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a feel good travel blog

6 Essential and Quirky Breweries in Portland, Oregon

7/31/2020

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No other city in the United States is known for "keeping it weird," like Portland, Oregon. Quirky, eccentric and downright different is no exception in the Portland brewery world. Now, beer can't get that weird, but there is a way to twist things up or make one's brewery different than your traditional bar that serves local beer. Have you ever tried a beer flavored with Szechuan peppercorns or maybe Indian coriander? If not, you can try it in Portland. 

Here is a list of some unique, but also essential breweries in Portland, Oregon.
 
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If you need a cherry beer fix while we wait for Ives Blend Six, we recommend its predecessor, Ives Blend Five. Five is made with Black Pearl and Chelan cherries from @bairdfamilyorchards and emulates a wine-like flavor as you sip and savor. Available for pick up Saturdays and delivery Wednesdays!

A post shared by Upright Brewing (@uprightbrewing) on Jul 9, 2020 at 12:00pm PDT

Upright Brewing
Upright Brewing is known for specializing in small batches of beer that is made with character. They specialize in French and Belgian-style beers tainted with a Pacific Northwest twist. Their farmhouse-style ales include funky flavoring such as Szechuan peppercorns, orange peel and some annuals that include lemongrass. Some former annual beers were also aged in wine barrels to provide a different flavor. The slightly underground Rose District taproom is like an up-cycled hole-in-the-wall, but is loved by locals and travelers alike.  
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Filling these Blanton’s bourbon barrels with cherries and Adam on Monday #cherryadam2022 #auntiesfavorite #justintime #ronabeer

A post shared by Hair Of The Dog (@hairofthedogbrewing) on Jul 11, 2020 at 2:20pm PDT

Hair of the Dog Brewing Company
This family-owned brewing company is known for specializing in bottle-conditioned and barrel-aged beers. Their aging process varies with beers aging from a wide range of six month to eight years. Hair of the dog prides itself by using 99% of its ingredients obtained with a 350-mile radius of its brewing headquarters. They also offer the widest selection of vintage bottles available in the country. Some of their production includes aging beer in American oak barrels or an egg-shaped fermenter that is commonly used in wine production. 
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It's hot Portland. We don't blame you for not wanting to leave the house. Lucky for you we partnered with a local delivery service @atyourdoormarket so you can still receive our beers in the comfort of your home. 100% of your delivery fee will be used to create jobs for displaced workers. Click the link in our bio to order.

A post shared by Cascade Brewing (@cascade.brewing) on Jul 20, 2020 at 11:09am PDT

Cascade Brewing Barrel House
Cascade brewing is not only a local, Portland essential, but world-renowned for its sour beers. With 28 beers on tap, the "House of Sour," Blending Room features over 1,300 French oak, Kentucky Bourbon and Northwest wine barrels and nine foudres. They pride themselves on using local fruit and creating concoctions such as honey ginger lime beer, pineapple retreat and a watermelon strawberry vine sour slushy. Some purchases of specific beers also donate to local organizations.
 
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We figure it's about time that we came clean... Last Saturday, we did a soft opening of our Beer Garden in SE, and well folks, WE ARE OFFICIALLY OPEN FOR DINE-IN BUSINESS!!! ?⁣ ⁣ Stop in and see us Wed.-Fri. (3-9pm) and Saturday & Sunday (1-9pm) for draft, delicious food, and beer to-go. We can't wait to see you! ?⁣ ⁣ Many MANY thanks to everyone that supported us during this time and made re-opening possible. We appreciate you more than you know! ❤⁣ ⁣ #reopening #beertogo #beerdelivery #craftnotcrap #madeinoregon #beertime #littlebeastbrewing #portlandbeer

A post shared by Little Beast Brewing (@littlebeastbrewing) on Jul 25, 2020 at 1:02pm PDT

Little Beast Brewing Company
This  brewpub was the genius idea of a husband and wife duo to fuel their passion into beer making. Set inside a traditional-looking Portland house, also features a backyard beer garden, which is also dog-friendly. Little Beast is known for its small-batch, barrel-aged sours and mixed-fermentation ale. Their menu features a myriad of canned, bottled, draft and seasonal beers and sours. Be sure to try the Mr. Nice passionfruit sour ale, or for something a little more Northwest, order the Tree Spirit, a foeder-aged ale with tart cherries. 
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Tim is ready to take your order! (971) 339-2374!

