Big Sky MT

New Years in Big Sky MT

 I don't have a whole lot to say about Big Sky even though it is one of my favorite places to visit. Big Sky and Bridge Bowl are only 45 min. apart and both offer great skiing and other winter outdoor activities.

 My wife's family and I decided to vacation to Big Sky this past winter to celebrate New Years. After days of snowboarding and enjoying the outdoor air, when it came time to watch the ball drop in Time Square non of us were able to stay awake long enough for the count down.

Big Sky lift tickets are around $100, this might seem expensive for a day of playing in the snow but keep in mind that as of a few years ago Moonlight Basin is also included with that price. Really you are getting to ski two different resorts for the price of one. Getting to Moonlight is very easy as you just ski your way North side of the resort and hop on a chair lift.

1 year anniversary..... Portland Oregon

For our 1 year anniversary my wife and I decided to head to Portland Oregon. I had never been to the West Coast and was hung up on visiting Seattle or Portland. After talking to a good friend about the trips they make to Portland every year we decided to see why they go back year after year.... Now I know why.

 We landed at PDX and easily got our luggage and rented our car for the next 3 days. We stayed in Portland for 5 or 6 days total but only had a car for 3 of those days because of Portland's great public transportation system.

 Our first morning in Portland we awoke to dreary drizzly weather, we would soon learn that this was normal in the mornings. By the late morning early afternoon the sun was always out keeping us warm as we made stops along a scenic highway we were instructed to follow instead of taking Interstate every where. Our first stop was at the Vista House which is just a small building on top of the World. From the Vista house you could see down into the gorges and just soak up the incredible view.

 Of the many waterfalls we stopped at to picture or hike to, this is probably the best known, Multnomah Falls. The hike to the bridge is pretty effortless and very enjoyable, it probably took my wife and I 10-15 minutes to make it to the bridge. The path was paved and a very gradual climb. If you want to continue to the top of the Falls there is another trail that visitors can take for an ever better view. This hike is much longer and a little steeper, I think it took my wife and I a solid hour+ to get to the top.

 A few other streams and waterfalls that we saw along the way to Multnomah Falls.

 One of the days we had our car we had decided to do a "Coast Loop." We visited Astoria, Seaside and Cannon Beach. Astoria is well known for being in a few movies, we visited the elementary school that was used in Kindergarten Cop, saw the Jetty that Willy from Free Willy jumped over and also the house from the Goonies.

 The house from the Goonies, minus Chunk and Data.

 In Cannon Beach, you can park your car and just walk the coast for ever and ever. The rock seen above in the picture was also in the movie the Goonies.

 On our way back to Portland from our "Coast Loop" we decided to stop in at Roloff Farms as it was Pumpkin Season and hoped to get a chance to see or meet the Roloff Family. Taking a tour of their farm we were able to see Matt Roloff drive past on his Mule.

 Zach Roloff was busy manning the Western Town that their father Matt had built for the kids years before.

 My wife trying to move a massive pumpkin.

 After putting on a quite a few miles the day before we decided to slow things down a bit and relax. Our friends that convinced us to visit Portland also suggested we check out their favorite vineyard just south of Portland. We took a tour of the vineyard while enjoying some great Pinot Noir.

 To continue with the relaxing portion of our trip we also visited a Japanese garden, while it was relaxing and enjoyable to see once, I personally don't think I would go back. For what you see the price of admission isn't worth it. We each still had our college ID's so were able to get in at a cheaper rate but was about the only reason we decided it would be worth it.

 For dinner one night we found a Grilled Cheese Bus, you order your grilled cheese at a little side window and then eat your delicious food inside a converted school bus with a very interesting ceiling mural.

 We ended our trip with the Portland Zoo and the Famed VooDoo Doughnuts. My wife got a Gorilla Grape and I had the ever so popular Maple Bacon doughnut.