travel adventures

we've been on the road the past 3 weeks, so please excuse the blogging hiatus. i hope to be posting some tales of our adventures soon!

we just returned from a wonderful trip to sunny california...well, maybe not so sunny. the trip was filled with amazing food, quality family time, new wines, adorable puppies, cute antique shops, and even a few rainbows. we ended up on a back-road detour that we swore took us to a far-off land. the green hills and brilliant blue skies were straight out of The Sound of Music.

between changing time zones repeatedly and the terrible allergies & cold i've been fighting, my poor body is wrecked. i'm sure the wine tasting only helped.

fall in north georgia

saturday was glorious, so we packed up the dog and headed north for the day. Lula's been acting out a little, so we figured an adventure would do her spirit some good.

we started the day driving around lake rabun, specifically tame turkey road. we hit a spot and were taken aback by how breathtaking it was. you could see the neighboring mountains & there wasn't a cloud in the sky. sorry, too stunned for photos.

when our bellies started growling, we headed north to dillard, ga to find a bite to eat. just north of dillard on hwy 441 is an amazing farm stand: osage farms. they always have fresh veggies, amazing prices, and, of course, a crowd on the weekends. right next to the farm stand is tomlin bbq. we tried their brisket sandwiches--yum--and baked beans--okay. it was messy & delicious. we sat on the back of tailgate, letting bbq sauce drip down our fingers and hit the dirt parking lot, with Lula curled up in the back of the truck. oh, and we matched. both in black pullovers with red shirts underneath. it would have been a perfect Christmas card...if our hands hadn't been too sloppy to operate a camera.

it was a popular day at the farm stand for several reasons: it's the end of the season, so only a few weeks remain. locals were stocking up on ears of corn by the bushel, crates of potatoes, and pumpkins! they had some awesome varieties of pumpkins. cinderella pumpkins, fairytale pumpkins, swan gourds, and more i'd never heard of.  i wish i'd bought some, but still not sure why i didn't. actually, cricket convinced me they'd rock around in the back of the truck too much. really? i'm a sucker.

after nourishment, we scoped out a few hikes for our adventure. we opted to either check out the chattooga river or try something new. we'd talked about trying the panther creek falls trail, but it's like 15 miles. no thank you. cricket found a waterfall hike near clayton, ga, so we headed to the trailhead on warwoman road. the trail was a total of 10 minutes, including our 4 minute "break" to take in the falls. and by falls, i mean gentle trickle down a cliff into a slightly-wetter-than-dry creek. Lula had fun with the new smells, though.

all in all, it was a great day in the mountains. the leaves were starting to change, the weather was a high of 71, and it's just good to get out of town every once in a while. and Lula, i'd say she had a pretty good day. poor little dog.

oregon travels, part 3: wine country, day 2

we awoke craving another breakfast from community plate, so there we went. i had the daily quiche + cricket had the steel cut oats with berries. the berries were some of the most amazing berries i've ever tasted!

then, we headed south. we were expected in springfield, oregon around 5pm for flower picking for the wedding, so we just spent the day leisurely lingering between the small towns. the bride called to see if we could pick up her wine club shipment at a winery on our way, so it was a perfect "anchor" of our route. here's a google map of our entire wine country tour, the purple/pink is day 2....

• st. innocent: it shares a location with zenith vineyards, which is apparently really just an event facility. the wines weren't anything special.
• johan: the tasting room is very small, but it's a pretty drive that neighbors left coast cellars. the winemaker had had special visitors earlier in the day, so he'd opened a reserve bottle that made it to the tasting menu, so that was nice.
• left coast cellars: a must-stop if you're in the area. they have a cute tasting room + cafe. after the tasting, we sat on the patio to enjoy lunch. i had the amazing sundried tomato mac + cheese, while cricket ordered a smoked salmon baguette. both were really really good. the best part, we had a visit from bambi while we dined! turns out, the former winemaker was actually at the wedding, too. 

[holy moly mac & cheese]

[lunchtime visit from bambi]

• van duzer vineyards: we may be biased. my sis had joined their wine club in order to get a case discount for their wedding wine. they treated us like wine club members, since we were there to pick up her seasonal shipment. we spent a good while there, and very much enjoyed the wines. of the day's vineyards, this view was tops. they have a nice patio + were planning their wine club pick-up party. everyone was very friendly. 

