We gave ourselves 1/2 day to visit Mount St. Helen's National Volcanic Monument. As it turned out this was not enough time so hope to go back sometime to explore other areas and do some hiking. We drove the 54 mile long road, Highway 504, that leads to the Johnston Ridge Observatory, visited the visitor's center and then headed back down stopping at various viewing areas and the Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center. More information and (more interesting photos) can be found at: http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/mount_St._Helens and at: http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm/

On the drive to our destination we stopped at some other points of interest: Oregon Trail sites, an art museum on the banks of the Columbia River and a winery.