west coast road trip

Seattle, WA

Seattle is a large port city surrounded by nature that is super fun to explore!

Seattle Tips:

  • Pack a rain coat! Even on days with a tiny percent chance of rain you will probably see some sprinkles, even in the dry months.

  • Avoid driving if you can. Seattle is not a very car friendly city, so if you can ditch your ride I would definitely recommend it.

  • It is extremely uncommon for breweries in the area to have kitchens, so plan ahead to ensure you’re not brewery hopping on an empty stomach. Most taprooms will have food trucks later in the day and/or on the weekends, but I’d recommend looking at each spot’s website or Instagram to see what they have planned.

Planning a Washington Road Trip? Check out my recommendations here! I visited Seattle, Bellingham, North Cascades National Park, Chelan, Leavenworth, Yakima, Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park and more!

Adventures & Ales Top Seattle Recommendations: ​

  • Fair Isle Brewing: An amazing brewery focused on Saisons and Farmhouse Ales. Their taproom is cute, their staff is really nice, and their beer is absolutely incredible. By far my favorite stop in Seattle. 49th Street Beast is their onsite food truck.

  • Great Notion Brewing: This fantastic Portland based brewery has two locations in Seattle, one in the Ballard neighborhood and one in the Georgetown neighborhood. In Ballard the taproom has nice indoor and outdoor seating with Burb’s Burgers inside for eats. They are particularly great at Sours and Stouts.

  • The Masonry: A stellar beer bar and pizza restaurant in Lower Queen Anne. They have a solid draft list and a good list of beer bottles, wines and cocktails. Their pizzas are fantastic and the menu also includes salads and small plates.

  • Fast Fashion: This is a great brewery with two locations in Seattle: Lower Queen Anne (connected to The Masonry) and in the SoDo neighborhood. They are known for their tasty IPAs but still have a robust tap list.

  • Kerry Park: A tiny and touristy park with fantastic views of the skyline and the water. Don’t expect to really hang out here, it’s really just a viewpoint, but I definitely recommend checking it out!

  • Fresh Flours Bakery & Cafe: A delicious bakery with great breakfast options. Be prepared for it to be busy and for things to sell out quickly.

  • RidgeWood Bottle & Tap: A great beer bar and bottle shop in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood. They have a huge tap list with a great selection. The vibes are chill and there are some water views from the front patio space.

  • Fulcrum Café: A cute coffee shop in Belltown with a small food menu. Their coffee is great!

  • The Fat Hen: A cute spot for brunch just north of the Ballard neighborhood. They have a coffee bar, full food menu and a few cocktails. Everything I had was delicious and it is a great little neighborhood spot.

  • Fremont Brewing: The most widely-known Seattle brewery is probably Fremont. They have a large distribution footprint and a large taproom to match it. Their beer garden is a fantastic spot to hang out. Their beers are solid, but flights can be pretty pricey as a heads up.

  • Dirty Couch Brewing: A brewery focused on Sours and Wild Ales with a nice patio.

  • Holy Mountain Brewing: Holy Mountain has two locations in town—their OG taproom and the newer Phinney Ridge taproom. Phinney Ridge is a nice, sleek space with a smaller tap list. There are a few places nearby to snag eats. The original taproom has frequent food trucks and a large open space.

Fair Isle Brewing

  • Brewery hop in the Ballard neighborhood! This area is packed full of breweries so I would make a plan ahead of time or you’ll never hit all the ones you want to because there are so many to choose from!

    • Fair Isle and Great Notion from above are both located here!

    • Stoup Brewing: A great brewery with a large tap list, delicious IPAs, a nice patio, and frequent food trucks.

    • Urban Family Brewing: Urban Family is directly across the street from Stoup and has great Sours and Hazy IPAs. They have a nice patio and beers to-go as well.

    • Lucky Envelope Brewing: Another brewery in the Ballard neighborhood. I found the tap list to be less than ideal and their beers they had when I visited to be mediocre, but perhaps with different selections on tap they would shine more.

    • Rueben’s Brews: A popular brewery with a nice patio and delicious beers, particularly their Hazy IPAs.

Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market

Seattle Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: ​

  • Chihuly Garden and Glass: A very cool glass museum with an indoor gallery, outdoor gallery, glass blowing demonstrations and onsite restaurant. Tickets are $35 which I was shook by but I would say it is worth it! Located in the Seattle Center next to the Space Needle.

  • Pike Place Market: The ever-popular market that is a Seattle icon is a must visit. Try a variety of foods, see flying fish, and be surrounded by hoards of tourists.

    • I highly recommend visiting the Beecher’s Cheese storefront.

    • Parking can be a nightmare, so I would recommend walking/Lyfting but if you do drive the street parking is way cheaper than the parking lots/garages.

    • This is where the ridiculously popular Starbucks is that basically always has a line. I’d recommend local Anchorhead Coffee instead if you need some java.

    • Cloudburst Brewing’s smaller original location is located here too.

  • Discovery Park: A popular park with multiple trails along the beach. I did this trail on AllTrails which ended up taking about an hour and 45 minutes and was 4.8 miles and 28 flights up. The beach itself is pretty rocky and a bit dirty, but it was still nice to be on the water. On a clear day you can see the surrounding mountains as well. One thing to note if you do the full loop trail you will walk near a waste treatment plant which is a bit smelly, but it is just for a short period of time.

