How to survive a road trip by yourself + Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Don't miss the shows at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival! Perfect for couples, girlfriends or solo.

My friend Marcia has the coolest job in the world. She has been working this year at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as a wig master. Yes, this sweet, red-haired cheerleader I met at Linfield College majored in chemistry and then moved to Cincinnati to pursue a theater career.

Marcia moved to Ashland, Ore., in early 2015 from Abingdon, Virginia. Suddenly, she wasn't a plane ride away, but a car ride away! I vowed to come visit her in the calendar year and I got to spend four days with her in early October. 

I was a little nervous about making the drive south by myself - 7 hours. Darling husband usually drives when we travel. Plus, it was the first weekend of October and I was worried it would pour down rain. It didn't. The weather was gorgeous.

This is post no. 1 of 2 about that amazing trip that taught me a lot about myself, rekindled an amazing friendship and helped me press the reset button on my everyday life.

How to survive a 7-hour road trip alone:

1) Leave early in the morning. Grab a coffee and hit the road. Before you know it, you will have driven two hours. Something about the morning hours makes time go faster. 

2) Plan time for stops along the way. On the way down I-5 from Tumwater to Ashland, I planned stops about two hours apart the whole way. I did some shopping (the Loft outlet at Woodburn, Ore., is amazing).

3) Call mom on one of your stops. She's just awesome and will make you feel competent and like you're never alone.

Image for "Head Over Heels" courtesy of Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

What all of the tourists are talking about: The Oregon Shakespeare Festival

I finally got to Marcia's apartment in Talent, Ore., and she fed me dinner and whisked me off to "Head Over Heels," a rock ‘n’ roll musical in the old Elizabethan style theater. The crowd was diverse: older couples, school groups, hippie parents and their children and one couple in their 30s that was quite affectionate during the first half and didn't return after intermission…

The show was fun, celebrated love of all kinds and it was seriously cool to be in the outdoor theater. That was a first for me. 

The wig room at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

The morning after the show, Marcia treated me to an all-exclusive backstage tour of the festival. The costumes up close were a little more ragged from wear, but beautiful nonetheless. Marcia's work in the wig room left me in awe. They sew on hairs one at a time people! Respect!

The second show Marcia treated me to was "Guys and Dolls." It was an afternoon show at the indoor Angus Bowmer Theater and it was classic and fun. Again, lots of school groups for this show.

Marcia let me go on stage at "The Lizzy" theater the morning after my first show.

Verdict: If you ever have the chance to go to the festival - go! It is great for couples, girlfriends or even solo. Recommendation: check the content before you bring your children. Children under 6 are not permitted. Some parts of "Head over Heels" explored more adult concepts. And no, you can't bring in your friendly pup.

Our Summer Weekend in Walla Walla

Even though we lived in tbe Walla Walla for three years, this was our first trip to L'Ecole No. 41. 

I have lived many places in the Pacific Northwest, but one really resonates with me as home.

Dane and I lived in a little town outside of Walla Walla, Wash. for three years. Our little town called Waitsburg is truly "one of a kind." When you walk down the street people call you by name. There is an old hardware store that always has coffee, cookies and conversation and the people are just magical.

In early August, Dane and I traveled east for the annual cousin's camping trip in the Walla Walla/Waitsburg area. I had quite a list of places I wanted to go and people I wanted to see. I hadn't been back in town in one year since moving to Olympia, and I was ready to go home for a bit.

Here is a quick list of 8 things to do while you're in Walla Walla:

1) Stay at the The Marcus Whitman in the old part of the hotel. Never stay in the new part. I loved our spacious, quiet room and the elevator that gave me a heart attack every time it stopped at a floor.

This was Dane and I's second stay at The Marcus Whitman hotel. I recommend staying in the old part of the hotel to see those beautiful historical details.

2) Bacon & Eggs or The Maple Counter Cafe for breakfast. Both delicious. Bacon & Eggs has more spicy, Mexican-style dishes with fresh ingredients. Maple Counter is perfect for a homey, huge meal with family.

3) Shop Main Street's fun furniture and clothing stores. Can't beat Forward and Walla Walla Clothing Co. Main St. Furniture Co. even ships to Seattle and Portland!

4) Tour some wineries! We did L'Ecole No. 41, Woodward Canyon and El Corazon. All very different. You'll love the old school house at L'Ecole 41. What a unique spot! Woodward Canyon was small with great wine and stories. El Corazon was a sneak attack of flavorful wine right downtown.

5) Aloha Sushi is the best sushi in Walla Walla. Go for dinner. You will not be disappointed.

Yes, there is delicious, fresh sushi in Walla Walla. Head over to Aloha Sushi for lunch or dinner and watch them craft rolls right at your table.

6) Tour The Burg! We met good friends and hung out in Preston Park, bought a bottle of Waitsburg whiskey at the local grocery store (the only one in town) and went to the Hardware Store to pet Cougar the Cat. Precious and much needed.

7) Jimgermanbar! Though I have mixed feelings about this Waitsburg hot spot moving to Walla Walla in May 2016, It's closed currently, so check online before going. I sure had a great time and great cocktails with the cousins. Don't forget to make a reservation.

8) Whiskey Creek Sports Bar & Grill - definitely the place you walk in and everyone knows your name. What a fantastic new family restaurant for Waitsburg. It was clean, the menu was decent and the staff are so friendly.

It was so fun to spend some time being a tourist in our former hometown. I took home a photo of the beautiful area to remember the trip and daydream about. The great part about Walla Walla is there is so much to do, we have to make many return trips to fulfill my valley bucket list!