I promised to identify the images at the top of our new website.

Image number 1 is:  ta – dah  – drum roll -

Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, Oregon.

A monolith that juts 235 feet high above the long stretch of beach in Cannon Beach, Oregon, Haystack Rock seems to follow you in any direction wherever you are on the beach.  Birds and other creatures – especially humans – find it almost magnetic, but it is a protected site.  See our longer blog for more information – http://traveltipsandadventures.com/?p=1134

Return next week and we’ll identify our #2 image.

We hope you’ll visit our Hiking for the Couch Potato website – and maybe even consider buying a book!  Especially for those of you who know someone who really needs to get off the couch and get some activity in their life.

Have a great week, everyone!

This time, years later, I took off from southern Maine.  We were assured that we would get to see some whales during feeding time.  The tour guides kept their word.

Out in the ocean

We headed out to an open ocean area where just a little activity was noticeable.  Suddenly, whales started surfacing, along with an entourage of seabirds.  The birds were scavengers – a dead giveaway that they were after the fish that the whales missed.

Whales surface

Talk about feeding frenzy!  Several whales were visible surfacing, diving and resurfacing again.  The birds were everywhere, helping themselves as they snapped up fish.

Feeding frenzy for whales and scavengers

We could see details on the whales’ tails and evidence that these were veterans, elders who had been around a while.The view and activity was so exciting that several people forgot they were out in the sun.  Their souvenir was a massive sunburn!  (Note: Sunblock and hats are a very good idea out on the water.  The reflection can really make you burn!)

Another whale tail

Although it seemed just a few minutes, the feeding subsided and the tour guides announced, much to our disappointment, that we were heading back.

But, to quote a Star Trek character, “Thar be whales!”

Getting ready to leave - a whale tail

We loved our visit with our distant (very distant) cousins, the whales.

Since we think everyone who can go would find this experience amazing, we offer the following companies and locations as places where whale watches are offered.  We do not necessarily endorse these companies, as we have not used all of them.

Some suggestions

You will definitely want to know whether everyone in your party is good at sea.  If not or you are not sure, motion seasickness pills before you leave are a must. (Generic or the brand name Dramamine.)  Why ruin a good experience by not being prepared.

As I mentioned earlier, hats and sunblock are also a great idea.  Plus, lots of camera space  and batteries (for digital cameras) and film for those with SLR or one-use cameras.  Take water and snacks/food.  Typically, the tour boats have you as a captive audience.  The prices on snacks and drinks reflect that.

Whale watching companies

The following article offers some valid suggestions on criteria for finding a tour company for the best whale watching experience.

http://marinelife.about.com/od/whaleanddolphinwatching/tp/FindaWhaleWatch.htm

We definitely agree that you should research and book ahead of time to avoid disappointment.  What species you want to see will definitely change depending on what location you choose.

(Rates shown were the most recent published.)

East Coast US:

Humpback whales are prominent.

The originators on the East Coast:

Massachusetts

Whale Watch Dolphin Fleet of Provincetown (which even has a coupon and offers a naturalist to provide solid information,)

http://www.whalewatch.com/dolphinfleet/

Rates for adults, $39, children 12 and under, $31, under 5 years – free.  This is a 3-4 hour tour.

In Maine:

Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company

http://www.barharborwhales.com/

Rates for adults are $56 for a 3 ½ hour whale watch, $28 for ages 6-14 and $8 for children under 6.

West Coast:

Different species are visible during different months – check out which months are the best for your sightings.  Gray whales are very prominent.

California:

Aquarium of the Pacific

Along with an admission to the aquarium, you can purchase a 2-2 ½ hour tour for $42.95 for adults, $28.95 for children ages 3-11 and $39.95 for seniors 62+.

http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/education/programdetails/gray_whale_watch/

Oregon:

Marine Discovery Tours –

They offer a 2-hour “Marine Discovery Tour” that varies where they go depending on the time of year.  You might be inland if the sea is rough.  They do have naturalists on board.  Fee for Adults – $35, children 4-13 – $17, under 3 – free, seniors – $33.

http://www.marinediscovery.com/SLC.html

Vancouver

Tours in Canada tend to offer longer charter tours, as opposed to mass group tours, thus they are pricier.  The one we located that is three hours is: Springtide Charters.  The price was $95 (Canadian) for adults, $75 (Canadian) for 13-18, children 3-12, $65 (Canadian).

http://www.springtidecharters.com/rates.htmhours

As we said – official disclaimer – we do not endorse any of the above companies.  Please check out all of the details for whatever companies you decide to consider.