  • You can also hike at Mount Rainer, which is a bit further out from Seattle but absolutely worth it! Be sure to check road closures and weather advisories before making the drive. Mount Rainier recommendations are here!

  • Rattlesnake Ledge Trail: A popular trail about an hour from Seattle only a few miles off the highway. I did this trail on AllTrails which ended up taking about 2.5 hours and was 6 miles and 131 flights up. You are quite literally climbing directly up the mountain and it takes about an hour to get to the first view point. There are two other ledges for views from slightly higher up that are less crowded.

  • Alki Beach: A cute little sleepy town with a rocky beach and views of the Space Needle and surrounding mountains

    • Ampersand Cafe: Average coffee shop right across from the beach

    • West Seattle Brewing: They have a taproom at Alki Beach but it was closed during my visit. Google and their website + social media said they were open, so I’d recommend trying to call ahead to confirm their hours if you plan to visit.

  • Gas Works Park: An old industrial park with great views of the city and the water. Ideal spot for a picnic or just to hang out in the grass.

  • Lake 22 Trail: This trail is 6.4 miles long with 1,450ft of elevation gain and is rated moderate. It is a rocky trail out to Lake 22 which is pretty and overall it’s not too tough. The trailhead is 1 hour north of Seattle in Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest. It takes just over 2.5 hours to complete.

  • Biscuit Bitch: A popular and touristy spot with delicious biscuits. They have 2 locations and you can order online to avoid any potential lines.

  • Seattle Center: Wander this area that is home to the Space Needle, multiple event spaces and a large outdoor park.

Chiluly Gardens and Glass

Chiluly Gardens and Glass

Other Seattle Things To Do:​​

  • Cloudburst Brewing: Cloudburst has two taprooms—one on Shishole and one near Pike Place Market. I visited their Shishole location that has a food truck onsite, a nice patio, and solid beers. They tend to focus on IPAs.

  • Ballard Coffee Works: A cute coffee shop in the heart of the Ballard neighborhood with a few food options as well.

  • The Pine Box: A craft beer dive bar with a food menu in an old chapel. The vibes are fun and their selection is solid. The Pine Box is located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, parking in this area can be tough.

  • The Beer Junction: A beer bar and bottle shop in West Seattle with a few taps and a large can/bottle selection.

  • Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery: A popular taproom with a large variety of beers on tap.

  • Narrows Brewing: This brewery is not in Seattle, but if you venture down to Tacoma, be sure to check it out! They are located right on the marina with a small patio. They have great views and delicious beers.

  • Georgetown Brewing: Named after the small industrial neighborhood they are based in, Georgetown has a huge operation and widely distributes. They have a small beer garden and taproom and are definitely more focused on distribution.

  • TeKu Tavern: This beer bar and bottle shop has a great can and bottle selection alongside some solid taps.

  • Ravenna Brewing Company: An average brewery in the northeast Suburbs with frequent food trucks.

  • Best of Hands Barrelhouse: A brewery in West Seattle focused on Farmhouse and Sour Ales. When I visited that did not seem to be the case with just one Saison and one Sour on tap. The beers I did have were average. It is a nice little taproom, so if you’re in the area check it out, but I wouldn’t go out of your way to visit.

  • The Good Society Brewery and Public House: A brewery in West Seattle with a small food menu and nice patio. The beers were mediocre at best in my opinion.

Fremont Brewing

Check Out BELLEVUE:

  • Bellevue is right across the water from Seattle and has a cute downtown and over 100 parks.

  • Bellevue Brewing Company: Located in The Spring District, a planned community, they have a great patio, a large variety of beers, cocktails, wine and a full food menu.

  • Get on the water: Rent a kayak or stand up paddleboard from the REI Boathouse on Meydenbauer Bay. The bay leads out to Lake Washington with pretty views. They also offer tours.

  • Take a Circuit to get around: Bellevue offers Bellhop for free electric transport in town.

Have more time in the Pacific Northwest?

Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas: The land that never sleeeps and is full of Casinos, but also surprisingly great opportunities to get into nature!

Sin City Tips: 

  • Look, I am going to preface this entire blog post with the simple fact that I am just not a Vegas girl. It’s not my scene. I don’t gamble. I don’t like hoards of tourists. I don’t like overpriced things. It’s just not my ideal spot to visit. I spent a lot of time exploring the other areas around Vegas far more than the Strip area. If you are in Vegas for any reason I’d recommend exploring the Arts District and surrounding parks.

  • Traffic on the strip can be ridiculous, so just keep that in mind when planning your outings.

  • Be mindful of the extreme heat from June-September if you plan to do any hiking/outdoor activities during your visit!

  • Doing a road trip? Check out my Phoenix guide here, Sedona guide here, Tucson guide here, Palm Springs and Joshua Tree guide here, Los Angeles guide here and my Grand Canyon guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Las Vegas Recommendations:

  • SerVehZah: A great beer bar that also has some wines and liquors available. I was impressed with the tap list and can selection. Located in the Arts District.

    • CraftHaus Brewery has a taproom right here as well. This is their smaller satellite space while their main brewery is in Henderson (below).

