Neither Brian or I are terribly decisive people. We can go back and forth for hours, even days, over the simplest of things. And there we were at dinnertime, downtown Jacksonville, Oregon. Never before had I seen a small town spanning only two short blocks with so many enticing options.

We chose Bella Union, (okay I chose Bella Union), particularly for its lively and shady back patio we could see through the front windows. A good choice, I must say. The vegetarian pizza was excellent, the wine list was local, and for some wonderful reason, everyone in the restaurant was offered complimentary chocolate mousse and champagne after their meal that night. (Our indecisiveness ended there).

And to think if we’d gone the way Brian was leaning for dinner, we’d have enjoyed a delicious, homestyle Mexican meal on a lovely balcony with top-shelf margaritas at La Fiesta, just down the street.

That’s the thing with Jacksonville. Whatever you choose, you strike gold.

Our two terrific nights in Jacksonville were at the Magnolia Inn ($99 – $139) two blocks from Jacksonville’s undeniably  adorable downtown. Homemade banana bread or cookies appeared mysteriously every afternoon to be nibbled with iced tea out on the veranda.

The inn’s proprietors, Robert and Susan, greeted us as if we were old friends, and filled us in on all there is to know and love about Jacksonville, their adopted hometown. It was this southern hospitality that so enthralled us with the Magnolia Inn– “southern” as in, Southern California. Like many other Jacksonville business owners we met, Robert and Susan made the move to Jacksonville from California after visiting themselves. It took just one visit to fall in love, and one more visit to buy their dream inn.

Jacksonville lies just west of Medford, at the foot of the wild Sikiyous, and is adjacent to one of the hottest emerging wine regions in the West – the Applegate Valley. Almost every type of Northwest outdoor recreation you can imagine is nearby, from rafting the Rogue to hiking in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. In the summer when the Britt Music Festival draws thousands to see acts of great variety in a phenomenal outdoor amphitheater setting (this summer’s lineup includes Harry Connick Jr., The New Pornographers, Jackson Browne and Brandi Carlile, among many others). I could see from my very first stroll down California Street why a vacationer might begin plotting their relocation here.

The Gold Rush found its way into the Pacific Northwest in the 1850s by way of Jacksonville; a mere sliver of history that left an indelible mark on this town. By 1868, there were seven saloons on one block (a gold rush will do that.) One hundred years later, the whole town was named a National Historic Landmark District, which is why a walk through downtown Jacksonville today feels more than a little like stepping back in time. But not totally. Just as a horse-drawn carriage passes with a couple of tourists on honeymoon, you find yourself stepping into a chic boutique.

After two short days, we left wanting more time in this area… a day in Ashland, a chance to try that great tapas restaurant in Medford, another stop at the Rogue Creamery for the best gorgonzola I’ve ever put in my mouth. The truth is, there is tons of great stuff to do in the southwest corner of Oregon, but it’s a super long drive from Seattle. I don’t know when we’ll make it back. (Airfare runs about $200 – $250 Seattle to Medford round trip, a viable option for a couple, perhaps. ) So if you go, I want to hear all about it, hear?

Our stay at the Magnolia Inn was compliments of the Magnolia Inn. Thanks, Robert and Susan, for your great hospitality (and complete collection of Disney movies!)

Many Pacific Northwesterners share a common summertime syndrome. It’s one of those yet-to-be-named disorders, but I have proof that it exists.

Running on a beach on Quadra Island

You may even have it yourself. It is characterized by an overfull calendar of outdoor bbqs, gelato dates and weekend getaways.  You may notice that you suddenly have dozens of smoothie recipes lying around–far more than you can make in one summer. Perhaps you’re obsessing about the progress of your tomato plants, and worrying when you’ll find the time to build that chicken coop. And if you miss even one Sunday Farmer’s Market, you break out in hives.

Bounty from the summer parking strip garden.

Summer had a slow start this year, with days on end of gray and rain in May and June. Of course, this just accentuates the syndrome’s anxiety symptoms. Only two short months of summer, now! Will we have time to squeeze in the weekend getaway to Victoria? That wildflower hike at Skyline Divide?  The camping trip to the Olympic coast??

A hot day at Seattle Center.

