After talking about it for months and months, our three-week road trip through the Pacific Northwest began today. Our goal was to make a beeline out of California as quickly as we could, so we’d have enough time to get as far north as we wanted (Vancouver, Canada) without feeling rushed. However, because Day 1 of the trip also coincided with Father’s Day, we figured we’d make an exception and stop in Santa Rosa to hit up Russian River Brewing Company — home of Pliny the Elder (AKA Ed’s favorite beer on the planet).
Our path up the 5 was pretty uneventful — we were basically just trying to get to Santa Rosa before the dinner crowd arrived at Russian River. We stopped for lunch and to stretch our legs in Stockton, and we pulled in to Santa Rosa around 3:30.
Russian River was epic. Ed was planning on ordering a flight — until he found out that it was a 19 item sampler! I said I’d drive and told him to go for it — it was Father’s Day! Each sample was 2 oz., making it 38 oz. total. Combined with his newly acquired Pliny t-shirt, we had one happy daddy on our hands.
Russian River makes some great pizza. We each ordered individual pies and they even had a vegan cheeseless pizza for me! Red bell pepper, spinach, artichoke hearts and olives … it was perfect!
We’ll be headed to Ashland in the morning and Ed + I are really looking forward to spending some time in Oregon. Can’t wait to see some green and the great outdoors!
Happy Father’s Day Ed!! You guys have a fantabulous vacation!