We found whale watching an enthralling experience.  Someday, we hope you have the opportunity to see the whales, too!

Next week: We visit Mexico.

 
With almost 22,000 students in over 200-plus different disciplines in undergraduate and graduate programs, OSU is training a lot of minds! Majors range from forestry – a natural with those tall pines – to oceanic and atmospheric sciences as well as education, business, agricultural sciences, veterinary medicines and more.

Memorial Union - "dining establishments," library and more

 
The environs around the campus have some heavy-hitters in the technology world as the Hewlett-Packard campus is nearby as well as other large companies.

More than academics

Reser Stadium scoreboard

And, then there are the extracurricular experiences – may I interject – Go Beavs! The OSU football team (Pac-10) is known as the Beavers, conjuring up kindly, but intrepid creatures, gnawing away at the opposition. When we last looked, their season was at 7-3, so they are winners!

"Football"outside of Reser Stadium

Reser Stadium is just across the street from the Hilton Garden Inn where we were staying, but the campus was very, very empty, so we didn’t see ANY students. That felt strange. We passed by Reser Stadium, the athletic center and the student union, but they were locked tight. But, trust us, it was a great campus that honors both the modern and classic traditions.

 
We were also eager to see their “award-winning” library, but it, also, was closed.
Visiting a campus during intersession has mixed blessings. Getting around was easy, but we didn’t get the full flavor of what the campus and Corvallis are like with the thousands of students in session.

We’ll be going back.

Another Campus

Another campus we wandered onto in Corvallis does – apparently – top secret agricultural research.  We were just looking for the covered bridge shown on the map. (See Irish Bend Covered Bridge below.)  We were told that we weren’t supposed to be on this campus in the western part of the City, but lots of others were riding bikes in the vicinity.  Be aware that a road shown on the map as a through road, isn’t.  We took pictures quickly and headed back the way we came.

Irish Bend Covered Bridge

(The bridge had been relocated from elsewhere, but it is one of the wider covered bridges we’ve seen.)

We invite you back tomorrow for some Corvallis dining and entertainment experiences…

We had originally planned to stay in Corvallis for only one day, but decided to stay two and arrived a day early.  We’re so glad we did!

By arriving on Friday, we had the opportunity to visit the Visitors Bureau, stop at the Chamber of Commerce and check out the town.  We loved what we saw.

Playing in the fountain

While a bit atypical since Oregon State University was in recess, we found a friendly atmosphere and a very evolved town.

Willamette River near 1st Street

The Chamber of Commerce staff we met greeted us like we were old friends.  The charming downtown reminded my husband of Charlottesville, Virginia, a great compliment on his part.  He really likes Charlottesville.

We stopped first at Block 15 Restaurant/Microbrewery (see our blog on October 23), where we had a great meal in a fun place. 

Driving around town, we quickly figured out the street system. (There are some one-way streets, but unlike some cities, they are easy to get around).

Corvallis has a population of about 55,000, but the brainpower and environment are much larger than the size of the community.  Their farmer’s market was larger than bigger communities we have seen.  They have major corporations like Hewlett Packard that have major numbers of patents registered.

Corvallis Farmer's Market

Instead of giant shopping malls, shopping is in smaller clusters scattered about several major corridors.  One of our indicators for shopping is whether the community has a Trader Joe’s.  They were building one that looked near completion. It may sound crass to evaluate a community by what name brand stores it attracts, but we know what we like.

The user-friendly Corvallis Library

Another of our indicators for whether we like a community is the library. We thought the Corvallis Public Library was a terrific place.  They had a reading room that was like a clubby old boys club with comfy, armchairs, but for anyone to use.  A two-story building, the library is well-used, well-organized and obviously respected.  The librarian was friendly and welcoming: Great library – and a good indicator of what a town values.