For those of you who haven’t noticed this past week, summer is now very much here. Temps will be in the 90s today, the second day in a row. Your local market may be fresh out of popsicles, and air-conditioned hotel rooms are selling like hotcakes on Priceline.

Which is why I won’t be publishing that post on our trip to Jacksonville, Oregon today. I’ll get around to that tomorrow morning, hopefully before the sun comes up. Now, I must get outside, walk to get an iced coffee, take my son to the wading pool, have gazpacho for lunch, then nap under the apple tree.

After all, September will be here before we know it.

Playing in the sand at Alki Beach.

Happy summer!

For more scenes of summer in the Northwest and beyond, check out Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

I have seven blisters on my feet. Each and every one of them hurts like hell, yet they’re all worth it. Over the past few days, I’ve explored lower Manhattan as if it were my own, on foot. And because it was 90 degrees and horribly humid, I opted for sandals.

I’m in NYC for Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX), the second annual such conference for and by travel bloggers. I had few set expectations, but many desires – a dynamic exchange of experiences, a helpful recharging of cylinders, and a platform for collaborative new ideas in the changing world of travel blogging. I’m still mulling over how the conference stacked up, with its air-conditioned panel sessions and sponsored happy hours (of which there were many, the commonality among them being the high decibel level that almost negated meaningful conversation).There is one panel topic I’ve got bouncing around in my mind already– storytelling through travel writing. But more on that later.

Risotteria on Bleeker serves up gluten-free simplicity in their risottos.

The past few days, in between the panels and the happy hours, I’ve been exploring my temporary neighborhood, the West Village, and the various neighborhoods beyond that comprise downtown Manhattan. By acts of kindness on the part of a few, I’m able to do this from an actual West Village apartment that I’m sharing with two other Seattle-based travel bloggers in town for the TBEX conference, Pam Mandel with NerdsEyeView and Kelly Goodman with Travellious. These swell digs, complete with sun deck and gourmet kitchen, are thanks to a complimentary arrangement via Homeaway, the vacation rental website. And you know what? Staying in an urban vacation rental is a little like trying a city on for size. Just by holding the little pink key to that flat in the palm of my hand as I walk down Hudson or Charles or Bleeker streets, I can imagine, if just for a day or two, that I actually live here.

Kelly and Pam at the Grey Dog Cafe, West Village

Around the corner from our flat at Bleeker and Cornelia sits tiny Risotteria, a gluten-free corner eatery that serves up dozens of budget-friendly, simple risottos alongside chewy breadsticks with minimalist flair. I ordered mine with parsley and truffle oil. The pared-down ingredients made for a splendid risotto with distinct flavors. Just up the street at Grom, I was served a single ball of melon sorbet in a white paper cup. My gelato place, I thought. My corner bakery. My cheese shop.

Rocco's on Bleeker claims the city's best cannoli. We confirmed this.

One sweltering night, we sipped cold gingerale out on our deck. “Oh, look girls, we have our own clothesline,” said one of us. It hung over our heads, secured to the walls of adjacent buildings. For some reason the clothesline made me happy. Bursts of laughter bubbled up from the restaurant below, and voices drifted from nearby open windows. Through the second story window below us sat an elderly couple playing scrabble at their kitchen table. They reminded me of my grandparents, playing cards. I looked a little closer. It was then that I noticed the couple were buck naked.

Our neighbors, I thought to myself with a smile, if only for a long weekend.

A billboard in SoHo.

Growing up, I always wanted to live in a college town. The quintessential college town of my childhood was Madison, Wisconsin, with wonderful city parks, real espresso (this was 1990, people), vibrant street scenes, great college radio and rampant campus activism. As a midwesterner, I loved Madison. And now as a Northwesterner, I love Eugene. It is the quintessential college town of my beloved Pacific Northwest.

Eugene sits at the southern tip of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. It’s a smallish city with a big reputation for a lot of things I happen to like, from great local food co-ops to a cool public market to excellent microbrews to friendly eco-consciousness. So when my family set out on our weeklong road trip through western Oregon a few weeks ago, there was no doubt we’d be making a stop in Eugene.

