Julian - Originally Published 2009

My dad once gave me some advice.  “Son” he said. “Never play cards with a man named Doc.  Never eat at a place called ‘Mom’s’ and never sleep with a woman whose troubles are worse than your own.”  Sage advice from a merchant sailor.  Like most things my dad told me, I chose to go against his better judgement and ate at a place called “Mom’s”.  But more on that later.  Allow me to give you the lay of the land.

I don’t know what Tom Joad was bitching about.  I went to Julian, California in San Diego County and it looks like people have a blast picking apples.

Actually, we were a little late for the apple-picking season.  One of the draws to this historic town is that it has an idea climate for growing apples.  These days, folks from the flatlands ride up in the early fall and pay for the privilege of picking a few bushels. 

But I digress.  Like I said, we were a little late in the season for that.  So what is there to do?  The downtown is several blocks long and lined with stores that specialize in chotchkies of all variety.  On a cold fall morning, it’s striking place to wander along and window shop.  The town was founded in the 1870’s and has a plethora of historic buildings.

So back to eating at a place called “Mom’s”.  The other big industry in Julian is the apple pie industry.  I’m sure that if you ask people about the place, they’ll all have their opinions about the place to eat.  We rolled the dice on Mom’s because it had the biggest line.

And pies they had.  Pies of all variety.  Pot pies, apple pies, cherry-apple pies.  You can even choose between crusts.  I think that we found the exception to the “Don’t eat at ‘Mom’s’ rule”.

So after our pies, we wandered.  What is there to do?  Well, we got duped into seeing the Julian re-enactors.  More on that later.  If you find your way here, give this one a miss.

Another thing my dad hipped me to was walking in old cemeteries.  When I was a kid, he used to take me through hikes in the one out on South Bass Island.  Julian has a really beautiful one seated up on top of a hill at the end of downtown.

Julian makes for a nice day-trip on a fall afternoon.

Blue Heron - Originally Published 2008

Let’s say you decide to rocket ship through the Oregon Coast.  That would be a big mistake because it’s the type of place that really needs to be savored and enjoyed, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

Your abbreviated trip will only allow you to stop at one cheese place.  I would recommend the Blue Heron.  Aside from Oregon-made Brie cheese, the place also has plenty of animals to pet.  Somehow, we always find the animals on a trip. 

Yaquina Lighthouse Cafe - Originally Published 2008

Travel tip #1:  Don’t eat at McDonald’s.  Ray Kroc figured something out about the human animal.  The only person that likes change is an infant with a wet diaper.  He introduced the idea of standardization to the world.  It’s the concept that the food at McDonald’s is going to taste the same wherever you eat.

If Mai and I played it safe, we would have had an Egg McMuffin for breakfast.  We would have driven past the Yaquina Lighthouse Café.  We would have never had razor clams, eggs, and potatoes for breakfast.  Yup.  You heard me right.  We had razor clams for breakfast.

Now I’m going to preach the Animated Meat Gospel.  Try something new when you’re on the road.  Do not stick to the familiar.  It cuts you off from new experiences and opportunities to expand yourself.  Trust me.

Waldport Seafood Company - Originally Published 2008

On one end of the spectrum there is the hyper-organized traveler that has an itinerary that breaks a trip down into fifteen-minute increments.  Months have been spent laboring over a stack of travel books and magazines.  No detail has been spared in the planning of the trip.

On the other end of the spectrum there is the vagabond approach to travel.  The philosophy being if you wander around long enough, you’re bound to see something worthwhile.

I suppose that my wife and I lay somewhere in the middle.  We plan out a few milestones and then leave the rest in chance’s hands.  Thank the gods we do that, because it allowed us the opportunity to happen upon a place like the Waldport Seafood Company.

This place is not much more than a wide spot in the road.  However, they serve some of the best clam chowder I have already tried.  If that wasn’t perfection enough, there is a deserted beach right in front of the place where you can wander after eating.  I hope that heaven is as good as this.

Rogue Public House - Originally Published 2008

If you don’t know, Oregon’s own Rogue Brewery makes some pretty fine beers.  One of my personal go-tos is Dead Guy Ale.

They beauty of the Rogue Public House is you can get some of that nice beer paired with well prepared food.  As the menu shows, this is substantial pub grub.  Don’t plan on being to ambitious after eating here.  After a little walk around the pier, the only thing we were good for was sleep.

Even if beer holds no appeal to you, the Pub is worth a stop. This place is literally right on the water.Actually, it’s right in the middle of the water. The views go well with the food.If you drink beer, be careful.They have a full selection of T-shirts. Do you really need a beer t-shirt?