As one would guess, parking is sparse in Seattle, but this co-op has a tight parking garage on the second level.  Walk down the stairwell into the co-op wonderland.   Creativity and tranquility surrounded me while here. First, you’ll see the coffee, juice and bakery calling to you when you enter.

Next is the health products and beauty supplies.  Plenty of wine available across from there. They have ample bulk items in the back, great produce and so many other things to choose from.

The surrounding area offers: Alesian Brewery, Independent (Tuscan rustic pizza), a vegan cafe (Plum?), Blue bird ice cream, Old School Custard, Broadway Farmer’s Market, Clear Greens, Numos for music, Volunteer Park – Asian Art Museum, Cal Andersen Park, Bimbos - vegan friendly Mexican (21yr), Stumbling Monk, Sushi maki, Pony, Havana, Comet Tavern and Olympia Pizza.

Huge thanks to the board member and co-op member that helped us out with identifying some great local places!

We stayed at a hotel near the docking area – Gorgeous views from here!  There is naval base nearby.  Which is all fine and dandy unless you dislike hearing a bugle call early in the morning.

Everett felt like a sleepy town – at least on the weekends.  A lot of shops and restaurants were closed or opened later in the day.  Zosia and I rode our bikes in for breakfast Saturday morning.  We had our hearts set on a specific restaurant, but forgot to check hours the day before never expecting that it would be closed on a Saturday.

Luckily, right next door, there is a super cool  co-op called Sno-Isle.  

They were open on Saturday morning and had Samosas available in the deli. Not your traditional breakfast, I (Gwen) know, but they were tasty!  A lot of love went into the design of this co-op - from it’s wood floors and counters to all the art work on signs.

For lunch we ate at Nakorn Thai Restauraunt.  It’s a cute little hole in the wall with great food!  Good prices and great service!  And it’s not easy to get Zosia to eat Thai food, but she loved it!  Another place to go is Zippy’s Java Lounge for coffee although it’s not open very early either.  So be sure to check hours.

On Sunday, everyone (pets included) seemed to be at the Farmer’s Market.   It was amazing to me that people in the Pacific Northwest were able to bring their pets almost anywhere.  Although, I did find out later that it has to do with the fact that most are registered as service animals like the kitty in the picture.

Thanks to the great hospitality shown from the folks at Sno-Isle!

Driving along Hwy 5 and you start to wonder what, if anything would be out this way as it starts to get hotter and dryer with less trees.  You happen upon a couple of cities like Eugene which has a buyers co-op but it’s for members only or Medford with a market that is opening soon.

Then Ashland…..So many great restaurants, most with seating areas along the lovely Ashland creek, a city park called Lithia which goes on for miles, and a large, full line grocery co-op.  Oh, What a brilliant area!!!  We had to stay and explore every part.

We got there around lunch time to a co-op covered with people inside and out.  With such a wonderful food selection and complete deli, we were not surprised to see so many people gathered there.  We left to let the lunch crowd settle down and see the rest of the town.  Came back and spoke to Sereana who told us about Grilla Bites, Evo’s Coffee Lounge, Wylies (a pasta restaurant), Key of C (bagels), Inti Restaurant, New Sammy’s Cowboy Bistro, Brother’s Restaurant (for breakfast), and Standing Stone Brewery on Oak Street.  We ate dinner at the Standing Stone Brewery at her suggestion.  They have great food and are markedly known for their sustainability practices!

Please add your favorite restaurants, breweries, and outdoor activities around North Bend, OR.

On your way down Hwy 101, just past the sand dunes is Coos Bay and North Bend.  There we encountered the Coos Head Food Store.  It’s actually a non-profit working on becoming a coop.   A long and narrow store with bulk items, grocery, frozen food and produce areas.

They had lots of edgy signs up encouraging  people to think about what they are buying and where they are buying it from.  We have included them because they are working toward conversion to a co-op.  They have the principles on the wall and a brochure talking about it…we send our best wishes to them!

The young man we spoke with gave us info on the area….They have beaches (Bastendorff?  we think this is close), Rogers Zoo and a Bazaritorium.

We did not spend much time in North Bend.  It was the 3rd of july and we were anxious to get a campsite that night. Fortunately, earlier that day, we found one near Devil’s Churn at the Cape Perpetua Campgrounds.  We found it hard to believe that there were any spaces left at this absolutely gorgeous State park!

Check out their web site and add any comments about cool local treats like the Funky Monkey…

On our way back to Cape Perpetua and Devil’s Churn State Park we found a nice little surprise in Florence, OR.  They had a co-op that was not on our list.  It was getting late, but we stopped by any way.  Inside, a sweet lady named Wanda was closing up for the evening, but she allowed us to take a look.  We found out that they had about 250 members and had been around for 2 years.  They support local farmers and have two main growers.  It’s a charming, little co-op with some produce and grocery items.  They even have a supply of Young Living products.

Florence is a Dune City…..Piles of sand everywhere and wind to boot!  Almost blew Zosia away!  We tried to take a sled ride down the dunes behind the Fred Meyer’s, but it was slow going.  Visited what we think was the farmer’s market or some sort of 4th of July festivity.  Ate tasty chicken gyros and salad there from a traveling food cart. Then visited Old Town and the Funky Monkey which is a toy store that Wanda mentioned to Zosia.  Purchased some juggling sticks and 3 yoyo for extra entertainment….We’re thinking of starting a circus.

