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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 2009)
fl 16 W W W JU STOUT C O M AUGUST 7. 2009 About this time every August, folks are going a little stir crazy - from the heat, from all that bare skin on display, from one too many mentions o f the buzz term “staycation.” So what’s a summer-lovin’ Portlander to do? Hit the road! With that in min d,Just Out submits for your consider ation several destinations for your trusty G P S device, and several recommendations for when you get where your seasonal fancy takes you. Whether you’re a family with a jones for dim sum, a “Track Town” trekker, a nude beach novice, or a road trippin’ adventurer seeking a new, off-I-5 journey, we’ve got your late summer travels covered. And they’re all easily manageable with a long weekend haul. Regular columnists Eric D. Olson and Floyd Sklaver are joined by a couple o f first-time Just Out contributors, JoNelle Toriseva and renowned gay travel guru (and Portland resident) Andrew Collins. But we’re not the only ones with escapes on the brain. The Jupiter Hotel’s Director o f Sales Stephen Cassell says his “favorite out o f the way spot” is the Helvatia Tav ern, just southwest o f Hillsboro. “They [have] inexpensive, amazing burgers, and cheap beer with a wonderful backyard patio in an old house. It’s only minutes from Portland but feels like you’re spending an afternoon in the country,” he raves. “Oh wait, that’s because you are.” Q_Center Executive Director Kendall Clawson is all about discovering the unknown. “Michele and I will just get in the car on a Sunday afternoon, turn up the satellite radio and see where we land,” she shares. “Earlier this year, we decided to take a ride up 1-5 north and then get off on some country-looking road to see what we would see.” They ended up at Mt. St. Helens National Park. Cupcake Jones proprietress Lisa Watson fondly recalls fishing with her grandfather in the region’s lakes, among them Loon, Big, Detroit, Ollallie and Dorena Lake. “We have always been huge fans o f the beach, the Lincoln City area in particular,” she adds. “Neskowin Lodge was our standby. It always had room for all six o f us kids, our parents, and all of the sand, shells and firewood that we tracked in day after day on the beach. “Looking out over Boiler Bay, watching the sunset, alone with my dad will always be one o f my favorite memories o f my life.” Go on, pack your bags, gas up the car, take us with you and make some new ones. Clawson, for one, is. She men tions an upcoming camping outing at Clear Lake, “which if you know me, is a miracle, because I hate to get dirty and I’m kind o f afraid o f what lurks in the woods, so you might get a funny story out o f me after that!” Stay tuned, and happy and safe trails to you. -Am anda Schurr HITTING THE ROADS MORE AND LESS TRAVELED HOW I BEAT THE 1-5 BLUES By ANDREW COLLINS Resent might be too strong a word, but I really don’t ap preciate having to return from any place via the same route that got me there. This is a trait of inveterate road-trippers, and I’ve long been-one o f those. Often, it’s easy enough to create a relatively engaging yet still efficient “loop” itinerary to wherever I’m going, but as any Portlander knows, when driving to and from Seattle, the bland 1-5 is the only practi cal option. Fortunately, I’m not very practical. This past April, in no special hurry to return home from a Seattle trip, I sought out a scenic route. Before I describe what I encountered along the way, let me point out that it’s possible to take a less weirdly circuitous version o f my alternate itinerary, which runs east around Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens. Without dawdling, you could make the 330-mile trip via Yakima in six hours, about twice as long as the 1-5 route. Because I’m easily amused and distracted, my journey took 53 hours. I left Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood on a morosely rainy Sunday afternoon, my spirits buoyed after having dropped by Molly Moon’s, purveyor o f sublimely delicious artisan ice cream— I hoovered up a dish o f half salted cara mel, half honey-lavender. Perfection. Maybe it was the sugar high, but as I motored out o f town via 1-5,1 succumbed to a H2OhhhYes Right thsrç. 35 mite* from Portland in the Columbia River Gorge W il d R iv e r s . Y o u c an f is h can even Includes deluxe guest room, two Mineral Bath & Wraps, and your choice of wine, champagne, or sparkling cider Upgrade to a private hot tub room with king bed for just Y ou CAN PLAY GOLF. YOU CAN STROLL DOWN W e t l a n d B o a r d w a l k s . Y o u AUGUST SPECIAL $40 more per couple based on availability. S ki MT. HOOD IN THE SUN OF SA V E 20% AN AWESOME SUMMER. on selected spa services Mon. - Thur. Spa specials not com hm at* with othei often T he O n ly t h in g yo u c a n ’ t do IS GET BORED. Y E A R -R O U N D S K IIN G • G O L F • H IK IN G • F IS H IN G P A C K A G E S • E X T E N D E D -S T A Y R A TES • IN T E R N E T MTHOODRESORT.COM ----- PHONE 5 0 3 -8 2 2 -3 0 9 9 Bonneville H o t Springs Resort & Spa •Reservations required Based on avadabilrty Sunday thru Thursday only. Not vald with any other offer, coupon or discounts. Registered guest must be 21 or older to receive alcohol. Offer valid Aug I to 31,2009
