Road Trip with Shaun, SF to Portland

Our first true vacation and road trip. Destination, Portland Oregon.

After I experienced my first earthquake, Shaun arrived at a closed rental car place, we got our second rental, we were off.

Our first stop was Pt. Reyes Lighthouse, Day 1 and already stopped by a cop, then a heard of cows! We ate Oysters at sunset near Goat Rock Beach and Bodega Bay. Shaun was an incredible driver all the way to Ft. Bragg, where our dinner was memorable only for reasons why it shouldn't be memorable!

On Sunday, we rested in the pool and went to the Pgymy Forest, and then I can still taste the dessert at the beautiful and quaint, Moose Cafe. We then toured the headlands and turned in to our hotel, which was the Lighthouse Inn at Point Cabrillo Light. Dinner was at Cafe Beaujolis, locally grown restaurant.

On Monday, we received a tour of the Lighthouse after breakfast and headed to 101 to the Avenue of the Giants and a random, unplanned location, Eel River Brewery, organic and amazing especially the Organic IPA. Tonight we "couch surfed" at Jesse's House, an interesting experience, one I would try again.

Tuesday started at the Samoa Cookhouse, we went through Shasta with the final destination of Ashland for some Shakesphere. It was beautiful.

Wednesday, we went through the Rogue National Forest which I thought would have been the most memorable scenary until... Crater Lake. I think Shaun will always remember my reaction, my awe to such stillness and beauty.

Thursday, we hit Alpha Bits Cafe in Oregon, visited the Heceta Lighthouse and made our way to Rogue in Newport. Not only did we get to tour the brewery and drink brews like 100 Meter, Cham a Mellow and Juniper, but we even got to visit the Distillery where I loved the Spruce Gin. I visited the Yaquina light solo and it was the most memorable sunset. We had to stop at Mo's for some Clam Chowder, a must!

On Friday, we hit the Oregon Brewer's Festival and wish I could say I remembered Higgin's Restaurant after the festival. Our favorites:
Diamond Knot Brewing Co. Industrial IPA
Dick's Brewing Co. Dick's Lava Rock Porter
Grand Teton Brewing Bitch Creek ESB
Green Flash Brewing Co. West Coast IPA
Hopworks Urban Brewery Hopworks Organic IPA
Kona Brewing Co. Wailua Wheat
Mad River Brewing Co. Steelhead Double IPA
McMenamins Fulton Pub & Brewery Monkey House NW IPA
Oregon Trail Brewery Oregon Trail Wit
Russian River Brewing Co. Pliny the Elder Double IPA
Standing Stone Brewing Double IPA

We ate and drank our way through Portland area at places such as Byways, East Wind Drive-in, Farm Cafe, Arleta Library Cafe, Pambiche, Tin Shed, Stumptown, Laughing Planet, Ken's Pizza and Vodoo Donut.

We managed to visit the Falls, Fish Hatchery, the Gorge, Walking Man Brewery, Mt. Tabor, Edgefield and the Portland Art Museam.