Annual jaunt along the confluence

Every January, once the holiday hustle subsides, my wife, Laura, our loyal black-and-tan bloodhound, Ladybird, and I head out for our cherished tradition: exploring the scenic banks at Two Rivers, where the Spokane and Columbia rivers converge on Lake Roosevelt.

The winter light casts a serene glow over the water, and the crisp air invigorates as Ladybird enthusiastically sniffs along the shoreline trails, her long ears flapping with every excited bound. Laura and I follow at a leisurely pace, savoring the quiet that contrasts with the year’s busy start.

No visit is complete without stopping a...