Anniversary Trip to Oregon

Each year as our anniversary gift to each other, Brent and I try to take a trip and just get away. We like to travel and explore new places but it is pretty hard to do that now that we have triplets in tow.
So this year we decided that I definitely needed a week of rest and relaxation. Brent planned our trip to Oregon and this is a little about all the things we got to do and see while we were there. Brent's idea of a relaxing vacation is getting into NATURE. My idea of a relaxing vacation is the 4 S's: Spa, Shopping, Sightseeing and Sleeping In...so we did a little of everything and had a great vacation.
We dropped the kiddos off at Grammy and Pop's house for the week and Gran drove up on Monday to help Grammy with the girls while we were gone. "The Brendas", as we started lovingly referring to them, did a fantastic job watching the girls for us all week. But, I think they were glad they could just give them back when Friday came. :)
Brent and I stayed at The Allison Inn and Spa outside of Portland in the Oregon wine country. I must say, it was beautiful and ONLY IN THE 70's ALL WEEK!!! I know all you Texans are jealous, as you should be, it was absolutely wonderful weather. We loved it there.
Brent and I highly recommend The Allison for anyone wanting to visit Oregon or Portland for that matter. Awesome rooms and views and spectacular service and not very far out from Portland or the airport. We were on a first name basis with our bell boy that checked us in and each morning we would come out and he would call for our car to be brought up and he would ask us what we had planned for that day. Once we told him, I always asked if he had any suggestions on what we should do or which way we should go and he became our concierge as well.

Our bedroom at The Allison...

View of their vineyard at The Allison...

Our living room...(yes, they have TVs, they are just hidden away ;)

Our bathroom...

Our view...

First stop, a wine tasting at Archery Summit

One of their vineyards...

The next day we drove the Scenic Columbia River Highway west of Portland to Hood River.

I just thought this sign was cool :)

One of the bridges...

The view from our first stop on the highway, the Women's Forum Overlook...very pretty!

We decided to climb Mt. Larch, which has a view of 5 other surrounding mountains including Mt. St Helens and Mt. Hood. It was 43 degrees at the park entrance to the trail to the top....brrrr!

Sherrard Point was the overlook to see the other mountains...1/4 mile UPHILL!

At the top!

We couldn't see ANYTHING...too overcast..boooooo

Me at the top

Brent at the top

Vista House overlook on the Columbia River Highway

View from Vista House...

Vista House...

First Waterfall!

View from the road...

View from the bottom, we hiked down to the bottom on a trail...

Bridal Veil...second waterfall and more of a hike...

Brent carrying our sustenance and hydration :)

where the waterfall lets out...it is around the corner from the bridge we are standing on for this pic....

Bridal Veil...

The last waterfall we stopped at, Multnomah Falls...the second largest waterfall in America and we only got this shot...our camera battery died right after this pic...boooo

The next day I had my spa time in the morning and then we drove out to the coast from Lincoln City up to Astoria, Oregon for the afternoon.

D River Beach in Lincoln City

Always thinking about the girls...

Another beach Brent found along the way in a State Park area...

On an impromptu hike, Brent's idea, notice I am wearing sandals...not good. :)

The view of the beach from this hike...

B in a tree...

Another view from a roadside lookout point...

The bridge from Oregon to Washington State in Astoria

We drove across into Washington and then back into Oregon...

Yes, all you children of the 80's, Astoria is where "The Goonies" was filmed. (and Kindergarten Cop) Exciting, I know! I had to go see the Goonies' house and this sign was posted at the bottom of the private drive up to the house, it says "Private Drive, Goonies on foot welcome, no cars please" how cute is that?!

Thursday we took a tour of Portland in the morning and then Brent took me to see Eclipse at IMAX in Tigard in the afternoon.

Cool sign in Portland

Portland China Town

We left to come home the next day. We had a great time seeing a new state and spending quality time together as a married couple. I enjoy traveling with Brent because he is my best-friend, but also because he balances me. I tend to get all bent out of shape pretty easily when things don't go my way when we travel but he doesn't get too upset about many things and that keeps me calm...like when we arrived back at our car parked at DFW and we had a flat tire. I just wanted to get home to see my babies! But Brent just pulled out the jack and went to work and he had that thing changed in no time flat and we were on our way. :) On to our next adventure....