Driving up to Portland and Seattle. Any recommendations for stops?

[77ncaachamps]

Taking the gf for a trip into the great NW.

Haven't been in a long time.

Any recommendations?
Sights to see?
Things to taste (not much into beer and wine)?
Cool stuff people rarely do but wish they did?


No Vancouver or the San Juan Islands this time...maybe next.

[mu03eng]

Taking the gf for a trip into the great NW.

Haven't been in a long time.

Any recommendations?
Sights to see?
Things to taste (not much into beer and wine)?
Cool stuff people rarely do but wish they did?


No Vancouver or the San Juan Islands this time...maybe next.

Guess I'm out

[brandx]

Great, timely topic as I am headed out there for three or four week vacation next summer.

Goals so far are Northern Idaho, Desert in Eastern Oregon, and Portland area. Will be interested to see what else is mentioned here.

[Coleman]

Great, timely topic as I am headed out there for three or four week vacation next summer.

Goals so far are Northern Idaho, Desert in Eastern Oregon, and Portland area. Will be interested to see what else is mentioned here.

I'm sure Keefe will have some great thoughts, but definitely make sure you do the Pike Place market in Seattle.

[4everwarriors]

Fook it, just make keefe's crib your home base.

[Freeport Warrior]

I ate at a place called Pok Pok a few years back in Portland- I guess it used to be a food truck that outgrew it's space. It's Vietnamese street food - wings, shrimp, some mussel dish, beers were all great. I know you said you aren't into beer or wine, but give the Willamette Valley a try. Crazy pinots from farmers who still have the passion to make wine, not build castles like in Napa.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

travel to Portland often and it is a foodie town (great local beers and Willamette pinots are outstanding, pity you no like) It has a super music vibe with concerts and bands all over most nights.  I would recommend going to the coast and staying in Astoria or someplace like Cannon Beach. The Cannery is the place to stay in Astoria as it is built over the pilings of a defunct cannery with great river views. There is a replica of the Louis & Clark fort built on the original site with deerskin clad enactors on the Washington side that is very interesting. Outside Portland you should drive east along the Columbia to the Gorge that is an easy and beautiful day trip.
pm me if you want the names of specific restaurants in Portland or Seattle. Or you can call Ian the concierge at the Hilton for places in Portland (503) 226-1611. He always has a hot new place for me to try

[Jay Bee]

pm me if you want the names of specific restaurants in Portland or Seattle.

Dude is being all secretive about the hot spots.

[MUeng]

country cat in portland

[77ncaachamps]

Dude is being all secretive about the hot spots.

I'm sure it's a spot that has been seen on Bourdain's shows, Man v Food, Food Network, etc.

[keefe]

I ate at a place called Pok Pok a few years back in Portland- I guess it used to be a food truck that outgrew it's space. It's Vietnamese street food - wings, shrimp, some mussel dish, beers were all great. I know you said you aren't into beer or wine, but give the Willamette Valley a try. Crazy pinots from farmers who still have the passion to make wine, not build castles like in Napa.

One of the world's best events is the International Pinot Noir Celebration in McMinville. Superb.

http://www.ipnc.org/

[Sir Lawrence]

Twice I've spent a weekend at Cannon Beach, Oregon, a little south of Seaside.  Breathtakingly beautiful ocean front, nice little town. 

[mu03eng]

Twice I've spent a weekend at Cannon Beach, Oregon, a little south of Seaside.  Breathtakingly beautiful ocean front, nice little town. 

Was just there in June and absolutely loved it.  Lots of stuff to do and while it's "commercial" it's really not all that tourist trappy.

[GooooMarquette]

Top Pot Donuts in Seattle.  For coffee, Vivace and Victrola are my favorites, but there are plenty of good coffee places there.

[keefe]

Twice I've spent a weekend at Cannon Beach, Oregon, a little south of Seaside.  Breathtakingly beautiful ocean front, nice little town. 

Great place

[keefe]

Top Pot Donuts in Seattle.  For coffee, Vivace and Victrola are my favorites, but there are plenty of good coffee places there.

We actually meet somewhat often at Top Pot in Bellevue. It is a tech node on the Eastside. There are so many coffee places here that it is impossible to have a favorite since it indexes to location (Seattle isn't really one consolidated city but, rather, a collection of neighborhoods.) People will tell you that their favorite coffee place in x is y.