She's like the wind.

We're trying to be spontaneous.

Let me just say, we're trying really hard.

But it doesn't come easy. See, we had plans to go to Europe in December but because of the current state of the country and the rest of the world, we decided to abandon those plans in order to live cautiously.

Living cautiously is nowhere as near as fun as living dangerously, I'll point out.

Friends of mine have been quick to explain that you "can't let the terrorists win" or, "when it's your time to go, it's your time to go."

Well, I'm a bit of an odd case who is way into self-preservation. I don't like taking any chances and because of that, my life is probably a life half-lived.

But oh well.

Here's our plans: I'm waiting for a shipment from Amazon -- a new SmartMedia card for my digital camera (for the trip) and a copy of the soundtrack to Hedwig and the Angry Inch (also for the trip). As soon as this package arrives, we're getting into the Honda and driving.

To where, you may be asking?

We're really not sure. Although we'd love to drive to the East Coast, we're fearful that the road trip will lose its glamour somewhere in Kansas and out of boredom just turn back.

So, we're probably just going to head North to Canada.

It's going to be the vacation that we haven't been planning since July. But, it will be a vacation all the same.

And now, I need your help in "planning" this trip.

Any suggestions about Northwest travel?

What do we have to see? Eat? Stay?

Comments

[Melissa]

You should definitely come through Portland, OR and make a stop at Powell's, one of the best bookstores around. I would then suggest taking the streetcar and heading over to NW 21st to Wildwood for a delicious bite to eat.

[Kristin]

eureka all the way, baby. . . . you should drive up to canada and look at the seals.

[Dan Sanderson]

We Seattle weblogger types are very, very friendly. Everyone loves to hang out with us. Especially Jish.

There's the usual assortment of things to do in Seattle. I personally think the Experience Music Project is not to be missed, and visitors to Seattle usually concur. There's other stuff, which I'd recommend more highly for a summer trip than a winter one, but would still recommend as stuff to do, depending on how much time you're spending in the area.

Would Powell's Bookstore (www.powells.com) in Portland be too obvious to mention?

As for getting bored by Kansas, I didn't get bored once on my spontaneous coast-to-coast road trip. I was by myself, so no enlightening conversation, but it was the first time I ever did the road trip thing, and it was in July. It'd probably be less not-boring in winter... and I don't think I'd do Kansas a second time, if I could avoid it, though the guidebooks heartily recommend stopping in Abelene, which I missed because it was dark and I was booking to Kansas City.

Whether or not we get to dine with you both if and when you pass through, have a great trip!

[jeremy w]

you should most definitely stop for a while in Bellingham, WA and just soak in the environment. Go watch whales out in the San Juan islands, kayak, mtn bike, hike, drink coffee, relax... Dang, I love that little town.

[megan]

if you make it up to Canada go to a Lush store any buy bath goodies (so I can live vicariously)

[Ferra]

Obviously, Seattle is a superior choice of destinations--or if nothing else, it's a good stopping-place on your way to Canada.

Food: Eat fish while you're here. Go to the Market (that's Pike Place, of course), see Mark the Chowder Guy, get those little tiny heart-attack-pill donuts that make me anime-smiley, watch the fish get thrown. Have Bolivian food at Copacabana. Have dim sum in the International district, and buy 5 pounds of fortune cookies for a dollar.

Sights: It's touristy, I know, and I'd avoided it for years (hey, I'm a snooty native, give me a break)--but you REALLY can't beat the view from the top of the Space Needle. For another fabulous vantage point, head to the 75th floor of the Columbia Tower (Bank of America tower? something like that). Take a ferry. Watch the sun set from Magnolia, or watch the rain fall from Queen Anne.

Stay: At the Marqueen. It's so desparately romantic.

Ask: Me for more questions. I love playing tour guide!

[Nicole]

For Oregon, of course Powell's, but if you want some good Cajun, go to Montage--ask for directions, it's under an overpass, and very worthwhile. Portland has great food (and I should mention, it's a good place for music and books--there's no sales tax in Oregon!).
Haven't been in a while, but Olympia and Tacoma are beautiful, underrated cities--visit the Olympia brewing co. and take the tour: free bad beer at the end, but the whole complex is quite old and, dare I say, romantic? Well, it smells like hops, too, but the whole area's very nice. Seattle's obvious, especially when you're around the U of W and the old parts of town.
My housemate just got back from Seattle and says the new Frank Gehry designed music musee is really necessary to any visit.
When you get to Canada, go to Victoria, which should somewhat supplant your European trip, as it is (as of the 90s) quite British. Just have a good time!