We also loved the local shops, their wares and the friendliness of the staff.  In general, we gave more 20% tips for good service at restaurants in Oregon than anywhere we have ever traveled.  Except for one local chain restaurant in Corvallis, that held true everywhere for the City. 

Recycling is very much part of the culture, as we saw supermarkets with regular receptacles for cans, bottles and other recyclables.  The environment is a major consideration, as even the public trash containers on the main streets have flowers tucked into little containers by the lid. 

Flowers tucked into trash receptacles

Come back – We found out about a unique event called “Rhapsody in the Vineyard,” that we’ll tell you about on Tuesday.  On Monday, we’ll show you some of the Oregon State University campus.

Portland Saturday Market - or part of it

And, this is one of those places that is a must-see if you’re coming to Portland. The array of hand-crafted items to see and purchase is dizzying. Creativity abounds!Also, there are enough food vendors to start a mini-United Nations of food. Starting with burgers, ice cream, coffee and pizzas, the food then heads into Asian, Creole, Greek, Lebanese, Mexican, Polish and Thai choices. There are also ATM machines in the vicinity, so if you have money in your account, you won’t go hungry!

On to the crafts…

The glass work of Richart Glass was especially colorful and appealing, but there was also pottery, twirling metal mobiles, and other original items to catch your eye.

Richart Glass is one of the Saturday Market artisans who creates attractive original artwork

Candles and other crafts

 Children were playing in the water at the street fountain, drummers were playing plastic buckets – quite the viruosos! – and there was a sense of festivity even though it was drizzly. The street musicians can be very talented as well as the scheduled musicians who span genres including blues, jazz, hillbilly, funk, ragtime and more.

The dancing fountains

About the Portland Market

In operation since 1974, Portland Saturday Market is a fun way to spend part or all of a day. Getting there is easy since a light rail stops right in the midst of the area at the Skidmore Fountain Max Station. If you’re trying to find the Portland Saturday Market, it’s near the west side of the Burnside Bridge. (It used to be under the bridge, but it was recently relocated just a little bit south.

 
After you shop, a stroll along the Willamette River on the Westside Riverwalk is a great place to see the scenery and stop for a few minutes to nibble your food or review your purchases.

View from Riverwalk of Willamette River

Hours: Saturday 10-5; Sunday 11-4:30. This year, it has been open from February 28-December 24.

 
The Portland Saturday Market is a great outing for a family!  And, it’s a good feeling to buy something directly from the craftsperson who made the item.

http://www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com/

Powell’s – For anyone who loves books

Probably the most exciting place for a person who loves books is Powell’s City of Books. “City of Books” sounds like an exaggeration, but by the time you explore the main location, with its multiple floors and many nooks and crannies, you feel like it could be a city.

At Powell's entrance - "sell books"

Powell's City of Books

There are several other Powell’s locations, including one at the airport, “your first or last chance to shop at Powell’s,” says their “Welcome to Portland” brochure. For anyone looking for technical information, they also have another location with tech books!

Not just new books, there are used books as well. You can find a room full of cookbooks – categorized by type of cuisine, even, and so many different variations on a theme that you can get lost! There are history books – of many countries, time periods and some in languages other than English. There are humor books, children’s books, and gadgets to accompany books (bookmarks, covers, etc.)

Often, they have author events. I know because I receive their e-mails and hear about these events frequently.

 
They brag about having over 1 million books at their main location alone and being open 365 days a year. Amazingly, every clerk we talked with was cheerful and knowledgeable. No musty old bookstore, Powell’s is clean, well-lit and – BIG. I repeat BIG.

 
There are elevators, but take your vitamins before you go. You could find that the category of book you’re looking for has been moved to a new location.
I just about had to be dragged out kicking – no screaming, though. Although it is not a library, the noise volume is very low. People are quiet as they look for their treasures.

