Snow-capped Mount Hood & snow-capped biking 84-year-old grandmother with grandkids

Escape Adventures Volcanoes & Waterfalls Road Bike Tour

Biking down the mountainside of Washington state’s highest peak – snow-capped Mount Rainer – with their 84-year grandmother, cousins and aunts and uncles was a favorite part of what is now known as my kids’ best vacation ever.

Well-played Escape Adventures and thank you.

The secret to the success of this bike tour company’s 5-day Volcanoes and Waterfalls road bike tour is simple: savoring the sights of the Pacific Northwest while pedaling like mad. It’s the perfect way to keep pre-teens and teens interested in all the stunning nature surrounding them – because they are immersed in it.  Pedaling through mountain tunnels, past snow banks, lush fern-floor forests and enticing cherry orchards in the rain and sun beats scenic driving anytime.

We cycled down Oregon’s tallest peak, Mount Hood; the foothills of Mount St. Helen’s; through Gifford Pinchot National Forest; and along the historic Columbia River Highway in Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and within view of Mount Adams.

One morning, we drove across the Bridge of the Gods and took a biking break to hike up Multnomah Falls, Oregon’s tallest waterfall.

Multnomah Falls, photo by Escape Adventures

The rugged beauty we experienced every single day now feels dreamlike. Words like picturesque and scenic do not adequately describe the diverse grace of the Cascade Mountain range and surroundings.

Escape Adventures three guides provided the biking expertise; the knowledge of the area; the transportation; the meals and snacks; the lodging insight (Skamania Lodge & Whitakers Bunkhouse were ideal settings for our crew) and most importantly- the vigor and charisma that comes from doing a job they so clearly love.

Apres-bike with our guides in the Adirondack-chair bedecked lawn of Skamania Lodge (within the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area).

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 19th, 2021 at 12:07 am and is filed under Family Vacations, Parenting News, Summer Fun 2021, Travel/Weekend Outings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.