[Ed]

Self-preservation is certainly understandable in perilous times. But the European world (which I saw before and after 9/11, even if the before part entailed a matter or hours on my second trip around) hasn't drastically changed. To paraphrase Superman, statistically speaking, airlines are still the safest way to travel.

To live a life without taking chances is to miss out several existential opportunities. It is limiting the numbers game. It is narrowing the broad tableau that existence is all about. Now my intention here is not to scold. There are probably very good emotional reasons behind why you feel the way that you do. But I can say, without any vacillations, that I would go to Europe again in a heartbeat if it presented itself to me with another opportunity tomorrow. And if you haven't yet been to Europe, I have to wonder why you have made your decision. Because going to another country is an essential experience that every American should try, if only for a week.

Now admittedly, a large portion of my own cavalier attitude to make this choice has to do with being single and not having any kids or long-standing obligations (aside from creative excuses to give to creditors) other than the projects I have outlined. But what fascinates me is how the paradigm can frequently be wrangled inwards because of fear. Fear is an emotion that has been used odiously by capitalism to keep people in line, to keep them working their nine-to-five jobs and buying worthless junk. And if you'll permit me an answer to a question, Mena, without getting into any areas that you don't want to expose publicly, I'm curious about what you define as "self-preservation."

[jeremy w]

addendum: get the book "Road Trip USA" and you'll not only have a great travel guide, but just a great reading book (very entertaining).

[Matty]

I recommend a stop in Fort Bragg, CA. There is nothing incredibly exciting about it, which is part of what makes it so great.

I stopped there on my way down the coast on a post-high school road trip. I can remember almost exactly what I did while I was there. I went to a hole-in-the wall restaurant that gave you about three options, which was whatever they happened to make that day. Then I followed it up with some jazz at a local coffee shop and one of the best sunsets I've ever experienced.

It's one of those towns that can really surprise you. If you don't stop there I suggest you pick another small town along the way and hope for your little memory.

[Mena]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

We'd love to meet up with any Seattle (or other area) webloggers. Because we won't have a schedule and our access to the Internet will be unpredictable, we'll have to devise some sort of method of arranging a meeting on short notice.

Keep the travel suggestions coming -- believe me when I say everything is carefully noted.

[Mena]

Ed: Thanks for your post.

I have to say that your points are well-taken. I do believe that my logic is a bit skewed and that it is really driven irrational fears. Why irrational? Well, most of my of my fears were well-formed and dominating my life way before September 11th.

I'm quite afraid of flying -- not enough that I refuse to, but enough that I cry during each and every take off. Sure, I have heard the statistics stating that driving is more dangerous than flying -- I don't like driving either. Something in my chemistry has changed during the past couple years that has made me a nervous wreck. I used to be famous for falling asleep in the passenger seat. Now, I can barely close my eyes without images of us getting into a car accident popping into my head.

I was half-kidding when I mention self-preservation. My idea of self-preservation revolves around me sitting in my house with the shades drawn.

About Europe -- yes we've been there before. We spent a month travelling in England and France in 1999. We were actually considering moving to England before the tech market went down the toilet. Don't worry about us being isolated Americans -- visiting or living in Europe is still high on our list :)

We were planning to visit Spain and Italy this December. Although we're disappointed that we will not be making this trip, I can honestly say that (1) we don't really have the money that we were planning to spend abroad (2) if we're going to be worried the entire time about the state of affairs back home, we'd rather just wait and go another time.

[burt]

Portland OR, is a must - beautiful place and people.

You must go to the Japanese Gardens in Seattle if you head that way - incredible stay at Mildreds - she'll cook ya dutch babies for breakfast.

If you like films head to Newport OR on the coast to see the fishing port from One flew over the cuckoo's or go to Mount Hood and see the Lodge from 'the Shinning'.