  • Beer Zombies: Easily the best beer spot in the Vegas area with 3 taprooms across the city. The Dean Martin space is quite small with just a few bar stools but the tap list and can selection here is still fantastic. They make their own beers which are great and they also have guest taps and cans.

  • Neon Desert Brewing: A great brewery near the Arts District with tasty beers. The tap list tends to focus on IPAs and Lagers and they also have wine and canned cocktails.

  • Valley of Fire State Park: A beautiful state park that is about 45 minutes east of Vegas. The entrance fee is $15. Be prepared that some trails are closed June 1 to September 30 due to extreme heat. With visiting during early September I missed out on some of the popular trails such as The Fire Wave because it was closed, but it was also a nearly completely empty park at this time which was very nice. It is not called Valley of Fire for no reason, it is extraordinarily hot here. Things to see at the park:

    • The Seven Sisters: I would actually recommend stopping at the viewpoint along the road of the Seven Sisters for a nicer view and photo versus the Seven Sisters picnic area itself.

    • Atlatl Rock: Take the stairs up to a viewpoint that has petroglyphs 

    • Arch Rock: Right around the corner from Atlatl rock is a large arch carved out of rock.

    • Beehives: Unique sandstone formations

    • Hike the Rainbow Vista Trail: This is 1 mile long out to an overlook that is mostly flat and takes about 25 minutes. The trail is all sand so it’s more difficult than it sounds!

    • Hike the White Domes Trail: This is a 1 mile long loop trail at the end of the road in the park. There is a cool canyon and a large colorful rock. It takes about 30 minutes to complete.

  • The Silver Stamp: A dive bar with fun retro vibes serving up a surprisingly fantastic beer selection alongside your other classic dive bar staples. They’ve also got a small food menu with hot dogs, pickles and chips. Located in the Arts District.

  • Able Baker Brewing: A nice brewery with ample indoor and outdoor seating in the Arts District. Arts District Kitchen is housed inside for eats. They’ve got a pretty large tap list with a variety of beers to choose from.

  • Explore the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area: This is a popular area to visit since it is just 30 minutes west of Vegas. To enter between October 1st to May 31st you will need a reservation. You will also need a National Park Pass or will need to pay $15 to enter. This area is focused on conservation not recreation so that is why it is not considered a park, but a conservation area.

    • The scenic drive here is incredibly pretty showcasing the striped mountains and pretty canyons. There are turnouts for views throughout the loop drive. It would take about 35 minutes to drive with no stops.

    • Calico Tanks Trail: This trail is 3.1 miles long with 406ft of elevation gain and took about 1.5 hours. There are a couple of scrambles making it a little challenging but overall it is a moderate trail. There are views of the Vegas skyline and entire Red Rock Canyon which are quite beautiful. The parking lot is labeled Sandstone Quarry.  

Valley of Fire State Park

Las Vegas Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting:

  • Neon Museum: Home to the old neon signs from throughout the Strip and a super unique museum. Be sure to visit at night when things are aglow and book tickets in advance.

  • Welcome to Las Vegas sign: This feels like a must do but it’s even more touristy than you’d expect. The line for a picture in front of the sign is ridiculous so personally I snapped one of just the sign from the side and left. There is conveniently a parking lot in the middle of the road for this though.

  • Kayak Willow Beach to Emerald Cove: This is a pretty area to kayak or SUP with mountains along the way and very clear water. This is also a popular area for boat launches, fishing and camping.

    • You can take a tour or rent a kayak or stand up paddle board from Willow Beach Marina and go on your own. The rentals are by the hour and in total it took me 1.5 hours to go to Emerald Cove and back to the marina at an average pace.

    • Keep in mind it is a $300 fine if you take off your life jacket. You will need a National Park Pass to get into Lake Mead Recreation Area or to pay $25 to enter.

  • Stay at or explore Caesar’s Palace: This is a nice place to stay on the Strip with a great pool area. The hotel itself is insanely massive with numerous restaurants and bars inside alongside the sprawling casino.

    • Skip Carmine's Italian Restaurant that is housed at Caeser’s. The food was pretty meh for the prices. If you are trying to eat at one of the “nicer” hotel restaurants be sure to make reservations far in advance.

  • Explore the Fremont Street Experience: A large open air space with a variety of bars, restaurants, and touristy activities. The only brewery here has since closed but the queso at Nacho Daddy is legit.

  • See the Hoover Dam: Overhyped in my opinion but proceed as you will. To enter the dam area you’ll need to go through security first and then pay $10 to park in one of the designated lots or you can park for free at the Bridge View area. From that parking area you can take the stairs or ramp up to the bridge to see the Dam. There is also a Lake View area and Visitor’s Center.

Kayaking Lake Mead

Henderson THings to do & Tips:

  • Explore Henderson’s “Booze District”, an industrial area that is home to 3 breweries, 1 winery and 1 meadery:

  • Mojave Brewing Company: A popular brewery in downtown Henderson. They have a front and side patio for outdoor seating and solid beers. They also share a building with Biscuits and Bourbon.

  • Lovelady Brewing: This brewery has 2 locations in Henderson, the downtown spot is a 4 minute walk from Mojave. They are housed in a cool building and have a front patio. The beers here are pretty average.

