Flowers, Food, and 848 Feet Up

We attempted to go to the Tulip Festival in Woodburn yesterday but the freeway exit was backed up for five miles so we drove passed that and turned around at the next exit to get to Woodburn from the opposite direction which wasn't backed up AT ALL!! Things were good until we got about 2 miles away and it was stopped again. So we turned ourselves around and decided to go early this morning. We got there when they opened at 9am (no traffic) and took a leisurely walk through the Tulip fields in GORGEOUS weather. The festival has been extended due to the cold weather slowing the growth of the flowers, so they weren't as in bloom as normal but it was still beautiful!

After the flower fest we decided to try brunch at Salty's on the Columbia River. The food was definitely yummy and we were able to sit outside which was wonderful on a day like today. This is Karl's "stop taking pictures and let me eat" face:

While eating brunch and enjoying the weather we decided we should drive out to the Bonneville Resort and see what it was all about. We picked up some brochures on the natural hot spring and maybe one day we'll go back. On our way there we passed Beacon Rock and I remembered my friend Sarah blogging about it a while back so on our way back from the resort we stopped for a hike and I discovered just how out of shape I really am!

Beacon Rock is 848 feet tall (1.8 mile round-trip hike) and it is a apparently the exposed core of an old volcano which is kind of cool! This first part of the hike I was not fond of. Yes there is a railing but it still felt too open to me and it was actually bothering me. I don't think I have a fear of heights but this section was kind of freaking me out!

Once we were in the trees towards the top I was okay and the views were definitely worth it!

And a view from the bottom...