A Criquet Fall Road Trip

In preparation for our Fall launch, the team packed up the rig and hit the road. The plan was simple: shoot a few of our new products, explore some local staples, and make our way to a cabin in the woods. What started as a strict timeline quickly turned into a lot of "Hey, what's that?"

This Fall, we pulled inspiration from the feeling you get when you finally shut your laptop, take a deep breath of mountain air, and fully sign off. Whether that's for an afternoon, a weekend, or a full week, the more time the better. If you're in the right place, your phone will say SOS, so there's no need to turn on Do Not Disturb.

On this trip, we weren't chasing big tourist destinations or checking landmarks off a list. We were looking for the places you find when you have a loose plan, a good rig, a few friends, and enough time to pull over when something looks interesting.

For the next few days, we'll take you along for the ride. Hop in. You've got shotgun.

Day One:

Our trip kicked off in Washington, heading south toward Oregon. Before crossing state lines, we made our way over the Bridge of the Gods, a steel bridge built in 1926 that spans the Columbia River. It's the kind of place you probably wouldn't put on the itinerary if you were in a hurry. But when you're not, it's worth pulling over and taking a minute to soak it all in.

Once we were officially in Oregon, there was one thing on our minds. Lunch. We weren't looking for the golden arches or a chain you could find anywhere in the country. We wanted something local, nostalgic, and unique to the area. Eastwind Drive-In in Cascade Locks checked every box. 

A neon sign. A window to order from. A few picnic tables, but eating on your tailgate was highly encouraged. And "medium" ice cream cones that are bigger than your head. Not exactly the type of meal that gives you an energy boost for the rest of the drive, but well worth it. For the Criquet guy, this is fine dining on a road trip.

After lunch, we headed west before jumping onto the Historic Columbia River Highway through the Columbia River Gorge. The most efficient route? Definitely not. But we weren't in any rush. And who knows? Maybe there'd be an old tavern waiting around the next bend.

Day Two:

As we worked our way toward Rhododendron, Oregon, where we'd be staying for the night, a tavern right off the road caught our eye. We couldn't see much of the inside from the parking lot, but the Open sign was glowing, and we had a strong feeling there was a pool table somewhere under that roof. 

There was only one way to find out, so we headed into Springdale Tavern. This place was exactly what we were looking for: locals, travelers, fishermen, skiers, and whoever else happens to be passing through, all sitting at the same bar. Cold beer, a pool table, and years of memorabilia covering the walls.

There's something about the places you find by accident. You remember the dive bar you randomly walked into, but tend to quickly forget the gas station where you saved eight cents a gallon. After a few games of pool, we figured we should probably keep moving. The cabin was still waiting.

Day Three:

After two days on the road, we hadn't made much ground. But we spent time in a few places we wouldn't have found any other way, and that made the more "scenic" route well worth it. Eventually, we arrived at our destination, even if it was a little later than the original plan.

For the next few days, there was nowhere else we needed to be. We played basketball on a hoop we hung from a tree in the driveway. Wandered around the property looking for fishing holes. Huddled around the grill before dinner. Took hikes without a particular destination in mind.

This Fall, we hope you find a little time to escape and unplug. Wherever you're headed, don't rush it. Find an excuse to pull over. Eat the greasy burger. Stop at the local dive bar if it's calling your name. Play the worst game of pool you've ever played in a town you've never been to before.

The destination matters. But usually, the good stuff happens on the way there.

Explore our Fall Collection here.