Best Of

A couple weeks ago drove to Pismo Beach for my wife’s family ting. We had wanted to road trip for a while, and this was the opportunity. Left out the back door, 3 to 101, through Oly to the 5. Spent the night in Grants Pass. Stayed at the River Inn, would recommend, good breakfast, wine and beer on site. Then over to Crescent City, and down 101 to Santa Rosa for 2 nights. Wine tasting (Iron Horse strong recommend), Russian River Brewing (Pliny the Elder). I had never driven that part of 101, and it was spectacular.

Three days in Pismo, really chill. First night at a “surfer” motel, 2 at an insanely expensive resort. It was very nice, as it should have been for the price. It’s how my wife’s family rolls. We went to Avila Beach, where we honeymooned, our first trip back in 20+ years, which was cool.

We were traveling with our pup, so dog-friendly…our first stop on the way back was Red Bluff (DO NOT recommend, LOL), up the 5 to north of Grants Pass, and over to Florence for a night. Found a cool little tap room, in an old house in a neighborhood, with good food and beer. Had lunch in Newport, I hadn’t been there since depositing my DNA in the ocean off the back of a charter when I was 14. Marina was touristy, but not overwhelming. Finished with 2 nights in Seaside, Mo’s chowder, and the best hangtown fry I’ve ever had (multiples) at the Osprey Cafe, a little coffeehouse just off the beach south of downtown.

It was nice not having to need 2-3 days to recover from vacation, very relaxing trip.