Latourell Falls was our first stop on a mini-tour of Oregon’s natural wonder. The Columbia River Gorge in Mount Hood National Forest was stunning but I smiled when I realized that I traveled all the way across the country to end up somewhere that reminded me of my home: The Smoky Mountains.
Mt. Hood + Timberline Lodge
There was still snow up to my knees on Mt. Hood at the end of April. Tennesseans are notorious for getting excited over a few flurries so this magnitude of precipitation was epic. At one point, I fell face first in the snow. I disappeared for a few seconds, ha!
Little Zigzag Falls Hike
While the guys went skiing on Mount Hood I went with the rest of the family to Little Zigzag Falls. The falls are just a short walk away from the parking lot which is great for kids. The trail was still covered in snow so the walk was exceptionally beautiful that day.
Five Hikes to Explore in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
One of the best things about living in East Tennessee is having access to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In a short drive you can be in the middle of the most visited national park in the country.