 
Checking out is efficient, too. I had two items and, even with about seven people in line ahead of me, I think I was finished in less than five minutes.
Sometimes, you can be too efficient. I would have liked an excuse to stay longer and look around more!

 
The Portland Streetcar comes right to Powell’s and the bus (TriMet) and lightrail (MAX) are within five blocks.

 
Powell’s is at the edge of the Pearl District, which we’ll visit soon.
Don’t leave Portland without visiting!
www.powells.com

Tomorrow… A visit to Portland’s Saturday Market

Parking meters are actually kiosk-like arrangements where you pay, then put a post-it paid sticker inside your window. No unsightly meters every few feet along the street.

We’ve traveled in Portland before, but this time we stayed on the east side of town.  Virtually everything we wanted to see was in Fareless Square or a short walk from it.

The Max - fast, efficient and clean

 Staying at the Doubletree Hotel near the Lloyd Center, we hopped a Max Light Rail at the corner and headed downtown.  No fee!  Just a few minutes later, we were a few blocks from Portland State University and the Saturday Farmer’s Market (see our blog on October 9 for more on the Farmer’s Market). We also hopped a streetcar to take us to “Powell’s – City of Books,” another to travel to the Pearl District, where we stopped for lunch (see yesterday’s blog on Rogue Brew Pub).  (More on Powell’s on Wednesday.)

Streetcar

Portland is so big on marketing their public transportation that they even publish a brochure that lists 18 restaurants that are near streetcar stops. Rogue, where we ate yesterday was on the list,  but there’s also a Deschutes Brewery & Pub (Portland) branch and a bridgeport brewery + bakery, ethnic choices like Moroccan, New Mexican, India, plus pasta choices, seafood and other selections.  Your only issue will be not enough meals to try them all – unless you’re planning to stay for a few weeks!

Beyond Fareless Square, you do pay for transportation, but for a tourist, you would rarely need to go further, except for maybe a visit to the Portland Zoo or some of the outlying neighborhoods.

Another streetcar - they're everywhere - or close!

And efficient?  Well, except for one wait of 30 minutes, we never waited more than 10 minutes to get the Max or a streetcar. 

You get the picture.  We love the ease, free cost and accessibility of Portland’s downtown.

www.portlandstreetcar.org

http://trimet.org/

Come back tomorrow for a visit to Powell’s and some other Portland sights! In the next few days, we’ll be exploring the Portland Saturday (and Sunday) Market, the Pearl District and other views of Portland. 

Rogue Ales

Unlike someone who recently wrote a book entitled, Going Rogue, I actually had the opportunity to go to the Rogue Distillery & Public House, one of the many pubs that are scattered throughout the city of Portland, Oregon.

Rogue Distillery & Public House

Notice that I didn’t call this a brewpub.  This is actually a restaurant that serves Rogue Ales, which are brewed solely in one location, Newport, Oregon.  The distribution area is much more than just Oregon as Rogue Ales are sold throughout the U.S. and in 21 countries.  There are also nine restaurant/public houses from San Francisco to Issaquah, Washington.

The Distillery adjacent to the restaurant does not brew beer, but instead, is the first Rum Distillery in Oregon.

Located in the Pearl District, Rogues’ location was the former home of Portland Brewing. You’ll find a 36-tap beer dispenser serving various award-winning Rogue Ales: Dead Guy Ale, Double Dead Guy Ale, Shakespeare Stout, etc.

But this time, there was not the normal “usual suspects” on the extensive menu.

Kobe Beef is normally considered to be one of those items served in “five star” restaurants.  But at Rogue you can have one of five different burgers and five various HOT DOGS! 

That even includes a Kobe Beef Corn Dog … try to get one of those at the State Fair!

Yes, you can certainly have a less expensive burger at one of those places with the kid’s playland in the front, but that’s not Kobe!

The beef is supplied by Snake River Farms of Eastern Idaho who raise hormone-free cattle at twice the rating grade of USDA Prime in much the same style as their Japanese counterparts. 

My choice was the 1/2 LB Kobe Cheese Burger ($13.50) with Rogue Creamery (not related to Rogue Ales) White Cheddar Cheese.  Complete with onion roll, wasabi mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, onion and fries, that was a great burger! 