A post shared by Zoiglhaus Brewing Company (@zoiglhausbrewing) on Mar 22, 2020 at 12:42pm PDT

Zoiglhaus Brewing Company
​If you love all things German, be sure to check out Zoiglhaus, which specializes in German beer brewing. The brewmaster, Alan Taylor received his brewing education from Germany and has brought this knowledge to Southeast Portland. Along with German-based beer, this Bavarian style beer hall features an outdoor garden, traditional German and American food menu and plenty of games like billiards and shuffleboard. 
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Introducing Guava Lime Sparkler! Our sixth out-of-state collaboration is with Sun King Brewing from Indianapolis. We've long admired the huge range of beers that they make, especially their fruited and sour beers which are creative, focused and downright delicious. How did we manage to collaborate given the current times that we are in? True, the Covid-19 Pandemic thwarted our plans to host the Sun King team here in Portland, but the show must go on! We virtually collaborated on this new summer beer. We married our breweries' interest in fun and playful beers to create this Sparkler. What is a Sparkler exactly? It's a fruited sour ale blended with a house-made club soda. We employed our tried-and-true process for making a dry, tart, and textural sour beer and then designed a bespoke club soda (don't call it a seltzer!) to make the beer drink more like a refreshing summer cocktail. If 'beer cooler' is a thing, this is it: with big additions of guava and lime zest, we've imbued this with bright tropical and citric notes. Kick back, relax, and enjoy this unheralded summer of 2020.⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #breakside #breaksidebrews #breaksidebrewery #seekandenjoy #cheers #supportlocal #drinklocal #travelportland #supportlocalbusiness #independent #employeeowned #beersnob #beer #breweryoftheyear #explore #pnw⁠

A post shared by Breakside Brewery (@breaksidebrews) on Jul 28, 2020 at 11:01am PDT

6 Essential and Quirky Breweries in Portland, OregonBreakside Brewery
This award-winning brewery won by a landslide in the 2020 Oregon Beer Award competition. Coming home with 12 medals, with the most prestigious winning the "Large Brewery of the Year Award." It is known for its IPA and produces over 40,000 barrels of beer annually. They pride themselves on innovative concoctions just like their 2020 feature release sour, the Persephone. This beer was fermented in natural oak and flavored with spring flowers, sweet orange peel and Indian coriander, which was inspired by Southern France's bittersweet vermouth. 

​What is your favorite brewery in Portland? 
Let's Connect!
 

This Lemon Tree article is now featured on GPSmyCity.  To download this article for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article, go to 6 Essential and Quirky Breweries in Portland, Oregon. 
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How to Spend a Weekend in Sequim, Washington

7/15/2020

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Sequim, Washington is a beloved little town in the Olympic Peninsula that is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and lavender lovers. It's also one of the gateway cities to access the Olympic mountains and seaside parks. What makes Sequim so different is that it is one of the driest areas in Western Washington, which makes it the ideal location to grow lavender and other types of produce. 

The small town is just over six thousand people, but the surrounding natural area attracts thousands of people annually to enjoy the best of nature and the small town life. 
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Graymarsh Farm
Graymarsh is a one thousand acre farm that features a variety of U Pick berries and lavender. Here one discovers a variety of not-so-common berries like loganberries and boysenberries.  They also feature plenty of produce for purchase that also comes from their farm like garlic, and select onions. Frozen fruit by the gallon is available for purchase as well as many preserves, and items like culinary lavender. The prices are very affordable and considered "cheap" when comparing it to local Seattle produce. 

​Products are also available for purchase on their website. 

Sequim Bay State Park
​Located on the coastline in Sequim, this 92 acre oceanfront park features year-round camping, hiking, boating as well as seasonal activities like swimming. Established in 1936, the park features majestic views of the Puget Sound and the nearby islands. It's a scenic place perfect for relaxing under a tree, or walking the local trails. 

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U Pick Lavender Farms
Sequim is chocked full of beautiful and awe-inspiring lavender farms. There are so many to visit, that some do the "Lavender Trail," to visit all the farms by car or bike. There are so many farms to visit, it is difficult to choose just one. Most farms contain a U Pick Zone for the small average price of around five to seven dollars per bundle, with most farms having a barnyard gift shop to sell their handmade products. 

I chose to visit the Purple Haze Lavender Farm. Located on Bell Bottom Road, the vibe is as hippie as it gets. Chillout with some 60's rock-and-roll and enjoy the farm by meandering or picking lavender. A gift shop features plenty of traditional lavender products like sachets, soaps and honey. They also sell ice cream, cold drinks as well as some lavender alcoholic beverages to enjoy underneath the willow tree or in the garden. I suggest the Purple Palmer, which is a half-and-half lavender lemonade + iced tea concoction. 

