By Living Room Realty, July 30, 2020
The great outdoors is one of the many reasons to love the Pacific Northwest. With the serene hikes, epic vistas, picturesque coastline, and towering mountains how could we not love it. However, with the present challenges and the encouragement to “stay home. save lives.” many of us are forgoing the drive and choosing to adventure a little closer to home.
With that in mind I have been recently reveling in how lucky we are to have access to so many amazing urban parks. Big names like Forest Park and Hoyt Arboretum have the fame and name recognition but step out your front door and there is a good chance that a gem of urban wilderness is no more than a mile or two away.
Take Orenco Woods Nature Park in Hillsboro for example. It features over 40 acres of rolling hills, open meadows, and wildlife habitat. All that and it is comfortably nestled right alongside residential neighborhoods! It is family-friendly with easy trails, a unique nature themed playground, and a fantastically wild interactive sculpture installation built entirely of sticks. Hop on the gorgeous new bridge that connects to the longer Rock Creek Trail and with some patience you may spot a great blue heron or even a beaver in the wetlands below.
I am eager to travel but finding treasure in my backyard has been a treat. Try for yourself. You may find the perfect spot for a socially distant picnic, a secret reading bench, or a morning walk that will stay part of your daily routine for years to come.