Coming your way soon…the final 6 or so visits to the Northwest!  Great co-op profiles with great local places…

And our current travels…in the Appalachian mountains…Roanoke VA complete with Ashville NC to come (heading there in the morning from the Smokeys!).  Of course, you know the local scene in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg…no co-ops and lots of crazy…but we did have some great ice cream and Mexican food.  Tough finding internet connections…

More local co-op love coming your way!  Stay tuned…

Please add more info on your favorite places to hike, eat and drink in Newport, OR!

Drive into Newport and it’s hard not to notice that there is something special about this place.  All the interesting shops, art galleries, hotels, theaters, lighthouses, beaches

and the Yaquina Bay Bridge encourage you to stay and check it all out.

Along the way remember to stop by the Oceana Food Cooperative started in 1977.   Inside they have a sweet, little dining and reading area for the whole family and a deli.  It’s a cozy store with  produce, frozen meat, other frozen food, bulk, health conscious grocery and HABA sections

While there we met Renee who told us a little about the local area.  Be sure to visit Panini Bakery and Cave Mundo (vegetarian, young evening crowd).  There is also a Farmers Market every Saturday from 9am – 1pm.

Afterwards, we visited the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse where we got all old-timey and played the game of graces.  Had so much fun, we bought it down in the gift shop.  It occupied our time while camping for the next couple of weeks.

Still in Portland….Please add more about the cool local things around the Alberta co-op!  Just post a comment about your favorite place to shop, eat, drink etc!

If there is one Co-op  should visit, it’s this one.  Not just for the co-op although it is one of the most unique I have seen….plenty of character, cool art work, hanging locally made leaf lamps, awesome food choices and it still had that wonderful co-op smell! The Alberta Street neighborhood rocks!  There was so much going on that we could have spent a year there and not tried them all.  We met Krissy and Derek at the cashier counter and they sent us to the back for more info…

In the back we met a wonderful and helpful person named Micki.  Once the gates opened on where to go, her flood of great places came on…Alberta Street Attractions:   Vegan Belt Store, Dove Tail Bakery, Vita Cafe, Bella  - pizza and vegan pizza, Hi Hi lampshop, La Bonita- Vegan/Veg – family member vegan, Ta Bats Triangles – rice triangles (fish and veggie), Video Rana – locally owned and has cult classics/independent films, Thai – One Thai- Thai iced, Starry Rose Cafe – worker collective, Gluten free, Fantasma – alter store, Healthy Pets Northwest, Random Order Coffee Shop,The Community Cycling Center, Trade up Music – buy/sell used equipment, College – 16th – Craft Supply Store, Original Flower and Garden Shop, Fuel Cafe- discounts to those that work on the street, Tin Shed Cafe – best breakfast plate, Living Room Realtors – all women - specialize in getting working class into homes in the area, Frock – boutique, Buy and Buy – vegan bar, Black Star Boys – custom stuff and bike bags,  bakery – Back to Edens – vegan and gluten-free and have coconut bliss milkshakes and vegan soft serve ice cream, Townshend bubble teas and Mate (peach w/rice), Area 23 – Food Carts – street car and fresh juices, The Bolt a fabric store (we bought a few things here) and Close Knit a yarn store, The Mash Ton – (Brew Pub which is open to minors until 9 pm…important if you have a 9 year old like us!)

In the past, this street used to be a shopping district, but it collapsed and became a devalued area.  Fifteen years ago it was all boarded up and then started to come back to life.  Our lunch was great and we loved our visit…

 Please add more about the cool local things around the People’s co-op!  Just post a comment about your favorite place to shop, eat, drink etc!

After a great evening spent at Mt. Rainier National Park we drove to Portland, OR.  If variety is the spice of life, then Portland is a fine curry!  It’s like stepping into another dimension.  

 People’s was the first co-op on the list to visit since we were meeting a friend there that evening.  Wow!  absolutely Brilliant Place!  These guys -n- gals are doing a great job supplying so much food out of such a small space and keeping it nice.  Not to mention, an addition made with Cobb, mostly recycled wood for the floors and window frames, and a living roof.  They host a farmer’s market and have a yoga/community meeting room.  Plus, plants along the sidewalk which absorb excess water from too much rain and geo-thermal heating and cooling.   There were beautifully designed landscaping and even the building was a piece of art!

Outside people were playing instruments and socializing.  You could tell People’s was the place to be.

They also had a special trailer (run by a local entrepreneur) which produced vegan shakes and juices sitting just outside.  I’m not sure if it stays there permanently or travels around from place to place.  They were so good it was all Zosia could think about for days!  We had a great time with Todd (on the board and the guy we were visiting) and received an excellent tour.

Please add more about the cool local things around the Yelm co-op!  Just post a comment about your favorite place to shop, eat, drink, hike etc!

Another small co-op close to Mt. Rainier….We were amazed by the sheer tenacity with which they kept themselves afloat.  It’s got to be difficult running on volunteers.  At least they have  one paid person managing the store.  Arron (the GM-the tall guy next to Zosia) supplied us with info about the store and surrounding area and they are trying to influence the quality and sources of food. 

Local treats are Flanagans Apple Irish Pub with Irish music, Blueberry Hill Farm – a local bed and breakfast with great breakfasts and homemade jams, and Paradise Organics Farm with greenhouses.