I have semi- specific questions for you Oregoners... I'll be up there for a week next month visiting from LA. Headed to Portland > Astoria > Tilamook > Bend > Detroit > Portland I'm pretty set with brewery recommendations in the above cities. I'm more interested in any not-to-miss in-between spots along the way, if there are any (say, between Tilamook and Bend, or Detroit and Portland). Also, appreciate any food recommendations from you foodie BAs. Happy to get recommendations for other stuff to do too - nature stuff, sight seeing. For you skate BA's if there are any, I welcome any skatepark advice too, as I know it's supposed to be mecca up there. Definitely hoping to go to Lincoln City. Thanks in advance. Cheers
There are some good hiking trails on the way to Hood River, which you should head out to, then you're in HR with fine collection of breweries.
I would aslo add that it would be helpful if (for example) you could provide us with the route you have in mind, between Tillamook and Bend. Depending which route you take, you could pass through or by Portland, Oregon City, Hood River, Boring, Salem, Corvalis or Eugene.
Good point. Google shows 4 hours if you go the most direct route (through Salem), but there's not much in the way of beer along the way. Taking 22 down to Corvallis and then heading east adds ~30 minutes, but you can hit Block 15 while you're there.
We're making a similar trip in August. Portland for 3 nights. 3 nights in Bend. Driving through Corvallis and Newport then along the coast to Pacific City for 1 night. 1 or 2 nights in Astoria. Back to Portland for a night before we fly home. Is there enough to do in Astoria for two days and nights or should we head back to Portland earlier? On our Bend > Pacific City any hiking, hot springs, breakfast/lunch options or other unique spots worth stopping at?
Crater Lake is a must stop, if you don't visit during your time in Bend. Just south of Bend is this great museum: http://www.highdesertmuseum.org/ . If you're into aviation at all, there's a good museum in McMinnville that features the Spruce Goose: http://evergreenmuseum.org/ . And you should definitely plan on stopping in Tillamook, where there is a smaller air museum, and take a tour at the Tillamook cheese factory. I think I heard something about a brewery there, but I don't have details.
Don't have any planned routes between cities, but do have reservations at all those places. We're going to Detroit to go to Britenbush Hot Springs after Bend, then ending up in Portland for the final weekend. Hoping to make it to Hood River but not sure will be able to fit it in this time. Possibly as a day trip during our last 2 day in Portland Thanks for recommendations so far
That makes it tough to make a recommendation. In theory, you could take 26 to Portland, and from there, take either I-84 to Hood River, and then from there drive on down hiway 35 to hiway 26, and then to Bend, or you could head down to Oregon City and cut over the Mt. Hood Hiway (otherwise known as the continuation of hiway 26) up through Boring and on to Mt. Hood, before cutting over through Madras. Another possibility is to head over through Salem to hiway 22/20 as Chris suggested, or you could just shoot down to Albany from Salem, and then take hiway 20 all the way. Or you could drop down farther still on I-5 until you get to Eugene, and from there take Hiway 126 up to Bend. Or if you're feeling really adventuresome, you could take Hiway 58 from Eugene, up through Oakridge to hiway 97, and from there shoot up through Sun River into Bend. All of those different routes have their pros and cons, and depending on which route you take will determine the recommendations one could make from a beer standpoint.
I hear you. I guess I was hoping to form my route based on any must-see stuff. Was planning on making a loop. Fly in Portland, Astoria, Tilamook. then down the coast maybe to Lincoln City (but I'm open), then across to Bend. 20 or 22 being options. Don't think we'll go down to Eugene, though I would if I had more time. Need to get to Bend from Tilamook in one day. Longest leg of trip From Britenbush to Portland we will take 22 to the 5 I'm sure. So maybe on the way out to Bend we'll take the 20
Yes, this one: Seriously OP. If you go this route it is absolutely necessary to stop at Brewers Union 180 in Oakridge. Ted is making some of the best, most authentic English-style beers in the country, and every one I've tried has been beautiful. They usually have several firkins pouring milds, bitters, and low-abv pales, as well as a handful of "gassy beers" for people who don't like cask conditioned ales. It turns a 4 hour drive into a "just over" 5 hour drive, but it's still easily doable in a day.
