On a clear day from this pullover, you can see 4 iconic mountains! Mt. Hood to the south; Mt. St…read more Helens towards 1:00; Mt. Adams standing tall and the most visible; and if lucky, Mt. Rainer. Even on a cloudy day, it's a beautiful sight. As you drive north on Highway 97, past the windmill farm, and start to head downhill, the land is flat with several wheat farms providing an unobstructed view. There is even an old barn in the foreground that makes for some beautiful pictures. I discovered this area on one of my adventures and the first time there, it was a cloudy day. So as soon as summer hit and the blue skies were everywhere, I took another ride out that way. While my smartphone camera couldn't capture it, I was able to see all four mountains. Just gorgeous! The fields are all golden right now, dotted with purple wildflowers, and the sky was bright blue which was the perfect backdrop for the white snow capped mountains. It is quite the panoramic view!!! There is a very large pullover so you can safely park and get out of your car to snap some pictures. Next time I will head out earlier when the sun isn't so bright in hopes of getting better pictures of all the mountains.

It's been a long time having the Stonehenge Memorial on my bucket list to pay a visit to. We tried…read moreto go here a few years ago but tourist season was over and gaining access to the area didn't seem like an option as the gates getting to the memorial were closed and locked. So we reattempted again this summer and made sure it was during a time where the tourists would be out and about. And they were! There were lots of visitors here but not to the point where it was overwhelming or unpleasant. It wasn't a problem getting the timing right to get the pictures you wanted without a bunch of people standing in the way of them. As it says it's a memorial and is dedicated to the lives lost and sacrifices given in W.W. I. So it's a bit of an older memorial but everything is well kept and clean and the Memorial looks ageless as intended. The memorial overlooks the Columbia Gorge so you can get some beautiful views of the river and Gorge in a wonderful panoramic vantage point. Below the the memorial is the small town of Maryhill. It looks quaint and cute but we didn't go down and check it out as we had a reservation we couldn't miss back in Goldendale. The Stonehenge Memorial is indeed a worthy stop and it's a kind of a stop where there isn't much of an excuse to avoid and one big incentive involving that is that there is no entrance fee to enjoy the memorial.

Stonehenge Memorial is a unique monument, constructed to honor the local residence that lost their…read morelives in World War I. There is a smaller memorial to honor those that served WWII, Korea & Vietnam. The views are captivating. You can reach Stonehedge via car or bicycle. I think this review is one best told through photos.

These are photos from September 22, 2019, the day that I decided to check out Goldendale,…read moreWashington. For 19 years, I had passed by the exit to this little town. My journey started like a lot of my travel adventures. I just wanted to venture a little bit further down the road. My plan was to get gas, do a quick drive through town, then get back on the road. It was a rainy, overcast day, but the rain has stopped and the sun was shining down, casting the most beautiful golden glow on the open fields approaching Goldendale. There was something magical about it. I arrived to find a quiet little town. There was nobody out on the streets. I was drawn to a large mural titled The Universe of Imagination. I got out of my car to take a couple of pictures. As I was getting ready to head out, as often happens, something else caught my eye. it was an old gas pump across the street. Knowing that I would probably never visit Goldendale again, and seeing how small and walkable the downtown area was, I decided to get a closer look at the gas pump, and take a quick walk up one side of main street and return down the other side. Almost as soon as I started, it began to rain again. I ducked under the alcove of a building with a bulletin board. While I waited for the rain to let up, so I could run back to my car and grab my umbrella, I began reading the bulletin board posts. Doing so, it occurred to me that you can learn a lot about a community by reading a public bulletin board. By the time I finished reading the bulletin board, the rain had let up a bit. I grabbed my umbrella and proceeded my walk down Main Street. The Bake My Day Cafe looked inviting, but it was closed. One things that struck me was how members of the community had made an effort to beautify the downtown area by planting container pots full of flowers. But I also saw multiple security camera warnings, which suggested Goldendale, with its population of approximately 3,500, may have a crime problem. Living in a town of 470,000, and never having seen a sign like this on any business in my community, I was struck by the discrepancy between our tendency to romanticize small towns, and the reality that no matter how big or small, every community has its challenges. A few store fronts down, I ran into another community bulletin board. Like the first one, it had a story to tell. Then I found the most wonderful mural. It had been created by the children of Goldendale in 2000, who made it while participating in the Summer Daze youth activities program. Whatever struggles Goldendale faced, the mural's message was more powerful. Beauty is all around us. The next time you approach the exit for a town you've always wondered about, take the exit. You never know what wonders may await you on the other side... * I was in Goldendale for almost 4 hours. During that time, I only encountered one person, a woman who was walking her dog. She had recently moved there. We visited for about an hour. I began taking photos at 3:15 PM;, I stopped around 6:35 PM. The photos I took included individual pictures of each child's contribution to the community mural. The absence of people made me think about The Lost Colony of Croatoan. The bulletin board postings were the only thing that remained... * When I travel, I tend to lose track of days. It wasn't until after I submitted this post that I realized I had visited on Sunday. I am from Idaho, where smaller communities are quiet on Sunday too. For me, visiting a town on a slow day, isn't a bad thing. I like to take photographs of the places I visit, and I try not to be intrusive. It was because there weren't many people in the downtown area that it was able to take all of these great photographs. I also really enjoyed being able to explore Goldendale at my own pace. It was one of the highlights of my trip. * One of the things that impressed me most about Goldendale is how many wonderful murals there are. Goldendale has more murals per capita than any town I've ever been in, and I have traveled a lot. The citizens of Goldendale have a lot of creativity, ingenuity, and a strong sense of community. * For those of you who live in Goldendale, I love your community! And I will definitely be back! Small towns have always been a favorite of mine, but there's something very special about Goldendale. Thank you for sharing it with me.