Tender, cooked just how I ordered, and yes, it was expensive … so what … it’s KOBE! 

My dining companion opted for a Black Bean and Quinoa salad ($8.95)

Of course there were Black Beans (hence the title of the entrée) along with corn, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, jalapeños and spices served atop a generous serving of avocado on a bed of quinoa (hence the other part of the entrée’s title.)

As I am always on the lookout for either the best Lobster Roll, or Chicken Marsala (the latter is much easier to find outside of Maine), my dining companion is on a world quest for the best New England Clam Chowder (suspiciously easy to find just about anywhere.)

Rogue’s Clam Chowder (Bowl $5.95 / Cup $3.95) is a New England style which included bacon, celery, onions, and potatoes.  Served with a house-baked Hazelnut Ale bread this chowder is now on the list of top 10 that is in no particular order.

Rogue Distillery & Public House

1339 NW Flanders
Portland, OR

  
Hours: 11 AM – 12 AM, Sunday-Thursday | 11 AM – 1 AM, Fri/Sat

Distillery Tours: 2 PM, Monday-Friday

www.rogue.com

www.snakeriverfarms.com

Don’t get me wrong, I think those big draft horses are impressive, but big breweries don’t necessarily mean the best beer, or the only beer.McMenamins

Opening their first Portland, Oregon pub in 1983, the McMenamin brothers have expanded substantially over the last 26 years. Their branding calls them “A place for family & friends.” But the last time I checked, brewpubs were not exactly the place to bring your family. But McMenamins is more than just brewpubs.

Seven historic hotels, brewpub/restaurants throughout Oregon, Washington and the Portland metro area, music venues and even movie theaters are now apart of the McMenamins portfolio.

OLD SCHOOL

I don’t ever recall that I or anyone I have ever heard of actually say, “I wish I could stay here (at school) all night!”

From 1915 to 1975, Kennedy Elementary School graduated classes onto the next level of education until the school board finally said, this place is falling apart and we need to close.

Along came the McMenamin brothers with a plan.A massive renovation produced 35 guestrooms crafted from the former classrooms. You will get all of the amenities that you never saw when you went to school: private bath, telephone, and a modem. What you will remember is the chalkboard and cloakroom that is still there to haunt you!

Throughout the halls are historical photographs and artwork. There is a movie theatre, multiple bars, a soaking pool and of course the brewery which works just fine with the Brewmaster substituting for the Principal.

Kennedy School is a little disconcerting to find in the dark as it is located in an older neighborhood just East of downtown Portland. The streets in the vicinity are the narrower variety that you find in older neighborhoods and not overly lit.

I was there for the food and the Courtyard restaurant was packed, as it was Saturday night. If you’re just looking for a bar, you have your choice of the Boiler Room, Detention, or if you’re if you were one of those “straight A” students, the Honors Bar.

The Courtyard restaurant was the former cafeteria now open for all three meals a day. In nice weather a courtyard is available for dining and it must have been nice, because it too was packed with diners/drinkers.

And yes, it is the usual suspects for a brewpub menu: salads, burgers, pizza and specialty items (steak, salmon, pasta …)

There’s even a little treat from the appetizer/starters section for those of you that are still re-living your elementary school days …Tater Tots! $5.25

Remembering my challenging days in elementary school I opted for the

The Principal’s Special Pizza

I’m not sure whether I was hoping to take revenge on old memories, or I just liked the combination of toppings (Canadian bacon, pepperoni, fennel sausage, onions, & black olives (8-inch $8.25 / 16-inch $25.25), but I opted out of the black olives and still had a good time, something I couldn’t always say about Elementary School …

There is one thing that sets this former school location apart from 99.9% of others brewpubs. If you get Hammered by the Hammerhead (Ale), or Terminated by the Terminator (Ale), you can always get a classroom near the principal’s office and sleep it off!

HOTEL

Rooms: $109 – $130 per night
Packages Available

RESTAURANT

Hours: Daily 7 a.m. – 1 a.m.

