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Originally Posted by punkmusicfan21
I've been here since 2003 Snowy, I'd hope I'm over twenty one. Otherwise I'd be a rule breaker  . |
I confess to having missed that! Haha.
If you're planning on driving up the West Coast of the United States, I have plenty of suggestions. Most of them involve beer; I hope that appeals to you.
The Lost Coast of California is a must-see; Eureka has lots of historical Victorian houses that are really architecturally interesting. Ferndale, CA (just south of Eureka) has a cemetery on a steep hillside where the cement surrounding many of the graves has been exposed, and it looks as if the graves are stacked one on top of another up the hillside. Just north of Eureka the Redwoods start, and they continue up on into Oregon. The coastline of California here is very dramatic and lush--absolutely beautiful. If you make it to Eureka, check out:
http://www.lostcoast.com/restaurant.html Haven't been to the brewery yet, but I am a great fan of Lost Coast's beers.
Going on up into Oregon, I also recommend a visit to the Rogue River Valley, especially Ashland. Ashland is the home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Depending on when you're there, you might be interested in catching a show. Otherwise, the town itself is worth seeing, or at least eating in--there are a lot of good restaurants in Ashland. Stone Brewing is my favorite place to eat and drink there. If you go, don't miss Lithia Park, and make sure to try some of the lithia water.
Outside of Ashland is a small town called Jacksonville that is a National Historic Landmark. Due to this designation, the buildings are well-preserved. This is also a good town to grab a bite in--lots of good places to eat. The entire Rogue River Valley is home to many wineries and if you like cheese
http://www.roguecreamery.com is in Medford. A friend of mine in the area recommends the Powderhorn Cafe in downtown Grants Pass for a killer piece of pie.
From the Rogue River Valley, you're within spitting distance of Crater Lake National Park. From there, if you wish, it's really easy to get to Central Oregon. My favorite place in Central Oregon is the Cascade Lakes area; it's full of wonderful hikes with great views. Bend, Oregon is where most of the action is in Central Oregon; I vacation there as often as I can. There are tons of things to do in Bend, from catching concerts at the amphitheater to floating the Deschutes River to riding bikes in Drake Park. Perilla's Grill on the west side serves awesome wraps; Jake's on the east side has the best (and biggest) breakfast in town. There are three big breweries in Bend, and a couple smaller ones. The big ones are Cascade Lakes Brewing, Descutes Brewing, and Bend Brewing. Another great spot in Bend is the Bend Distillery's martini bar. If you like gin, their Desert Juniper gin is a must try; they distill other craft liquors as well.
From Bend it's a three-hour drive back over the mountains into the Willamette Valley--which is where I live. It's a beautiful area. Since they produce a lot of grass seed here, most of the Valley is open green fields spotted with oak groves. There are also a lot of wineries here. The Valley's appeal is subtle; there aren't many touristy things to do, but it is a great place to enjoy the good life.
Portland is a great city to visit. I'd recommend spending a day here just poking around. It's an easy town to get around in; the public transportation is fantastic and well-coordinated. Powell's Books is not to be missed in Portland. Saturday Market (a misnomer, the market runs most days these days) in Old Town is also a great people-watching experience. If it's the right season, a visit to the West Hills and the International Rose Test Garden may be in order. Pittock Mansion, which is just up the hill, offers a great panorama of Portland and Mts. Hood, Adams, and St. Helens. Portland is full of great brewpubs and breweries--you can't miss them. Portland coffee is also a must-try, if you like coffee. I recommend Stumptown--they're one of the institutions that keeps Portland weird.
Speaking of Mt. St. Helens, a short drive off of I-5 will put you fairly close to the volcano, if you wish to see it once you get into Washington. Another popular site that is a short drive from Portland is Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. It's really beautiful and the perfect spot to get an ice cream cone on a hot day.
Well, that's my state, from California to Washington