  • Skip the Skyline Hotel in Henderson: The staff here was quite rude, the room was musty and overall I regretted not just booking a Hilton.

Red Rock National Conservation Area

Other Vegas Area Ideas:

  • White Owl Canyon via 33 Hole: This is a pretty hike in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. You will need a National Park Pass or to pay $25 to enter the area. On the route to the trailhead there are a couple of nice overlooks and beaches. The canyon is quite cool with how twisty and colorful it is and there are nice views of the mountains. The trail is 4 miles long with 300ft of elevation gain, but it feels a bit more difficult due to the loose rock that is difficult to traverse. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for seashells along the trail as well!

  • North 5th Brewing Co: A brewery in North Las Vegas with a wide variety of beers that are solid. The folks here are very nice and they also have a few picnic tables for outdoor seating.

  • HUDL Brewing Company: An average brewery on Main Street in the Arts District. The tend to do dark beers best! You can get BBQ from the spot next door SoulBelly BBQ.

  • 595 Craft & Kitchen: A craft beer bar and full restaurant with a solid beer list. The eats were tasty and bartender was friendly!

  • Oyo Hotel and Casino: A nice spot to stay just off the strip. The rooms are average hotel rooms with views of the strip and the pool area is quite nice. Inside there are several restaurants, bars and the casino, but in comparison to Caeser’s Palace it is much smaller.

Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park

Palm Springs is a cute little desert town and conveniently just an hour from joshua tree national park!

Palm Springs and Joshua Tree Tips: 

  • Palm Springs is all very midcentury modern and trendy. The town itself is quiet small and can easily be explored on foot and in a short time period.

  • The area is very pretty since it is surrounded by mountains. It does get very hot with being in the desert and is quite windy as well.

  • Doing a road trip? Check out my Los Angeles guide here, San Diego guide here, and Las Vegas guide here!

PALM SPRINGS RECOMMENDATIONS:

  • Las Palmas Brewing: A cute brewery downtown with a back beer garden space. They are focused on Farmhouse style beers and do a good job with them. They also have natural wine and usually a guest tap or two.

  • Boozehounds: A super cute spot with indoor, atrium and outdoor seating. They have happy hour, brunch and a full food menu. They are dog-focused and super dog-friendly. The food and drinks I had here were superb.

  • Townie Bagels: A cute spot for delicious bagels and coffee.

  • Stay at Movie Colony Hotel: This is a nice midcentury modern hotel with a lovely pool and a great price tag. The location is conveniently walkable to everything downtown. It is also pet-friendly if you’re traveling with a pup! There are lots of cute and cheap hotels in town, but I did enjoy my experience here!

  • La Quinta Brewing: This brewery has 3 locations—the brewery in Palm Desert, the taproom and grill in Old Town La Quinta and a quaint taproom in Palm Springs. In downtown Palm Springs they have a nice patio with misters perfect for people watching and gazing at the sunset. They have 10 taps, guest taps, and average beers.

  • Hop on the Aerial Tramway: Unfortunately this was closed during my visit, but I have heard great things!

Boozehounds

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK Things To Do:

  • Joshua Tree National Park is not a very exciting national park. Expect lots of the namesake Joshua Trees and piles of rocks.

  • The park is one hour east of Palm Springs and can easily be explored in a half of a day. You will need a National Park Pass or to pay to enter.

  • The west side of the park (closest to Palm Springs) is much cooler with a lot of Joshua Trees whereas the east side is more much classic desert.

  • Things to do in Joshua Tree National Park:

    • Hidden Valley Trail: This is a mostly flat loop trail that is 1 mile long and takes about 25 minutes. The views here are decent but nothing too crazy.

    • Keys View: A nice viewpoint of the surrounding mountains.

    • Cholla Cactus Garden: A cool area to go for a stroll and explore the various types of plants.

    • Arch Rock Trail: This is a mostly flat 1.1 mile out and back trail to Arch Rock. It takes about 30 minutes and you essentially walk through the desert to one rock and back.

    • See Skull Rock: A rock that does indeed look like a skull

    • Barker Dam Trail: This is a mostly flat loop trail that is 1.4 miles long and takes about 30 minutes. It is not super scenic and there are some petroglyphs but they’ve mostly been painted over.

Bend, OR

Bend is an awesome adventure town on the Deschutes River in Central Oregon!

Bend Tips: 

  • Bend is a pretty small city, but I would recommend visiting with a car to allow you to get into the nearby forest, lakes, and volcanoes. I would say 3 days is the ideal amount of time to visit since it is pretty small, but you could also spend plenty of time exploring the plethora of nature-filled activities in the area.

  • The climate of the city itself is pretty dry and desert-like, which I personally was not expecting. It can be hot, dry, and dusty.

  • The Bend Ale Trail is a super fun way to explore the brew scene in town. Download the app or pick up a paper passport to log your stops and receive all kinds of fun prizes! It also includes wineries, cideries, and distilleries if you want to explore more than just the beer scene!

  • Overall Bend is pretty sleepy, during the week most things close at 9pm.

Adventures & Ales Top Bend Recommendations: ​

  • The Ale Apothecary: A fantastic brewery that has all spontaneously fermented and barrel aged beers! The beers are absolutely delicious and this is a must visit. Ale Apothecary has a small taproom and patio with limited hours so make sure to plan ahead for your visit!

