Northwest Travel via
16 Ballparks in 19 Days
In June 2022, my Dad and I embarked on our second big baseball travel journey together – this time in the Pacific Northwest. We saw 17 games in 19 days at 16 different ballparks across Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, and took in a lot of sights, food, art, history, and nature along the way.
Portland Arrival
Dad and I meet at PDX to get things going. We start with Huber's Café in downtown Portland, which dates to 1879, then take a Segway ride through Portland and along the Willamette River. Then it’s off to Longview, WA, for Game 1.
Cowlitz Black Bears
We head to David Story Field in Longview, home of the Cowlitz Black Bears, a member of the collegiate West Coast League. They take on the five-time defending WCL champs, the Corvallis Knights. And I get to throw out the first pitch!
Tacoma, WA
Dad and I take in some art and history in downtown Tacoma. We stop first at the impressive Tacoma Art Museum. We celebrate glass-maker Dale Chihuly at the Museum of Glass and the Chihuly Bridge of Glass. We finish our afternoon at the Washington State History Museum.
Tacoma Rainiers
We visit the oldest ballpark in Triple-A baseball, Cheney Stadium, to see the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. We get a good game, great food, excellent entertainment, and an all-time display of baseball skies.
Dub Sea Fish Sticks
We make a morning stop at Mel Olson Stadium — a.k.a., the Fryer — in Burien, WA, to meet Justin Moser, president of the Dub Sea Fish Sticks. He gives us some insight on the team and its popular new brand.
Seattle, WA
Dad and I hit the highlights in Seattle, stopping first at the hustle and bustle of Pike Place Market before a stroll on the Seattle Waterfront, a fantastic Cuban sandwich at Salumi, and a rainy ride to the top of the Space Needle.
Seattle Mariners
We get called up to the big leagues for the one and only time on this trip, traveling to T-Mobile Park in Seattle to see the Seattle Mariners host the Los Angeles Angels on Star Wars Night.
Everett, WA
Our trip takes us further north to Everett, home of the largest building in the world, the Boeing manufacturing facility. We visit their museum, have lunch in Mukilteo, and take in the history of native tribes in the area at the Hibulb Cultural Center in Tulalip.
Everett AquaSox
It’s another Star Wars and fireworks night at Funko Field in Everett, where we see the High-A Everett AquaSox, a Seattle Mariners affiliate. We get time with Webbly the Frog, Funko Pops, fantastic merch, and on-field host Steve Willits.
Vancouver Canadians
Dad and I cross the border to Vancouver, stopping at Bloedel Conservatory before catching a Father’s Day game with the High-A Vancouver Canadians at Nat Bailey Stadium. After the game, we enjoy dinner at the indigenous-owned Salmon n’ Bannock.
Vancouver, BC
We spend our first off day touring Vancouver, beginning with a circuit around Stanley Park. Then it’s a drive through downtown for lunch at Momo Sushi before visiting the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia. We finish it off with a scenic dinner on Granville Island.
Nanaimo, BC
We catch the ferry to Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island. After a bite at Gabriel’s Gourmet Cafe, we take in the history of the town at the Nanaimo Museum and sample the famous Nanaimo Bar during a quick tour around the city.
Nanaimo NightOwls
It’s a big night at Serauxmen Stadium for a game between the Nanaimo NightOwls and the Kamloops NorthPaws, two new WCL teams. We meet the coaches and GM, get named Fans of the Game, and lead the crowd in singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
Victoria, BC
We arrive in the capital of British Columbia for an afternoon of sightseeing, stopping by Chinatown and Craigdarroch Castle before lunch at the Irish Times Pub. Afterwards, we check out Victoria Harbour, The Royal BC Museum, Beacon Hill Park, and Fisherman’s Wharf.
Victoria HarbourCats
We head to Royal Athletic Park — dating to the early 1900s and once host to a Yankees Minor League affiliate — to see the WCL Victoria HarbourCats take on the visiting Wenatchee AppleSox.
Olympic National Park
We take a ferry across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Port Angeles for lunch at Little Devil’s Lunchbox. We then drive to Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park for a walk through the temperate rainforest’s “Hall of Mosses.” We continue south to the Washington shoreline before arriving at beautiful Lake Quinault.
