Columbia River Gorge | Oregon Journal

Just a short drive from Portland is amazing views of the Columbia River Gorge, a massive canyon that separates Oregon and Washington. I suggest you stop at the Vista House observatory for an almost 360 degree view of the gorge. It’s a great place for photos, but it can be super windy! We got there so early in the morning we had the lookout all to ourselves. In addition to the view of the canyon, it is also worth a stop to see the Vista House itself. It was closed when we were there, but it is a beautiful observatory.

Cannon Beach | Oregon Journal

On our second day in Oregon, the last stop was Cannon Beach. It is a really charming town with a beautiful beach and the famous Haystack Rock. My dad and I were feeling extremely tired so we decided to get coffees and watch the sunset on the beach. 

Collected Moments #2

Welcome to the second installment of Collected Moments! You can check out the first one here. This post includes assorted memories from October 2015 to January 2016 in no particular order.

How to Plan the Perfect Weekend Getaway

I love going on little weekend escapes. I think they are a great way to mix up your routine and have a mini vacation without spending too much money! Here are my 5 weekend getaway tips:

Cape Kiwanda | Oregon Journal

My dad and I got up at 6am to get the most out of our second day in Oregon. After a quick breakfast we drove from Portland to the Oregon Coast. We took a very scenic route through the country and it was so beautiful. After a couple hours of driving, we arrived at Cape Kiwanda. 

Harbourview Park | North Vancouver

My boyfriend and I had a lovely Sunday morning walk with a beautiful view. Harbourview Park is a little trail beside the ocean with a stunning viewpoint at the end. The park is a hidden gem right across the street from Park and Tilford Centre. I never knew there was such a nice walk by the water in that area! I brought the clip-on wide angle lens for my iphone that I got for Christmas, and we had a little photoshoot and got lots of cool shots.

Portland Food Trucks | Oregon Journal

After a mini roadtrip from Vancouver, my dad and I arrived in Portland. We spent the afternoon exploring the city and enjoying the sights. My dad took lots of pictures (photo credit for most of the photos in this post goes to him), while all I could focus on was getting a snack. 

Collected Moments #1

I thought I would share a collection of moments/photos that don’t fit into any particular blog posts. Hope you enjoy this assortment of memories from October to December 2015!

New Year’s Resolutions | 2016

I had an amazing and very restful holiday season, but now it’s time to get back to my regular routine unfortunately! I want 2016 to be a productive year, so I have decided to share some of my blog/writing/travel related new year’s resolutions!

Oregon Journal | 2015

I went for a father-daughter roadtrip to Oregon back in October and I would like to share excerpts from my travel journal. I think over the next few weeks I’ll post pictures and stories from our journey. It was an amazing trip and I felt so special sharing this adventure with my dad.

We had five days and we crammed so much in that it felt like a much longer trip than it really was. October was a great time for this kind of trip. The weather was good for the most part, and some days were so unseasonably warm that it felt like summer. The touristy sights were busy, but not as busy as they would have been over the summer.

I’m very excited to share our experiences, so please stay tuned!

Winter Weekend Getaway | Packing List

This was a difficult weekend to pack for, as I wanted to pack light, but I also needed clothes for a variety of activities. Plus, winter clothes take up a lot more space than summer clothes do. I had to be able to dress for hiking in the snow, shopping, sleeping, and a fancy dinner out with my boyfriend. Luckily Whistler is very much a ski/snowboard destination, so I knew I could get away with a sporty look most of the time. It was also super cold, and no one can really tell what you’re wearing under your winter jacket, so I could for sure be an outfit repeater without anyone knowing! I had to leave for the trip straight from work, so I was already wearing jeans, a nice top, my winter jacket, and my tall brown boots. I think wearing your bulkiest clothes and shoes for the journey is a great tip to free up space in your luggage. However, I ended up not even wearing my jeans on the trip because they just weren’t practical for the weather, so I would suggest not even bringing jeans for this kind of trip.

It may seem like a lot, but when it’s all packed up it really isn’t! I listed every single item that I brought, except for a few items that I omitted because I didn’t use them. We were lucky to be driving, so we were not limited by what you could take on a plane.

So without further ado, here is my winter weekend getaway packing list:

Five Facts About Me

Welcome to my blog, Wanderlove Laura! I thought I would start things off by sharing a little bit about myself.

1. I’ve been working as a corporate travel consultant for almost a year.
2. I graduated from university with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. I majored in English and did an extended minor in Archaeology.
3. I’ve set foot on 15 different countries so far, and I can’t wait to see more of the world.
4. My dream job ever since I was a child was to be a writer.
5. I’ve had two articles published in a newspaper so far, but I really want to get more serious about writing.