  • Canoe & Brew! I partnered with Wanderlust Tours to take a canoe trip out on the Cascade Lakes. The drive out to the lakes is about 40 minutes and it is a gorgeous ride through the forest. We canoed on Hosmer Lake and then stopped in the marsh to enjoy some beers from Cascade Lakes Brewing.

  • Bevel Craft Brewing: A nice brewery with a great outdoor space and food trucks onsite! Fun fact—the owners are professional disc golfers with seven professional world championship titles between the two of them!

  • Waypoint Hotel: I loved my stay at The Waypoint Hotel! Some of my favorite parts were that you can walk into town, they have a nice hot tub/pool, they a food truck onsite, they have local beers on tap, they have a nice little outside seating area with a fire pit, and the rooms are beautiful! I definitely recommend staying at The Waypoint Hotel for your Bend visit!

  • Traveling with a group? AvantStay has some amazing larger homes for rent! Check them out here and get $250 off your stay with my link!

The Ale Apothecary

  • Wild Roots Coffee House: A cute little coffee shop on the edge of town with delicious Sparrow Bakery pastries

  • Boss Rambler Beer Club: A great brewery in a snazzy space! Their Hazy IPAs are particularly delicious and they also have slushees. Their outdoor space is super cute and very welcoming. Boss Rambler is directly next to Sunriver Brewing and also has Megaphone Coffee inside.

  • Crosscut Warming Hut No. 5: A great beer bar with food trucks out back, a nice patio, a fire pit, and a plethora of local beers to choose from.

  • Crux Fermentation Project: A popular brewery with a large outdoor space and food trucks onsite. The infamous El Sancho taco truck is housed here so be sure to go hungry.

Canoe & Brew

Bend Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: ​

  • Hike Tumalo Falls & Double Falls: Tumalo Falls is definitely one of the most popular sites in the Bend area because you don’t have to hike to see this huge waterfall and it is super close to town. It is very busy and parking can be difficult. Be sure to grab the $5 parking pass on your way in, there is a machine as you get close to the trailhead. Tumalo Falls you can see from the parking area or from another viewpoint higher up. From there the trail to Double Falls is much less crowded. I did this trail on AllTrails which ended up taking an hour and was 2.5 miles long and 28 flights up. The trail also continues further to more waterfalls if you have more time/energy to explore! Overall this was an easy and beautiful hike.

  • Hike the Matthieu Lakes Trail: This trailhead is about 45 minutes from town and says the Lava Camp Trail. The first portion of the trail was quite buggy (highly recommend bug spray) and boring in my opinion, but once you get to through that to the lakes it is much nicer. From South Matthieu Lake you can see the North Sister Volcano and then on your way down you’ll walk along a ridge with nice views of the entire Three Sisters Wilderness. I did this trail from AllTrails that ended up being about 2 hours and 20 minutes, 6.2 miles, and 62 flights up. As a heads up you are supposed to have the $5 day pass to park at the trailhead.

  • Float the Deschutes River! This is a super popular activity and perfect for the hot summer months. Here is more information on how to float!

Double Falls

Other Bend Things To Do:​​

  • Sunriver Brewing Co.: A restaurant-style brewery with average beers located in the heart of the Galveston neighborhood. Sunriver has a full food menu and a small back patio.

  • Backporch Coffee Roasters: Another cute coffee shop with Sparrow Bakery goods

  • Immersion Brewing: A brewery with average beers and a full food menu. Located directly across the street from the beer bar Crosscut.

  • Bend Brewing: A touristy brewery with a full food menu and average beers. They have a nice seating area along the river that is beer-only.

  • Monkless Belgian Ales: A Belgian-style brewery with food and views of the river. Personally I had a terrible experience at Monkless and I would not recommend visiting. The beers were not good, the food was not good, and the service was terrible.

Have more time in the Pacific Northwest?

Portland, OR

Portland is a Mecca for craft beer lovers & A super fun city to explore!

PDX Tips: 

  • There are so many breweries. Unless you live in the area or are staying for quite some time it is impossible to hit them all, so be sure to plan ahead so that you can visit the best of the best!

  • You don’t really need a car in Portland. Once you get to specific neighborhoods you can walk to many places and it’s not too big of a city. I personally preferred having a car so that I could do day trips, but would’ve otherwise been fine without one. Be prepared to do a lot of parallel parking if you decide to visit with a car

  • The weather in Portland can be very finicky—even with a 0% chance of rain it sprinkled and the sun really doesn’t like to come out until midday, so I would just recommend always having layers, one of which being a raincoat

  • You can’t pump your own (very expensive) gas in Oregon, just pull up to the pump and someone will come out to do it for you

  • Visiting Portland with your pup? Check out Pup Passport, a digital passport that lets dog owners have fun by exploring breweries and cideries with their dogs and get exclusive discounts at the same time!

Adventures & Ales Top Portland Recommendations: ​

  • Great Notion Brewing: Arguably one of the best breweries in the country, Great Notion is at the top of the list for places to visit in Portland! They have three taprooms in the area and each location has a slightly different tap list:

    • Alberta Brewpub: Their original location and a must visit! They also have a nice outdoor space and a small sandwich menu

    • NW Brewpub: Another great spot with somewhat more restaurant-vibes than the OG. They have fantastic murals and a large bar you can sit at

    • Beaverton Taproom: Their suburb location a bit further out of town

  • Wayfinder Beer: Yummy beers, a massive patio, and a full food menu—highly recommend!

