Any recommendations for a trip to CA and OR?
So for Angel's 16th birthday I offered to take her to visit my family. She is way beyond thrilled as she will leave Tennessee to come to Connecticut and from there we will head to central California (an hour outside Fresno) for four days to visit my parents and grandma. Then we will drive to San Francisco, spend four days enjoying the area and eating fabulous vegan foods plus going to a beach. Then we drive up to Medford OR to visit my sister and her fam for a few days. Then its on up to Portland OR just because we will be 3 hours away.
Now, any must see or do things in any of these areas? We will be traveling from June 16 to 30. I am also interested in Hotel recommendations for SF and Portland. As I am unemployed this will need to be a reasonably cheap trip but LB insists that he would rather we stay at a better hotel so we dont get murdered. hahah His words!
Unfortunately this puts the kabosh on my attendance to SconeFest but the kid only turns 16 once.
Portland, Portland, Portland!!!
There are all sorts of neat vegan things to do here.
Check it:
You could stay at the Ace Hotel downtown, have bagels and Stumptown coffee in the morning, and head over to Powell's Books on Burnside. Then you could walk through the Pearl District, take in a few galleries, and go to Half & Half for lunch.
After naps, take the MAX to the Portland Zoo and Washington Park. Stretch your legs, check out some of the awesome land conservation going on in Portland. If you have a car, you could ditch this idea and drive out to Sauvie Island to see the small organic farms and hit up a few farmer's markets. Fancy dinner is at Marrakesh or Wildwood on NW 23rd Ave. Not-so-fancy dinner is at Swagat on NW Lovejoy and 21st.
Alternately: take the 16-year-old to SE Hawthorne, which is the hippie/punk district. Turn her loose with a couple bucks in the record stores, the hipster hair salon (Bishop's) and the cute clothing boutiques. There's a Powell's Books outpost there as well. Cheap vegan lunch at Cha! Cha! Cha! burritos, not-totally-cheap-but-pretty-close lunch at Paradox Cafe on SE Belmont.
Did I mention that I love it here?
I'm only 8 hours from Portland. You know, if you need a little something else to do. Just sayin'.
I'm only 8 hours from Portland. You know, if you need a little something else to do. Just sayin'.
Aww, AC! Are you lonesome?
I'm only 8 hours from Portland. You know, if you need a little something else to do. Just sayin'.
Aww, AC! Are you lonesome?
I want to hang out with Cali.
that's the opposite of my la to seattle roadtrip i just took.. (sorta) i'll have to look thru my stuff and then i'll post some ideas. you should go to the butterfly grove for sure - it's really cool. 2,000 butterflies just hanging out in the trees around you..
I'm only 8 hours from Portland. You know, if you need a little something else to do. Just sayin'.
Aww, AC! Are you lonesome?
I want to hang out with Cali.
Well I figured ... don't worry, I'm not going to invite myself over!
One of my favorite places is Eugene, OR.
Well I figured ... don't worry, I'm not going to invite myself over!
You might pop in!
Yeah, I'll just drop by ... it'll be really casual, after an 8-hour drive that was in no way premeditated. :>
i used a couple really good guide books from the library for pacific northwest - from lonely planet...
i also used the lonely planet california coast book, although i just bought it in northern california then i returned it in la..
Cali,
If you're road-tripping on Hwy 101, make sure you stop in Garberville, CA. There's a really neat hippie restaurant called the Woodrose Cafe. They've been serving vegan food since something like 1977. Also there's a great organic taco cart called Nacho Mama's across the street.
Cute little town. I think they got famous for a local strain of marijuana.
if you are going to be in san luis obispo my recommendation is to visit me.
if you are going to be in san luis obispo my recommendation is to visit me.
i can second this! just watch out for the kinda restaurants she takes you to - they try to make you believe that the shredded chicken on your plate is actually tempeh..
i can second this! just watch out for the kinda restaurants she takes you to - they try to make you believe that the shredded chicken on your plate is actually tempeh..
*ahem* i believe you chose the restaurant, dear ppc.... :-*
damn, i think youre right.. well in that case cali - let hespy pick the restaurant.
We are leaving Tuesday early morning. Any recommendations for things to do in San Fran or Portland? I am trying to think of fun things to do without spending too much that a 16 year old will enjoy. Shopping is always good, but where do we find reasonably priced shops that cater to our offbeat tastes? Im an elder pirate goth and shes just kinda trendy phobic.
Portland I think will be easier as it seems easier to get around and with tons of vegan things to do. But I need to figure out where to go and what to do besides eat! ack!!!
there is a thrift store crazy district in SF. i am trying to remember where.... somewhere kind of close to all of the taquerias... well, there are a lot of thrift shops anyway. ok, i wish i could actually direct you to the places these things are, but i suck...
there is also a cool alleyway with a ton of street art which is fun to admire. there are a lot of nice parks and some little trails in them. and of course, you do need to eat and i would suggest eating ice cream at maggiemudd, because it rules. and souley vegan (which is in oakland, just east of sf) has re-opened.
as for portland i have only been there once and i just went to an irish pub and ate food can't even remember the name of the place), so i'm no good for that one.
I have no suggestions, i know nothing about anywhere near those places but.
ADOPT ME NOW! That is soooo cool that you're taking her on this trip!!
Fun, cheap things to do in Portland:
go to the Rose Garden and the Japanese Garden, both located in Washington Park
walk through the Pearl District and check out the galleries
visit Powell's Books on Burnside (the main artery through downtown Portland)
catch a movie at one of the McMenamin's theaters (cheap second-run movies, with pizza and beer in the theater!)
ice-skate at the Lloyd Center, where local legend Tonya Harding used to practice
check out the Oregon Zoo
walk through the Park blocks in SW downtown Portland, looking at the sculptures, the Portland Art Museum, and the PSU campus
ride the tram to OHSU and see the small sculpture garden
people-watch in Pioneer Square
catch a local dance or theater performance (check the local free papers for showtimes)
walk over the Hawthorne Bridge and check out the submarine moored at OMSI on the waterfront
I'm just warming up!
ALL of these things are light rail train/bus/pedestrian accessible; you don't need a car to get around here.
Aww Sarah! I wish I could take ya too. I did ask Angel if she wanted to do LA then my family in Mariposa but she picked the Mariposa/San Fran/Medford/Portland trip instead. I know I am probably mean to decide to head to vegan places but darn it, she should enjoy it just cus! hahah
BR this list is awesome! I love the book store idea, the movie theather and the sculptures. Are there fun and funky places to shop?
Fun and funky would either N Mississippi St. or NE Alberta (the Arts district). Or you could just walk up Hawthorne and Belmont Sts. in SE Portland ... that's kind of the "hippie" district and it's super-fun to hang out there. Lots of things to do and see, and plenty of vegan options in the restaurants.
Your daughter is so lucky! You two are going to have a blast.
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