tell me about your city (chicago, pdx, seattle etc)

[turnipmonster]

hello OOT,
I'm taking a cross country road trip. I'd love thoughts/observations on fun things to do, cheap/cool places to stay, cool national/state parks and/or campgrounds, and good places to eat in the following areas (no steakhouses, please):

1) chicago

2) portland, or

3) seattle

4) eugene

5) yellowstone national park and surrounding area

including stuff in between any of the aforementioned is much appareciated, particularly between yellowstone and chicago. thanks so much for your help. if I am missing something ultra cool, let me know about it!

[ChipWrecked]

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particularly between yellowstone and chicago.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hahahahahahahaha, that's rich. I hear Des Moines is kickin' this time of year. Check with Whackity Whiz.

[MoreWineII]

2) portland, or - Downtown, the Gorge, that's about it really


4) eugene - Ducks game, that's about it really

[bdk3clash]

When in Chicago you must must must go to a Cubs game. I know you hate baseball but get bleacher seats, get drunk, and chant "left field sucks" or "right field sucks," depending on where you're sitting.

Get deep dish pizza at Lou Malnati's. It's touristy, but it's probably the quintessential deep-dish pizza place.

If you want museums, the Art Institute, the Field Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Science and Industry are all world-class.

Try to catch a show at Second City.

I'll try to think of some more stuff and post it here.

[MrTrik]

I don't live in or near Yellowstone but go there every summer for the last 4 years. It is a truly great area and you won't be dissapointed if you like beautiful mountains and deep river gorges and a ton of wildlife. I'm talkin unbelievable waterfalls and elk.

A ways outside the East entrance is a town called Cody WY and it's roughly an hour outside the park. A place there called Irma's which was built by wild Bill himself is a place to eat. Don't expect gourmet there but they do have a large menu and do it well.

Just outside the East entrance is a place called Pahaska Teepee. Another Wild Bill place. Great food in a mountain lodge setting.

There isn't much at the South entrance. But we stayed at a great place called Flagg Ranch. They have beautiful cabins and a campground. Food in the main lodge is great.

On the North entrance is the town of Gardiner. It's mostly a pit and offers nothing except that it's close to the North entrance. Stay away from the Comfort Suites there. It's a dump. There is camping nearby and lots of wildlife. Elk and Moose wander right through town.

The West entrance is a town called West Yellowstone. There is stuff to do there and plenty of places to get good food and cold beer.

Inside the park ... Grand canyon of Yellowstone, Norris Geyser basin, Sylvan Pass, Area where the Yellowstone river comes out of the park (can't remember the name), I suppose Old Faithful though not my favorite.

[RunDownHouse]

[ QUOTE ]
When in Chicago you must must must go to a Cubs game. I know you hate baseball but get bleacher seats, get drunk, and chant "left field sucks" or "right field sucks," depending on where you're sitting.

[/ QUOTE ]
And this is why the women at Comiskey are always more knowledgable about baseball than the men at Wrigley.

[sfer]

Just make sure to protect the nest egg.

[stabn]

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2) portland, or - Downtown, the Gorge, that's about it really


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pacfic crest trail

mt jefferson wilderness area

A bit south but...awesome:
Crater lake

Rogue river:

Rafting

Jet boats:

Jet boats


Closer to portland again:

Multnomah falls

beacon rock

Rooster rock - not as cool as beacon rock

Evergreen avation museum, home of the spruce goose.

And about 1:30-2 hours north near mt st helens:

ape caves

A lava tube cave that's pretty sweet.

Basically everything good to do in the portland area is outside.

I'll let others handle seattle except for:


seattle para gliding

which fly's off of:

Tiger moutain

Which is a good recation area with some pretty good hiking and
mountain biking.

stabn

[bdk3clash]

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And this is why the women at Comiskey are always more knowledgable about baseball than the men at Wrigley.

[/ QUOTE ]
And hairier.

[trotski]

You have to go see Mt. Rainier, you can camp there as well. And, since the observatory is open again, go check out Mt. St. Helens.

As well as all the stuff Stabn pointed out, Crater Lake is awesome.