  • Cascade Brewing: The House of Sour! Cascade is an absolute must-visit in Portland. They specialize in Sour Ales and absolutely crush it. Their taproom has a small food menu, a great shaded patio space, and super nice staff members

  • Migration Brewing: A great brewery with four locations in town, but I would highly recommend the Rooftop at Canvas spot! It is right across from the soccer stadium and has amazing views of the city and surrounding volcanoes. The tap list at this location is small but the views make up for it.

  • Take a day trip to the Columbia River Gorge! Check out my full one day itinerary here with waterfall hiking and brewery hopping in Hood River!

  • Ruse Brewing: A fantastic brewery in South Portland making delicious beers in a chill environment

Great Notion Brewing

  • Bentley’s Bagels: Super delicious New York-style bagels!

  • Baerlic Brewing: A cute spot with good beers, patio seating, and Ranch Pizza onsite

  • Upright Brewing: Good beers made with lots of passion from their team. They have a shared space, so food is available from PBS Cafe. It is somewhat of an odd intersection, so Google Maps can be a little confused as you are trying to get there as a forewarning

  • Belmont Station: A great bottle shop and beer bar!

  • Crema Coffee & Bakery: A great coffeeshop with fantastic baked goods!

  • Ex Novo Brewing Co.: Detroit-style pizza + solid beers, what more do you need? Ex Novo is a cool spot that can be quite popular. They have two locations in the Portland area, one in north/central PDX on Flint Street and one in the suburb of Beaverton. Their menu was heavy on IPAs which I enjoyed!

Mt. Hood

Portland Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: ​

  • Hike in Forest Park: The park itself is massive and can be quite popular. I followed this AllTrails out and back trail up to Pittock Mansion for an incredible view of Portland and Mount Hood. The trail was 6 miles, 70 flights up, and took about two hours and fifteen minutes.

  • Pine State Biscuits: Touristy but delicious biscuit spot! They have multiple locations throughout Portland and you can order online ahead of time if you’d like

  • Mount Hood National Forest: Mount Hood is only an hour from Portland and is a super easy drive. I recommend hiking Mirror Lake, it is conveniently right off the highway and has some incredible views of Mount Hood. I followed this AllTrails loop trail, which ended up being 4.3 miles, 40 flights up, and took about an hour and a half. It is not too strenuous of a trail and the reflections in the lake are awesome. You do need a $5 day pass to park which you can purchase in advance or on your phone day of.

  • Salt & Straw: Fantastic (but touristy) ice cream spot with multiple locations throughout Portland

  • Eat at a food cart! I have never seen so many food trucks/carts in my life as in Portland. There are so many options it is absolutely insane, so be sure to have that experience while you’re in the city.

Pine State Biscuits

Other Portland Things To Do:​​

  • Breakside Brewing: Breakside has two locations in Portland: Dekum and NW Slabtown. They have a full food menu and large beer menu

  • Culmination Brewing: A small brewery with solid IPAs. Miami Nice is the food truck onsite

  • Ecliptic Brewing: An average brewery with a nice outdoor space and full food menu

  • Life of Pie Pizza: Yummy pizza spot with daily happy hour from 11-6 with $7 Margherita pizzas and $5 House Beer and Wine

  • StormBreaker Brewing: An average brewery with a great outdoor space and full food menu

  • Hammer and Stitch Brewing Company: Newer brewery near Forest Park with a full food menu and large patio with standard beers

  • Albina Press: A cute little coffee shop on Hawthorne

  • Level Beer: Located right near the airport making it the perfect stop on your way in or out of the city. They have food carts onsite, a cute greenhouse-style outdoor space, and average beers

Have more time in the Pacific Northwest?

The Bay Area, CA

I absolutely Love the Bay Area—it is stunningly gorgeous, there are tons of great breweries, and the hiking is incredible!

The Bay Area Tips: 

  • This area is massive. San Francisco itself is a huge city that takes several days to explore, and you can spend several days exploring the areas to the south side of the bay and several more exploring the north.

  • While you are in San Francisco be sure to soak in all the architecture! Everywhere you look there is unique and beautiful buildings

  • While you are in San Francisco always carry a rain jacket! Even if there is no rain in the forecast it still happens all the time, and the fog makes things generally damp.

  • Avoid driving if you are just staying in San Francisco itself. The city is known for car break-ins and parking is really a nightmare.

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations for San Francisco:​

  • Mission Dolores Park: A perfectly placed park that provides fantastic views of the skyline in the heart of the Mission District​​. This is the perfect spot for a picnic and the park is also very dog friendly.

  • Hike! I started at Fort Point and followed the coastal trail. There are amazing views of the bridge, hang out at Baker Beach (heads up this is a nude beach), and then you can do the Land's End section as well that takes you around the peninsula down to Golden Gate Park. This trail on AllTrails is similar to what I did but I did it in the opposite direction & went further down the coast to Golden Gate Park.

  • Cellarmaker Brewing: Arguably the best brewery in SF! They have two locations—the original taproom and their House of Pizza which has phenomenal Detroit-style pizzas with their beers. HOP is quite small so try to visit during an off time or you will need to wait for a table.

