Even though so many signs of city life were surrounding me, with the canopy of the trees above and birds flitting from branch to branch, and the sound of the shallow creek cascading over the rocky bottom, I felt like I was walking in a forest.

If you have been here before then you know that my adventures often do not go as planned. This is an example of that – except in a good way. With giant trees and abandoned bunkers and an old water tower and interpretive signs and a bridge and an ocean view, my plans couldn't hold a candle to what was in store.

Ok, with a name like Cape Disappointment, how can you NOT go see what this place is all about? Hiking trails, two lighthouses, a beautiful coastal drive, ocean views, a trail to a secluded cove. I’m here to tell you that there is nothing disappointing in this state park.

It was the middle of winter, a blanket of clouds hovered above the trees, it was cold enough to see my breath, precipitation fluctuated between a heavy mist and a light sprinkle, the ground was muddy in some areas, and the trees were covered in bright green moss. It’s like a party is happening on those bare branches.

I went searching for a place to hike along the coast and found myself in a little state park with several trails that had different look-out points over the pacific.

The plan was a short walk to see some lighthouses and watch the sun set on the Pacific. That's not exactly how it happened...

The final leg of the Lighthouse trip took us to the rocky shores of the Atlantic where we could stand next to one lighthouse while staring at another way out at sea.

This week I found a few bridges and a waterfall, and realized that humidity is not my friend.

I went out in search of lighthouses along the western coast of Lake Michigan and the southern coast of Lake Erie. I got to dip my toes in the unsalted water and walk right out into the lake without getting wet.

A real desert oasis on the way to Vegas - who knew?