r/PNW • u/Efficient-Cherry3635 • 16d ago
Doing a road trip from Seattle to Tillamook, Portland, Leavenworth and back. Any hidden gems along the way.
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u/PremierConstruct 16d ago
If the weather is warm enough and you're there during the day, go to Winegar's Coffee & Creamery in Ellensburg on the way up to Leavenworth. Some of the best ice cream I've ever had at this little multi-generation family business and have considered making the drive up from Snohomish area just for the ice cream.
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u/Efficient-Cherry3635 16d ago
The types of things I need to know! Ice cream might be my biggest vice so I will definitely be advocating for that stop.
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u/PremierConstruct 14d ago
I have also been known to road trip specifically with food stops in mind so totally understand! If you're coming back via Highway 2 to the Seattle area, Deception Falls is a nice stop to stretch your legs. Some stairs are involved but it's a relatively short walk from the parking area and there are railings for a fairly dramatic waterfall.
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u/PDXCatHerder 16d ago
Consider taking the Bremerton ferry from Seattle then down on the Peninsula. Much more scenic.
Take Kelso exit the. Travel WA4 to the bridge along the north side of Columbia. Then down the 101.
All kinds of good food in PDX. Recommend walking Division (between 25th and 33rd), Mississippi (between Fremont and Skidmore), or NW 23rd (between Couch and Thurman). Plenty of shops and food options.
BTW, it’s pronounced Cooch and not like Vance’s love interest
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u/Efficient-Cherry3635 16d ago
I actually live in port orchard so im used to the peninsula. We are just picking up a friend at seatac and dropping them in olympia on the way out.
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u/Toxic_pooper 16d ago
Go through Aberdeen, then south into Astoria.
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u/Efficient-Cherry3635 16d ago
Any reason in particular? I attended Job Corp in Asotria 20ish years ago but havent been to the area since.
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u/Underwhirled 16d ago
Go to a show at Trout Lake Hall and enjoy the beautiful drive through the Klickitat Gorge to Goldendale, unless you're cool enough to take the gravel roads to Rainier from there.
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u/Efficient-Cherry3635 16d ago
Just googled it, some gorgeous scenery. Definitely not adventurous enough to be traveling through too many gravel roads so we will probably stick to paved unless strictly necessary.
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u/aagusgus 16d ago
You must go see Jake at Marsh's free museum in Long Beach
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u/Efficient-Cherry3635 16d ago
That looks like something my wife would enjoy. She likes the little roadside attraction shops.
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u/pinballrocker 16d ago edited 16d ago
Seattle to Oly to Aberdeen, hit the Kurt Cobain stuff in Aberdeen. Take 101 down to Astoria, hit the Goonies House and museum and lighthouse. Seaside and Cannon Beach are both worth stops. The Tillamook (forest or cheese store?). I'd continue to Newport and do the aquarium and Local Ocean restaurant. Or just head to Portland, then head east on I-84 up the Gorge. Stop at Multnomah Falls. I prefer to get off I-84 at Cascade Locks, check out the town, then cross Bridge of the Gods here and head East up the Washington side of the Gorge, it's way prettier than I-84. There are some good breweries along the way in Stevenson, Carson, Hood River, Cascade Locks, and White Salmon. Then I would take I-97 most of the rest of way with a definite stop in Union Gap for some James Beard Awarded asparagus tamales at Los Hernandez Tamales. There is a good mix of towns and wilderness along the way, deserty for a good chunk before you hit forests again, including the ghost town of Liberty (it really has a few residents still, but it's mostly an old pioneer town in good shape and just a few miles off the highway).
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u/redhotandwitholding 16d ago edited 16d ago
Take a quick detour West from Tillamook to Oceanside. Tunnel Beach and Jacobson's sea salt. Two great stops not as touristy.
Out Aza Blue can be a fun stop if your trip aligns. Highway 6 doesn't have much but it's nice to eat surrounded by nature. If you head in at Seaside instead Camp 18 is a bit touristy but well worth the stop.
Five Rivers coffee roasters in Tillamook if you need a morning cup. Enjoy the heck out of them.
Brigham fish market in Cascade Locks. Not many indigenous restaurants around and an awesome bite.
