Maryhill, Washington

August 15-16, 2010

On the first day of our big Northwest camping trip, we drove up to Portland and east along the Columbia River. At Hood River, we crossed over to Washington and drove Highway 14, a pretty two-laner with almost no traffic.

It was still in the 90s at dinnertime, and just when we were thinking we wouldn't see another tree again, we came across Maryhill State Campground, a sweet little oasis on the dry eastern Columnbia. We were grateful to get one of the last spots in the parklike setting, and we could walk to a rocky river beach where Bailey could swim and Kate found many beautiful rocks.

The next morning, we went to the nearby Maryhill Museum of Art, a mansion that Sam Hill built for his wife, Mary, in 1917. They never actually lived in it, because Mary preferred living in Chicago. Instead it was turned into a very interesting museum, filled with art, history, and costume design.

From there, it was on to the Wallowa Mountains.

See also Hood River
and Columbia Gorge.