My 8 hour, $35 vacation

When the weather gets nice, a little timing and some ingenuity will lead to some of the best vacationing this side of the Rockies. Peep this:

Yesterday, Bets' and I embarked to the Canon Beach - a great "boutique" coastal spot on the Northern Oregon coast. The weather in Portland hit a little over 90 degrees (quite hot), where the coast was a cool and perfect 74 degrees. We spent a mere $35 on the whole 8 hour excursion. It was by far the best "mini-vacation" I've had in a long time. Here' s the run down:

Timing: Traveling during non-peak haul-ass-to-the-beach times is ideal. This meant leaving Portland around 12:00pm and leaving the coast to come home around 6:00, getting us back into town around 7:30. Our travel times overlapped everyone else's lunch and dinner times. Sweet.

Travel: Having a Hybrid does save money. A lot of money. They like long drives at fast speeds. Don't use the A/C or floor the accelerator too much and you've got a recipe for a cheap trip. The 200 mile round trip consumed a quarter tank (4 gallons) of gas. At current prices, that's about $15 in gas. Had we been traveling in our truck, we would have spent closer to $30 in gas.

Accommodations: Or should I say lack there of? A 70 degree day in a town with tons of public services in a small radius means no greenbacks for accommodations. The beach served as a perfect place to nap, walk and play.

Food: We ate pizza-by-the slice and ice cream, about $20 for the two of us. Yum! Who needs gourmet sit-down when you have Pizza a Fetta - only the best pizzeria in Cannon Beach! (and a delicacy I don't often indulge in) They have a window off to the side where the schlep fresh slices and sodas. The ice-cream place across the street had very tasty (and cheap!) ice cream.

Off to breakfast!
Gregsta'