Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Food
Sharing a spic-and-span showroom garage with mint-condition vintage Porches in the tiny village of Mosier,
Route 30 Classics & Roadside
Refreshments
serves delicious ice cream—huckleberry cheesecake is my favorite—and cold drinks. It makes a perfect stop after taking a ride
through the nearby Twin Tunnels.
Overlooking the Gorge with a view of The Dalles Bridge,
The Bistro at Waters Edge
(541/506-5777, 6 A.M.-9 P.M. Mon.-Fri., 7 A.M.-8
P.M. Sat., 11 A.M.-6 P.M. Sun.) is run out of an airy space with plenty of windows. Serving a unique selection of sweet and savory crepes, plus
flatbread pizza and typical café sandwich and salad fare, the Bistro presents a healthful alternative to many of the diner and drive-through options
just off The Dalles's I-84 off-ramps. The patio's view is nice, but hold onto the napkins because its prime vantage point also lies right in the
Gorge's blustery wind currents.
If it is a big, juicy burger that you crave, though, keep driving to
Big Jim's Drive-In
(2938 E. 2nd St., 541/298-5051, 10 A.M.-10 P.M. daily),
a Gorge institution that's been running its fryers for over 40 years. If you're in a nontraditional fried spuds mood, give the joint's yummy Tater
Tots a go and don't forget to pair your meal with a thick shake.
Serving up south-of-the-border specials,
La Fogata
(1204 Yakima Valley Hwy., 509/839-9019, 11 A.M.-9 P.M. daily) is a simple taqueria that
whips up a mean street taco. Pick from everything from standard carne asada to succulent beef cheek to fish, and slather on the freshly made salsa
to complete the fiesta in your mouth. With only a couple of tables inside and a few picnic tables set up outside, this popular place can get crowded
at times, but the wait is worth it.
Gussied up in a barn-red building with a shiny green tractor plopped down right in the middle of the dining room,
Cousins Restaurant and
Lounge
plays up its country theme to the last, serving big portions of farm-style dishes like pot roast and meatloaf, accompanied by drinks served
in Mason jars.
On the other end of the sophistication spectrum,
La Petite Provence
(408 E. 2nd St.), is a boulangerie and patisserie with deliciously fragrant
French onion soup, crusty baguettes, and delectable sandwiches. A meal here is left unfinished without a sweet ending—the tortes, cookies, and
sweet pastries can't be missed.
For a change of pace, you can switch your French accent to an Italian one and swing by
Romul's
(312 Court St., 541/296-9771,
www.romuls.com
) right down the street. A casual café with all the standard faves—calamari, lasagna, ossobuco—it does also surprise with a few
dishes. Some delicious departures include stuffed grape leaves, pork schnitzel, and roasted duck cappelini.
Information and Services
You can gather information on local lodging, recreation and events at
The Dalles Chamber of Commerce
(404 W. 2nd St., 541/296-2231,
www.thedalleschamber.com
, 10 A.M.-5 P.M. Mon.-Fri.).
The Transportation Network of The Dalles
and
Columbia Area Transit
(
ht-
tp://community.gorge.net/hrctd
) offer a fixed-route bus service between The Dalles and Portland that runs every Thursday ($8 one-way), heading
westbound in the morning and eastbound in the afternoon. The same service provider also runs a fixed-route service Monday through Friday
between The Dalles and Hood River ($3 one-way). Buses arrive at and leave from
The Dalles Transportation Center
(201 Federal St.). Grey-
hound (
www.greyhound.com
) also offers bus service from this location.
Yakima (YAK-a-ma) has become one of the largest cities in Central Washington and the commercial hub for the Yakima Valley. Eastern settlement
was strongly resisted by the confederated tribes and bands of the Yakama Nation in the early 1800s. With the end of the 1855 Indian War and the
settling of the Yakama People on a reservation, ranchers and farmers took their place, raising apples, pears, hops, and mint in large amounts. The
volcanic soil practically farms itself. Today, Yakima relies on those crops still, as well as huge fields of hops for beer brewing. Yakima is also the
source for the vast majority of grapes shipped all over the state to fuel the passion of boutique vintners. The extensive manpower needs of agricul-
ture have brought a small army of men and women of Mexican extraction to the area. Thus, the valley has developed a rich culture of top-notch
Mexican restaurants and upbeat music, far away from the border. Here, I-82 cuts across the north side of the valley, with the older Highway 22
following a parallel route on the south side. Several small towns dot the route between Yakima and the Tri-Cities; the largest are Zillah, Granger,
Sunnyside, Grandview, and Prosser.
Historic Yakima
The North Front Street Historical District boasts some of Yakima's oldest buildings, including the 1898 Lund Building and the Northern Pacific
Railroad depot.
Three miles northwest of Yakima on Highway 12 you'll find the mysterious
Indian Painted Rocks,
a state historical site. Although the picto-
graphs were partially destroyed by an early irrigation flume, some remain at Naches Highway and Powerhouse Road. The cliffs nearby are popular
with local rock climbers.