First we hit the Eugene REI for some sunblock. Seriously. In this odd  summer of relentless Cascadia rain and gray skies, our day in Eugene was unexpectedly warm, bright and sunny. After a few cups of coffee, we spent the bulk of our midday at Skinner Butte Park, a riverfront greenspace where some of Eugene’s 50 miles of well-used bike paths and hiking trails pass through. It’s a terrific place for people-watching, and the poured-foam children’s play area is phenomenal. Oregon’s Willamette River pushes through here with power  and is lined with deciduous forest that makes for superb urban bird habitat; we saw and heard several warblers, hummingbirds and thrushes. Though we’d not planned to spend the bulk of our Eugene afternoon at Skinner Butte, relaxing on a blanket in the sun, watching the female cottonwood trees shed their cotton onto the grass around us, that’s just what we did. And a splendid afternoon, it was.

South of Eugene sits a much smaller town called Cottage Grove, a quaint, heritage town known for its historic covered bridges and building murals. We headed here next, eager to score some of this year’s heirloom seed varieties from Territorial Seed Company, based here. I was particularly interested in their Orange Mini Chinese Cabbage and Matina Sweet Lettuce for my winter vegetable garden. We arrived after they’d closed, however.  So with hours of daylight left, we chose to explore Cottage Grove’s other main attraction – covered bridges.  Cottage Grove is, after all, the “Covered Bridge Capital of the West.” There are six of them, all a few minutes from downtown, and after your tour, you might want to finish your day with crab cakes and a glass of local wine at Stacy’s Covered Bridge restaurant downtown, Cottage Grove’s best, I am told.

Where to Sleep

When I phoned my Mom and told her we were staying at the Village Green Resort in Cottage Grove, she chuckled. The she said, “Okay, so where are you, really?”

It’s no secret that I’m not exactly the “resort-type.” You won’t find me at an all-inclusive in Cancun, or at the Wolf Creek Lodge near Centralia (no matter how hard my kid is going to be lobbying me to go there in about three years). And you’ll most definitely never run into me on a cruiseship (besides, my propensity for seasickness is off the charts). But there we were, at the Village Green Resort, relaxing and enjoying every minute of the place.

Truth be told, upon arrival, I discovered it isn’t really what I’d call a “resort.” And that’s just great, because Village Green is a unique, cool, affordable motel set beside Interstate 5.  The star attraction here are 17 acres of individual gardens, each one themed and lovingly labeled, appreciated up-close from a series of winding paths and colorful benches. The gardens range from native to whimsical. I found myself truly enjoying the bit of calm and respite we experienced when touring these gardens, completely forgetting that the interstate was just a few hundred feet away from us. In the warmer months, you can cool off with a dip in the kidney-shaped pool at Village Green, and in the evening, you can wind down with a cocktail in their lounge (or take your drink into the lobby and enjoy it in one of their overstuffed leather couches by the fire, as I did.)  A continental breakfast is included with your stay. Three quarters of the rooms at Village Green are recently remodeled, pottery-barn style, and those are the rooms you want, hands-down. Ours was a deluxe king with a gas fireplace and spacious patio that looked out over the gardens, and the rate is around $119. Info: check their website or call 1-800-966-6490.

Another terrific place to lay your head in Cottage Grove is the Apple Inn Bed and Breakfast ($119 – $139), set on 200 acres of forest land with walking trails. Their two rooms each have a private bath, there’s a hot tub, and they serve a gourmet breakfast. Don’t forget to mention their listing in the Cheapsleeps Finder and get 10% off your two-night stay. Click here for more info.

Down in the valley, where the green grass grows, there are over a dozen small, family-owned wineries whose creations range from spicy Syrahs to deep-noted Pinot Noirs.

Oregon’s Umpqua Valley wine region is not just one valley, but comprises several small valleys and undulating hills. It’s drier than the Willamette to the north, and cooler than the Rogue to the south.We spent a few hours exploring the Umpqua just north of Roseburg this past week, and stopped at a couple of tasting rooms to sample the region.

Our first stop was the Henry Estate Winery. Scott Henry was out in the vineyards when we arrived, probably tinkering with his world-famous trellis system. It’s his own invention (Henry is a retired engineer) and has been widely-adopted because it allows for twice as much vine per square foot of soil as a traditional trellis system.

