We are going on a honeymoon/workshop combined trip to Oregon/Washington. The courses are held on two weekends in October. We will have the middle week to spend as we wish. We were thinking of going to Ashland. Anyone have suggestions? The second weekend though the course is in Kirkland. That allows us to work our way back home to Vancouver Island. Four weeks ago today that we tied the knot.
Ashland is a great place to visit. I also really like Bend Oregon. You could also spend part of the time in both cities. My friends just did a trip from Seattle down Prosser, then to Bend, then to Crater Lake and then back up to Walla Walla in Washington. They went to purchase wine (Prosser and Walla Walla) and hike (Bend and Crater Lake).
Or go over to the coast. There are many great places to stay along the Oregon Coast (Cannon Beach, Brandon, Lincoln City, Manzanita). You can also visit the wine region around McMinnville on the way to the coast from Portland.
So much to do.... Just depends upon what you want to see. Inland? Ocean?
The first weekend workshop is in Bend! The next weekend is in Kirkland Washington. I love your ideas and will look more online at the places you suggested.
We are away for the first two weeks of Oct. so hopefully the weather will be nice. I had heard that Cannon Beach is pretty.
Sandy, I LOVE Ashland and could happily live there! Friends and I spent a few days in Ashland at the end of June, and stayed at http://www.palmcottages.com . We loved it! Our double room had a kitchenette that was great for morning coffee and toast, and keeping snacks in the refrigerator. I didn't write a review yet, but Marta recommended it to me - HERE is her SlowTrav review.
If you're interested in theatre, one of the best plays I've ever seen (and I've seen a lot) was "Equivocation" by Bill Cain at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. It plays until the end of October.
We had two delicious lunches at cafes along the river (Greenleaf & the little Mexican place at the end near Web-sters) and an outstanding dinner at KOBE Modern Japanese. My review HERE.
Rogue Creamery in nearby Central Point has amazing blue cheeses. My aunt and uncle in Grant's Pass make special trips there to stock up!
Posts: 16055 | Location: The Beautiful San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 06 August 2001
Hi Sandy, Love your photo! I live in Redmond, which is near Kirkland. Kirkland is right on Lake Washington, so you can walk along the water. Our favorite restaurant in Kirkland is called "Purple" - good NW style food & great wine selection. You're also near Woodinville where you could visit Chateau Ste. Michelle, Red Hook Brewery, or Novelty/Hill Januik wineries to name a few. If you like to kayak (and happen to get good weather), you can rent them from a place called AguaVerde (aguaverde.com). We've visited Ashland & really enjoyed it as well. Check before you go to see what's playing at the theatres. Since it'sa tourist town, it's very walkable & has plenty of good restaurants.
Thanks for all the suggestions. We have a private suite in an Ashland house booked for $50 a night. It is not in the center of town but rather a 20 minute walking distance to the theatre. I am also going to look at options for the area around Kirkland too. It sounds like a nice place. The only previous knowledge that I had of the area was of Costco!
I grew up in Kirkland. The "downtown" area, by the lake, is quite walkable and even cute, for a suburb--there are parks, restaurants, shops, etc. There's at least one hotel there, at Carillon Point--I think there might be another (newer) one as well. The rest of the town is typical suburbia.
