If you’re into 90-degree beach vacations, you can stop reading now. I love those, too. But the Oregon Coast is a totally different thing. It’s rugged, vast, tranquil and cold. Well, maybe not cold as in Cleveland-winter-cold. But high 60′s during the day cold. Wet suits are a must for going in the water for any length of time. 

I found a beach house to rent through http://www.vrbo.com/. You can also find it here: http://www.modernbeachhouse.com/?p=7. The house was great for eight adults and two kids and had a decked out kitchen, two bathrooms and a hot tub. The main reason I picked it was because it was right on the ocean. 

This was the view from our deck:

The house was in Arch Cape, about four miles south of the heart of Cannon Beach. You could drive into Cannon Beach for the restaurants like the Wayfarer, where the herb buttered razor clams were maybe the best I’ve ever had and the view of Chimney Rock is spectacular. If you wanted to buy fresh seafood and make it yourself or go in for a quick but delicious lunch, there’s Ecola Seafood. I bought steamer clams, smoked mussels and salmon for dinner one night and it was unbelievable. 

Cannon Beach also has a farmer’s market  on Tuesday’s between 2PM and 6PM between June and September and it’s not like my Ohio farmer’s market because you can’t really find good tomatoes but you can buy Dungeness crab for $5.99 a pound, all sorts of crazy mushrooms foraged from nearby forests and the sweetest berries and cherries around.  

Surfing lessons and wetsuits were on the agenda as well. We got it all through Seaside surf shop. They rent boogie boards as well, if you’re not into surfing. The spot to go Oswald West State Park.  It’s a beautiful, quick hike into the cove. 

A trip to Oregon wouldn’t be complete without a visit to my husband’s favorite brewery, Rogue. The closest one was a half hour away in an odd town called Astoria.  Built on a rickety pier in what used to be a Bumble Bee Tuna Cannery, it had all the ales like Dead Guy that you can sometimes find in stores and a menu full of other ones that you just can’t find anywhere but at a Rogue. If you can talk one person into being the designated driver, it’s well worth the trip if you’re a beer lover. 

On the way back, we ended our trip at my brother’s sushi place in Ahola, Mio Sushi. Yes, he’s my brother and yes, I’m biased. But it’s some of the freshest sushi anywhere. So, my shameless plug is to stop in and have Danny make a plate of whatever he deems the freshest that day for you. 

Dublin:

We stayed at the Four Seasons for the first part of our trip and the Westin for the night before our return flight. The Four Seasons is definitely the place to stay for star-spotting. Neil Young, Oasis and Brittany Spears were all staying there during our stay. This is a friend of ours posing with Neil.

There’s plenty of info on things to do in Dublin so I won’t elaborate but if you want authentic Italian one night, find this little underground restaurant in the Temple Bar area.  It’s called Il Baccaro. It’s a bit difficult to find but if you ask around for the Italian place in the basement, you’ll get there. It’s worth passing up all the people hawking “homemade” Italian food in the main drag in the Temple Bar areas.

Kinsale

About a three-hour drive south of Dublin is the lovely vacation town of Kinsale. It’s full of great restaurants, historic sights, quaint shops and art galleries. W stayed in the heart of downtown at the Old Bank House. We were slotted for a standard room but because it was unusually warm and there was no air conditioning, they upgraded us to the Collection Suite, their luxury room complete with separate sitting room for the same price.The Bank House is the sister hotel to the Blue Haven. You could have a full breakfast at either restaurant and they were both wonderful. The Blue Haven was also a nice spot for a seafood dinner. Some of the best seafood chowders I’ve ever had were in Kinsale.

Other great restaurants:

FISHY FISHY CAFÉ

Address: Crowley’s Quay, Kinsale, Co. Cork Tel: 021 470 0415
Web: www.fishyfishy.ie
Seafood only – all locally caught fish served in a casual, friendly atmosphere.

WHITE LADY RESTAURANT

Address: O’Connell Street, Kinsale, Co. Cork Tel: 021 477 2737

Web: www.whiteladyhotelkinsale.ie

I believe the head chef is Malaysian so the dishes have an Asian influence that is very unique from everything else you’ll find in Kinsale.

Doolin

Don’t blink or you’ll miss Doolin. If you want to see the Ireland that’s portrayed in movies like John Wayne’s The Quiet Man, you need to make it the the west coast of Ireland. Here, you’ll see miles of stony hillsides full of cows, sheep and castles. Doolin is place to catch the ferries for the Cliffs of Moher, an absolutely magnificent sight.

We stayed at the Ballinalacken Castle Hotel. There are beautiful views from the hotel but the only drawback is that it is not in the heart of Doolin, it’s about two miles up the road. Ask for an ocean view, the castle view room is definitely not worth it. One of the best things about the hotel was the fact that the guests were able to take a tour of the castle remains one evening after dinner. We saw the sunset from top of the hotel and it was fantastic.

There is a lot to see in this part of the country. One of our favorites was driving through the Burren. The landscape is like none you’ve ever seen and there are fascinating sites everywhere you walk.

On one of the semi-rainy days we visited the Aillwee Cave in the Burren. I loved the fact that a farmer discovered the caves and kept them a secret for 33 years until he met some cavers at a local pub and bragged to them about his find. The Birds of Prey show is also worth seeing while you’re there.

Ireland is a beautiful country. There’s a lot more to talk about. If you’re a gardener, you will not believe the flowers and greenery all over the island. Fuschia is literally a roadside weed there and I’ve never seen Astilble and roses as large as there were all over.

