Never Say Die – Astoria to Cannon Beach

 If you can instantly identify the Truffle Shuffle and have an urge for Baby Ruths, a trip to the Oregon coast is a must.  At the end of a 3 hour drive south of Seattle lies the city of Astoria, Oregon.  Astoria is probably best known as the filming location for the cult film Goonies.   The city has embraced its film locales by turning the jailhouse from the beginning of Goonies into the Oregon Film Museum. 

Scattered throughout the rest of the city are various other film locales such as the bowling alley where Chunk smeared the window and  the Captain George Flavel House Museum where Mikey’s dad supposedly worked, but the pinnacle of locations to visit is definitely the Goonies House itself.  The Victorian Style house sits at the top of a short gravel driveway with a sign that not only lets you know you’ve found the right place, but that Goonies are welcome to walk up but not drive.  The house hasn’t changed much since the movie, but then again that’s the beauty of it. 

From the Goonies locations we headed up to the Astoria Column which was built in 1926 and was refurbished in 1995 and 2004.  The Column rises up 125 feet above the hilltop and, after climbing to the observation platform at the top, it has the most amazing views of the ocean, Columbia River and the surrounding hills and valleys. 

The final location to cap off the Goonies theme to our trip was a stop at Cannon Beach to take in Haystack Rock.  The large stone monolith juts out the ocean leaving no doubt that you have found what you were looking for.  The only thing missing is a galleon sailing out to sea.  http://www.thegoonies.org/

Take Your Breath Away - Kerry Park

Every city has that one spot that you have to see the cityscape from.  Seattle is lucky enough to have several, although Queen Anne’s Kerry Park is probably the most recognizable and the one you are most likely to be directed to when visiting.  The spectacular, panoramic views of downtown Seattle, West Seattle, the Olympic peninsula and majestic Mt. Rainer were given to the populace in 1927 when Mr. and Mrs. Albert Sperry Kerry, Sr. donated the land “so that all who stop here may enjoy this view."   The low stone wall sits on the edge of a steep hill that leads down to the lesser known Lower Kerry Park which has areas for picnics, a playground and a basketball court, but the real draw here is the view.  No matter what day you visit, the incredible view will not disappoint, but on the right day, at the right time the view is magical and the city burns itself into your mind. http://www.seattle.gov/parks/

Dungeons & Dinner - AFK Tavern

Crave a spicy Dragon Burger or a +1 plate of fries and some entertainment to boot? This is your restaurant.  I have been known to pack around a deck of cards or a dice game to while away the time at restaurants and bars.  At AFK Tavern this is a nonissue.  The self-proclaimed “place for geeks and gamers” supplies you with a list of “Games on Tap” right along with your menu.  Spanning the gaming spectrum with choices in card, dice, board, roleplaying, PS3 and XBOX games, the list is a bit daunting at first, but the staff is more than happy to give advice and let you know their favorites.  The atmosphere is relaxed with several groups of people enjoying the game selection while eating.  Did I mention they serve food?  The menu covers much of what you would expect at a tavern with some pleasant twists in the mix. The fried pickle caps are crispy without the usual sogginess you usually encounter and all of our sandwiches were well put together with a nice balance of flavors.   Best of all our food was delivered to the table amidst a challenging game of Space Invaders on a vintage Atari.  http://www.afktavern.com

Food On Wheels - El Camion

In many cities street food is becoming a way of life. Food trucks are springing up all around the country with a massive variety of offerings to satisfy any palate.   Sometimes, though, when people go with the traditional take on an idea, they give their clients something worth talking about. El Camion, “the truck”, is just that, a large kitchen on wheels that serves amazing, authentic Mexican food that will make your mouth water and your brain demand more.  Easily one of the best food trucks in the city, the distinctive glossy black trailers hide the bustling kitchen inside, with quick service as soon as you approach the window.  El Camion currently has three locations that cover north and south as well as Seattle itself making an ideal location for lunch wherever you are.   My personal weakness is the Torta, a Mexican sandwich made on a grilled bread roll similar to a French bread.  The veggie Torta is smothered in grilled vegetables and topped with lettuce, mayonnaise, avocado, tomato, jalapeno and pico de gallo and garnished with a roasted jalapeño.  The combination of the soft, seared bread and the fresh grilled veggies is amazing.   Although the Tortas are certainly large enough for a meal, I find myself pondering a second one every time.   http://www.elcamionseattle.com/

Get Your Geek On -Emerald City Comicon

Once a year thousands of people gather under one roof downtown Seattle and wave their Geek Credentials proudly.  I am one of those people.  Emerald City Comicon is a destination not to be missed.  Since 2003, Emerald City Comicon has been hosting world class artists and celebrities for a weekend of shopping, sharing, exploring, cosplay, panels, and of course autographs.  This year was no different as the organizers of the Comicon continued to bring the big guns. William Shatner.  There I said it. I attended the Comicon, he attended the Comicon.  I didn’t get a chance to see him but then again he didn’t get a chance to see me either, so I think that makes us even (although we did see an amazing Captian Kirk circa 1967).  Other than celebrity sightings, the Comicon has an astounding array of vendors for everything from Golden Era Comics to custom-made fangs while you wait, with vintage toys, various games and collectables also being heavily represented.   DC Comics, XBOX, Image Comics and Dark Horse embodied some of the bigger names there, but they were far outnumbered by the smaller, independent publishers, web comics and of course the artists themselves.    We spent a single day roaming the exhibition hall, seeing old friends, playing games and meeting the incredible talent, and in that time we realized eight hours just may not be enough.   http://www.emeraldcitycomicon.com/

Historic Green Space - Kubota Garden

Few green spaces in Seattle have as interesting of a backstory as the Kubota Garden.  Initially created by Fujitaro Kubota in 1927, the gardens were a place where he could craft, design, grow and display the greenery for the Japanese-style gardens he installed in the Puget Sound area.  Since that time, the Gardens have grown to nearly 20 acres, been abandoned during WWII when the family was placed in an internment camp, restored by Fujitaro and his sons and declared a Historical Landmark of the City Of Seattle in 1981.  We arrived at the Gardens on a chilly February afternoon and as soon as we entered the gorgeous gates we realized we virtually had the entire Gardens to ourselves. The construction of the ponds and waterfalls along the walkways is somehow massive and delicate simultaneously and the winding paths constantly led us to new corners to be explored.   Of particular note were the multiple footbridges ranging from the small, hand-cut stone paths up to the large moon bridge that symbolizes the difficulty of living a good life: "Hard to walk up and hard to walk down."  Even in the slightly drifting snow, Kubota Garden kept us entranced and exploring its many pathways.   We can’t wait to return in the spring when the flowers are in bloom…and the weather is more hospitable. http://www.kubotagarden.org/visit/about-the-garden/