Any tech heads could have a go at the Boeing plant and see the 747 in production....

basically, follow your nose -its all great on the west coast - I visited in 98 and loved all of it...

burt

[Ilsa]

I've never been to Seattle, but I want to...

Last November I bought a stick shift, learned to drive it in three weeks, and drove the southern route from Boston to California. When down to Florida, accross the country on rte 10, than up from Arizona to San Jose. I have been here ever since. Route 10 is awesome. In New Mexico there is a large rock formation on the side of the road spray painted in big letters with the words "Fraggle Rock". It is very cool. Driving through Texas I saw the best sunsets and sunrises that I have ever seen in my life. The views were stunning. Getting out of the car in Texas is not recommended though.

Georgia was my favorite though. At all of the grocery stores and diners, people called me Baby Girl. (And I was suprised to find that I liked it.)

If you go through New Orleans, Cafe Du Monde is a must. Mmmmmm.....

Do the southern route. so cool...

[Ramon]

Why are you so afraid of flying to Europe? Billions of people fly every day, don't you realize that. 0,000012% of all flying planes in September crashed. Does that alarm you that much? What a pity...

[Ed]

Mena: Totally hear you on the irrational fears front. Now is a time of paranoia and pandemonium, a Pandora's box unleashed in our responsive occurrences to September 11. For anyone still developing their own answers to their own issues, it did not help matters. But it doesn't have to stop us from being brave all the same. There are the fears we feel within and the fears we feel that are tertiary, possibly substantiated by the stirrings of our heart. But we must never confuse the two. In our own way, we are brave on the former count on a daily basis and fail to see the fruits of our labor.

[Ferra]

Mena: my Boy and I would love to meet up with y'all--email me pre-trip, and I'll hook you up with my digitz ;-)

[Jeff]

Living in DC, I'm with you on self-preservation! All kidding aside, one of the things I've learned from these recent events is to respect others' comfort levels. So, if going to Europe makes you nervous, then do what feels safe and good to you.

Of course, we would love to break bread with you in that OTHER Washington!

[denise]

you must do a road trip! chuck and i did that earlier this summer and it was so, so fun! i went to seattle in june of last year. my stories and some photos are here: http://www.centrs.com/062000.htm

the japanese garden is wonderful. i wish i had had time to see the islands and go to vancouver.

[Katie]

If you do get bored by Kansas, stop here in Wichita and I can tell you where to find all the nearby excitement. Wichita, at least, has a lot to offer.

[megnut]

Oooh, I went to Portland a few times and it was lovely, I really enjoyed Mt. Hood. And there was this hot sulphur spring I went to somewhere outside of Portland, I think in Washington. I'm searching for it now on Google and can't find it, perhaps someone knows of it? It's in the woods, an old Victorian building. You can soak in a tub, then get a wrap (where they bundle you like a mummy) and then a message. It was really neat. And cheap, I believe. I apologize for the uselessness of this advice.

In California, I recommend trying to visit some of the Lost Coast (http://www.beachcalifornia.com/lostcoas.html) which is supposed to be amazing.

Drat. I wish I could recall the name of this hot spring place.

[megnut]

Ugh, not message. Massage. Why on earth would you want them to give you a message?

[shannon]

You could come up to Calgary and meet Megabyte. Then we could both go to the Lush store in Banff and make Megan REALLY jealous :)

But you'll want to do it soon. It's going to get cold any day now. It's already snowed twice!

[Sandee]

Just founf your weblog...and I loved my visit. I am in Canada....come to Montreal (the city of lights) quite nice here. ~Sandee

[josh]

well, having done the trip to the east coast no less than 3 times and the trip from LA to Vancouver no less than 6 times, i would say that my favorite was the trip east (actually i came west _from_ the east) was when i took the northern route though wyoming, montana, idaho, utah, south dakota, minnesota, wisconsin, illinois, indiana, ohio, new york, connecticut & mass (though not in that order). some of my favorites were bad lands in SD ( don't forget to stop at the Praie Dog ranch), western montana (probably the most beautiful and scary scenery i've ever seen), eastern minnesota (wanted to get further north but couldn’t) and new york through the adirondacks.

makes for a very introspective journey. oh yeah, the sunflowers in SD were overwhelming.