In the tasting room we were met by Dan, who kindly acquainted us with the wines of the region. I learned from Dan that the Umpqua straddles the same latitude as France’s Burgundy region, which often results in more complex Pinot Noir than what one might find in the Willamette. I tasted five of their wines, and all were excellent, though I enjoyed their Syrah most of all.

Our next stop was Palotai, where we were greeted by the winery’s dog, a friendly chocolate lab named Bella. Again, we were the only visitors. Michelle, whose uncle purchased the winery three years ago, was working in the tasting room boxing up cases of wine for shipments. Their vineyards contain a few Hungarian varieties of grapes and many of their top wines are blends, like the Bull’s Blood red. We sampled just a few before we had to hit the road and bid farewell to the charming Umpqua Valley.

For more interesting travel photos and stories, visit photo friday, every friday, at www.deliciousbaby.com. Oh, and all of these photos were taken on my iPhone using the Hipstamatic application. Groovy, huh?

A couple of tall, frothy IPAs and  a basketful of cajunized tater tots sat atop the weathered red picnic table during the Yardhouse Pub’s happy hour. Our toddler was frolicking nearby in the splendid green grass. Only minutes had lapsed since we’d arrived at the McMenamins Grand Lodge in Forest Grove, Oregon, just west of Portland, and already our vacation was off to a grand start.

I soon realized we weren’t the only parents who saw fit to take a family vacation to a hotel that houses two brewpubs. The lawn was dotted with playing toddlers.  “This is totally the place to come when you have a two year-old” I overheard a woman tell her husband at the table behind us. At the table in front of us, an infant was asleep in his father’s arms as he (the father) nursed a stout.

It’s not that the Grand Lodge is intentionally kid-friendly, at least not beyond the green grass to play in, the kids’ menus and the high chairs. But the Grand Lodge is parent-friendly, in unexpected ways. It’s the kind of place you can book a night or two and just… stay. The rooms aren’t big and the gender-separate baths are shared (which keeps this place very affordable). And that’s okay, because there’s plenty to do outside of your room. Play a round of Frisbee golf after breakfast, then nap under a big oak tree. After lunch at the outdoor pub, Dad plays outside with junior and Mom gets a facial at the on-site spa (at least, I imagined such a scenario). Choose a different pub or the wine bar for dinner and enjoy some live music while you eat. And the best part? “I don’t have to do any dishes!” my husband happily exclaimed. There’s also a huge stone-lined soaking tub outside, and a movie theater upstairs (they were showing “Date Night” during our stay, and Brian stayed up to watch the late showing after Isaac and I went to bed.)

I’d previously visited other overnight accommodations that are part of the Portland-based McMenamins brewpub and hotel empire, including the Edgefield and Kennedy School. While they’re in line conceptually with the Grand Lodge (McMenamins bought a neat, historic old building and restored it into a unique destination resort of sorts), they’re each a little higher in their rates, and a bit more adult in their atmospheres. The Grand Lodge, for example, has just one no-minors bar, not four. We brought earplugs, and surprisingly didn’t need to use them. The atmosphere was fun and festive (there was live music in the wine bar downstairs, and two weddings on-site when we were there) but I didn’t get the sense that people were there to “party” – you know? The music ended before 10pm, and so did our day, restfully and quietly. My only regret about our short stay at the Grand Lodge is that I didn’t actually get that facial at Ruby’s spa. Fortunately, there’s always a “next time.”

By the way… speculation that the Portland-based brewpub and hotel chain  McMenamins will soon open a hotel in the Seattle area always gets me excited. Remember a few years back when the McMenamins brothers were quite interested in the awesome old Catholic seminary at St. Edwards Park in Kenmore? You know the walls of that old St. Edwards monastery hold secrets, and there are closet skeletons just screaming to come out. Regrettably, NIMBY neighbors shot it down, some proposing the building instead be used to store state archives. (zzzz…..) The most incredible thing about McMenamins’ small crop of unique destination hotels, all in interesting, historic buildings that have been lovingly restored with the utmost care, is that the public gets to experience these places and their history. I’d really love to see a similar destination resort on the Seattle area.