  • The Rare Barrel: A fantastic brewery in Berkeley specializing in Sour Barrel Aged beers. They also have their own IPA and Lager subsidiary, Hello Friend.

  • Toronado: One of the top beer bars in the country! They have an insane tap list and 40 taps. This spot is cash only and has dive bar vibes.

  • Holy Water: A religious-themed craft beer and cocktail bar. They have a great tap list and chill vibes. Located in the Bernal Heights neighborhood.

  • Barebottle Brewing Co.: A great brewery with a wide variety of beers, but specializing in IPAs. They have a large taproom with games and a nice little beer garden. As a forewarning if you go the flight route they are quite expensive, but the beers are great.

  • Breakfast Little: A cute spot for delicious breakfast in The Mission. They have breakfast burritos, tots, coffees, and more.  

  • The Monk’s Kettle: A tavern in the heart of The Mission with a top-notch tap list and tasty food. Overall a cool spot with fun vibes.

Tartine Bakery in Mission Dolores Park

The Classic Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting in San Francisco: ​

  • Tartine Bakery: Located in The Mission & worth the wait. Amazing breakfast and baked goods. Pro tip—grab some baked goods and walk over to Mission Dolores Park. 

  • The Golden Gate Bridge: Duh. It's stunning. But also don’t be surprised if it is hidden in the fog.

  • Muir Woods: A national monument in the Redwoods! This is an extremely popular spot since it is close to San Francisco and easily accessible. It is $15 to enter unless you have a National Park Pass and you are required to book your parking ahead of time, or you can also book a seat on the shuttle. Learn more about both here. This area is very lush and there are a variety of hikes/walks you can choose from to explore.

    • I did the Fern Creek, Lost and Canopy Trail which was 5.1 miles and 69 flights up to the top of the Redwoods. The AllTrails map is not quite accurate so just follow the signage on the trail. If you’d rather just have a nice flat and easy walk you can do that at the base of the Redwoods as well.

  • Ferry Building Market: A cute indoor market where the ferry stop is. Fort Point Brewing has a little mini tap room here as well

  • Clairon Alley: Social justice murals line the alley

  • Ghirardelli Square: So touristy. But also chocolate, so it's worth it. San Francisco Brewing is here as well.

  • Fisherman's Wharf: So touristy. See the sea lions, but then escape!

  • Crane Cove Park: A nice green space on the water right near the Chase Center.

Holy Water San Francisco

Holy Water

Other things to do in San Francisco: ​​

  • Original Pattern Brewing: A hazy IPA focused brewery in Oakland. The also partner with Good To Eat for dumplings onsite.

  • Magnolia Brewing: A solid brewery on Haight Street with a full food menu and restaurant style set-up.

  • Almanac Beer Co.: A popular brewery in Alameda known for Barrel Aged Stouts and Wild Ales. They have a large outdoor space and are super dog friendly.

  • Faction Brewing: Another brewery just down the road from Almanac that has views of the San Francisco skyline and Golden Gate Bridge. They are part of Spirits Alley with distilleries and wineries surrounding them, so you could make a day of bopping between businesses.

  • Southern Pacific Brewing: A popular brewery with a large space, full food menu, and solid beers.

  • The Page: A fun dive bar in the Lower Haight neighborhood.

  • Standard Deviant Brewing: A solid brewery in The Mission with an outdoor patio and several TVs for sports.

  • Harmonic Brewing: Another brewery option. Located in an industrial area with frequent food pop-ups and average beers.

  • Laughing Monk Brewing: A solid brewery in an industrial area with food pop-ups and games. Their tap list mainly focused on IPAs and easy drinking beers.

  • Barrel Head Brewery: Solid beers and yummy pretzels, what more could you ask for? 

  • Noe Bagel: A nice spot for a bagel in the heart of the Noe neighborhood. Pop up the street to Bernie’s Coffee for a drink to pair with your bagel.

  • ThirstyBear Brewery: Organic beers and a large space!

  • 21st Amendment Brewing: Solid beers that are largely distributed around the country

Humble Sea Brewing

Humble Sea Brewing

Santa Cruz County Recommendations:

  • Santa Cruz is an adorable little beach town full of great breweries, wineries, and restaurants.

  • Sante Adairius Rustic Ales: SARA is one of the top breweries in the world and has two locations—their original taproom in Capitola and The Portal in Santa Cruz. They specialize in Rustic Ales, so be sure to try their Saisons. In Capitola they are located at the end of an industrial road with a quaint little taproom and outdoor patio. The Portal has a small patio out front and larger taproom inside. Here they partner with Bookies Pizza for Detroit-style pies and be sure to ask what Private Press Brewing bottles they have for onsite consumption as well.

  • Humble Sea Brewing Company: This fantastic brewery has three locations: Santa Cruz—Located right in the heart of downtown, this is their main taproom and brewery. It is a cute spot with killer beers and they have Fonda Felix empanadas. Pacifica—This taproom is right next to the beach and has a full food menu and a great outdoor space. The Tavern—Located in Felton and has a full food menu and cocktails as well.

  • Natural Bridges State Park: This is a nice beach with a very cool rock formation. If you are staying longer than 20 minutes you have to pay for parking, or you can park on the nearby street and walk over.

