Author Topic: Washinton/Oregon/Idaho Mustachians help me trip plan please!  (Read 3164 times)

swick

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Washinton/Oregon/Idaho Mustachians help me trip plan please!
« on: March 06, 2015, 12:54:04 AM »
Hi all,

Hubs and I are taking an extra week after Camp Mustache to spend some time exploring the area. We don't have any firm ideas in mind - just that we'd like to do a stretch of the coast and I want to see the area they filmed Goonies.

So...any one have any suggestions or hidden gems not to be missed? Free and Cheap are awesome, but this is our first vacation in three years and technically (I guess) our honeymoon - so if there is anything we simply "Must" do/see/stay/eat that cost a bit more, those suggestions are great too!

Us in a nutshell: Geeks who love gaming/cooking & eating/nature/hiking/water/history/getting as "local" or off the beaten path as possible. Our plan is to to a bit of a loop come down and across to Seattle via Spokane- other then that no plans so even route or road suggestions would be great!

Thanks :)


2ndTimer

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Re: Washinton/Oregon/Idaho Mustachians help me trip plan please!
« Reply #1 on: March 06, 2015, 10:49:02 AM »
1.  While you are in Seattle go to Thanh Son Tofu here:
1248 S King St
Ste B
Seattle, WA 98144

Eat various kinds of fried tofu out of a plastic bag.  Don't miss the lemon grass chili version


2.  My current favorite campground is Cape Disappointment on the coast between Olympia and Portland.  Good tidal pools in that area.

3.  Another excellent campground is FT Worden by Pt Townsend if you enjoy wandering through beach towns.

4.  If you are dim sum fans Jade Garden in Seattle is quite good.

5.  If you like Greek food Nikolas in Portland is great and cheap.  They keep bringing fresh pita bread as long as you can eat it.

6.  Do plan to spend some time at the Pike St. Market.  It is tremendously touristy but still fun.   A very romantic wander on a sunny day.  While you are there if you like tea, buy some of the spicy chai at Seattle Spice Market.  I buy it by the lb.  Good stuff.

7.  If you like things that smell good check out the Lush store at the Westlake Center walking distance from Pike St Market.  Awesome place for sniffing but pricey if you fall for something.

8.  Visit Seafood City in the South Center Mall and eat a pan de banana from their bakery.  I warn you, this NEEDS coffee.

9.  If you haven't been there before, definitely visit the Olympic Peninsula.  I used to think we had big trees in Michigan.  I was wrong.

Have to go now.  May be back with more thoughts. 

swick

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Re: Washinton/Oregon/Idaho Mustachians help me trip plan please!
« Reply #2 on: March 06, 2015, 11:14:27 AM »
Awesome 2nd Timer - These are GREAT suggestions!

Not sure if we will be camping, depends on if we can borrow all the gear. We also really enjoy Bed & Breakfasts - not the cheapest option but comes with breakfast and you meet some really neat people :)

Also, if anyone has any recommendations for ethnic grocery stores of any type, we always like to check out what we can.

Oh...and if anyone has any suggestions for more places outside of the big cities, Hubs would be happiest, he hates city driving - and the thing with all the small towns is you don't usually stop unless you know something is there.

2ndTimer

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Re: Washinton/Oregon/Idaho Mustachians help me trip plan please!
« Reply #3 on: March 06, 2015, 03:22:45 PM »
If you do decide to visit the Olympics.  Go to the Hoh Hum Ranch bed and breakfast.  It has been a few years since we were there so I don't know current prices.  They used to be cheap and amazingly fun.

Jon_Snow

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Re: Washinton/Oregon/Idaho Mustachians help me trip plan please!
« Reply #4 on: March 06, 2015, 05:28:03 PM »
God, my wife and I really want to do a Goonies road trip down to Oregon. Yes, we are pathetically nostalgic geeks. :)

Thedudeabides

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Re: Washinton/Oregon/Idaho Mustachians help me trip plan please!
« Reply #5 on: March 07, 2015, 07:34:59 PM »
My recommendation on route would be (this could be done in either direction)

Spokane->Tri-Cities->Umatilla->Hood River->Portland->Cannon Beach->Astoria->Lake Quinault->Aberdeen->Shelton/Union->Port Townsend->Bainbridge (or Bremerton) Ferry to Seattle->Enumclaw->Mt. Rainier->Yakima

The other option would be skipping Shelton and going around the Olympic National Park through Forks. If you do this, camp at Shi Shi Beach (it'll require a hike).

You'll have an incredibly scenic drive with this route and the only somewhat boring aspect will be the drive from Spokane to Umatilla.

I would probably do something like this:

Day 1: Spokane to Hood River. Optional stops: Palouse Falls (a bit of a side trip), wine tasting outside the Tri-Cities (if you like wine). Possibly a B Reactor tour in Richland (also a little off the path). There is a Stonehenge replica in Maryhill, WA. End in Hood River. There are lots of lodging options here. AirBnB and other bed and breakfasts.