​The Washington Lavender Farm is another premier destination as this farm features over 5,000 variety of plants and it's backdrop includes the George Washington Inn, the ocean and the Olympic mountains. 

Eating Local
Most people come to Washington to experience the array of locally caught seafood. I don't eat meat, so I cannot recommend anywhere specific, but I do advocate for locally sourced restaurants that offer plant based options. It is difficult to find tons of vegan food in the peninsula, but Nourish Sequim is an organic, gluten-free friendly restaurant that sources from an onsite farm. Vegan and vegetarian options are available alongside meat and seafood dishes. The house-style restaurant features outdoor seating that is tucked between the house and the garden. The menu is pricey.
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Dungeness Spit
The Dungeness Spit is a 6.8 mile (one way) sand spit that jets out of the northern edge of the Olympic Peninsula. From the parking lot, walk through a typical tree and fern-lined trail that leads to the shoreline and the spit. During the evening hours, watch the dramatic sun set over the shoreline, or enjoy the relaxing sounds of the waves washing up onto the shoreline. If time allows, walk toward the New Dungeness Lighthouse that has been in operation since 1976. Although windy, the walk is leisurely and not too difficult by walking on top of the sand. This is an ideal location for the sunset, but the park may not be open until dusk during COVID 19. Check the local signs for more information. 

Another place to watch the sunset is at the Cline Spit County Park. This is a small community beach area that overlooks the ocean and the sun setting on the horizon. 


Depending on the weather and how you want to structure your day, I suggest starting at day at one of the lavender farms, or Greymarsh and then after lunch, head to the either the state park or the Dungeness spit. Nourish Sequim is open for lunch and dinner. although I suggest eating there at dinner time. 

Morning Routine /Breakfast - 8-10am 
10-12pm - Lavender Farm OR U Pick Berry Farm
12-2pm - Lunch / Coffee
2-4/5pm - Park 
5-630pm - Relax / Get Ready for Dinner (or drive home on the last night) 
7pm - Dinner and sunset depending on the time of year


What is your favorite thing to do in Sequim on a quick weekend trip? Let's Connect! 
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8 Secret Outdoor Hidden Gems in Seattle

7/8/2020

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Everyone in Seattle knows of Gasworks Park, the waterfront and big outdoor parks like Discovery Park. If you're searching for something cute, quaint, quiet and "so Seattle," look for the hidden gems for a place of solitude or a place where only the locals go and know about. 

​There are so many secret spots in Seattle, and I hope you enjoy at least one of these beautiful spaces. 

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Fairview Park - Eastlake
Located in Eastlake's waterfront nearby the U-Distrcict bridge is a small grassy space that overlooks Lake Union with views of Gasworks Park. Adjacent to the open grassy space is a small garden and small dock to launch SUP boards and kayaks. The park features a set of stairs that led up to Eastlake Ave East's apartments and many restaurants. 

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Starla Drum View Bench - Magnolia
This small grassy knoll and rocky beach overlooks the Olympic Mountains and the Elliot Bay. I used to ride my bike here, and the viewpoint is accessible from walking or biking from the Elliot Bay trail, or by car in the direction of the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal Pier 91, and the Seattle Yacht Club. When entering the yacht club one notices views of the city, Mount Rainier and the exquisite Admiral's House perched on the hill. Guest parking is located at the end of the street to the bench and lookout area.  
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11th Avenue NW Street End Park
Located in the Canal Boatyard just behind the Fred Meyer is this tiny street end park that overlooks the Lake Washington Ship Canal. The shoreline is lined with seasonal flowers and a boardwalk features a bench and a swinging chair to enjoy the view. Its a miniature art park that gives locals a chance to admire the boats as they sail away to and from the Salmon Bay. 
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“The Source” of center of the earth spiral in Luther Burbank ?? #seattle #seattlewashington #sunsets #sun #pnw #pacnw #seattlephotographer #wanderlust #wanderer #travelgram #travel #traveling #travelblogger #nature #naturelovers #forest #forestbathing #pugetsound #island #trail #hiking #flowers #flowerstagram #flowerphotography #flowerpower #hiking #trails #outdoors #sundayfunday #sunshine #sunnyday

A post shared by Elizabeth Kovar (@erkovar) on Jul 6, 2020 at 1:23pm PDT

"The Source" in Luther Burbank Park - Mercer Island
Although not technically located in the city, many consider Mercer Island as a part of the Seattle region. This park is popular in some spots, but near "The Source," or the center of the earth, is a spiral grassy knoll to hangout in the sun, or rest underneath a tree. Spiritual people understand the significance of the spiral and this connection, or energy of the land is as peaceful as a fine art painting. 

