Seattle to Portland
 

Looking for some really unique spots on the way and in or around Portland. Got anything?

Honestly, it's a 3 hour drive straight down the boring I-5 freeway, unless you take a fairly extensive detour along the way.

Hopefully the Portland folks will chime in with good stuff once you get there.

Portland local here...Suze is right...boring drive. The only detour that you might want to stop for is Mt. St. Helens, but that will take a few hours. Not a quick stop and look and continue sort of place.

I agree, the drive between Seattle and Portland isn't very scenic in comparison to many other drives in Washington State.

However, Olympia, WA, has a delightful farmers' market near which are two restaurants we like: Mercato, for delicious Italian, and Budd Bay Cafe, for seafood (on the deck).

The Olympic Club in Centralia is interestng if you like old bars in which time seems to have stood still.

Nearer Portland is Fort Vancouver.

One thing good about the drive is there are nice rest areas well spaced to stop and stretch you legs and use the facilities along the way. I drive this route to see my family and usually pack snacks, then just drive on thru but for rest stops and one stop for gas.

I'm not against the Olympia idea but that's only 1 hour from Seattle, so I would not be ready to take a break quite so soon.

Spiffys! It's a family restaurant on the southeast corner of the exit at Milepost 68 on I-5. They are famous for their pies. Their apple pie is very, very tall, with layer after layer of apples and cinammon. I'd say it's the best apple pie in the world.

Thuel~ here's your other post w/ the same question & some suggestions.

suze - Thanks

I'm not necessarily looking for something just between Portland or Seattle, but anything unique in the general area of Portland or anywhere in between...kind of in search of these places.

Right now I'm headed south to Hike to the St. Helens Crater, then over to Astoria and down the coast to Oceanside and then back over to Portland. Have a pretty hilarious list of things already, but I'm always open for more suggestions. Rope Swings, Taco trucks, Golf Courses, Sketchy bars, those off beat locations. Let me know if you can help!

Sorry, I don't have anything clever to add (when I leave Seattle most often it's to go to the airport!).

Thanks for the clarification. If you're going to Astoria, consider doing so on WA-14. Points of interest include the little town of Cathlamet, Ft. Columbia State Park, and Cape Disappointment State Park (with its lighthouse).

Highlights between Astoria and Oceanside include Ecola State Park, Cannon Beach, Hug Point State Park, and Manzanita.

If you are looking for Taco trucks etc, in downtown Portland you will find all sorts on 3rd Ave ( I am pretty sure) between Stark and SW Washington ( I think lol) and between Stark and SW Washington on 10th..
Thai, Gyro, Mexican, you name it, I think there is a truck for it. Don't forget No Fish Go Fish on the sidewalk by Pioneer Square.

Look in on the bars on NW 12th across the street from the Ace Hotel, let me know if they are sketchy, I always wondered...there is a new place there, on NW10th..one of the drink and eat while you watch the movie Cinemas. Living Room Theater I think it is called.

If you are driving to Portland on 26 from the Coast..I suggest a stop at Camp 18. Log cabin, good homey food and great staff. ( during one of the snow storms people were stranded on the highway and the people who worked at Camp 18 stayed open all night to take care of all the stranded travelers, letting them sleep in the restaurant also..

I really like Cannon Beach but loooved Manzanita..I could skip Seaside and Astoria but that might just be me :)

Howq about the glass museum in Tacoma?