Day 2: explore Mt. Hood. Definitely see the lodge. Get in a good hike. If you take I-84 to Portland, then stop at Multnomah Falls. There is a McMenamin's hotel called Edgefield outside Troutdale that is really funky. Really fun. They have a par three golf course.

Day 3: Portland. There are so many fun things to see and do in Portland. Voodoo donuts is really unique. The food in Portland is incredible and worth exploring. I would spend a little extra $ here on a restaurant or two and then load up on groceries for the journey to the coast. Favorite restaurants: Pok Pok, Pambiche and Montage. If you want less expensive options, then there are food trucks a plenty. They are all unique and I can't remember having a bad meal from one. Portland could be the subject of a post in and of itself. There are plenty of AirBnB options in Portland.

Day 4: Portland to Cannon Beach. Cannon beach is a great location. Check out haystack rock and the tide pools. If I recall correctly there is camping at Ecola State Park and there are some great hikes there too. Stop at the Cannon Beach Bakery to get some Haystack bread. There is also a place that sells saltwater taffy. I can't recall the name.

Day 5: Lake Quinault. Lots of lodging options here. You could either camp or rent a cabin depending on how you feel.

Day 6: Port Townsend. Lots of great food in this town as well. If you can plan to be there during their farmer's market all the better. I would second the Ft Worden suggestion.

Day 7: Seattle. Once again a lot to explore and could take up a post in and of itself. I would second the Pike Place market suggestion. There is a lot to explore there and lots of incredible food options. There are some great museums too: Mohai is very cool.

Day 8: Mt. Rainier. Check out Paradise. There are some great hikes around there. Lots of great camping nearby or you could rent a cabin

I could keep writing, but have to go. Any questions feel free to ask or PM.

Have fun!








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swick

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Re: Washinton/Oregon/Idaho Mustachians help me trip plan please!
« Reply #6 on: March 07, 2015, 11:38:52 PM »
Wow! Thanks for the detailed responses and suggestions!

Got to sit down with hubby tonight and look through a few possibilities.  I think we will be doing the Cdn Boarder to North Bend on the 21st  or possibly splitting it up and spending somewhere between Spokane and North Bend  and getting to North Bend on the Friday, depending on When we have to arrive at Camp 'Stash. Anything we must see between the two?

From there we Leave North Bend on the 25th and have to be back in Canada on the 31st. It is about 3 hours to home from Spokane.

We thought it made sense to head towards the coast first. Hubs isn't horribly keen on staying or spending a ton of time in Seattle.

We were looking up things in and around Astoria and Fort Stevens looked like it might be interesting? Definitely want to spend a day or two in and around Astoria/Cannon Beach - any more recommendations for here would be great!

Are there any specific spots along the coast that we should check out? either towns or parks?

Anyone done the tillimook cheese factory tour? worth it? (it's kinda our fave cheese, but worth the time to tour?)

I love the idea of checking out Multnomah Falls too!

Basically, I think...is we want to get to the coast and spend a few days there...but getting back, either going through Portland or maybe another route? I like the idea of Portland for the food scene though!  We just want to see as much as we can without having to spend extended periods driving - whatever is the biggest bang for our buck for the time/miles.

 ...and if there is anyplace with a really great mini-gold course, I'd love to surprise my hubby, he LOVES mini-golf.

Thanks for all the suggestions, it's so exciting!

Cressida

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Re: Washinton/Oregon/Idaho Mustachians help me trip plan please!
« Reply #7 on: March 07, 2015, 11:50:24 PM »
Day 3: Portland. There are so many fun things to see and do in Portland. Voodoo donuts is really unique. The food in Portland is incredible and worth exploring. I would spend a little extra $ here on a restaurant or two and then load up on groceries for the journey to the coast. Favorite restaurants: Pok Pok, Pambiche and Montage. If you want less expensive options, then there are food trucks a plenty. They are all unique and I can't remember having a bad meal from one. Portland could be the subject of a post in and of itself. There are plenty of AirBnB options in Portland.

Montage is still there? The one with various mac-and-cheese and the shouted oyster shooters? I lived in Portland 1992-96 and my friends and I loved that place.

Thedudeabides

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Re: Washinton/Oregon/Idaho Mustachians help me trip plan please!
« Reply #8 on: March 08, 2015, 10:28:27 AM »

Montage is still there? The one with various mac-and-cheese and the shouted oyster shooters? I lived in Portland 1992-96 and my friends and I loved that place.

Yes! It's still there. It's hard not to love that place.

2ndTimer

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Re: Washinton/Oregon/Idaho Mustachians help me trip plan please!
« Reply #9 on: March 08, 2015, 03:41:11 PM »
We did and enjoyed the Tillimook cheese tour.  It's not something that I would go out of my way for but it's a nice chance to get out of the car and stretch if you happen to be there anyway.  We enjoyed the Liberty Orchards Applet and Cotlet factory tour more.

 

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