To book your stay at the McMenamins Grand Lodge in Forest Grove, visit their website or call them at (877) 992-9533. Our room, which included a queen bed with a closet and sink is $89 a night. Shared bath is down the hall, and terry robes, towels and soaps are all provided. Pack earplugs, just in case.

Disclosure note: Our one-night stay at the McMenamins Grand Lodge was complimentary.

I’ve got a thing for Puget Sound islands. I love driving up that clanky ferry ramp, then feeling the Northwest wind whipping around me as I get out of my car and head up to the top deck for a coffee. I love sipping my drink as I watch the mainland drift further and further away. Soon, Ciscoe is talking to me over the ferry loudspeaker about the whereabouts of those trusty lifejackets, should they ever be needed, and all is right with the world.

I’ve visited quite a few of these emerald gems. Vashon. Fox. Orcas. Lopez. Camano. San Juan. Lummi. Whidbey. Bainbridge. And boy, do I envy the “residents.” They’ve got it made, I think to myself, with their fresh brown eggs and their farmer’s markets and their cottage gardens and their pottery studios. Someday, I think, I’m going to be one of them. I will! But for now, I’m a visitor. And in my experiences, a welcome one.

My family just spent a fantastic weekend on friendly South Whidbey, one of those quick, hassle-free weekend getaways that got us well out of the city without so much as an hour of driving. Tourist season was still officially around the corner, but we had a one-ferry wait nonetheless (not a prob with Ivars right there at the Mukilteo dock for all of our dinner needs.) Anyway, the hassle with a getaway such as this often comes before you even leave your house, when you’ve got to find a great place to stay. Well, next time you’re headed to the south end of Whidbey Island, go ahead and check that one off your list. You see, I’ve found the perfect place for you, whether you’re on a family getaway or a romantic weekend. It’s Carol Lee’s Attic, just north of the town of Langley on Saratoga Passage.

First of all, let’s dispel this notion of what you might encounter in an “attic”…  things like darkness, low ceilings, small windows, spiders; Carol Lee’s Attic is nothing like this. In fact, if I were Carol and Roy Bingman, I think I would rename the attic to loft, or even sanctuary. This entire second story of Carol and Roy’s detached garage building (that’s the “attic” in the photo above, on the right) is a beautifully-furnished apartment, tastefully-decorated in the style of English Country. The space is huge and full of light, with high ceilings and grand windows and lovely views of the Bingman’s cottage garden and Saratoga Passage beyond. As soon as we stepped into the guest house, I knew we’d stumbled upon a place that was very special.

Some B&B hosts have a real talent for anticipating a guest’s every need. Carol and Roy could write a book on this! They knew we’d have a toddler in tow, so Carol had thoughtfully placed a safety screen around the gas stove, and set out a stack of kid’s books. The bookshelves are stocked with a variety of books and magazines, and there are plenty of DVDs to watch, from comedies to documentaries. We always travel with music for Isaac to listen to– always, except for this time. Fortunately the attic’s CD collection included a Pink Martini CD. In other words, the guest house is fully-stocked with pretty much anything a guest might need or desire, from chamomile tea to dental floss.

Carol Lee’s Attic is a B&B, and the guest house kitchenette (sink, microwave, fridge, toaster oven, coffeemaker) was stocked with breakfast items, from delicious quiche and fruit to milk and cereal. We loved this arrangement – it allowed Brian and I to enjoy a leisurely breakfast without having to keep Isaac entertained. We let the DVD player do that!

And then, there was the bathroom.

See that awesome tub? That’s a Jacuzzi. And that view out the window? Yep, that’s the water beyond those towering Douglas fir. Bald eagles and Great Blue Herons swoop by on a regular basis. I spent a fair amount of time in here.

Carol Lee’s Attic welcomes children and pets by pre-arrangement. The guest house has a king-size bed and a trundle bed that can be made into two twins. Four guests maximum. The daily rate is $95 plus tax (add $25 for a single-night stay, add $25 if you use the trundle bed). Info: 360-730-1955 or email info@carolleesattic.com.

Disclosure note: We were charged half price the two nights we stayed at this B&B.