Sometimes, you find a hike so beautiful, it makes you cry. That’s what Buck Creek Falls, located near White Salmon in Washington, did to me. Even better, I was the only one on the trail the day that I went. Of all the Washington hikes I’ve done, this one has been my favorite. I hiked the Buck Creek Falls Trail in the spring, the best time, as there were beautiful wildflowers blooming and a good amount of water flowing from the falls. I hiked the longer six-mile hike from Buck Creek Trailhead #1 which gave me the advantage of seeing Mt. Hood from the start of the hike, and going…

Did you know that Ridgefield, Washington holds a magical oasis of wildlife, wetlands, and forests just waiting for you to explore? Ridgefield Refuge is one of my favorite places to hike, and it’s just minutes away from Portland, Oregon. There’s even an auto tour route if you want to see the wildlife without getting out of your car. I loved taking the route in my convertible this last summer. You will see many birds from your car, and if you keep your eyes open, you are also likely to see otters, turtles, and nutrias. The auto route is only open from April-October so that the wintering waterfowl aren’t disturbed. Ridgefield…