Passport fun!

Portland is known for being a bit unique so it only makes sense that we would have a chain of restaurants, taverns, pubs, cigar bars, concert venues, theaters, spas, micro-breweries, distilleries, soaking pools, wineries, golf courses, pool halls and hotels that are located in old schools, poor houses, masonic lodges, ballrooms, vintage theaters, churches, brothels, general stores, pioneer homesteads and funeral homes.  

Of course, anyone local to Oregon and parts of Washington knows I am referring to the McMenamins chain. Full of character, these unique places are owned by local brothers Mike & Brian McMenamin and have been key in revitalizing some of the Pacific Northwest's forgotten architectural and historical treasures making them into hip and trendy places to relax, be entertained, listen to great live music and enjoy some awesome food, beer, liquors and wines.

This year, McMenamins has released their Passport which is exactly what it sounds.  It is a little blue passport where you get stamps for visiting different locations, sometimes individual locations, like the local pubs scattered across town and other times large locations like Edgefield where you visit eight different bars/restaurants/tasting rooms, etc.  When you complete a location (or neighborhood), you receive a prize of some sort.  While most locations are local to the Portland area, some are in various other places in Oregon and Washington, which means fun trips and new places to visit!

Some awesome friends and I purchased the passports a couple of weeks ago and have been having a blast exploring new locations and collecting the spoils received from completing pages.  The passports themselves can be purchased at basically any McMenamins locations and cost just $20.  The best part is that you can earn that $20 back easily by completing four activities in the front adventures part of the passport (not required to complete the passport) doing things such as having a spa treatment at one of their Ruby Spas, taking a dip in the soaking pools, attending a concert, staying the night in one of their hotels, tasting a beer, wine or distillery flight, etc.

Seriously awesome marketing scheme on their part but for McMenamins enthusiasts it is a fun way to visit all their locations and earn some amazing prizes when your passport is complete.  Prizes include three free nights at historic hotels, free concert tickets, free food, invites to exclusive parties, etc.  Well worth it if you are a McMenamin's fan!

Here are some photos from our adventures so far!

The Passport - stamps and photo hunts at Edgefield

Pat's Corner - Grand Lodge

 

Ceiling at Pat's Corner - Grand Lodge (photo credit: Bryan Freeman)

Cornelius Pass Roadhouse (photo credit: Bryan Freeman)

Rock Creek Tavern (photo credit: Bryan Freeman)

Our freebies so far - McMenamins playing cards from completing Edgefield in 12/2013 and photo magnets from completing Grand Lodge in 12/2013 (prizes may change by month).

Gratitude Challenge: Day Three - Nature

Photo taken at the Wildwood Recreation Area, Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon.  I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world, how could I not be grateful for having places like this as part of my life?

Manzanita madness!

Okay, so not really madness but it was the adjective that popped in my head so I went with it.  It was actually a very low key weekend, exactly what I needed right about now.  :)  

Got down there on Thursday and stayed through til Sunday morning, it was long enough to make me glad to be home again today but short enough that it didn't totally break the bank (thanks to a super deal with Sunset Vacation Rentals as a returning customer).  

Mermaid House

I stayed at the same place my bestie and I stayed at last time we went in October of 2010, it is a small two bedroom cottage called the Mermaid House that was built in the late 40's and is just a couple of blocks from the main street and half a block from the beach.

Living Area

Living Room

If you look closely you can see how near the house is to the beach...

Mermaid in window above vintage kitchen sink

Vintage stove... what a trip to cook on, still works great!

Going with a theme here :)

Bathroom - tiny but has everything you need and a washer/dryer!

Bedroom 1 (I stayed here the first time I visited)

Bedroom 2 (master)

Hall from bedrooms back into main living space

I spent the days wandering around Cannon Beach and driving down to the Tillamook Cheese Factory, an institution in our fine state of Oregon (Squeeky cheese!).  Also enjoyed a DELISH sandwich one day from my favorite deli in the world, Bread and Ocean.

From www.tillamook.com

Can't take credit for the photo, stole it from Bread & Oceans' facebook page

For the most part the weather was pretty crappy (hey, what do you expect the first weekend of March at the Oregon Coast?!) but I was able to get a few good shots at Cannon Beach on Thursday as I was heading towards Manzanita.  

All in all it was a great trip, nice to get away... even nicer to come home again.  Now work tomorrow is another story....  ;)