Pleasure potential? Give Grays Harbor a look

Doom. Doom. Doom.

When I was old enough to drive, my parents and my grandfather went to town on me with dire predictions of all the things that could go wrong once you got behind the wheel of a car.

And if you didn’t have a blanket, proper shoes, a shovel and a candle, you would surely, surely perish. Snoqualmie Pass may as well be Siberia for your likeliness to survive its crossing.

That cheerful perspective, along with my almost legendary propensity for motion sickness, really stripped all the charm out of the notion of a “pleasure drive.”

And yet to hear the pro-road trip lobby describe it, a journey “through one of the three temperate coniferous rain forests in the Western hemisphere and past the largest Sitka spruce tree in the world” sounds completely benign. Pleasant, even.

So I say grab a shovel and take your chances. The 31-mile Quinault Loop Drive in Grays Harbor County travels around glacier-fed Lake Quinault, along the Quinault River and into Olympic National Park.

As you go, you might get a glimpse of some of the area’s resident Roosevelt elk, black tail deer, cougars, bald eagles, bobcats or black bears.

If you find yourself out of the car – maybe to put out the fire in your engine block or to repair all four flat tires – go ahead and stretch your legs on one of the Lake Quinault South Shore Hiking Trails. There’s a path for just about any level of ambition.

The Quinault Big Cedar Trail, for instance, runs just .2 mile to one of the largest Western red cedars in the world. On the other hand, Colonel Bob-Pete’s Creek Trail climbs 3,300 feet to the 4,492-foot summit of Colonel Bob Peak. When it’s clear, the 8.25-mile round trip hike provides views of the Olympic Mountain Range and the lake below. The longest trail, also named after Colonel Bob, makes a 14.5-mile loop.

With whatever energy you have left, drag yourself to nearby Westport to see the gray whales make their way from Mexico’s Sea of Cortez to the Bering Sea.

According to the Westport Chamber of Commerce, 23,000 of the creatures come through town to grab a latte, licorice whips and other road snacks between mid-March and the end of May. (As you regular readers know, I can’t vouch for their presence because, as you further know, I’ve never seen a whale.)

Nevertheless, the marina can hook you up with a whale-watching excursion for a mere $20 to $25 per adult.

Once the whales clear out, the surfers hit town for the Clean Water Classic. Over two days, June 3 and 4, entrants from Oregon, Washington and British Columbia compete in seven different divisions.

“We typically draw the region’s best surfers,” says Ian Miller, Washington field coordinator for the Surfrider Foundation. “You could easily call Westport Washington’s premier surf town.”

Along with surfing, the Clean Water Classic offers up live bands and surf films.

“It’s very much a beach scene,” Miller says.

For more information about the pleasures of Grays Harbor, which also include deep sea fishing, clamming and kayaking, visit www.tourismgrays harbor.com or call (800) 621-9625.

Pearl jams

For those who would rather encounter a beer than a bear on a hike, Portland has a good alternative.

On the Epicurean Excursion, one of a whole host of walking tours, you’ll wander through the city’s Pearl District, meeting artisans and sampling food and drink as you go.

Get a taste of local produce, teas, jams and jellies, beer, pizza, coffee, truffles, breads and more. And, to make the whole experience a little less hedonistic, you’ll learn a thing or two about organic foods and sustainable growing practices.

The $59 price tag covers all the goodies you can put away in three-plus hours.

You can purchase a ticket and review your other options at www.portlandwalking tours.com. Or call (503) 774-4522.

Regional events

• 200th Anniversary of Lewis and Clark at Maryhill, Saturday and Sunday, Goldendale, Wash. Members of the Mid-Columbia Bands and tribes of the Yakama Indian Nation will demonstrate traditional arts, talk about native plants and show cultural items like a tule mat longhouse and pine canoe. Maryhill volunteers will discuss Lewis and Clark’s visit to the 6,000 acres where the museum now sits. ( www.maryhillmuseum.org/ 509-773-3733)

• Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival, May 4–7, Cordova, Alaska. The gray whales aren’t the only critters on the move. As many as 5 million shorebirds are on their way to the Copper River. Have a look in between workshops and other community events. ( www.cordovachamber.com/ 907-424-7260)

• Billings Micro Brew Festival, June 2, Billings. The 12th annual festival brings more than 60 microbrews, 40 imported beers and “malternatives,” ciders and root beers together with gourmet foods and wines. ( www.visitmt.com/ 406-633-2206)