  • Woodhouse Brewing & Blending: A nice brewery in Santa Cruz with an IPA-heavy tap list. This is a popular spot with frequent live music and food trucks. They have a nice outdoor space as well.

  • Discretion Brewing: A solid brewery in Soquel with a wide variety of beers and a full food menu from Sugo Italian Kitchen onsite.

  • Firefly Coffee House: A nice little spot in Santa Cruz for coffee and bagels.

  • Beer Thirty: A bottle shop and beer bar in Soquel. It is a cute spot with mostly local draft beers but they are quite pricey.

  • Santa Cruz also has a large boardwalk and amusement park along the beach which are quite touristy.

Big Sur

Big Sur Recommendations:

  • Explore this gorgeous coast and do some hiking along the way! Be sure to start your day early because the parking at each viewpoint fills up quickly.

  • Don’t miss: Rocky Creek Bridge, Castle Rock Viewpoint and Bixby Creek Bridge. There are a ton of different viewpoints along the road, so just pull over whenever you want to check it out!

  • For the hiking in Big Sur there is a $10 admission fee that is good at all of the state parks in the area for the day.

  • Partington Cove: This hike has nice views of 2 different coves, make sure you check out both. There is not a fee here, you just park along the road. This is a short and quick trail at just 1.3 miles long, 24 flights up, and about 25 minutes.

  • McWay Falls: It is about .7 of a mile from the parking lot to the Falls viewpoint and back. There is also a longer trail but it was closed for maintenance while I was there. The $10 entrance fee also applies here. McWay Falls is a small waterfall that you are viewing from high up, but the bay view is very pretty.

  • Pfieffer Big Sur State Park: There are several trails here after you pay the $10 entrance fee. The Valley View Overlook trail and the connection to Pfeiffer Falls is a nice hike. From the parking lot take the River Trail past the visitor center to the trailhead. Prepare for lots of stairs and quite a bit of incline as you are gaining 500ft of elevation in less than a mile. From the summit there is a nice view of the surrounding valley out to the ocean. Pfeiffer Falls is a small waterfall but it is still nice and it is an easy add-on to make the trail a loop. Overall it was 2.6 miles, 48 flights up, and took just about an hour.

The Lone Cyprus on the 17-Mile Drive

The Monterey Peninsula Recommendations:

  • Carmel Beach: A beautiful beach with incredibly white sand in Carmel-By-The-Sea

  • 17-mile Drive: You guessed it, a 17-mile drive around the edge of the Pebble Beach peninsula. It is $11.25 to drive it or if you spend $35 at a Pebble Beach restaurant it is reimbursed. There are a ton of different viewpoints along the drive and they give you a map at the entrance. Some of my favorites were the Ghost Trees at Pescadero Point, the Lone Cyprus, and Seal Beach.

  • Wander Monterey—this cute little beach town is quite fancy.

  • Alvarado Street Brewing: Alvarado Street has two locations—one in downtown Monterey and one in Carmel-By-The-Sea. Their Monterey taproom has a front and back patio space, full food menu, and restaurant-style vibes. Yeast of Eden is their Wild Ale subsidiary so occasionally they have one of those beers on draft and bottles available.

  • Fieldwork Brewing Company: Fieldwork has a ton of different taprooms around the Bay Area, so be sure to check out at least one while you are in the area. Their Monterey spot is an outdoor beer garden with a huge tap list and a wide variety of beers. The service was exceptional and West Coast IPAs were great.

  • Point Lobos is just south of the Monterey Peninsula and has several different hiking trails. Parking can be absolutely insane—go early because the parking lot and surrounding road fill up quickly.

Watsonville Recommendations:

  • Fruition Brewing: A great brewery in Watsonville! They have a front patio space, restaurant onsite specializing in oysters, and impressive beers.

  • Beer Mule: A bottle shop and beer bar in Watsonville. A cool spot with great beers and frequent food pop-ups.

Iron Horse Vineyards

Sonoma County Recommendations:

  • When you drive into Sonoma County there are wineries and sheep everywhere—the views are great!

  • Russian River Brewing: One of the best breweries in the world! They are located in downtown Santa Rosa and make insanely good, award winning beer. It is a popular spot for both locals and tourists so expect it to be busy. I recommend doing a flight to try a variety of their beers—you can do their California style beers, Belgian inspired beers, the full tap list, or build your own. They also have a full food menu. The beer for both onsite and to-go is quite cheap which is delightful coming from such a world class brewery.

  • Stay at Cambria Hotel Sonoma Wine Country: I loved my stay at this new and budget friendly hotel in the heart of wine country. It was 1 mile off the highway, 10 minutes from Russian River, and had great amenities. They have an outdoor pool, workout room, fire pits outside, and a great bar and restaurant inside.

  • Check out the wineries! Obviously Sonoma County and Napa Valley are best known for their wine so be sure to check it out. There are wineries everywhere in the region and most require reservations in advance and have limited hours, most spots are generally 10am-3pm.

    • Iron Horse Vineyards is where I chose to visit because they have a great view and are known for their sparkling wines. The tasting was $30 for 5 pours and takes about 1 hour. It is a nice set-up with super nice staff members and lovely views.