Author Archives: elatedtravelllc

Spending the Night at Timberline Lodge with a Baby

Summary: We stayed in a “1 Queen + 1 Twin Room” at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood, Oregon for one night in July 2025 with our one-year-old. Read on for our take-aways. Timberline Lodge is an iconic daytrip destination about 1.5 hours from Portland that I had visited dozens of times both in summer andContinueContinue reading “Spending the Night at Timberline Lodge with a Baby”

Six Places To Cool Off Near Portland, Oregon (and Four Not To)

Finding a good swimming hole on a river near Portland is like knowing where to pick chanterelle mushrooms: find your own and share it with only a few of your favorite people. Unfortunately, if you read about it on the internet, there’s a good chance you won’t be able to park – let alone findContinueContinue reading “Six Places To Cool Off Near Portland, Oregon (and Four Not To)”

Spending a Rainy Day in Oberammergau

Weather in the Alps can be unpredictable, and even in the height of summer rain isn’t that uncommon. So you thought you’d be hiking and visiting lakes, and now what? Here are a few things in and around Oberammergau that can be enjoyed even on a rainy day. The Partnachklamm (Partnach Gorge) If you wereContinueContinue reading “Spending a Rainy Day in Oberammergau”

Packing A Small Car for Camping: List and Layout

Below is our packing list for car-camping trips, or when the car is going to be directly at the campsite. We use this list for a late-spring to early-fall camping weekends in the Pacific Northwest. Many of these items are by no means necessary: tablecloths, pop-up trash bins, and 10’ x 10’ shelters are notContinueContinue reading “Packing A Small Car for Camping: List and Layout”

Visiting Oberammergau for the Passion Play

The Oberammergau Passion Play tradition started in 1633 – almost 400 years ago! – and typically takes place every ten years (1990, 2000, 2010…) in fulfilment of a promise made by Oberammergau’s villagers to perform the play as long as there were no additional plague deaths. The 42nd Oberammergau Passion Play was postponed from 2020ContinueContinue reading “Visiting Oberammergau for the Passion Play”

Tips for a Quick Trip to Seattle

If you’re planning a trip to Seattle, you likely already have two things on your list: Pike Place Market and the Space Needle. In my opinion, the Pike Place is worth seeing, whereas the Space Needle is best appreciated from further away. Enter the belly of Pike Place, don’t just stay on the surface. YouContinueContinue reading “Tips for a Quick Trip to Seattle”

Choosing Lodging, and How to Use Recommendations and Reviews Effectively

Your location will likely determine your lodging options; however, in a few rare instances, an establishment might drive the destination choice. If you have a destination picked out, my advice is to start by comparing several hotel and short-term vacation booking sites and see what catches your eye. Determine your non-negotiable filters (such as numberContinueContinue reading “Choosing Lodging, and How to Use Recommendations and Reviews Effectively”

Tips for Planning Big Group Trips

Congratulations! Your family or chosen family has entrusted you with planning your next group trip. Also, if you’d rather have someone else do the planning this time around, contact me for a travel quote. Set your boundaries. Commit to the role only if the thought of planning a group trip brings you more joy thanContinueContinue reading “Tips for Planning Big Group Trips”

Tips for Planning Business Travel for Others

I plan a lot of travel, and not just for myself! Whether you’re booking travel for your boss or your in-laws, it’s critical to try to get them to communicate their preferences and expectations. First and foremost, locate and defer to your company’s travel policy. It’s important to follow your organization’s rules in order toContinueContinue reading “Tips for Planning Business Travel for Others”