wagon! Who knew? The wagons were vastly different than I imagined or had seen depicted in movies. They are much, much narrower and very long. With their wooden wheels and rickety structure, it's absolutely amazing that they carried so many on such a long journey. And underscores how risky the journey was with so many breaking down along the way. The farm equipment and tools were equally amazing. The John Deere tractor, the logo still prominent, was clearly groundbreaking in its day. Pun intended! Each of the buildings, like where the horses were kept and well cared for, the school building, the mercantile, and barns are there to explore. Loved the 2 story, hand built log cabin built by the Schreiber family, completed in 1901. Family members lived in the cabin until 1973 and then, the following year, donated it to the Dufur Histirical Society. All of the buildings and landmarks have information about the history and function. I learned quite a lot and now want to research more. Located right next to the Post Office, you can't miss this outdoor museum. As I was driving through this part of Oregon on a one day drive adventure, I'm so glad I stopped to explore! While in Dufur, have lunch at the historic and beautifully restored Balch Hotel, stop at the market that has lots of curated goods, the coffee shop, and of course, just take a ride and marvel at the unobstructed views of Mt. Hood, whose presence is so grand from this vantage point. Still a dry, wheat farming community, the words "amber waves of grain" come to mind as you drive through miles and miles of golden fields.