So, planning has commenced. With the help of the AAA website, we have mapped out a tentative route. I am having trouble figuring out how to post a photo of our Online Trip-Tik…so I will provided a timetable of our trip.
PHX-LA-Hwy5 to Napa- Hwy 101-Up to Redwood Nat’l Forest-Hwy101 up to Tillamook, OR-Portland-Seattle-Victoria, BC-down through Seattle again-Spokane, Glacier Nat’l Park, Theodore Roosevelt Nat’l Park, Bismark, ND, Fargo, Minneapolis, Glidden, WI (to see grandma & grandpa) then down to STL.
Now..this is just a driving route…we are more than willing to veer off the path if it’s worth it!! We will be camping mostly…but if there is a must stay B&B or Inn….I’d be happy to oblige! Thanks for all your recs so far!
In Portland:
Pambiche cuban restaurant (http://www.pambiche.com/),
Montage ( http://www.montageportland.com/, a restaurant known for its mac and cheese and funkiness)
and don’t forget Voodoo Donuts (http://voodoodoughnut.com/).
Really great vintage shopping too on Burnside down from Sandy.
AWEsome chocolate place on 28th called Alma Chocolate (http://www.almachocolate.com/) just down the way from a wine bar called
Wine Down on 28th, which was also quite good. The owner and staff are really nice, totally laid back and knowledgeable (http://www.winedownpdx.com/) and the food was delicious. For another wine bar try Noble Rot (http://noblerotpdx.com/) which is on Burnside near Sandy.
TONS of wonderful authentic mexican places to eat (a lot on Alberta) and breakfast is practically a religion there. Francis on Alberta does a nice breakfast (the waffle is ridiculous!) and Cup and Saucer on Hawthorne is delicious too.
There are more incredible places to eat in one small area there than I’ve ever seen anywhere outside of the east coast. And a lot of things are independent too.
Try to go to Washington Park (rose garden/growing lab where the roses are amazing) and the zoo if you can. Multnomah Falls is also incredible.
God I love Portland…can’t wait to go back in August.
From my friend Di:
Here you go…ENJOY!
A note – under my winery section the majority are sparkling wine places…this is not necessarily my preference when drinking but the places themselves are so gorgeous!
Napa/Wine Country Recommendations
~Restaurants
Farm | 4048 Sonoma Hwy, Napa | 707-299-4880
http://www.thecarnerosinn.com/thecarnerosinn/restaurant_farm.aspx
An absolutely outstanding restaurant on the Carneros property. Go for lunch, then follow it up with a little sparkling at Domaine Carneros (basically across the road)
Bleaux Magnolia | 1408 Clay St., Napa | 707-252-2230
http://www.bleauxmagnolia.com
Great little ‘Contemporary Creole’ restaurant in Downtown Napa, with no corkage fee. Perfect for a yummy meal after a warm day of drinking.
Celadon | 500 Main St, Napa | (707) 254-9690
http://www.celadonnapa.com
Another great place in Downtown Napa; small plates, big plates, great cocktail menu
Bouchon | 6534 Washington St, Yountville | (707) 944-8037
http://www.bouchonbistro.com/
Thomas Keller’s place down the street from his other place, The French Laundry. Classic bistro. LOVE it. Also, the Bouchon Bakery across the street has yummy breads and great stuff for picnic type outings.
Woodhouse Chocolates | 1367 Main St, St. Helena | (707) 963-8413
http://www.woodhousechocolate.com
Not a restaurant, but an adorable (and yummy!) chocolate shop worth a stop. It’s in downtown St Helena, which is just the cutest walkable shopping area ever.
~Wineries
Frog’s Leap | 8815 Conn Creek Rd, Rutherford | (707) 963-4704
http://www.frogsleap.com
The wine is nice, but the house and garden are gorgeous — I discovered the cardoon here. So beautiful and sweet smelling. They also have a great table with “we grew this in our garden, please take some”. So great.
Mumm Napa
Good sparkling, GREAT views. Very nice terrace if the weather’s nice.
Domaine Carneros | 1240 Duhig Rd, Napa | 800.716 BRUT
The most gorgeous balcony/terrace I have ever been on. Sweeping views of the valley
Gloria Ferrer | 23555 Carneros Hwy. 121 | 707-996-7256
Second most gorgeous balcony/terrace I’ve ever been on.
Annie, instead of scanning or otherwise copying your trip tik, why not just lay it all out on google maps, or my new favorite http://www.bing.com? You can even add and store the restaurants, parks, campsites etc you’re going to….Good luck. And hug a Redwood for me.
I’m sooooo jealous!!! What a fabulous time you are both going to have. Looking forward to seeing the pics.
We miss the cheesemonger already and he has only been gone from the store 2 days.
Wishing you both a safe journey and many blessings for your upcoming cheese adventures.