[van duzer tasting]

[van duzer patio pic]

we headed on towards corvallis, where we met my sis for ice cream en route to the flower-pickin' farm.  the farm is a hobby of the owners, who designated it a "farm" for tax purposes. i felt like i was in their backyard garden picking the flowers, much against the rule my mom taught me many years ago. luckily, she was there too. not scolding, but picking away.

after picking bucket loads of flowers, we headed to mckenzie bridge, oregon for the wedding festivities!

more oregon adventures coming up...

oregon travels, part 2: wine country, day 1

after the coast, we headed up the pacific coast highway then headed east to McMinnville, which would be our base for the next two nights. the quaint town is chock full of charm + good eats, and provides a great spot to chill between wine tasting adventures.


we stayed at McMennamin's Hotel Oregon. i love all of the McMennamin's properties i've visited, but they aren't for everyone. they're famous in oregon for rehabilitating older buildings and giving them a new, albeit quirky, life. for example, our room was named after the son of the previous hotel owners. he was BIG into HAM radio, and apparently had a huge antenna extending from the family's upstairs apartment in the hotel. the rooftop bar is a great spot to grab a bite to eat or take advantage of happy hour. everyone is super friendly there. everyone.


we started the day with breakfast at community plate. delish. the vibe + decor are just my style: reclaimed wood counter, industrial farm accents, huge dining tables for community-style dining. the food, just as top-notch.

[the sign just about sums it up. it was yummy, indeed]

[reclaimed wood detail]

[biscuits + gravy]

[egg sammich]

with full bellies, we began our wine country adventure. for those traveling in oregon, you're in luck. a while back, oregon invested in directional signage for the winery industry. you can drive along the highways of wine country and easily be directed to the next winery or vineyard. but, if you want a little pre-planning, i suggest requesting this map. the online version is handy, but the printed version details tasting room hours + highlights.

·     youngberg hill: we arrived at the same time as an overnight group, as it doubles as a B+B. it was a bit chaotic + i was mistaken for someone who worked there while i tried to figure out what was going on. the kitchen was bustling with dinner prep, so it was kinda strange. the wines were ok. amidst the hub-bub, no one asked us to pay the tasting fee, so it wasn't a total loss. i don't know if there actually is one?

·     anne amie vineyards:: worth the stop. BEAUTIFUL views, friendly staff, tasty wines. $10 tasting fee for 5 wines. did i mention they have a row of hammocks just off the patio?

[row of hammocks + linear fire pit at anne amie]

·       winderlea: very contemporary tasting room suspended over the vineyard. the staff was very accommodating, and we sat on the balcony and leisurely enjoyed the wine without any pressure to purchase. i think the fee was $15.

[tasting deck at winderlea]

[martian-looking maintenance worker at winderlea]

·         erath: a wine we're familiar with, so figured we should stop by. the $10 flight was okay, but felt some pressure to purchase. they had a nice patio, but this place felt more like a tourist trap than the others we visited.

·     trisateum: the tasting room was a gallery, and the drive was really pretty. it's a bit pretentious to be in a gallery of the owner's art + pressured to buy his wine. the staff was very friendly, though. it seemed to be a stop on the limo tours, but wasn't too crowded.

·     penner-ash: AMAZING. the views were great, the wine was delish. we'd planned to visit Penner-Ash, but were also referred by a fellow taster we ran into at Trisateum. apparently they were pouring some of their newer award-winning releases of pinot noir that day + we were in luck. we opted for the pinot noir flight + it was great. they have a beautiful deck with views of Mt. Hood. don't miss it!

[penner-ash view of mt. hood]

·     carlton winemaker's studio: this is a treat because it's a joint effort between 3-4 winemakers, so you get to taste a variety. we arrived as a rambunctious group was leaving, but it mellowed out shortly thereafter. i think the flight was $15.