No Reservations
Non-smoking establishment

Kennedy School
5736 NE 33rd Avenue
Portland, Oregon

McMenamins
Various locations throughout Oregon and Washington
www.mcmenamins.com

Come back Monday for another Portland brewpub: We’re going Rogue!

After a two and a half hour drive over the Cascade Mountains on a road (U.S. 20) that wouldn’t win any awards for staying in a straight line, I arrived in Corvallis, Oregon. Most people will probably say, WHERE?

Although near Eugene, Albany, Salem and, ultimately, Portland, Corvallis is not the most well known of cities in the Willamette Valley. While the aforementioned cities have a common trait (they are all next to I-5 traveling north and south through Oregon), Corvallis is just a bit off the beaten track (8 miles west of the interstate highway.) Not so much a tourist destination as a sports and education destination, Corvallis is home to Oregon State University. GO BEAVS!Now, just what do the words “College Town” and “BEER” have in common? If you don’t know the answer to that one you need to rent “Animal House” on DVD (which, by the way, was filmed just down the road in Eugene and Cottage Grove, Oregon.)

After you finish the movie, it’s time hop in your car and cruise on down to 300 SW Jefferson in Corvallis. That’s where you’ll find…

Block 15 Restaurant & Brewery -

one of the newest brewpubs in Oregon. Opening its doors at the end of February 2008, Block 15 is only a short distance from Oregon State University. The brewpub took over a 1926 building that was originally built for the local Gazette-Times newspaper.

With over 12 of their own craft brews on tap at any time, you can order Ridgeback Red, Glo, Golden Ale, Nebula Oatmeal Stout, Alpha IPA, and Printmaster’s Pale which use Northwest grown hops and organic base malt combined with imported specialty malts.

But, it was lunchtime and I was also there for the food.

Block 15 from the upper level

Soups and salads, sandwiches, pastas, fish and my favorite …

HAND-SPANKED BURGERS (Painted Hills Beef, Fossil, Oregon)

But, in their own insidious way, the brewers have issued: The Brewers Challenge Burger $13.50

There before your eyes are two … TWO hand-spanked beef patties, TWO slices of Tillamook cheddar cheese, a layer of thick sliced bacon, FRIED jalapeños AND your choice of two sides.YOUR CHALLENGE:

Clean your plate like your mother always told you to do, and she’ll give you your first pint of beer for free!

Well, maybe your mother didn’t offer you a free beer, but the brewers at Block 15 will make up for her inattention to detail by granting  that promise.

If you want your lunch cooked in some hops and barley, then try the House Beer Sausage.

From just up the road in Albany, Pepper Tree Beer Sausage is grilled in Block 15 Glo, Golden Ale, and topped with stone ground mustard, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese.
$8.25

I opted for the Grilled Turkey and Cheddar.
Turkey breast, grilled onions, cheddar cheese, and honey mustard on grilled sourdough bread.
$7.75

I didn’t complain. But I did have to complain about my inability to try one of the craft beers. You see, I was driving and the State Police, no matter where you are, seem to have a rule about mixing those two activities. (That’s why it’s a good thing Block 15 is only a few blocks from the University.)

The closest I could get to a beer was the house brewed Root Beer. It was a “busy” concoction made with sassafras, wintergreen, licorice root, vanilla, organic cane and brown sugars, & local wildflower honey.
$3.00 (No Refills)

SUSTAINABILITY

Throughout Oregon in both restaurants and brewpubs you will hear the word “Sustainability.” Simply put, we are talking environmentally friendly and the use of locally grown products. Block 15 sets high standards for itself in this category in both the brewing of its beer and the restaurant side of the business.

Whether you’re there for a weekend of one of the many sports played on campus, or just passing through, Block 15 Restaurant & Brewery is definitely worth the stop. Hopefully, you won’t be driving.

Block 15 Restaurant & Brewery
300 SW Jefferson
Corvallis, Oregon

11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday
11 a.m. – 1 a.m. Thursday-Saturday

Happy Hour Menu: 3-6 p.m.
Late Night Menu: 10 p.m. to close

Free WiFi

www.block15.com