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.

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.

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.

With expansive views of the basalt cliffs in the Washington side, the magnificent Columbia River…read moreand The Dalles Bridge, the Port of The Dalles Marina isnt just for those who are launching a boat. I enjoyed walking around the docks, checking out the boat launch ramp and taking in the beautiful scenery. Parking lot is huge and free, several people enjoying lunch in their cars. There is a public restroom here and easy access from I-84. If you want to picnic, I suggest driving to the Riverfront park which is to the right (east) when you arrive at the river.

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.

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.

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.

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.