 


here's a google map of our route.
here's a google earth map from a friend of ours who is very well-informed about the area's wines. we didn't have a chance to visit them all, but maybe you can!



that was an end to day 1's wine trail. we grabbed a snack on the hotel rooftop before dinner where we ran into the purveyors of community plate. we're all friends now. well, they recognized us the next day anyway.

we capped it off with dinner at thistle in downtown McMinnville. we couldn't get in the night prior, so our 8pm reservation was crucial. the restaurant is small, but charming. the only menu is on a large chalkboard, which is tucked into a strange corner. we were seated near the chalkboard, so it wasn't a big deal--but it was awkward when other diners would come stand near our table just to read the menu. i think maybe a 2nd chalkboard on the other side of the dining room would be helpful here. the farm-fresh menu will appeal to all epicurean types. it's definitely worth a try, but they need another server. be ready to order when she comes the first time--you won't see her for a while.



after dinner, back to the hotel. more wine tomorrow...

oregon travels, part 1: the ranch + the coast

Q: where in oregon did you visit on vacation?

A: oregon. just about all of it

the truth is, we put about 1,100 miles on our rental car in 9 days. we saw all sorts of beautiful places + had a GREAT time.

after our late arrivals, Texas Teacher sister and I spent the night in Eugene. we woke up the next morning, appropriately dressed for our ranch adventure, grabbed breakfast at the infamous Voodoo Doughnuts, and headed to costco for the bachelorette party supplies. then to the grocery store, then to the liquor store for the remaining essentials. don't let me forget to tell you about the amazingly delicious maple glazed donut topped with bacon. it's like the perfect bite of a syrup-soaked pancake and crispy bacon. you know the moment...when you dip your bacon in your maple syrup? yummerific.

[maple glazed donut with BACON from Voodo]

note to travelers: oregon is very strict on their liquor sales. you can only buy liquor at dedicated stores, and none of them in the entire state accept AmEx. beer/wine are sold at regular grocery outlets.

we took the pink route to Agency Ranch, near Klamath Falls. we passed by Crater Lake en route, but we didn't stop to check it out...i wish we had. nonetheless, the ranch was gorgeous.

my sister's friend's ranch was the perfect place for the girl's rustic weekend; it was formerly the headquarters of the Klamath tribe. the main ranch house used to be the communications center--where they sent morse code signals and such. pretty freakin' cool. of course, they had no idea that it would turn into bachelorette party central!

there's not much to tell of the bachelorette weekend--what happens at the ranch stays at the ranch, or you get shot with a BB gun. but you can check out these posts on the favors + party games to get an idea of the fun that followed.

on monday, we picked up cricket in Eugene + headed to the west coast, following the turquoise route to Yachats. if you've never seen the Oregon coast, you should. it's beautiful + very different from the beaches we East Coasters are used to sunbathing on. there is no sunbathing here--it's windy + cold. the cliffs are gorgeous and you may even see a seal or two hundred.

in Yachats, we stayed at Terry [blech] A [jerks] While condos. as you can tell, not a fan [i hate to give them any credit with the google crawlers!]. they hate dogs. hate them. hate them hate them hate them. dogs can't even be IN THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT while you unload your luggage without the threat of a $500 fine. jerks. mean mean jerks. also, they don't actually have wireless internet as claimed on their website. well, they have it in the lobby [which consists of 2 sliding glass doors, a desk chair, and a counter] but not in any of the rooms. oh, and their single iron sucks. you have to use it in the tiny lobby on the rickety ironing board.

the rooms are nice enough for the price, and the view is amazing. just don't expect to be connected or have your pooch with you or have ironed clothes. on principle, i'm not saying anything else positive about them.

[we had the entire 4-unit building, each with private + amazing ocean views]

[me + cricket before leaving the coast]

[perfect reading spot just out the back door]

near Yachats, is Rogue brewery in Newport. we'd planned to visit, but after hearing how the locals aren't big fans of the new corporate mindset, we passed. we also heard rumors of moldy beer. no thanks.

you can find great seafood, though, in Yachats, Waldport and Newport. like this massive bowl of clam chowder cricket ordered [and couldn't finish]:

[my cup o' chowder]

[his "large" bowl of chowder. complete with a pat of butter for extra artery clogging]

wine country adventure coming soon...

party pennants

i'll be MIA for the next few days while my li'l sis ties the knot on the banks of the mckenzie river in beautiful central oregon. the forecast calls for highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s. let me repeat that:

highs in the SEVENTIES

lows in the FORTIES

IN AUGUST

 
woot woot!!
to celebrate, there's been a good bit of crafting. i can't give it all away just yet because we need some surprises for the bride-to-be. but i'll share some hints of things to come in the coming posts:

• 180 feet of multi-colored party pennants
• bachelorette party favors
• doggie favor for the pooch acquiring a new last name [we're a little gaga over our dog children]
• bachelorette party menus + cocktails
• party games
• wedding recap
• wine tasting in central oregon

that's right. fun times--and unbelievable weather--ahead.

my trip to the cathedral

it's not often i blog about my "real job"--this is an outlet for me, afterall. but from time to time, my job affords me some pretty unique opportunities that i just have to share. this weekend was one of those. my good friends at the chicago cubs invited me on a trip to be part of mlb history. the cubs were playing at fenway park for the first time since babe ruth himself was on the pitcher's mound. babe ruth! 1918, to be exact. so 93 years later, i got to be there when today's cubbies entered those hallowed grounds.

while in beantown we experienced fenway, shopped on newbury street, had some celebrity sightings, and traveled back in time...

fun @ fenway
i'm no sports geek, but i have a strong affinity for the tradition of america's pastime. to think of all the memorable moments that happened behind these walls makes my head spin a little. the history of fenway park far pre-dates me. and you if you're reading this. what a testament of time.

it wouldn't be a trip to fenway without yawkey way. for those who don't know, yawkey way is a closed-off street technically inside the gated area of the ballpark. it's a big ole baseball themed street festival.

complete with a band...

and fried dough...

did you hear me? FRIED DOUGH. yes, i had one. i would've taken a picture but i had powdered sugar all over my face fingers and gobbled it up rather quickly. it's basically a funnel cake without the trouble of the pattern. it's a fried pancake covered in sugar and/or cinnamon, depending on your preference.

shopping on newbury street

between games, we spent some time shopping on newbury street. the shopping district has erected amidst brownstones, mixed in with a few architectural gems and eateries. in the south, our architecture is pretty limited. ya see, we had some guy come into town and torch everything a while back.

funky shoes at john fluevog...

another stop was jonathan adler. of course we couldn't resist the punchy patterns and bold colors... 

[a li'l inspiration for a project]



[funky butter dishes from jonathan adler. shoes, dogs, mouse, whale?]



it wouldn't be boston without seeing a firehouse. with firemen hanging out in front, of course.

the junior league of boston. do you think kate spade was a member?

the iconic brownstones with a little ivy...a nod to the cubbies i am sure.

celebrity sightings in beantown

first, we saw marilyn. and we actually stalked her like the paparazzi when we saw her running down the street. we finally caught up with her as she was greeting some adoring fans. jfk was from boston, no?

then, we saw bill murray at the game. he's a big cubs fan, so i hear. 

last, but certainly not least, and definitely most appropriate for this trip...the babe. he was kind enough to pose for a pic and didn't mind my blue stripes...



time travel

on saturday night, we traveled back to 1918. the red sox decided to recreate the last cubs @ bosox game, including details like...

if you wanted to know who was up to bat, the jumbotron only showed the lineup card...

[can you even read that? i can't tell you if it was today's roster or 1918's]

and if you needed to see what that player looked like, they provided the black & white photo of the 1918 red sox team for easy reference...

oh, and if that wasn't enough to test your baseball knowledge, there was no PA announcement throughout the game. only if you were sitting in the infield could you hear the play-by-play from the megaphone. yep, a megaphone.

as thorough as they were, they overlooked a few details:

• there were no lights at the ballpark in 1918
• women probably weren't allowed at the games. especially wearing pants.
• ticket prices weren't prorated to the 1918 price
• some folks started the "USA" cheer...which wasn't invented until the 1980 olympics
• beer prices were much higher than 1918

but of all the throwback nods, this guy was my favorite...nicely done t-bone.

hope you enjoyed my trip to see the Old Towne! i wish i'd seen more sights, but i missed out on the duck tour thanks to an incredibly slow waiter at charley's eating & drinking saloon. guess i'll just have to go back...but definitely not waiting 93 years like the cubbies.

oh, and if you need a convenient place to stay to visit the place mentioned, we stayed at the hilton back bay. it was about a 15 minute walk to the ballpark and 5 minutes to newbury street. the rooms were spacious and clean!

disclaimer stuff - i wasn't paid to endorse any of these places or things. i was on this trip as part of my full-time job, but i didn't receive any direct compensation.