Top Three-Day Weekend Destinations for Cannabis Lovers
Summer is the time to kick off our shoes, fly somewhere new, and find adventure. But flying off to an exotic location that welcomes cannabis isn’t always in the cards. If you’re lucky enough to live in Washington, Oregon or California — you don’t have to go far to find adventure and new ways to enjoy cannabis.
If you can’t stray far from the Pacific Northwest, don’t waste a three-day weekend — find a close-to-home destination. Check out the recommendations below to get started:
Oregon
As the epicenter of weird and wonderful for its state, Portland is also home to many of its best cannabis experiences. Start your weekend off right by exploring Portland’s West End. Spend the morning shopping at Union Way and browsing through the shelves of Powell’s Books, the world’s largest used and new bookstore.
Take a break for lunch at Southwest 10th Avenue and Alder Street and pick your favorite food cart from what is the largest concentration of street food vendors in the country, according to Travel Portland. Then stop by NW Cannabis Club, a 21+ smoking lounge. They have a clean and comfortable dab bar, perfect for tourists stopping by or locals taking a break after a long day. Be sure to check their calendar, too — from cannabis-friendly music to painting classes, there’s always something going on at NW Cannabis Club. End your night with a live show at the Crystal Ballroom, one of Portland’s best music venues.
Dive into the city’s Old Town starting with a trip to Voodoo Doughnut for a zany concoction on day two, then head to the Portland Saturday Market, one of the largest and longest-running open-air craft markets in the nation.
After you’re done browsing, book a ride on Portlandia Experience, the cannabis party bus for a unique look at the city. In the evening, take a tour of the Shanghai Tunnels and learn about the mysteries of the Portland Underground. Foodies will rejoice at the selections available on the culinary corridors of Northwest 23rd and 21st avenues, from Catalan tapas at Ataula, to sophisticated French fare at St. Jack.
Wrap up your weekend in Portland by venturing into the natural beauty near the city. Stop by the Farma dispensary to pick up edibles (no smoking in public or in parks) and head eastward toward the Colombia River Gorge.
Be sure to stop at Crown Point Vista House for a selfie-worthy view on your way to Multnomah Falls, the tallest waterfall in the state. Stay to hike, or travel a little further down the road to see Horsetail Falls. Before you take off out of the city, you should try one of the best steakhouses in town; The Acropolis. This adult entertainment club has an impressive menu that’s open until 2 a.m. and has over 60 beers on tap — you can order takeout from the outside window or walk in for the full experience.
California
Known for its vineyards and fine dining, Sonoma County is also home to major cannabis cultural events like “The Emerald Cup,” and a budding cannabiz community. Get to know Santa Rosa’s downtown district on your first day. Start at the historic Railroad Square with breakfast at Omelette Express, and you’ll have the fuel you need to enjoy the unique collection of shops, antiques and restaurants the square offers.
Stop by the SPARC dispensary for a comfortable experience selecting the cannabis products you want for the day. End the night with a trip to Russian River Brewing Company for their microbrews and specialty pizzas, or find a quieter spot at Stark’s Steak and Seafood to enjoy dry-aged cuts, seafood and an enviable selection of whiskey.
To kick off day two, head toward Sebastopol. Stop in at Solful dispensary (see page 30) — their staff will help you explore the flowers and infused products from Northern California farms that grow cannabis responsibly and sustainably. They often host farmer meet-and-greets and demonstrations so you can really get to know who’s growing your cannabis.
After you’ve stocked up, head to the Laguna de Santa Rosa Wetlands Preserve (park at the Sebastopol Community Center) for an accessible hike. Download the two-mile trail map that guides you past ponds, marshes and the main Laguna channel. Head to Marimar Estate Vineyards and Winery for an afternoon of wine tasting and tapas, and end the evening with dinner at Lowell’s Restaurant for farm-fresh, modern cuisine.
For day three, take a short drive to San Rafael and hop on Chris Hardman’s Cannabus for a morning tour of San Francisco’s cannabis history. This converted school bus has been giving tours to visitors of the Haight-Ashbury district for eight years, and just recently added “The Magic Cannabus” experience. This new tour shares the story of cannabis over the past decades in California, from its humble beginnings to the great efforts of Brownie Mary, to the current state of legalization. Add on an afternoon tour of Alcatraz Island to make a whole day of it.
Washington
Recreational cannabis shops were able to open their doors in 2014 in the Evergreen State, and since then the greater Seattle area has created an eclectic offering of cannabis dispensaries that fit right in with the culture of the city. Start the weekend off nicely with a visit to The Gallery in Fife. Pick your favorite cannabis flowers and edibles while you browse through the displays of colorful pipes, accessories and art in their comfortable retail space.
After you’re stocked for the day, make your way toward Tacoma for a lunch at Odd Otter Brewing Company. Be sure to take a peek in back to see the brewing area! After lunch, discover why Tacoma is world-renowned for its glass art. Head toward the waterway and walk through the Chihuly Bridge of Glass, featuring fantastic colors and sculpture all in glass. Visit the Museum of Glass nearby in a large cone-shaped entrance to watch glass blowing demonstrations and tour the small collection of fine glass art.
On day two, stop for breakfast at Southern Kitchen before heading toward Seattle to catch The Kush Tour. You need to call ahead at least 24 hours in advance to book your Saturday spot to tour a Tier II Grow Operation at Dawg Star Cannabis, exploring an extraction lab, and visiting a micro-whiskey distillery.
If you’ve never been to the Space Needle, now is the time to ride the elevator all the 605 feet up. Already been there, done that? Go to Smith Tower instead, the second tallest building in town that serves craft cocktails, and features the legendary Wishing Chair.
Wrap up your adventure by heading to nearby Port Townsend and stop at Discovery Bay Cannabis. Known lovingly as the “Cannaboose,” this dispensary has converted train cars into a unique cannabis retail experience. Pick up your favorites and then plan to walk through downtown to appreciate the Victorian seaside architecture along with the shops and galleries inside them. Take to the trails that stretch across the city for an afternoon hike or rent a kayak before heading to the Alchemy Wine Bar for a locally sourced, Mediterranean meal.
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