You definitely don't come here for plaques or guided tours. You come here because there's something…read moreabout a hundred-story structure slicing air in silence that feels honest. The turbines at Windy Flats are massive. You hear them before you understand the size. It's not a roar. It's a pulse. That low, clean whoosh takes your attention. I stopped & filmed one from base to blade, the whole height in one slow pan. Just the sound of wind & steel working without apology. Not everything monumental needs a monument.

When driving through the Columbia Gorge in Eastern Washington, one can not miss the ginormous…read morewindmills spanning the Columbia River ridge for 26 miles. What an incredible sight! Windy Flats is the largest windmill energy project in WA, a state that has several. Each windmill stands 70 meters tall and the blades are 50 meters. These giants have the capacity to generate 500 megawatts of renewable energy. Standing tall in the ridge with the rolling hills and the magestic Columbia River, an known for being windy, it is a stunning sight! Views from Maryhill Winery, Highway 14 and Highway 97 are boundless. There are several pullovers so you can take in the sights safely. Construction for Windy Points began in 2009 with an initial investment of $1 billion. This new revenue stream has finically helped the down of Goldendale, which was in a decline, and created over 350 jobs. However, there is still debate over the effect of these added winds on the natural habitat and the many birds and animals that live here. Especially the raptures. The human and animal health effects of wind power are still being explored and are not yet fully understood.

Come visit on a sunny day. It's gorgeous! No restroom so…read morecome prepared. Quite windy.

I went on Easter Sunday with friends. Many people had the same thought, but we had no problems…read morefinding parking. Beautiful wildflowers were blooming. It was such a a glorious sight of balsamroot and lupines! It was much too windy for me, so after walking around for a bit and holding on to my hat, I went back to the car to enjoy the scenery while my friends hiked around for a bit. Definitely come out to enjoy a spectacular wildflower show if you get the chance!

Located right in Scenic Highway 30, this little park is the perfect place to stop before or after…read morehiking or touring the gorgeous area. There are picnic tables and benches and you can grab a sandwich at the Mosier Market just across the street or tacos at the adjacent food truck. The Totem Pole is what catches your attention but it's the magnificent view of the Columbia River that gets you to linger, relax, and take in the beauty all around. It's a tiny area, but so pretty! If you are in your way to or from Rowena Crest, stop here to use the restroom as there are no facilities at Rowena Crest and Tom McCall Plateau. Plenty of parking.

This plaza is so great, it is very pedestrian friendly. It is a Safe way to slow down the passing…read morecars, and it has good aesthetics. There are also outhouses to use, if needed. And, there are some picnic tables, so you could bring a picnic or grab food from a food cart or adjacent restaurant and hang out for a bit. This is a really well thought out space, and well designed!

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.

Five stars ++! The Goldendale Observatory is an experience…read morethat's not to be missed! While this is a place for everyone; older children, particularly teens will truly benefit from visiting. The Rangers are passionate about the Observatory and it shows! Troy is a font of information, he delivers his wisdom with enthusiasm and a bit humor. He and Laura work in tandem to ensure a positive and fulfilling experience. NOTE: You will be walking and climbing ladders to use the telescopes = wear sensible shoes. Bring a water bottle, a snack and a warm jacket, as it can get cold. Enjoy, enjoy!

I'm so glad we came on such a perfect evening! I was a little worried the visibility would be poor…read moresince it had rained the night before, but everything worked out beautifully. I had actually been planning this trip for months to line it up with the Perseids meteor shower, so the timing couldn't have been better. Troy was amazing--so knowledgeable and engaging. He even asked the group if anyone had requests, and when I asked to see a nebula, he absolutely delivered, finding us the Ring Nebula! He put on such a fascinating show! The highlight, of course, was seeing the night sky in all its glory: the Milky Way, the Hercules cluster, the Ring Nebula as previously mentioned, the Double Double system, a few meteors, and even Saturn! What an absolute treat. And just as we were leaving we caught the stunning Autumn star - Fomalhaut! One of my personal favorites! I'd definitely come back. Yes, it's a long drive, but totally worth it. They also keep their website updated with upcoming events, moon phases, and even hourly visibility forecasts, which is super helpful for planning. One tip: bring a jacket--it gets chilly out there! We also learned that, unfortunately, due to government budget cuts, Troy is the only official employee left, which means the winter season will be more limited. So definitely keep an eye on their website calendar if you're planning a visit.