Comments on: A ZEST Contest! Where is the Happiest Place in Southwest Washington?

By: Katlin Smith

Katlin Smith — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:17:42 +0000

I’ll stop by some time!

By: Gabby Navidi

Gabby Navidi — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:40:58 +0000

Did you know that Navidi’s Olive Oil & Vinegars in Camas was the first olive oil & vinegar store with a taste before you buy policy. We’d love to show you around our little downtown store.

By: David Poulshock

David Poulshock — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:42:58 +0000

Newcomer’s jaws drop when they walk through the door. Usually it’s “Wow, I never knew there was a place like this on the Peninsula.” Raven & Finch Wine Bar is cozy, sophisticated, comfortable. Like a living room right on the boardwalk, overlooking the Port of Ilwaco. Not an afternoon or evening goes by without hearing that warm laughter that rises naturally out good conversation. Of course, the wine and music help. A pretty happy place!

By: Gini Chin

Gini Chin — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:39:40 +0000

Raven & Finch wine bar on the port in Ilwaco, WA is so comfy it’s like my home away from home. The first thing that strikes you when you walk in the door is that it’s just like your living room – overstuffed chairs, leather sofa, dark mocha walls. And the view! So serene overlooking the boats in the harbor. Depending on my mood I either curl up on the sofa with a good book or magazine that I pick off the shelf or I pull up to the bar where everyone introduces themselves to you. It’s incredible. One evening I walked in and was rounded up into a game of mahjong. But I’ve never played before I told them. No problem. They taught, we talked, others watched. I’ve never met so many people in such a short amount of time.
Can’t wait for the sun so I can sit on the deck under the heater with my dog and share my pizza!

By: Lucia Worthington

Lucia Worthington — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 04:38:07 +0000

Canoes frame the park and the big river beyond. Happy sounds of squeals and laughter fill the air as I meander through the Cottonwood Beach trail on the Columbia River in Washougal, Washington.
The place has a pulse and moves. Children scurry with little pails and shovels, bare chested drummers nod and beat out powerful sounds. Kayakers in yellow and blue canoes pick up the rhythm as they paddle past. A couple frolics and water sprays. I toss my shoes and dance.

By: Kathy Deschner

Kathy Deschner — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:31:30 +0000

My happiest place is on the lake at Speilyai Bay at Merwin Lake on the border of Clark and Cowlitz Counties. It’s pure joy spending a warm summer day boating in this most beautiful place where there are waterfalls, beautiful water so clear that you can see the fishes swimming, bald eagles flying overhead, an occasional deer drinking alongside the water and butterflies on the beach. These are my happiest times … on the boat with family and friends surrounded by magnificent beauty.

By: Rachel Knowlton

Rachel Knowlton — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:20:01 +0000

The happiest place I find in West Vancouver is Mint Tea http://mintteaimports.com/ in the Uptown Village. It is a place where I am meeting friends and the environment within Mint Tea is serene. The owners Jenna and Abdul are always smiling, the local foods that are served are nourishing to the body and the whole place is nourishing to the spirit. Whether one sits in the room full of cushions with a pot of mint tea or listens to the uplifting music while reading a book, it is a place that allows one to escape and leave stresses behind even if it is just for 30 min over lunch.

By: Misty Briggs

Misty Briggs — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:37:06 +0000

East Fork Cellars (aka E.F.C.) IS THE HAPPIEST place! You will never experience wine and fun like this! East Fork Cellars is a local wine tasting room with a Blue Grass/ Rock n’ Roll/ Celtic feel. Where else can you go on a Tuesday night, tasting a “Rat Cellar Red” wine while jamming to a Blue Grass session or toast with a Granny Smith apple Riesling while rocking out to the sounds of the “Cellar Rats” on a Friday night? This is a great place to call your own or to invite friends who are visiting. It’s all ages and a TON of fun!

By: Katlin Smith

Katlin Smith — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:48:51 +0000

No problem, Merry. No points off for typos! Thanks for your entry.

By: Medrry Lou Flockhart

Medrry Lou Flockhart — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:06:08 +0000

Stevenson is the happiest place. I drove there on my birthday to visit the quaint, but active town. Antique stores and small streets compliment the luxurious Bonneville Spa. Stevenson is the gateway to the Bridge of the Gods where you can watch colorful windsurfers. The best salmon dinner is at the Crab Shack where you can sip wine and overlook the river and native trees. The view from the patio of Mt. Hood is exquisite!