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Life can feel like a path leading to no where during these uncertain times, but a good reminder of taking life one step at a time â–¡ â–¡ #seattle #seattlewashington #sunset #sunsetlover #sunsets #sun #pnw #pacnw #seattlephotographer #wanderlust #wanderer #travelgram #travel #traveling #travelblogger #nature #naturelovers #forest #forestbathing #bird #park #outdoors #outdoorphotography #garden #gardening #trail #trees

A post shared by Elizabeth Kovar (@erkovar) on May 12, 2020 at 8:40pm PDT

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Birding in Seattle ? #seattle #seattlewashington #sunset #sunsetlover #sunsets #sun #pnw #pacnw #seattlephotographer #wanderlust #wanderer #travelgram #travel #traveling #travelblogger #nature #naturelovers #forest #forestbathing #bird #park #outdoors #outdoorphotography #birdsofinstagram

A post shared by Elizabeth Kovar (@erkovar) on May 8, 2020 at 5:35pm PDT

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Snailing in seattle â–¡ #seattle #seattlewashington #sunset #sunsetlover #sunsets #sun #pnw #pacnw #seattlephotographer #wanderlust #wanderer #travelgram #travel #traveling #travelblogger #nature #naturelovers #forest #forestbathing #snail #park #outdoors #outdoorphotography

A post shared by Elizabeth Kovar (@erkovar) on May 8, 2020 at 5:32pm PDT

Ravenna Park - Ravenna
Nearby the end of the main drag of the U-District is Ravenna Park. Ravenna Park itself feels like an escape from the city when wandering through the treelined trails. Small creeks flow into this area, and one can get lost watching the birds sing or finding snails on the back of fern leaves. The off trails feature various places to rest and relax. Some areas feature a boardwalk to sit, relax and enjoy the natural sounds of of the streams. The park features a variety of open fields and spaces to also picnic. Although the park is not that secret, it is not a tourist destination and many locals come here to exercise or hangout. 
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Vintage skirt, old soul, fresh flowers â–¡#sunspiration #flowers #seattle #seattlelife #pnw #pacnw #mindbodysoulfood #mindfulness #mindfulliving #flowerstagram #flowerpower #flower #nourish #flowers #travel #travelblogger #travelphotography #traveling #homedecor #garden #nature #naturelover #outdoors #beautiful #inspiration #beauty #vintage #womanempowerment #tree #inspire #woman

A post shared by Elizabeth Kovar (@erkovar) on Apr 10, 2019 at 5:35pm PDT

Parsons Garden – Queen Anne
Located on the magnificent West Highland Drive, Parsons Garden is a small, cornerstone garden that is in bloom year-round. This is my favorite park in Seattle because the scenery looks like a scene from a magical fairy-tale.  From the hydrangeas to the magnolias to the rhododendrons, this is a popular spot for weddings during the summer, which the public cannot (or morally should not) enter during ceremonial times. This used to be the personal park of Reginald Parsons and was given to the city in 1956. â€‹
Astrid's Park, E Edgar St Shoreline Street End - North Broadway
Located near Roanoke Park and Capitol Hill is a quaint neighborhood, North Broadway, chocked full of magnificent million dollar homes. Nearby Roanoke Park is a small waterfront space to admire views of the Portage Bay that overlooks Seattles yacht club with views of the Cascades in the far distance. The waterfront space features plaques that allow visitors to learn a bit more about the local history. 

E. Shelby Street End - North Broadway 
Located near Astrid's Park at another deadend is a secret and private beach that overlooks Portage Bay. Descend down cement stairs hidden between the trees to a small waterfront space that overlooks the boats and boathouses. 
Hamilton Viewpoint - West Seattle
While driving along California Ave SW one may notice a brief stop off parking spot that is a part of Hamilton Viewpoint, which maybe one of the most beautiful lookout points in the city. The viewpoint overlooks the Puget Sound and the entire Seattle skyline. Admire and enjoy the ferries that come in and out of the piers off to one of the many nearby islands like Bainbridge, Vashon or further to Bremerton. 

What is your favorite outdoor hidden gem in Seattle? 

Let's Connect!

This Lemon Tree article is now featured on GPSmyCity.  To download this article for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article, go to 8 Secret Outdoor Hidden Gems in Seattle​.
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    Author

    Elizabeth Rae Kovar is a Fitness Trainer, Author of Finding Om, Presenter, Yogi, Vegan & lover of the World. View her portfolio at www.elizabethkovar.comor health-based blog at mindbodysoul-food.com

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