Yes, and he will go right by the bar that was used in Animal House. I think it is for sale now. Otis, My Man!!!
I know you said you will be in Detroit to go to Breitenbush Hot Springs, but I just wanted to warn you that Detroit Lake itself was pretty much empty when I drove down to Bend a couple weekend ago.
Just to amplify the post from Chris... As you can see, the difference between the longest route (time wise) and the shortest route is roughly an hour. So from a driving standpoint, the difference is not all that great, and you should have little difficulty getting to Bend from Tillamook in one day (should be a pretty drive as well, no matter which route you take). If making good time is your number one concern/priority, then take the route through Salem, maybe stop at Gilgemesh or Santiam Brewing, or at the B2 taphouse, and then proceed on to Bend. Even if you decide to make your stop in Salem a lunch stop, I doubt you'll be in Salem more than a couple of hours (tops!), which means the entire trip to Bend should take you no more than 6 hours (roughly). If you decide to include Albany in your plans, that shouldn't add too much driving time onto your trip, and you could easily add Block 15 and/or Calapooia Brewing into the mix. Of course that would likely add a considerable amount of time from a "hanging out and having a beer or two" standpoint. :-) If you're trying to maximize your beer experience on the trip, then I would probably recommend taking I-84 out to Hood River, visiting the various spots around there (Double Mountain, Solera, Full Sail, Everybody's Brewing, etc.), and then taking 35/126 over to Bend. That shouldn't add on too much time from a driving standpoint, though on the other hand, I could easily see you ending up spending considerably more than 2 hours in the Hood River area (as there's a lot to see and do around there). If you're just trying to hit as many "worthy" beer spots as possible on your trip to Bend, then as Chris suggested, your best bet would be to shoot down to Eugene and take Hiway 58 over to Bend. Aside from BU 180, you could also stop at Sun River Brewing, just south of Bend. You could also hit up some of the various Eugene watering holes (there are too many to name, frankly, but at the very least you should hit the Bier Stein, 16 tons, the tap and growler, perhaps Ninkasi, perhaps Agrarian ales, perhaps Sam Bond, perhaps Oakshire... see what I mean?), and possibly even include Block 15 into the mix (stop there first in Corvalis, and then take hiway 99 down to Eugene). Of course if you do that, you may never make it to Bend, and you might not ever even make it back to California. So yeah... there's a lot to consider. :-)
Instead of Lincoln City, you might want to think about Pacific City and go to Pelican. From there, it's only a short drive up to Astoria - and Fort George. If you can hit Hood River on you travels, be sure to hit Pfriem (who have killer food) and Logsdon Farms (who just opened an new tasting room in Hood River) When is Bend, I recommend the food - and the beer, of course - at Crux Fermentation Project. As for food for foodie types... What do you like?
Logsdon's farmhouse is closed to the public and the downtown taproom is not open yet. Stuck in legal red tape.
Planning to go to Pelican actually. Staying in Tilamook 2nd night. Will consider doing the Hood River then cutting down route. Might just to Hood River as a day trip when we're in Portland. Food, anything. I'm not vegetarian. Just curious if there are any not to miss places - star chef type places, or down home bbq whatever. Since we're in the Northwest we'll definitely be wanting to eat some good seafood
This list from another post has some good suggestions for Portland: Bazi Bierbrasserie Cheese Bar Cheese & Crack Snack Shop Grain & Gristle Higgins Restaurant Lardo Raven & Rose / The Rookery Also, the food at both Saraveza and The Hop & Vine is quite good. For BBQ, I'd recommend Podnah's (who's beer selection ain't too shabby). For seafood, I've heard good things about Block + Tackle (but good luck finding parking anywhere near that place).