Portland, OR
We pay homage to the world’s largest spruce at Lake Quinault before heading south. After sandwiches at the Little Crane Cafe in Vader, Oregon, we continue to the Rose City to visit the Portland Art Museum and the International Rose Test Garden.
Hillsboro Hops
Dad and I drive west of Portland to Ron Tonkin Field in Hillsboro, Oregon, home of the Hillsboro Hops, the High-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. We get a tour of the park, meet Hillsboro Mayor Steve Callaway, and get more Star Wars and more fireworks.
Yakima, WA
We head east along the majestic Columbia River, then turn back north to the Yakima Valley in Washington, a prolific producer of fruit and hops. We learn some history at the Yakima Valley Museum before stopping for lunch in downtown Yakima. We finish our quick tour at the Washington Fruit Place.
Yakima Valley Pippins
Our night game at Yakima Country Stadium is another West Coast League clash between the Yakima Valley Pippins and the Portland Pickles. We meet GM Jeff Garretson and see a great game with a walk-off win for the home team.
Spokane Indians
We head into eastern Washington for a hot Sunday game between the Spokane Indians, the High-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. We get a tour of 64-year-old Avista Stadium, with beer bats, a mascot’s birthday, and a secret safe!
Spokane, WA
We take an off day touring the birthplace of Father’s Day, Spokane, getting a look at Manito Park and Gaiser Conservatory before a good walk around Riverfront Park. We have lunch in a train car at Frank’s Diner and dinner at the creative Wiley’s Bistro.
Tri-Cities, WA
Dad and I drive southwest past rolling hills in heavy winds to the Tri-Cities area of eastern Washington. We stop at the homey Country Mercantile for lunch, then visit the REACH Museum along the Columbia River. We finish with some wine tasting at Fidélitas in the Red Mountain area west of the three cities.
Tri-City Dust Devils
We meet Minor League ambassador Erik “The Peanut Guy” Mertens at Gesa Stadium in Pasco, Washington, home of the Tri-City Dust Devils (High-A Angels affiliate). And it’s my first Minor League first pitch!
Bend, OR
Dad and I cross back into Oregon, admiring the snowy peaks of the Cascade Range before reaching Bend. We stop for lunch at the historic McMenamins Old St. Francis School. We get a view of the town from the Pilot Butte overlook and stop by Bend’s own Deschutes Brewery for a tour.
Bend Elks
We visit 58-year-old Vince Genna Stadium in Bend for a West Coast League battle between the Bend Elks (a name that goes back to 1926) and the Bellingham Bells (1941).
Bend to Eugene
Dad and I spend the morning in Bend watching surfers practice their craft on the Deschutes River. As we head out of town, we stop first at the excellent High Desert Museum to learn about local history, culture, and wildlife before making our way across the Cascades to Eugene.
Eugene Emeralds
We go back to Minor League baseball for one last game, traveling to PK Park in Eugene, home of the University of Oregon Ducks and the defending (and future) Northwest League champs, the Eugene Emeralds.
Oregon Coast
Dad and I take a detour to the gorgeous Oregon coast, stopping at the Heceta Head Lighthouse and Cape Perpetua Lookout before enjoying a seafood lunch at Luna Sea Fish House in Yachats. Then it’s back inland to Corvallis and the campus of Oregon State University.
Corvallis Knights
We head to OSU’s Goss Stadium, home of collegiate national champions and the five-time defending WCL champs, the Corvallis Knights. We meet Knights President Bre Miller and chat on-air with long-time OSU broadcaster, Mike Parker.
Mavericks League
It’s a full day and night of independent pro baseball as we visit Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer, Oregon, to see all four teams in the Mavericks League: The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, Salem Senators, Capesinos de Salem-Keizer, and the Portland Mavericks.
Willamette Valley, OR
Good friends join us for the final day of our epic journey, beginning at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, home of Howard Hughes’ massive Spruce Goose. Then it’s time to enjoy the fruits of Willamette Valley wine country at Furioso Vineyards.
Portland Pickles
A perfect grand finale: Walker Stadium with the Portland Pickles, a WCL team known for having a party atmosphere. We celebrate Keep Portland Weird Night with the Unipiper, a streaker, the Portland Sleestak, and the Pickles mascot, Dillon.
Watch the Video Series!
All 16 episodes of my Northwest Baseball Road Trip series are live on my YouTube channel.