Dublin:

We stayed at the Four Seasons for the first part of our trip and the Westin for the night before our return flight. The Four Seasons is definitely the place to stay for star-spotting. Neil Young, Oasis and Brittany Spears were all staying there during our stay. This is a friend of ours posing with Neil.

There’s plenty of info on things to do in Dublin so I won’t elaborate but if you want authentic Italian one night, find this little underground restaurant in the Temple Bar area.  It’s called Il Baccaro. It’s a bit difficult to find but if you ask around for the Italian place in the basement, you’ll get there. It’s worth passing up all the people hawking “homemade” Italian food in the main drag in the Temple Bar areas.

Kinsale

About a three-hour drive south of Dublin is the lovely vacation town of Kinsale. It’s full of great restaurants, historic sights, quaint shops and art galleries. W stayed in the heart of downtown at the Old Bank House. We were slotted for a standard room but because it was unusually warm and there was no air conditioning, they upgraded us to the Collection Suite, their luxury room complete with separate sitting room for the same price.The Bank House is the sister hotel to the Blue Haven. You could have a full breakfast at either restaurant and they were both wonderful. The Blue Haven was also a nice spot for a seafood dinner. Some of the best seafood chowders I’ve ever had were in Kinsale.

Other great restaurants:

FISHY FISHY CAFÉ

Address: Crowley’s Quay, Kinsale, Co. Cork Tel: 021 470 0415
Web: www.fishyfishy.ie
Seafood only – all locally caught fish served in a casual, friendly atmosphere.

WHITE LADY RESTAURANT

Address: O’Connell Street, Kinsale, Co. Cork Tel: 021 477 2737

Web: www.whiteladyhotelkinsale.ie

I believe the head chef is Malaysian so the dishes have an Asian influence that is very unique from everything else you’ll find in Kinsale.

Doolin

Don’t blink or you’ll miss Doolin. If you want to see the Ireland that’s portrayed in movies like John Wayne’s The Quiet Man, you need to make it the the west coast of Ireland. Here, you’ll see miles of stony hillsides full of cows, sheep and castles. Doolin is place to catch the ferries for the Cliffs of Moher, an absolutely magnificent sight.

We stayed at the Ballinalacken Castle Hotel. There are beautiful views from the hotel but the only drawback is that it is not in the heart of Doolin, it’s about two miles up the road. Ask for an ocean view, the castle view room is definitely not worth it. One of the best things about the hotel was the fact that the guests were able to take a tour of the castle remains one evening after dinner. We saw the sunset from top of the hotel and it was fantastic.

There is a lot to see in this part of the country. One of our favorites was driving through the Burren. The landscape is like none you’ve ever seen and there are fascinating sites everywhere you walk.

On one of the semi-rainy days we visited the Aillwee Cave in the Burren. I loved the fact that a farmer discovered the caves and kept them a secret for 33 years until he met some cavers at a local pub and bragged to them about his find. The Birds of Prey show is also worth seeing while you’re there.

Ireland is a beautiful country. There’s a lot more to talk about. If you’re a gardener, you will not believe the flowers and greenery all over the island. Fuschia is literally a roadside weed there and I’ve never seen Astilble and roses as large as there were all over.

Just some of the Italian Sweet Beefsteaks from the garden

Coming in beautifully in the veggie garden: radishes, potatoes, onions, garlic, lettuce, tomatoes, eggplant, herbs.

Don’t go if you don’t like hot food because this is authentic thai with all the chilis to boot. Try the Coco-Chili fish in the cocunut chili reduction sauce. It’s sweet/hot but they’ll actually make it mild for you. If you can stand spicy, go for the Calamari and Shrimp in a basil chili sauce. This one, they can’t make mild. But it’s worth every agonizing bite.

Malee’s makes a great start to an afternoon of shopping in Oldtown Scottsdale loaded with art galleries, Native American jewelry and southwest kitch. It makes for a great afternoon.

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A sample of her most recent post:

Well, I thought it was a good debate.  My hats off to Bob Shieffer… and my blouse too if he plays his cards right.  (Just don’t tell my husband.) But who the hell is Joe the Plumber?  Seriously.   What the hell was that all about?  Joe the Plumber?  Joe Six Pack?  The new McCain strategy seems to be banking on a lot of guys named Joe with a beer in one hand and a pipe wrench in the other.  Is this a political campaign or a dating service for the Palin women?

And while I am talking about Governor Good Hair from the North I just want to say good for Sarah Palin that she has an interest in helping special needs children.  They need all of our help and every child should come into this world being wanted and loved.  Sarah you have my full support on this matter.  It’s just too bad you also have to worry about a special needs Senator for a running mate.

John McCain thinks Americans are angry?  Really?  I think he needs to look beyond his rallies.  Americans are not angry.   Republicans are angry.  Bush screwed ‘em over and now McCain is rubbing salt in the wound.  It looks to me like The Straight Talk Express is stuck in traffic and its driver is experiencing a little road rage.   The rest of us are hopeful and anxious, but certainly not angry.  We want change and it is so close we can almost taste it.  The next three weeks will be the longest of my 82 years.

Folks, I’m tired and I don’t have another fight in me.  It’s now or never.  So to all of you I say this:  Give your money.  Give your time.   Give your voice.   Get up.  Get out and do something.  Anything.  If America takes a chance on Maverick the Clown and his side kick, Clarabell, we will find ourselves so far down the crapper even Joe the Plumber can’t reach us.  Get out there and vote!

Thank you for stopping by.  I mean it.  Really.