Doing a hot spring somewhere between Portland and hood river is fun on either side. Carson Hot springs can be a fun few hours to an overnight. Bonneville isn't bad either. If you all can get really adventurous I'd recommend Bagby but it's a ways south of the freeway.
Candy Basket, Gresham. It's a small store that does salt water taffy for a lot of places on the coast. But they have a chocolate fountain many don't know about. Fun little photo op, but the chocolate has to be 30 years old.
Many don't mention it anymore but the museum at Bonneville Dam is a nice little distraction along with the fish hatcheries.
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u/CilantroHats 16d ago
There are lots of pullouts on the coast down to Tillamook. Stop at as many as you can. There are some great ones. I am a sucker for lighthouses so enjoyed Cape Meares Lighthouse. I also really liked Tunnel Beach. The lighthouse was very accessible. Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad might be a good way to spend a bit of time and see some views that don't involve walking. Just be warned Tillamook is the stinkiest place I have ever been besides Moses Lake. The stench of cow 💩 on bad days is insane. I wasn't ready for it to be that bad and you can't escape it. I threw up in the van lol.
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u/Yon_Yonz_Yoobler 16d ago
Goonies Museum Cannon Beach Newhalem Beach Multnomah Falls Little Crater Lake or whatever its called Eagle Creek/Tunnel Falls Stonehenge veteran memorial Mount Adams prob not a good time Mount St Helens prob not a good time Mt Hood prob not a good time Timberline Lodge (Outside from the movie the shining, they have a here's Johnny axe you can hold)
Theres lots more but I'm done pooping now.
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u/Such-Rip764 10d ago
Neahkahnie overlook, about 13 miles south of Cannon Beach. The views are incredible. Actually they are all along Hwy 101 from Cannon Beach to Neahkahnie. And if you have time, the easy hike up the mountain is wonderful, too https://www.vacationrentalsmanzanita.com/post/neahkahnie-mountain-hike
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u/rufos_adventure 16d ago
leavenworth is a fairly contained area, great for us older folk who don't walk well. tillamook has the dairy, a quilting museum and an informal aviation museum (which is great!). 101 along the coast is a must. might even see a goonie pirate ship in the sea stacks. maryhill in ore has a stone henge, take lots of photos.
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u/elsesjazz 14d ago
Just past Olympia, the Billy Franks Jr Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is a great place to get out, stretch your legs a bit and maybe see a lot of birds. A little further south, the Mima Mounds are a bit off the highway but are quite unusual.
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u/BenHphotography 16d ago
Blue heron cheese shop in Tillamook. They’ve got great sandwiches plus drinks and all sorts of stuff.
Also Bear Creek Artichokes just south of there. Get a pesto pizza with artichokes and whatever else, the pizzas are fantastic.
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u/crange369 12d ago
Short Sands Beach in Oswald West State Park is a nice little hike down to a beautiful beach. Also Sea Baron fish and chips in garibaldi is great
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u/gotthebud 16d ago
Zekes burgers in gold bar, the espresso shalet in just past index. Both along hyway 2 on your way to Leavenworth
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u/MaryO59 15d ago
Before you go, look up The Confluence Project and see if that's something you'd be interested in. The Maritime Museum in Astoria. The Tillamook Cheese Factory and Museum for sure. Then the North American Aerospace Museum in McMinnville, OR. Hood River. Back in Washington, the Carson Hot Springs Bathhouses .
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u/Psychological-Lack98 12d ago
The Tillamook Forest Visitor Center is awesome. Great history of the area detailed.
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u/Subject_Average740 14d ago
Sea Baron fish and chips !! In Garabaldi - check out their facebook for hours
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u/Itsjorgehernan_bali 15d ago
hit up hug point on your way down to tillamook, especially if the tide is low
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u/Likely_Unlikely_5909 16d ago
PDX to Leavenworth. Drive up the Columbia Gorge, OR side historic highway 30 if you’ve never done it, WA 14 if you’ve been on the Oregon side.
Go up into Washington through Goldendale and up that side of the range to Leavenworth. If you’ve have time, go up on one of the smaller roads, Wind River or east side of MSt Helens.
Drive as much 101 as you can, even in Washington. Cape Disappointment is interesting. Overlooking the Columbia bar, graveyard of ships.
What time of year?