Oregon Coast Shopping Towns, Coast Highway 101 Video    

By Barry Murray

Work-weary residents of Portland, Oregon, have an unique advantage over weekend vacationers in other cities across the USA.

That is, they have a choice of driving to “the beach,” or “the mountain,” in less than an hour’s travel time. Undecided couples can avoid an arguement over which is more fun, by doing both inside of one weekend.

Those blessed with free time in the middle of a week can even go for lunch, built about razor clams, or finished off with a mountain Huckelberry pie. Unless the couple are avid skiers, with a seasons pass at “Mt. Hood Meadows,” in the wintertime ‘The Coast,’ usely wins the flip of a coin.

I think cusine is why more “Old Portlanders” own condos on the ‘Oregon Riveria,’ than cabins at Goverment Camp— even given the “Old Oregon,” dining experience of planked range beef at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood.

It has to do with growing up from the days of sand buckets and saltwater taffy and Oregon style clam chowder at Gearhart; to spring break hamburgers and pizza at Seaside; to the yuppie-puppy flavors of Tuscony at Cannon Beach.

Therefore tourists should not be confused by the eclectic flavors of these beach villages that at first glance reflect so many lifestyles. Let me say to the confused statue of Lewis & Clark at ‘lands end’ at Seaside, honoring where the Corps of Discovery boiled seawater to obtain sea salt to flavor, “Haunch of Elk, Chinook” —bon appétit.

I rest my case that, “much of history, and a life well lived, is fine dining!”